Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, professionally known as Nas, was born on September 14, 1973, to Olu Dara, a unique and unconventional jazz musician. This talented individual began his musical journey at a very young age, joining the Devastatin' Seven at the tender age of nine in the mid-1980s. The fruits of his labor can be heard on his debut album "Illmatic," released in 1994 by Columbia/SM Entertainment. This album garnered significant attention for its authentic portrayal of ghetto life and Nas's bold decision to avoid incorporating misogyny and violence, which were prevalent in some hip-hop music at the time.
Before the release of his debut album, Nas made his first recorded appearance on Main Source's classic "Live at the Barbecue." However, his big break came when former 3rd Bass member MC Serch included his verse in the song "Halftime" on the soundtrack of the 1992 film Zebrahead. This led to a management deal with Serch's management company, Serchlight Productions.
Nas's subsequent albums include "It Was Written," "I Am...," "Nastradamus," "Stillmatic," "From Illmatic to Stillmatic," "The Lost Tapes Vol. 1," and "God's Son."
