Memory Lane: Nas Moments

Take a look back at the God Son's path to stardom.

Nas, Illmatic - The April 19 release date of Nas’s Illmatic is a landmark day in the history of American music. The album's introspective storyline detailing life in the mean, grimey streets of Queensbridge, New York, serves not only as the foundation of his living legend status, but also as a hip hop blueprint.With the assistance of jazz- and soul-influenced producers such as Large Professor, Pete Rock and DJ Premier, Nas's impact on society as a vivid storyteller with a profound take on linguistics was imprinted in every track from "It Ain't Hard to Tell" to "The World Is Yours." And it influenced the works of Jay Z, Common, Noreaga and Ghostface Killah, emboldening them to modify their delivery, opting for a slowed down, enunciated flow driven by a relaxed, poetic tongue.(Photo: Columbia Records)
Nas and Biggie Freestyle on Video Music Box - In 1995, a very young Nas and Biggie freestyled onstage together on Video Music Box.
It Was Written - Illmatic might have been a classic debut but It Was Written, delivered in 1996, was Nas' first commercially successful album. The project was made popular by the pop-friendly singles "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)," featuring Lauryn Hill and the "Street Dreams" remix with R. Kelly. (Photo: Columbia)
The Firm: The Album - After signing with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records, Nas' crew, The Firm, began recording their self-titled album. Released in 1997 as Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ and Nature Present The Firm: The Album, the project was eventually certified platinum.(Photo: Aftermath/Interscope)Nas' "Hate Me Now" Video - Nas, who’s often called himself God’s Son, put his messianic streak out there for the world to see in the controversial 1999 video for “Hate Me Now,” which featured him being nailed to a cross.  (Photo: Island Def Jam Records)

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Nas and Biggie Freestyle on Video Music Box - In 1995, a very young Nas and Biggie freestyled onstage together on Video Music Box.

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