Memory Lane: Nas Moments

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

Nas - Nas has always been a politically polarizing figure for his salient, although haphazard political statements. Case in point, after years of championing black consciousness Nas and then wife Kelis walked the red carpet at the 2008 Grammy Awards with the word "Nigger," the proposed title of his upcoming album, adorning their outfits. It's ok though, this brand of duality and conviction is necessary to keep folks on their toes. (Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

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God's Son - Rap icon Nasir "Nas" Jones celebrates his 38th birthday today (September 14). In honor the God Son's born day, BET.com takes a walk down memory lane to recall some of his most notable musical moments.(Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images)

First Impression - Nas caught the attention of rap fans with his buzzworthy verse on the Main Source single "Live At The Barbeque" in 1991. Soon after, he appeared in the video for MC Serch's single "Back To The Grill."

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First Impression - Nas caught the attention of rap fans with his buzzworthy verse on the Main Source single "Live At The Barbeque" in 1991. Soon after, he appeared in the video for MC Serch's single "Back To The Grill."

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)

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Illmatic  - Nas' debut album Illmatic (1994) was heralded as a classic upon its release and is now regarded as one of the best hip hop albums of all time.(Photo: Columbia)

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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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)

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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)

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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)

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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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"Hate Me Now" Feat. Puff Daddy  - For "Hate Me Now," the second single off his third solo studio album I AM…, Nas enlisted Hype Williams to direct the song's big-budget music video, which featured unauthorized images of Diddy, alongside Nas, being crucified on a cross. Diddy was accused of assaulting music exec Steve Stoute for allowing the images to air.  (Photo: Sony BMG Music Entertainment)

Bravehearts - In 2000, Nas presented Bravehearts — a hip hop group comprised of Queens rappers Wiz, Horse and Nas' little brother Jungle. Their hit single, "Oochie Wally," off of the album, QB's Finest, was certified gold. (Photo: Sony BMG Music Entertainment)

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Bravehearts - In 2000, Nas presented Bravehearts — a hip hop group comprised of Queens rappers Wiz, Horse and Nas' little brother Jungle. Their hit single, "Oochie Wally," off of the album, QB's Finest, was certified gold. (Photo: Sony BMG Music Entertainment)

Jay-Z/Nas' Baby Mama - Maybe his rivals' multiple Beyoncé name-drops are karmic payback for Jay's own crossing-the-line moment on 2001's "Super Ugly." In response to Nas' scathing "Ether," Hov recounted his real-life affair with the mother of Esco's daughter in nauseating detail. Jay later apologized, saying even his own mother thought he had taken it too far. (Photos, from left: Nick Elgar/ImageDirect, Scott Gries/ImageDirect)

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Beef With Jay-Z - Going down in the books as one of the most memorable battles in hip hop history, Nas' beef with Jay-Z produced the classic diss track, "Ether." (Photos, from left: Nick Elgar/ImageDirect, Scott Gries/ImageDirect)

Olu Dara - Nas's father is a renowned free-jazz trumpeter and coronet player who'd already recorded and toured the world with Art Blakely, Jack McDuff and Cassandra Wilson by the time he recorded the gorgeous, understated solo that closes out "Life's a B---h." The song introduced Olu Dara to a new generation of fans, and he released his first albums as band leader in 1998 and 2001. Dara continues to perform and record today, and has been featured on several subsequent Nas tracks, including 2004's "Bridging the Gap." (Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

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"Bridging the Gap" - Nas teamed up with his father, jazz musician Olu Dara, for the hit single, "Bridging the Gap," from 2004's Street Disciple. The song featured vocals and trumpet-playing from his dad.(Photo:  Scott Gries/Getty Images)

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The Lost Tapes - In 2002 Nas released The Lost Tapes, which featured a collection of songs that were scrapped from recording sessions of Nas' previous albums I Am… (1999) and Stillmatic (2001). The nostalgic compilation album debuted at No. 10 on the US Billboard 200 despite the fact that it was barely promoted. (Photo: Columbia)

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The Lost Tapes - In 2002 Nas released The Lost Tapes, which featured a collection of songs that were scrapped from recording sessions of Nas' previous albums I Am… (1999) and Stillmatic (2001). The nostalgic compilation album debuted at No. 10 on the US Billboard 200 despite the fact that it was barely promoted. (Photo: Columbia)

Nas vs. Jay Z - These two legendary New York MCs symbolically ended their longtime battle in 2005 when Jay invited surprise guest Nas on stage during his "I Declare War" concert. The truce became official months later when Nas signed to Def Jam in 2006, during Jay’s presidency.(Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images for Universal Music)

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Nas and Jay-Z Squash Beef - Nas and Jay-Z eventually squashed their beef behind-the-scenes and made the big reveal at J's "I Declare War" concert in October 2005. Nas's former foe brought him out onstage to perform.(Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)

Play on Playa - When Hip Hop Is Dead did drop in 2006, Nas ruffled the feathers in many caps. Most heated: a slew of Southern rappers who claimed the title was aimed at them, with Young Jeezy, Big Boi, Ludacris and Trick Daddy, among those who criticized the QB Kid.(Photo: Courtesy Def Jam Records)

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Hip Hop is Dead - Nas went out on a limb to eulogize hip hop on his eighth studio album, Hip Hop is Dead, his first with Def Jam. If nothing else, the project, which debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200, got people debating about the precarious future of the genre.(Photo: Columbia)

Jay Z and Nas - What initially started off as a slick exchange of words between Jay Z's right-hand man Memphis Bleek and Nas affiliate, Prodigy, grew into a full-blown beef. Jay Z spoke up first on Hot 97's Summer Jam in 2001, reciting the opening verse to "Takeover" on stage, a clear diss to Nas and Mobb Deep. Nas responded shortly thereafter with "Ether." Over the next four years comments were made both on- and off-record until the pair finally squashed the beef in 2005 when Jay brought out Nas as a surprise guest at his comeback concert, "I Declare War."(Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images for Universal Music)

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Working Relationship - After burying the hatchet in 2005, Nas and Jay-Z went into the study to record their first song together, "Success," which was featured on Jay-Z's 2007 album, American Gangster.(Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images for Universal Music)

Nas and Wife Brandish the N-Word at Grammy's - Nas originally wanted to title his ninth studio album Nigger but the label wouldn't allow it and it was ultimately named Untitled. Before this decision was made, Nas and then-wife Kelis decided to promote the album's controversial title by wearing matching outfits with the N-word prominently displayed across the front and back on the red carpet at the 2008 Grammy Awards. The media had a field day over the audacious act.(Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) 

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Untitled album  - In 2008, Nas and former wife Kelis walked the red carpet at the Grammys wearing matching outfits adorned with the word, "Nigger" — the proposed title of his upcoming album. Label execs didn't like the title, which was ultimately subbed for Untitled. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)