Nas

Hit-Boy Is The Producer Of The Year: On 21 Savage & Nas Collab, The Rise Of Loop Makers & Sampling “The Five Heartbeats” On “Legit”

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Hit-Boy is undoubtedly the producer of 2022. After closing out 2021 with a third collaborative effort with Nas, Magic, he kept the momentum high throughout the year. He reunited with Beyoncé on “THIQUE” off of Renaissance – a strong display of his ability to craft hits. However, he also locked in with some formidable MCs. We saw him work alongside legends like Snoop Dogg and 2 Chainz. He also served as the executive producer behind The Game’s Drillmatic Heart Vs. Mind and, even more recently, Nas’s King’s Disease III. 

“My responsibility is to just bring quality every time,” Hit-Boy told HNHH. “Like, really get into like the sonic sphere of where they flourish at. I feel like that’s why me and Nas win… I just like getting a specific pocket that allows their shit to breathe.”

Hit-Boy’s emphasis on bringing quality helped usher in a new era of Nas’s career. However, on the cusp of releasing King’s Disease III, 21 Savage sparked a debate surrounding Nas’ “relevance” in the culture. Fans and critics initially considered the comments disrespectful, but it didn’t take long for them to put their differences aside for “One Mic One Gun,” produced by Hit-Boy.

Hit-Boy via Thirdeyeraz
Hit-Boy via Thirdeyeraz

“I definitely was just like… I’m just a little like – man, this is crazy that we are the only genre that’s so quick to downplay the people around us, the OGs, whatever,’” Hit-Boy recalled of his initial reaction to 21’s comments. “And it’s like, I feel like what me and Nas are even pushing for is a bigger agenda just with hip hop and artists being able to mature and still make the flyest shit that they could possibly make that don’t sound dated.”

For the latest installment of HNHH’s 12 Days Of Christmas, we caught up with Hit-Boy to discuss bridging the intergenerational gap in hip-hop, King’s Disease III, and the history behind “Legit.”

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. 

Today In Hip Hop History: Nas’ Sixth Studio Album ‘God’s Son’ Turns 20 Years Old!

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On this day in Hip-Hop history, Nas released his sixth studio album, God’s Son, in 2002. This may be Nas’ most emotional album coming at a rough time in his personal life. With the passing of his mother and his bout with fellow New York rapper Jay-Z at its height, Nas catered his lyricism to be more introspective in relation to his own trials and tribulations. Nas crowned himself “God’s Son” in tribute to his mother’s legacy and to point out a self-acclaimed likeness to Jesus Christ.

The production Nas collected for this project was astounding. Working with The Alchemist, Salaam Remi, Eminem, and even Alicia Keys helped to create a sound true to New York Hip-Hop with its own modern twist. Salaam Remi produced the bulk of the album and in a time when rap was something for the club and a Neptunes’ beat was a signature this soulfully classic sound was refreshing.  The beats alone were critically acclaimed being mentioned in Vibe and Stylus Magazine and by countless critics.

Lyrically, Nas went in the opposite direction of what was popular at the time. As always, there was a true and necessary message behind everything that was said on the album, not to mention his flow and delivery were impeccable. The content was also deeply connected to what was going on in his own life. His references on songs like “Warrior” and “Last Real N***** Alive” were in reverence of his recent past mother. He even dedicated the track “Dance” to his mom. There were also a lot of Christian undertones throughout the album. Whether it be through titles of a song or metaphorically in bars spat, Nas’s religious views were intertwined with the majority of this album. Some of the other lyricists featured on the album were Alicia Keys and Nas’s ex-wife Kelis.

Commercially, this album was successful as well. It was certified platinum on January 14, 2003, and peaked at #18 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It also claimed the #1 spot on the Billboard Hip Hop/ R&B chart. The singles from this album, “Made You Look”, “I Can”, and “Get Down,” were also hits. Two of the Three released claimed spots on the Billboard Hot 100. “Made You Look” peaked at #32 and “I Can” peaked at #12. “I Can” has become a timeless song in Hip Hop over the years being an anthem of lifelong success for children in the black community.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Nas’ Sixth Studio Album ‘God’s Son’ Turns 20 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Styles P Says That 21 Savage Is Not A Lyricist

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Millennial rap star 21 Savage has put himself under the microscope after his comments about Nas’ relevancy in the rap game.

Styles P recently appeared on Math Hoffa’s My Expert Opinion and commented on Savage’s opinion of Nas, saying, “You can’t hate the young fellas for being stupid. If they sayin’ illogical sh*t, that’s our fault. Those that came before ’em, now we gotta pull back and see, where did we f*ck up.”

Styles continued, “I like 21 Savage! I don’t love him, I like him a lot lot. Don’t love him, I like him a lot, lot, lot. The sh*t he say tickles me pink and I’m like, ‘I can’t believe this n*gga said that. It’s dope.’ I f*cks with him.”

He goes further into his analysis of 21’s skills and his opinion of one of the greatest rappers of all time. “My n*gga, you not a lyricist. F*ck all that,” he said. “Drake’s supposed to tell this n*gga, ‘N*gga, chill. That’s Nasir. That’s Nasir Jones.’

The post [WATCH] Styles P Says That 21 Savage Is Not A Lyricist appeared first on The Source.

Styles P Argues That 21 Savage Isn’t A Lyricist

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If you thought Hip Hop was slowing down because it’s the end of the year, Styles P is shaking things up. The controversy regarding 21 Savage’s remarks about Nas’ relevancy took over Hip Hop for a brief period. As conversations have dissipated, Styles shares his unfiltered thoughts about the hot topic.

“You can’t hate the young fellas for being stupid,” Styles said on My Expert Opinion. “If they sayin’ illogical sh*t, that’s our fault. Those that came before ’em, now we gotta pull back and see, where did we f*ck up.”

Read More: 21 Savage Faces Backlash After Claiming Nas Is Irrelevant

Others chimed in, and as several voices overlapped one another during the discussion, The Lox hitmaker wanted to make his point clear.

“I like 21 Savage!” Styles declared. “I don’t love him, I like him a lot lot. Don’t love him, I like him a lot, lot, lot. The sh*t he say tickles me pink and I’m like, ‘I can’t believe this n*gga said that. It’s dope.’ I f*cks with him.”

However, Styles switched things up with a passionate delivery.

“My n*gga, you not a lyricist. F*ck all that,” he said. “Drake’s supposed to tell this n*gga, ‘N*gga, chill. That’s Nasir. That’s Nasir Jones.’ My n*gga, you are talented, you are dope. You’re f*ckin’ fly, your flavor, you mean a lot to the culture. You are important… You ain’t one of them. You ain’t a three-point shooter from deep. Nas is.”

Read More: 21 Savage Says He & Nas Planned To Collab Before “Irrelevant” Comments

Following the controversy, Nas released his 21 Savage collaboration, “One Mic, One Gun.” It was a track that 21 later said was already in the vault. When announcing the single’s release, Nas emphasized the need for more unity in Hip Hop, especially during tense moments.

“Only way we moving is with love, respect and unity,” Nas wrote. “The foundational principles of hip hop. Excited to collaborate with my young brother and I hope more artist use turbulent moments and turn them into a time to make new art. That’s what it’s about.”

[WATCH] Wu-Tang Clan and Nas Releases ‘NY State of Mind’ Tour Mini Documentary

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Wu-Tang Clan and Nas Releases 'NY State of Mind' Tour Mini Documentary

The legendary hip-hop titans Wu-Tang Clan and Nas, and special guest Busta Rhymes have created a mini-documentary showcasing their current US NY State of Mind tour. Live Nation made an 8-minute movie that provides viewers an inside peek at the legendary tour and the bond between the musicians through privileged and personal interviews and behind-the-scenes backstage footage.

The mini-documentary shows the different artists discussing what “New York State of Mind” means to them while they were on-site in St. Louis for the tour’s launch last month. They discuss how significant it is to highlight the fact that hip-hop originated on Aug. 11, 1973, in the Bronx and has had an impact on all five boroughs of New York, how the city’s native Hip-Hop titans who forever shaped the rap scene, and culture outside the Empire State have culminated into this tour, and

The 2022 NY State of Mind Tour continues this week across North America in Phoenix, Irvine, Oakland, Wheatland, and Los Angeles before ending in San Diego, CA, on Thursday, October 6, at Gallagher Square at Petco Park. Tickets are available at LiveNation.com.

You can watch the mini-doc below.

The post [WATCH] Wu-Tang Clan and Nas Releases ‘NY State of Mind’ Tour Mini Documentary appeared first on The Source.

Nas & Wu-Tang Clan Debut “NY State Of Mind Tour” Documentary

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Bouncing back from the pandemic closures, Nas and Wu-Tang Clan are currently embarked on the NY State Of Mind tour. The iconic Staten Island collective and the Grammy-award-winning rapper have taken their shows all across America.

For those who haven’t been able to attend, Live Nation produced a new documentary providing fans with some behind-the-scenes footage of the tour. It’s an eight-minute clip that shines a light on the relationship and camaraderie between Wu-Tang Clan and Nas.

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 25: The Wu-Tang Clan performs live during Tribeca TV: Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics And Men at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival at Beacon Theatre on April 25, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)

The documentary largely features their show in St. Louis with the interviews detailing the importance of the Bronx and the trajectory of hip-hop since.

“We been through so much, you know, we live in a fast city. That struggle had a lot to do with molding us, you know? So a lot of times, we was listening to the music that was coming from neighborhoods that we came from, which was the five boroughs,” Raekwon says in the video. “So that became literature in the street. Then the next thing you know, it got incorporated in the music. So it kind of like transcended into other cities.”

Busta Rhymes also makes a cameo in the documentary as well.

Press play on Wu-Tang Clan and Nas’ mini documentary on the NY State Of Mind tour below.

Jadakiss Names The Top 5 Voices In Rap In The First Clip From Uproxx’s ‘Fresh Pair’

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While Jadakiss has long been considered one of hip-hop’s most underrated figures, he’s also got one of the genre’s most recognizable voices. His gravely tone has graced some of rap’s most beloved hits for nearly three decades, as demonstrated by his standout performance in The Lox’s Verzuz battle with The Diplomats, and he’s still a favorite go-to for a feature verse for contemporary artists who need his signature sound to bring some New York grit to their own work.

In the upcoming debut episode of Uproxx’s newest show, Fresh Pair, Jadakiss breaks down his own top five voices in hip-hop with hosts Just Blaze and Katty Customs. It’s a fascinating look into one of the most underrated facets of rap success from one of the most successful but underrated artists in the business.

“Nobody never asked me who I think got the top five or top three or any kind of voices,” he exclaims before settling into deep thought. “It took me a while… [to learn] how somebody’s voice can add on to what they bring to the table.”

He cites a few classic MCs as influences to his own unmistakable tone, but we won’t spoil it here. You can check out his answers in the video above and catch the full episode of Fresh Pair on Wednesday 9/28 at 3 pm ET / 12 pm PT.