{"id":698,"date":"2023-07-12T21:20:56","date_gmt":"2023-07-12T21:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/2023\/07\/best-nas-songs\/"},"modified":"2023-07-12T21:20:56","modified_gmt":"2023-07-12T21:20:56","slug":"best-nas-songs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/2023\/07\/best-nas-songs\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Nas Songs: 30-1"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It is astonishing to think that Nas has been active in the rap game for a strong thirty years and is showing no signs of slowing down. The raspy-voiced Queens native quickly emerged as the poster child of hip-hop when he debuted with the indisputable classic record, Illmatic<\/em>. Since then, Nas has established himself as an icon in the culture, granting him the leverage to expand his sound into different mediums. Though there were times where the industry derailed his path, he remained consistent to his audience and true to himself despite existing in a trifling industry.<\/p>\n

As you\u2019d expect, thirty decades of content is a massive amount to wield under your belt\u2014and a grand majority of his catalog has managed to stand the test of time in a positive manner. Even at his lowest creative points, Nas always found a way to deliver at least one record that would satisfy his core following.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve decided to take on the task of highlighting the countless peaks in his discography and assorting the best parts into a thirty song list of what we think are the best Nas songs of all time, along with some honorable mentions to help start us off. <\/p>\n

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Honorable Mentions<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Thief\u2019s Theme<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Street\u2019s Disciple<\/em><\/p>\n

The rugged anthem that closed the double album out was a tribute to the old Nas\u2019 style that Esco was trying to grow out of on this project. It was clear that a newly-wed Nas was trying to evolve but couldn\u2019t really translate his new mindset on record, but the attempt was respectable. To keep his tradition of lyrical exercise alive, he adopted a rugged beat that perfectly fit the edgy street theme. Nas lashed out lyrically all over this record, creating an underappreciated classic that makes you wanna tuck your chain in no matter how nice your neighborhood is.<\/p>\n

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Ether<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Stillmatic<\/em><\/p>\n

The classic Jay-Z diss is truly a hard track to rank on a list detailing the best Nas records. On one hand, Nas created an epic moment in hip-hop history that will forever be remembered for the the damage he caused to the career of a mainstream titan. On the other end, however, it\u2019s not a record that most would turn on any given day. No to say \u201cEther\u201d deserves to be played in certain situations, but lets be honest, you just wanna hear Nas say \u201cFuck Jay-Z\u201d at the top of his lungs. I will say though, the live performance of the record does help elevate the energy to an outer-body experience.<\/p>\n

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Thun<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> King\u2019s Disease III<\/em><\/p>\n

The King\u2019s Disease<\/em> trilogy wields many reasons to be celebrated among an elite discography. The main point of attraction is due to records like this where we hear Nas lyrically black-out over a pure hip-hop beat. It\u2019s crazy to say that this is a rare instance today but the raw energy emitted from this track is the perfect nod to the golden age where Nas excelled. It\u2019s hard to choose a fav among the trilogy but the gradual increase in quality has been amazing to witness. <\/p>\n

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Hero (ft. Keri Hilson)<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Untitled<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a shame that the questionable title and incapable marketing of this record lead to a shadow ban of sales becuase this record had the trajectory to rise as a bonafide hit. Capitalizing off of the Keri Hilson hook buzz, \u201cHero\u201d was the perfect lead single for the record. The hopeful hymn was on track to be the anthemn of the century but a series of anti-establishment rants, obscene titles and failed correlation of executives stunted the growth of what could\u2019ve been a generational record. <\/p>\n

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Michael & Quincy<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> King\u2019s Disease III<\/em><\/p>\n

The confident comparison to the legendary musical pair propelled the status of the Nas and Hit-Boy duo to immortal status. Though they simultaneously paid homage to the Quincy Jones and the late great Michael Jackson, Nas and Hit cemented their place in history as the they dubbed themselves the new iteration of the old pair. The record itself was a phenomenal display of superb songwriting and magnificent musicality from the two. Maybe they were on to something when they made the comparison.<\/p>\n

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30. Stillmatic (The Intro)<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album: <\/strong>Stillmatic<\/em><\/p>\n

A gritty opener that helped set the tone for a momentous return. Its crazy to think that at one point Nas was considered a washed rapper. The hip-hop streets weren\u2019t feeling the follow-ups to his classic debut and in order to silence the overwhelming rep critics, Nas had to figure out how to return to prime form. We all know the story from here on out, but the intro really sets the tone as the king returns to claim his place at the throne with an addictive beat to show he hasn\u2019t missed a step. <\/p>\n

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29. Get Down<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> God\u2019s Son<\/em><\/p>\n

It feels like we as hip-hop fans severly underrate producer Salaam Remi\u2019s influence on Nas\u2019 career. Though his first placement landed on Stillmatic<\/em>, the jazz-inspired soul of Salaam Remi\u2019s style would really sink in on God\u2019s Son<\/em>. The album opens up with this up-tempo loop of funky instrumentals while Nas unleashes a ferocious set of rhymes to set the mood for the rest of the record. \u201cGet Down\u201d is arguably the best intro track across Nas\u2019 lengthy catalog as the easy-going beat allows Nas\u2019 verses to immediately capture the attention of the listener, prepping them for an eventful experience.<\/p>\n

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28. Purple<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> The Lost Tapes<\/em><\/p>\n

The fact that this record was lobbed in with a set of throwaways is criminal. For some reason, Nas is always at his best when he\u2019s rapping over a piano loop and \u201cPurple\u201d is a prime example of this notion. The lush instrumental combined with Nas\u2019 extended stream of consciousness makes for an excellent smoking session as Esco delivers one of those life sermons that just hit\u2019s a different way when you\u2019re in a contemplative state of mind. Also, whose to forget the iconic line: \u201cI don\u2019t like the way P. Diddy did Shyne with different lawyers\u201d.<\/p>\n

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27. Black Republican (ft. JAY-Z)<\/strong> <\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Hip Hop Is Dead<\/em><\/p>\n

The first post-fued Hov and Esco collab wasn\u2019t exactly what the world expected, but the moment was one to mark in the history books. Granted, Jay was fresh off of retirement, the two rappers only delivered hype as the chorus and the thunderous beat were the main takeaways. Stripping the unrealistic expectations from the track, however, reveals a gem that could still hang with the better portion of each other\u2019s discographies. It wasn\u2019t exactly what we wanted as fans but \u201cBlack Republican\u201d is still an amazing track that salvaged the messy rollout that was Hip Hop Is Dead<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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26. Favor for a Favor (ft. Scarface)<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> I Am\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Nas and Scarface rapping together on the same track sounds like every hardcore hip-hop fan\u2019s dream, but for some odd reason the record remains criminally slept among Nas\u2019 collaborations. The shaky release of I Am\u2026<\/em> really helped kill the buzz around the project, which was a shame because the record spawned amazing moments such as this shared moment between two legends. Nas and Face go back and forth on a beat, claiming vengeance on each other\u2019s enemies to solidify their brotherhood bridged through hip-hop. Everything about the record screams classic status, from the verses to the instrumental to the pacing of the record. Run this joint back and watch your thoughts immediately change<\/p>\n

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25. Blaze a 50<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> The Lost Tapes<\/em><\/p>\n

For being a compilation of rejected tracks and throwaways, The Lost Tapes<\/em> really has some of Nas\u2019 best material. On this record, Nas takes listeners on an adrenaline rush of an experience, delivering bar after bar over a cinematic blockbuster of a beat. Pressing play on the track is like pacing through New York rush hour traffic, swerving left and right through congested lanes and alleyways with Nas guiding the tour. It\u2019s mind boggling to think that nobody thought this would fit on any Nas record to come, but its exclusion helped breathe a new life into the blood rusher of a track.<\/p>\n

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24. Surviving the Times<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Greatest Hits<\/em><\/p>\n

With the release of his highly anticipated greatest hits compilation, Nas added a contemplative opener that perfectly captures his career in a track. The song is another instance of Nas excelling over the signature piano-looped instrumental, painting a reflective picture of his journey since his early rapping days. Unlike the pieces scattered over The Lost Tapes<\/em>, this joint landed in the perfect situation, serving as a perfect introduction to a compilation that unraveled all of Nas\u2019 best moments as an emcee. However, the song lacks the strong recognition it deserved but at the end of the day, this is the special treat true Nas supporters receive for tuning in all these years.<\/p>\n

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23. Daughters<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Life is Good<\/em><\/p>\n

Despite wielding an exceptional storytelling ability that heavily uplifts his lyrical ability, we never really got a glimpse at Nas\u2019 personal life as a majority of his content up to this point revolved around the streets. Finally reaching a good point to settle down, Life Is Good<\/em> was Nas\u2019 unsure way of displaying his growth beyond his valuable notepad. \u201cDaughters\u201d was an immediate standout upon release as it perfectly captured the timid approach to pulling back the curtains. The ode to fatherhood revealed the good, the bad, and the ugly of being a single father while highlighting the beauty of raising a child in the process. A tearjerker of a track, it was inspiring to see Nas shift out of his comfort zone and push another side of himself in the limelight. <\/p>\n

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22<\/strong>. Street Dreams<\/h1>\n
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Album: <\/strong>It Was Written<\/em><\/p>\n

An infectious beat with a catchy chorus, \u201cStreet Dreams\u201d perfectly captures the essence of its resident project as well as the gutter glory of New York street life. Following a serious opener to the record, this track helps lighten the mood while showing the darker side to success in the streets. Illmatic<\/em> painted Nas as a kid watching from the project windows, but with It Was Written<\/em> we see the transition from bystander to participant, falling into the allure of cash, cars and women. \u201cStreet Dreams\u201d wraps that notion up in a perfectly-packaged single that garnered a lot of play off ear candy alone. One of the stronger tracks from It Was Written<\/em>, the record continues to live on through many different iterations to this day.<\/p>\n

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21. Halftime<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Illmatic<\/em><\/p>\n

The first single to the critically-acclaimed classic that is Illmatic<\/em> hit the sweet spot of making a smash while garnering attention to highly-prospected talent. Following a stellar introductory verse on Main Source\u2019s \u201cLive at the Barbeque\u201d, Nas found his way into the corportate offices of Colombia \u2013 courtesy of MC Serch \u2013 the company took a bet on the kid from Queens and it benefitted instantly. The inital offering of \u201cHalftime\u201d was a jazzy up-tempo record that put Nas\u2019 skillset on full display and similar to his spotlight on the Main Source album, Nas made haste with the opportunity in a blazing fashion. \u201cHalftime\u201d built the perfect amount of buzz for what would be considered the best hip-hop album of all time.<\/p>\n

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20. Shootouts<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album: <\/strong>It Was Written<\/em><\/p>\n

At the time of its release, It Was Written<\/em> didn\u2019t really see the receptive love it gets today \u2013 aside from the singles doing their work on the streets. This allowed a good majority of the record to fly under the radar, despite holding some of Nas\u2019 best lyrical displays. \u201cShootouts\u201d fell as a casualty to this process as Nas\u2019 slick-mannered rhymes and hypnotizing delivery failed to reach corporate standards. This record is pure hip-hop passion that fed energy into the veins of every hip-hop head wondering what went wrong with this album. To this day, it feels like \u201cShootouts\u201d is every hardcore Nas fan\u2019s best kept secret as the mesmerizing mafioso single acts like a deleted scene from Goodfellas<\/em> or Casino<\/em>. Nas was in his bag heavy during this session but we\u2019re determined to make sure this song continues to live on as one of his best lyrical displays on wax.<\/p>\n

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19. One Love (ft. Q-Tip)<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Illmatic<\/em><\/p>\n

Among the prestigious roster of producers that Illmatic<\/em> wields includes the legendary Q-Tip who managed to shed a light of his own over Nas\u2019 solo debut. The collaborative crossover of producers that Illmatic<\/em> spawned really showed that every chef in the kitchen could add their own flavor in proportion. When Tip stepped to bat, he made sure to capture Nas\u2019 vivid story-telling capabilities, thoroughly guiding the young buck through the process of song structuring. The result was a heavy-hitting tale dedicated to all of the incarcerated scarfaces that ran New York. Paired with Tip\u2019s catchy hook and the record took off on its own, serving as the fan-favorite on a stellar debut project. <\/p>\n

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18<\/strong>. Got Ur Self A\u2026<\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Stillmatic<\/em><\/p>\n

Just when the industry thought that Nas was done for, Esco returned gun-blazing with an electric opener to his comeback party. When word got around that Nas was releasing an album following the lethal \u201cTakeover\u201d diss by his rap rival, JAY-Z, it was clear that Nas had to make one hell of an opening statement as the battle was swaying towards the Roc-A-Fella camp. After placing his legendary \u201cEther\u201d diss as the second track to the record, he kept the energy flowing with a blazing party record. An energetic beat with a instantly recognizable chorus, Nas kept the show moving in the perfect way, winning over the support of listeners who were getting over the unbelievable diss that preceded. Even with \u201cEther\u201d removed from the track listing, \u201cGot Ur Self A\u2026\u201d could serve as a strong introductory track that immediately sets the tone for the legendary Stillmatic<\/em> record.<\/p>\n

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17<\/strong>. Rewind<\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Stillmatic<\/em><\/p>\n

Its absolutely mind-boggling as to how little recognition this record gets. Nas wrote an entire story backwards<\/em>. Now it probably doesn\u2019t sound as impressive off first glance, but just think about the process needed when flipping a record up on its head. The plotline was consistent, the story was engaging, the dialogue was inverted and even the beat was crazy. Normally, tracks like \u201cRewind\u201d that demand a certain level of attention from the listener get swept under the rug; however, this track wields all aspects of what makes a greatly structured record while being easy on the ears. There is no other better way to execute this type of idea than what Nas delivered on \u201cRewind\u201d. <\/p>\n

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16. Cherry Wine (ft. Amy Winehouse)<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Life is Good<\/em><\/p>\n

Who would\u2019ve though that an unlikely collaboration with singer, Amy Winehouse, would spawn the most mature-sounding record in Nas\u2019 discography. A mellowed-out duet of two hopeless romantics listing the aspects they look for in a partner is as honest as it gets, especially given the shaky love lives of both artists. While we\u2019ve had a multitude of rapper\/singer duets, especially throughout the 2000\u2019s, none come close to what Nas and Amy where able to achieve sonically with Salaam Remi behind the boards. The title fits the mood just right \u2013 a record to decompress to while having a glass of cherry wine.<\/p>\n

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15. Hate Me Now (ft. Puff Daddy)<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> I Am\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Need a record to shake up the club in the late 90\u2019s\/early 2000\u2019s? Puff and Esco got you covered. There is no record that could compete with the sheer energy that this track emits throughout the speakers. Nas and Diddy made a smash with \u201cHate Me Now\u201d, creating the perfect underdog anthem to play at any event across the globe. Nas\u2019 aggressive rhymes paired with Puff\u2019s motivational chorus over that monumental beat radiate a fierce energy that translates to a competitive mindset no matter the situation. <\/p>\n

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14. If I Ruled the World (ft. Lauryn Hill)<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album: <\/strong>It Was Written<\/em><\/p>\n

If there\u2019s one song that a non-Nas fan could easily recognize from this list, it would definitely be the hopeful hymn assisted by the Fugees front-runner, Lauryn Hill. At the time of release, many frowned upon the commercialization of Nas through this record, but over time \u201cIf I Ruled The World\u201d became an iconic track as two of the genre\u2019s most elite contenders joined together to craft an overwhelmingly positive anthem. To this day, you could hear this record being played anywhere, whether its at the store or at a gathering. It wasn\u2019t the rugged hit that hip-hp heads wanted at the time but to say \u201cIf I Ruled The World\u201d stood the test of time is an understatement to this record\u2019s success.<\/p>\n

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13. Affirmative Action (ft. The Firm)<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album: <\/strong>It Was Written<\/em><\/p>\n

Now let\u2019s get to the rugged hit that the streets did end up getting. A super group led by Nas and Dr.Dre sounds like a phenomenal idea on paper; and while the super crew didn\u2019t end up working out in the end, we were still blessed with the coldest posse cut to grace the genre. Each member of the The Firm delivered a A+ performance as they gathered for a mob-inspired meeting of the New York street rap scene at the time. The track has take a life of its own as many tend to remember the track based off Foxy Brown\u2019s questionable cocaine calculation, but The Firm put on an impressive display of lyricism for a crew who hadn\u2019t really established themselves at the time.<\/p>\n

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12. Made You Look<\/strong> (Remix) (ft. Jadakiss & Ludacris)<\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> God\u2019s Son<\/em><\/p>\n

There hasn\u2019t been a single street anthem in hip-hop history that sounds as volatile and engaging as \u201cMade You Look\u201d does. The original version of the record made waves for its explosive nature and cinematic feel, but it was the remix that really sealed the deal . With Jadakiss and Ludacris as the supporting cast, the track started off hot with Kiss claiming he\u2019s \u201ctop 5 dead-or-alive off of one LP\u201d followed by an incredibly overlooked Luda verse. To top it off, Nas completely takes off with an eruptive closer, hurrying his flow to fit the adrenaline-rushing experience. Salaam Remi worked magic on the beat, crafting the perfect New York street anthem that truly captures the essence of teh city in the early 2000\u2019s.<\/p>\n

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11. Take It In Blood<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album: <\/strong>It Was Written<\/em><\/p>\n

A smooth display of lyrical exercise, \u201cTake It In Blood\u201d shares a lot of similarities with another track on the same album, \u201cShootouts\u201d. The two are engaging exhibits of Nas\u2019 pure rhyming abilities with beat tailor-made to fir the mafioso theme of the record. Where this record succeed over it counter part, however, is its silky nature compared to the tense environment that \u201cShootouts\u201d built. \u201cTake It In Blood\u201d flows much smoother as a record, especially taking into consideration the sampled hook and laid-back beat. The two records are basically one in the same at the core, but \u201cTake It In Blood\u201d is typically the record that many gravitate towards to.<\/p>\n

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10. Undying Love<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> I Am\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

A phenomenal story-telling effort that was buried under the shaky release of I Am\u2026<\/em>, Nas takes his pen to new peaks over a tragic tale of loyalty and love in New York. \u201cUndying Love\u201d tells the tale of an engaged couple who had plans to tie the knot and build a life together. Nas speaks from the perspective of the male in the relationship, basking in the rose-tinted glasses of love until he\u2019s informed that his lover was cheating on him. Seeing no option but violence, Nas intrudes the area with a vengeance and ends up slaughtering the man caught in the affair as well as his lover in the process. With police on the way, the only option he sees is to take his own life on the spot to reunite with his lover whom he held as she took her last breaths. A dramatic tale that deserves more shine for its engaging atmosphere and eloquent structure; this may go down as Nas\u2019 best storytelling track.<\/p>\n

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9. You\u2019re da Man<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Stillmatic<\/em><\/p>\n

A heart-felt track that touches on Nas\u2019 rise to power as well as the burdens it brings. The beat is an emotional rollercoaster that opens up space for Nas to vent his frustrations towards the game that tried getting rid of him at his lowest. \u201cYou\u2019re da Man\u201d was one of the earliest instances on Stillmatic <\/em>where it felt like we had finally seen the return of vintage Nas. A Large Professor beat paired with a deadly set of introspective rhymes, Nas is at his best as he pens verses with seemingly no end. This stream of consciousness still remains as a fan favorite on the comeback album, Stillmatic<\/em>, as fan rejoice at the return of Esco in his prime form. This record still hits like an emotional trainwreck to this day. <\/p>\n

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8. It Ain\u2019t Hard to Tell<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Illmatic<\/em><\/p>\n

The jazzy ending to Illmatic<\/em> was a game changer when the record dropped. Hip-hop culture is typically against sample snitching\u2014as it should be\u2014Large Professor blew the minds of every listener when they realized the song sampled the legendary Michael Jackson record, \u201cHuman Nature\u201d. Beyond the beat, we received an iconic opener as Nas starts the record off immediately with a bang and keeps the flow of thought going with no chorus or hook to break up the verses. The consistent stream of verses helps end the record off on a high note while creating that nudge to replay the album right after it finishes. \u201cIt Ain\u2019t Hard to Tell\u201d is just a dope record all across the board with no explanation needed. The greatness speaks for itself.<\/p>\n

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7. One Mic<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Stillmatic<\/em><\/p>\n

Even though hip-hop remembers Stillmatic<\/em> mostly for the \u201cEther\u201d diss track it contained, the most played song across the nation was actually the spiritual anthem that was \u201cOne Mic\u201d. Fed up with being boxed in by the industry, Nas let out all of his frustrations on this track, holding nothing back as he delivered a lyrical bomb on the Chucky Thompson-produced beat. The record went on to practically live on the charts, giving Nas the juice needed to revitalize his career in the mainstream eye. To this day, there is no record that matches the level of importance that was reached on \u201cOne Mic\u201d while simultaneously being a smash record. This just goes to show how impactful Nas is to the culture.<\/p>\n

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6. Life\u2019s a Bitch (ft. AZ)<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Illmatic<\/em><\/p>\n

A legendary record that gained traction for its feature rather than Nas\u2019 sole contributions. When a feature on a Nas album overshadows the actual Nas verse on the song, that\u2019s how you know its special feature. AZ completely took the record on as if it were his own, delivering the most iconic verse in hip-hop history. For being complete strangers to one another, Nas and AZ developed an immediate chemistry with this record and built a legacy as one of the best unofficial duos in the culture. To think without this record, we probably wouldn\u2019t have gotten The Firm or an AZ solo album.<\/p>\n

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5. The World is Yours<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Illmatic<\/em><\/p>\n

Arguably the most well known record on Illmatic<\/em>, Nas and Pete Rock made magic with their sole collaboration on the classic debut. An uplifting piano beat with an encouraging chorus from Nas, it\u2019s practically impossible to be in a bad mood when this record is on. \u201cThe World is Yours\u201d plays into the standout quote from the classic film, Scarface<\/em>, appreciating the high maintenance lifestyle that\u2019s portrayed in the music video. If it weren\u2019t for the next Illmatic<\/em> selection, this would be widely considered as the best song on Illmatic<\/em> with no contest.<\/p>\n

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4. The Message<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album: <\/strong>It Was Written<\/em><\/p>\n

Nas started his sophomore record off with a bang, sending shots at all of his peers from a distance. In hindsight, these were dark times for hip-hop as it felt like the East Coast v. West Coast beef was reaching it\u2019s apex. Though Nas typically kept his distance from the madness, he still had moments where he would send strays from a competitive mindframe. The main targets were his fellow rap phenoms, Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G., who had finally crossed into the mainstream with their fellow cliques. Nas being the fierce competitor that he is, started his album off with shots towards the genre\u2019s biggest names, even though they were once his closest friends. It\u2019s sad to see how the situation panned out for the two legends but their dedication to the culture made it possible for moments like these where an emcee like Nas could spar with his peers without there being a public feud. <\/p>\n

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3. N.Y. State of Mind<\/h1>\n
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Album:<\/strong> Illmatic<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cStraight out the fuckin\u2018 dungeons of rap, where fake n****s don\u2019t make it back,\u201d echoed through Walkmans and stereos all over New York as the world was formally introduced to hip-hop\u2019s prodigial song, Nasty Nas. What better way to introduce an artist than with a DJ Premier-produced record with no hook or chorus \u2013 just pure beats and rhymes. Nas made his mark on the hip-hop world immediately as \u201cN.Y. State of Mind\u201d captivated audiences who had dedicated their life to hip-hop culture. In a time where the genre begged for innovation, Nas came through with his own take on the foundation set by legends such as Rakim and Big Daddy Kane, making him a definitive rap star. Everybody remembers their first time hearing \u201cN.Y. State of Mind\u201d, that\u2019s how impactful this record is.<\/p>\n

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2. I Gave You Power<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Album: <\/strong>It Was Written<\/em><\/p>\n

Throughout this list, we\u2019ve covered many of Nas\u2019 legedary story-telling records; and while they each hold their right to be on a prestigious list honoring Nas\u2019 best efforts, it\u2019s difficult to say they exceed the sheer greatness that Nas delivered with \u201cI Gave You Power\u201d. To sum up the record in a quick manner, Esco raps from the perspective of a gun, detailing the violent cycle of firearms and their distributing throughout inner-city ghettos. From the vivid scenery to the thorough description of the gun, Nas dove fully in-depth in all aspects of the weapon on this record. And the cherry on top: a cinematic finish that ends at square one, showing just how easy it is to get caught in the cycle of violence in these neighborhoods. This has been repeated on multiple occasions throughout the list, but to this this day there is no story-telling record that could touch anything in Nas\u2019 chamber, especially this track.<\/p>\n

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1. Nas Is Like<\/h1>\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n

Album:<\/strong> I Am\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

There\u2019s only one word to descrive this record: iconic. From the beat laid by DJ Premier to the opening lines (\u201cFreedom or jail, clip\u2019s inserted \/ a baby\u2019s being born same time a man is murdered, the beginning and end \/ as far as rap go, it\u2019s only natural I explain my plateau and what defines my name\u201d), \u201cNas Is Like\u201d is the perfect display of who Nas is as an emcee. The lead single to his third solo studio album, Nas made sure to come correct, recruiting long-time collaborator and friend, DJ Premier, for the first offering.<\/p>\n

Everything about this record screams \u201cpure hip-hop\u201d from the highest peak, giving fans the same rush they felt when they first heard Nas on Illmatic<\/em> or \u201cLive at the Barbeque\u201d. This record was a breath of fresh air from the mafioso-inspired records that Esco did on it Was Written<\/em> and The Firm<\/em>. When you think of the perfect lead single for an album, this record should immediately be mentioned with no debate. Though his career fell into a rut with the release of I Am..<\/em> and Nastradamus<\/em>, \u201cNas is Like\u201d was the glimmer of hope that we hung on to as we awaited for Nas to return to his prime form. That speaks volumens when you take into consideration how quick people are to forget an artist when an album underperforms. Only Nas could have this type of effect on the hip-hop community and him making a record like \u201cNas is Like\u201d is a perfect example of why Esco will always get a pass to do whatever he wants.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is astonishing to think that Nas has been active in the rap game for a strong thirty years and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14044,"featured_media":917,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6],"tags":[10,9],"class_list":["post-698","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-rss","tag-culture","tag-hip-hop"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/698","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14044"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=698"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/698\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}