Due to the show of 1991, Nasir managed to get the reputation of a wonder kid, so the next year MC Serch from 3rd Bass became his manager and helped him to sign the contract with Columbia Records. He changed it into more familiar Nas later. However, he did not stop learning: he read a lot about the African culture and he paid a lot of attention to religion.Īs a teenager, Nas performed with his friend Willy Graham, and at that time the rapper used the pseudonym Kid Wave. In 1985 Nasir’s parents divorced and he quitted the middle school. In the late 1970s Nasir’s family moved to Queens, and Nas became interested in hip-hop due to his friend and neighbor Willy 'Ill Will' Graham, who played him different records.

Nasir played the trumpet when he was only four and he started to rhyme at age nine. He has been familiar with the music since the very childhood: his father is a famous jazz musician Olu Dara. Nasir Jones, performing under the pseudonym Nas, was born in Brooklyn in 1973.Nasir Jones, performing under the pseudonym Nas, was born in Brooklyn in 1973.

Nas’ debut single Halftime was released in 1992, and his lyrics and rhymes attracted attention in the hip-hop community. The rapper’s debut album Illmatic was released in 1994 and it is considered to be one of the best hip-hop albums ever. The Source gave a fair review to the record, which had been created with the help of Q-Tip, L.E.S and Nasir’s father Olu Dara. Musical critics acclaimed Illmatic, and the lyrics was described as highly literate.

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