The Evolution of Nas

Follow the Queensbridge rapper's career through the years.

Mastermind - Nas kept it grimy with "Made You Look," the anthemic lead single to his acclaimed, platinum-selling 2002 album God's Son. After Esco's triple-beam dreams of the late 90s, Nasty Nas had returned to his analog, QB comfort zone for good. (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Records)
One Love - Nas surprised everyone by announcing his reconciliation with Jay Z in the most public way possible: onstage at a massively promoted concert in 2005. Jay called out Nas midset and the two performed "Black Republican" (from Nas' then unreleased Hip-Hop Is Dead album) to an ecstatic crowd. The two later made their new alliance even more official when Hov, who was then president of Def Jam, signed Nas to the iconic label.(Photo: 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)
Nas & Kelis - Kelis filed for divorce from Nas when she was seven months pregnant in 2009. The court-ordered $40,000 monthly alimony and child support payments were eye-popping, and helped fuel much of the fire behind Nas' new album Life Is Good, most notably the self-explanatory "Bye Baby."Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images)/content/dam/betcom/images/2012/03/Shows/106-and-Park-03-16-03-31/032912-shows-106-park-nas-untitled.jpg

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One Love - Nas surprised everyone by announcing his reconciliation with Jay Z in the most public way possible: onstage at a massively promoted concert in 2005. Jay called out Nas midset and the two performed "Black Republican" (from Nas' then unreleased Hip-Hop Is Dead album) to an ecstatic crowd. The two later made their new alliance even more official when Hov, who was then president of Def Jam, signed Nas to the iconic label.(Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images) 

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