Memory Lane: Nas Moments

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

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)
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)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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"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)

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