Nas Vinyl Records
Beginning with his classic debut, Illmatic (1994), Nas has stood tall as one of New York City's leading rap voices, outspokenly expressing a righteous, self-empowered swagger that has endeared him to critics and hip-hop purists. Whether proclaiming himself "Nasty Nas" or "Nas Escobar" or "Nastradamus" or "God's Son," the self-appointed King of New York has battled numerous adversaries, none more challenging than Jay-Z, who vied with Nas for the throne left in the wake of the Notorious B.I.G.'s 1997 assassination. Such headline-worthy drama has informed his provocative rhymes, delivered with a masterful flow and a wise perspective over beats by a range of producers, from DJ Premier and Pete Rock to the Alchemist and Kanye West.