Nasir Jones (born September 14, 1973), better known by his stage name Nas, formerly Nasty Nas,[1] is an American rapper. Son of jazz musician Olu Dara, Nas is well known for his 1994 debut album Illmatic.[2] This album established Nas as one of hip-hop's most profound lyricists, introducing his signature poetic style. He has since then been regarded as one of hip-hop's greatest MCs [2]. Raised in the notorious Queensbridge housing projects in New York City, he represents a continuation of a hip-hop tradition in Queensbridge that has spanned through early hip-hop, including the Juice Crew, Mobb Deep, and MC Shan.

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