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 world of Hollywood looks big from the outside, but from what we can tell, celebrities are near-constantly realizing they’re relatives. This often happens when they collaborate on projects together, as we saw with FKA Twigs and Jorja Smith when they joined forces on her caprisongs mixtape in early 2022. As it turns out, they aren’t the only two stars who’ve found out about sharing a bloodline in recent years. During an appearance on the Connect The Dots podcast, comedian Tracy Morgan shared that he’s got family ties with one of our favourite New York spitters – Nas.
“I turn the last page, and guess who’s sitting there? Nas. Me and Nas is third cousins on my mom’s side,” he said of his experience filming an upcoming episode of Finding Your Roots. “Me and Esco was always tight before that. I did a show years ago on Comedy Central called One Mic that was for Nas’ mom that just passed away, so me and Esco always been tight,” he further explained. Apparently, the revelation made Morgan emotional, and he and Nas shed some tears together when the former had the opportunity to share the news.
Nas and Tracy Morgan Are Even Closer Than We Thought
“I called him up and I say, ‘Yo Esco. Guess what? I just did Finding Your Roots,’” Morgan told the podcast hosts. “‘Me and you related.’ He started crying, I started crying. And I said to him, ‘If you ever need me, I’m there, cuz.’ He said, ‘Cuz, if you ever need me I’m there.’”
As Uproxx notes, it was only a few years ago when Denzel Curry and Smino came to a similar realization, happily sharing news of their familial bond with fans online. Elsewhere in hip-hop news, Nas put his legendary album run to the side to celebrate Rakim at the Grandmaster Hip-Hop Awards. During his speech, the Magic artist gave his fellow longtime MC his well-deserved flowers, which you can read more about at the link below.
PBS has been a valuable source for learning for generations, and now, thanks to the network’s genealogy series Finding Your Roots, two entertainers learned they are much more connected than they ever knew. Comedian Tracy Morgan recently appeared on the podcast Connect The Dots, where he talked about discovering his relation to another New York-based entertainer after years of friendship on an upcoming episode of Finding Your Roots.
As he recounts flipping through a family tree, he says, “I turn the last page, and guess who’s sitting there? Nas. Me and Nas is third cousins on my mom’s side. Me and Esco was always tight before that. I did a show years ago on Comedy Central called One Mic that was for Nas’ mom that just passed away, so me and Esco always been tight.”
Upon learning that they were actually related, he says they shared some tears. “I called him up and I say, ‘Yo Esco. Guess what? I just did Finding Your Roots,’” he recalled. “‘Me and you related.’ He started crying, I started crying. And I said to him, ‘If you ever need me, I’m there, cuz.’ He said, ‘Cuz, if you ever need me I’m there.’”
They aren’t the only rap relatives. In 2021, rappers Denzel Curry and Smino also learned they were cousins.
You can watch the full episode of Connect The Dots above and Morgan’s episode of Finding Your Roots when it airs in February.
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones is best known by his stage name Nas. However, to two young New York City natives, the rapper is best known simply as “Dad.” In the 50-year-old’s long and storied career behind the mic, he fathered two children and married a notable R&B singer. Nas has also discussed his journey of fatherhood at length through several songs. Specifically, the rapper has expressed regret for not being present enough during his daughter’s early days.
Destiny Jones was born to Nas and his ex fiancé Carmen Bryant on June 15, 1994. Her birth came just months after the release of Nas’ debut studio album Illmatic, which remains one of the most revered and influential bodies of work in all of hip-hop to this day. Due to the rapper’s newfound success, Nas saw himself traveling the world, performing on stages, and fine-tuning the future of the rap landscape during his daughter’s formative years. Nas has expressed regret at missing out on some of his daughter’s early milestones and not being present in her life due to his busy schedule, though he always provided for Destiny and Carmen Bryant financially.
These days, Nas’ daughter has made a name for herself as an Internet personality, and CEO of her makeup brand, Matic Cosmetics. The 29-year-old influencer can frequently be found posting on social media, sometimes alongside her superstar father.
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Singer Kelis and son Knight Jones attend YO GABBA GABBA! @ KIA PRESENTS YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY produced by S2BN Entertainment in association with The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN Entertainment at Nokia L.A. LIVE on November 26, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/WireImage)
After a two-year relationship, Nas married Kelis in Atlanta, Georgia in 2005. Kelis is best known as the singer/songwriter behind the 2003 smash hit “Milkshake” which has been a cultural staple since its release. On July 21, 2009 Kelis gave birth to Nas’ second child and only son, Knight Jones. Unlike his older sister, Knight doesn’t seem to have much of a social media presence at this time, likely due to his age. Of course, the public may begin to see more of the former power-couples’ kid in the coming years as he enters adulthood.
On the night his son was born, Nas spread the word, by making an announcement during a live show in Queens, New York. Per sources close to the couple, Kelis disagreed with the decision to make their son’s birth public information. This disagreement served as just one of many public disputes between the couple.
Nas and Kelis finalized their divorce in May of 2010, resulting in a years-long public feud between the performing artists. In the decade since their marriage ended, Nas and Kelis have hurled insults and accusations of abuse at one another. The pair have also engaged in prolonged fights regarding child support and alimony payments. These fights have caused fans to take to social media to choose sides.
Though the pair have gone their separate ways, the two seem to finally be co-parenting respectfully in 2023 and beyond. Kelis has gone on to have two more children with her second husband, who died of stomach cancer In 2022. Meanwhile, Nas has reportedly engaged in brief love affairs with notable figures such as Mary J. Blige and Nicki Minaj.
Hit-Boy is one of five Producer of the Year nominees at the 2024 Grammys. But if you ask him, it’s already in the bag. TMZ caught up with Hit-Boy, who revealed he wants to win this time.
“You just gotta look at the discog I went crazy on albums, really giving people a sound so we’ll see,” Hit-Boy said.
You can hear it below.
One of the testaments to Hit-Boy’s year is his work with Nas. Nas and Hit-Boy have concluded their two rap trilogies, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be collaborations in the future. Speaking in a clip shared on Instagram, Nas stated he now knows he could return to create more together.
“For me, there’s an emotional moment because to complete something beyond what you thought you were even working on, we didn’t know we’d do six albums,” said Nas. “So to be at this point, it’s satisfying, it’s gratifying, it’s a feeling of accomplishment on another level for myself as an MC, and I’m lucky enough to work with some of the greatest producers in the world.”
With Black Friday behind us, Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday share the week following Thanksgiving. Giving Tuesday, often described as a global day of giving or a global generosity movement, is held each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The amount of charities to donate to may seem overwhelming, but we have made a list for hip-hop fans who want to donate to a good cause led by some of their favorite artists.
Nas, Save the Music foundation: For over 25 years, Nas’ organization has been delivering equitable access to music education for millions of students nationwide. Find out more and donate at https://www.savethemusic.org.
Beyoncé, BeyGOOD foundation– BeyGOOD foundation: Founded by Queen Bey, BeyGOOD focuses on economic equity by supporting marginalized and under-resourced programs, committed to serving people through educational scholarships, the advocacy of internships, and access to resources for advancing entrepreneurship and small business sustainability across the country and abroad. In addition to donating, people can volunteer with various affiliated causes. Find out more at https://beygood.org/.
Chance the Rapper, SocialWorks: Since 2016, Chance the Rapper’s Chicago-based organization has been empowering youth through the arts, education, and civic engagement. In addition to making a donation, supporters can also cop some SocialWorks swag on the site at https://www.socialworkschi.org/about-us/
50 Cent,G-Unity: In addition to being a successful rapper, 50 Cent is known to be a savvy businessman and his charity is helping empower youth with a year-long course that equips students in high-need communities with business acumen so they can start their own companies and achieve generational wealth. Find out more and donate at https://gunityfoundation.org
Akon, the Borgen project: Growing up in Senegal, Akon did not always have access to electricity, a problem facing many people still today. In 2014, Akon launched the “Akon Lighting Africa” project to help Africans access low-cost yet sustainable energy through solar power. In addition to donations, fans can also volunteer to be part of the organization’s efforts. More information can be found at https://borgenproject.org/electricity-to-africa/#:~:text=In%202014%2C%20Akon%20launched%20the,to%20more%20communities%20in%20Africa.
Snoop Dogg, Snoop Youth Football League: It’s no secret that Snoop is a many of many talents- rapper, entrepreneur, gamer, and football expert. His Youth Football league, which now includes basketball and football, helps provide youth with a solid foundation through sports. Find out more and donate at https://snoopfootball.com.
Big Sean, Sean Anderson Foundation: Detroit native Big Sean’s nonprofit focuses on providing Detroit-area youth with programs designed to promote economic prosperity, education and training, physical and mental health initiatives, and more. More information can be found at https://seanandersonfoundation.org/about/
Alicia Keys, Keep a Child Alive: Alicia Keys’ charity provides HIV/AIDS service and support for 9 community organizations that serve people throughout Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and India. Find out how you can get involved or donate at https://www.keepachildalive.org
Kanye West,Donda’s House (Common has also donated): Kanye’s mother played an important role in his life and he’s honored her legacy through Donda’s house, which provides programming that combines creative arts such as music and fashion with business development, marketing skills, and event planning to young adults on the south side of Chicago. More information can be found at ) https://www.macfound.org/grantee/dondas-house-10104166/
Rihanna, Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF): the foundation was founded in 2012 by Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty in honor of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite. CLF invests in climate justice initiatives in the Caribbean & United States and helps communities prepare for and withstand natural disasters. To find our more, visit https://claralionelfoundation.org
J Cole, Dreamville Foundation: North Carolina native J Cole’s charitable organization provides programs, events, and charitable donations that empower and inspire youth in his native Fayetteville to achieve success in reaching their dreams. Supporters can donate at https://www.thedreamvillefoundation.org
MF DOOM is a rap legend in every sense of the word. Often describes as “your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper” he garnered respect and admiration from across the genre’s landscape. It’s been three years since his tragic passing and in all the time since fans of the late rapper have poured out a variety of tributes for him. The most recent came from an editorial posted by his former assistant Courtney Brown in The Source.
In the piece, Brown sheds some light on a long-rumored legendary crossover between DOOM and Nas. “I moved to L.A. to assist him as he worked on DangerDOOM. During that time we spent a lot of time finding inspiration for that album and hanging out with my best friend at the time Kelis and her husband, rapper Nas,” she begins. “One day after a bougie L.A. dinner I convinced them to come back to my hotel room where DOOM put on some beats and Nas began freestyling. This lasted nearly an hour. DOOM had his Special Herbs CD on him and it was a historical moment not captured on camera or recorded.” Check out the full story below.
While MF DOOM and Nas never got to formally collaborate, they did express admiration for each other. DOOM said in a later interview that he always wished they had recorded some of the freestyles the pair did together. He mentioned one Special Herbs beat in particular that Nas crushed in a freestyle but it never made it to release.
Earlier this year questions began to arise about the health care that resulted in DOOM’s untimely death. After his wife expressed concern publicly over the rare reaction he had that ultimately proved fatal, the hospital where he eventually died offered an apology. What do you think of the new details shared about Nas and MF DOOM’s legendary freestyle session? Let us know in the comment section below.
No ID’s impressive resume speaks for itself, as he has produced countless hits. The legendary producer and former MC has played an important role in shaping some of the greatest voices in hip hop and R&B. Since 1992, he has produced countless classics for legendary rappers and singers. He also is responsible for crafting early hits for the big names of today. With his label ARTium Recordings, No ID also has helped develop many careers, including the likes of Jhené Aiko, Vince Staples, and Snoh Aalegra. Additionally, he was also a member of the Cocaine 80’s collective alongside James Fauntleroy and other like-minded musicians.
With a vast catalog of classic beats, No ID has maintained his legacy. Today, we will be taking a deep dive into the producer’s seven most unforgettable productions. These selections include songs solely produced by No ID and exclude his countless co-productions. Take a look at the list below.
No ID’s working relationship with Common runs deep. The two first united back in 1992 to release Can I Borrow A Dollar?, the Chicago rapper’s debut album under the name Common Sense. The album marked No ID’s first production credits and a fruitful relationship that continued further. No ID eventually produced both Common’s The Dreamer/The Believer and Nobody’s Smiling albums in their entirety, as well as the majority of One Day It’ll All Make Sense. He also produced Common’s 1994 album, Resurrection, which included “I Used to Love H.E.R.” An all-time hip hop classic, Common spits a love letter to hip hop over a jazzy boom bap beat. Out of the many songs that the two created together, “I Used to Love H.E.R.” remains their most significant collaboration and one of No ID’s most unforgettable productions.
JAY-Z – “D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)” (2009)
No ID has a track record of making beats for contentious songs within hip hop culture. Perhaps the most memorable is his 2009 collaboration with JAY-Z that declared the “Death of Auto-Tune.” The song criticized the popular use of auto-tune in modern music. “No ID on the track, let the story begin,” Jay says before starting his first verse over a saxophone-heavy beat with a hard-hitting drum break.
“D.O.A.” was quite polarizing. It garnered reactions from artists who took offense, the many rappers who remixed the track, and T-Pain, who later joined Jay on stage during a live performance of the song. Some of No ID’s later productions also started massive dialogues within hip hop, including Big Sean, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay Electronica’s “Control.” There was also JAY-Z’s “The Story of OJ,” which Pusha T repurposed into a lethal diss track with “The Story of Adidon.”
Rick Ross feat. Cee-Lo Green – “Tears Of Joy” (2010)
Rick Ross started “Tears of Joy” with a shout-out to No ID, just like JAY-Z did on “D.O.A.” A highlight from Teflon Don, which many consider to be his magnum opus, “Tears of Joy” sees Rick Ross at his most reflective. The soulful and slowly-building instrumental brings the best out of Rozay, resulting in one of the most emotional moments of his discography. He looks back at his journey, crying joyfully at his success. The powerful chorus from Cee-Lo Green takes the song to another level, complementing the No ID production. The gorgeous instrumental is one of the producer’s most memorable beats. It was later repurposed by Slaughterhouse for the 14-minute “Truth or Truth, Pt. 1.”
Nas – “Daughters” (2012)
While Salaam Remi handled most of the production on Nas’s Life is Good album, No ID also made sizable contributions, producing six tracks. Among the tracklist was the Grammy-nominated single “Daughters.” A mature song about watching his daughter grow up, Nas speaks to fathers with daughters and addresses his own shortcomings as a parent. The track’s soulful production evokes the emotional transparency of the lyrics, making for one of Nas’s best tracks and one of No ID’s most unforgettable productions.
Vince Staples feat. Snoh Aalegra – “Jump Off The Roof” (2015)
No ID played an integral role in Vince Staples’s early career, producing most of his Shyne Coldchain II mixtape and his single, “Hands Up.” He also handles the majority of the production on Summertime ‘06, the debut album from the Long Beach rapper and former ARTium signee. Among its 20-song tracklist is “Jump Off the Roof,” a No ID-produced banger that ponders one’s addictions. Snoh Aalegra, another ARTium signee, appears on the track as well. The hectic production of “Jump Off the Roof” brings the best out of Vince, resulting in one of his most exciting tracks.
Rihanna – “Higher” (2016)
No ID and Rihanna have worked together on multiple occasions, but their greatest and most memorable collaboration comes from 2016’s ANTI. “Higher” is one of Rihanna’s most vulnerable moments and greatest vocal performances. Thanks to No ID’s cinematic production, Rihanna delivers one of her best ballads. The minimal strings and elegant piano dance around her vocals as she belts every word. “Higher” was eventually sampled for Jay Electronica’s “Flux Capacitor” from A Written Testimony, an album on which No I.D. also produced.
JAY-Z – “4:44” (2017)
After years of prolific collaborations, JAY-Z and No ID came together for 4:44, Jay’s most personal work to date. While Jay’s emotionally transparent lyricism fueled the album’s substance, No ID’s unique approach to production clearly inspired its artistic direction. “I began to play the samples like I would play an instrument,” he told Rolling Stone about the album’s creation. A sample-heavy album, 4:44’s use of soul and jazz records helped emphasize the lyrical content.
The album’s title track is a standout moment that sees JAY-Z openly apologizing to Beyoncé for his infidelity and trying to be a better husband. The looped sample of Hannah Williams & The Affirmations’ “Late Nights & Heartbreak” accentuates Jay’s vulnerability. “I’m never gonna treat you like I should,” the sample cries as it relates to the somber tone of the verses. With an unforgettable beat from No ID, “4:44” acts as the album’s focal point and is one of JAY-Z’s most powerful songs.
Usher has had a star-studded week performing in Las Vegas. He’s kicked his high profile residency in the city up to a new gear and bringing some big names with him. Dr. Dre, J-Lo, Doja Cat, Summer Walker, and Jessica Alba all showed up to either attend or even join the R&B singer on-stage. But one guest totally stole the show from everyone coming on stage and playing a pair of his classic tracks.
That guest star was Nas. The rap legend took the stage on Friday, October 20 during Usher’s performance and he made the most of his time. He unpacked songs like “If I Rules The World (Imagine That) and “You Owe Me” to a crowd that was absolutely feeling it. He took to Instagram after the performance to share more thoughts about it. “your show was immaculate! I had a great time!” he captioned the accompanying Instagram post. Check out the clip of his performance below.
Usher’s Vegas residency has already made a pretty significant impact on the city. That became clear when Las Vegas honored him with not only a key to the city, but also a holiday named after him. October 17 was officially declared Usher Raymond Day in Las Vegas. The honor comes in advance of another connection between the singer and the city.
Next year, Usher will take the stage as part of the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime show. He’s also due to release a brand new album that very same night, his first since 2016’s Hard II Love. The announcement of his halftime show performance has made his ongoing Vegas residency even more popular. Fans have showed out in an attempt to get a sneak preview at what the entire country will see during the halftime show. What do you think of Nas joining Usher on stage during his Las Vegas residency? Let us know in the comment section below.
On this day in Hip-Hop History, New York-based supergroup The Firm released the sole studio album, The Album. As a collaborative effort made by Nas, Aftermath label-head Dr. Dre and marketing genius Steve Stoute, The Album was designed to boost the commercial and mainstream appeal of four of New York’s most prolific emcees: Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Cormega (unfortunately Cormega and the rest of those involved never saw eye-to-eye and he was swiftly replaced by Queensbridge Nature prior to finishing The Album).
Around the time of the group’s formation, its future members were at a pivotal moment in their careers. Nas, who had recently released his prolific debut Illmatic, was not receiving his due respect as one of the greatest active rappers of the time. Of course, he was in great standing with the actual rap community (he was the first non-Wu Tang member to appear on a Wu-Tang track), his fame among the public was disproportional. This disparity forced Nas to hire Stoute as his manager in an attempt to change his commercial approach.
Ironically, this was the second collaborative project of East Coast and West Coast artists involved in the coastal beef of that era. The first being the late Tupac Shakur and the Boot Camp Clik’s 1996 One Nation project.
Simultaneously, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Cormega were all experience a momentous rise in success. Foxy Brown’s work from 1995 with Jay-Z’s hit “Ain’t No Nig*a” in 1996 lead to her becoming one of the most coveted female emcees in New York. Her popularity in the industry led to a bidding war for her contract, won by Def Jam Recordings. AZ was coming off the success of his 1995 debut LP Doe or Die and Cormega was just released from serving a bid in prison. It would seem that the stars had aligned so that this project could take place.
This first time the quartet appeared on a single was Nas’ “Affirmative Action” on his sophomore LP It Was Written. The group’s chemistry and the single’s critical and commercial success made coming together as a supergroup a no-brainer for all involved.
Both the group’s name and the title of the album are an illustration of the 1991 John Grisham legal-thriller novel The Firm.
Commercially, the endeavor as a whole was a mass success. The Album debuted at #1 on both the Billboard 200 chart and Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. It sold 147,000 copies in its first week and went on to sell 925,000 in the United States. The record also had international success charting in Canada (where it sold 50,000 units), France, and the Netherlands.
