The official announcement — spotted on FakeShore Drive — come after SXSW fans were treated to the news by Nas himself. Nonetheless, Detroit’s Boldy James become the first artist signed to Mass Appeal new venture as a record label. Very dope.
Robert De Niro Intros Nas Documentary
Nas premiered his documentary Time Is Illmatic at the 13th annual Tribeca Film Festival last night. Festival co-founder and Oscar winner Robert De Niro introduced the film. After the showing of the documentary, Nas hit the stage for a performing of Illmatic in its entirety. Tickets for a viewing of Nas’ documentary can be purchased here. Illmatic XX is in stores now.
DEBUNKED: Nas Did Not Ghostwrite ‘Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It’ For Will Smith
I really thought he wrote that track, too. The below excerpt is taken from Nas’ pretty lengthy Q&A for Reddit’s Ask Me Anything series, of which — if you have time to spend lost in the entire session — you can enjoy here (where he also reveals wanting to work with Bishop Nehru, having a crush on Sofia Vergara, asking Jay Electronica to drop his album and more).
How did you end up (allegedly) ghostwriting for Will Smith?
Alright, let’s clear this up once and for all. I hung out with Will in the studio. And watched him write it. It was a fun studio session, and I said a line or two or three to him. It wasn’t that serious. Will Smith wrote that song. But seriously, I watched him have fun making that record on his own, and Will is a true MC.
ALBUM STREAM: Nas – Illmatic XX
For those looking to hear the revitalization of Illmatic can enjoy it below. It definitely took me back to when I first heard the album (honesty time: I was super late and it was in college….sue me).
VIBE Visits Nas & Jungle’s Childhood Apartment
VIBE‘s Mikey Fresh visits the Queenbridge Housing apartment that Nas & his brother Jungle grew up in, reflecting with Jungle on some of their childhood memories.
Google Play Reflects On 20th Anniversary Of Nas’ ‘Illmatic’
Check out this Google Play special feature which features Nas, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and more as they reflect on the twentieth anniversary of Illmatic. Illmatic XX drops April 15th (preorder here).
Nas & Pharrell Perform At Coachella (Full Performances)
Two of the more notable acts at this year’s Coachella. Included in the clips: Nas blessed the fans with appearances from JAY Z & Diddy, and Skateboard P brought out Gwen Stefani (!), Snoop Dogg and more. Check out a full timeless pics above; additional clips below.
TRAILER: Nas – Time Is Illmatic (Documentary)
UPDATE: An even better, more official trailer for the upcoming documentary, courtesy of Vulture.
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I spotted this gem on Awards Circuit….the upcoming Nas’ documentary will be premiered at this year’s Tribeca Festival (April 16th). After enjoying the trailer, you can check out an official press release below.
New York, NY (February 19, 2014) — The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) today announced that the world premiere of the documentary Time is Illmatic, will open the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival. The film follows the trajectory of Nas’ 1994 landmark debut album, Illmatic– widely considered one of the most important and revolutionary albums in hip-hop. The premiere, taking place on Wednesday, April 16, will be followed by a special musical performance where Nas will perform the groundbreaking album from front to back. Time is Illmatic, is directed by multimedia artist, One9, written by Erik Parker, and produced by One9, Parker, and Anthony Saleh. The Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, will run through April 27th.
Time Is Illmatic traces Nas’s influences and the insurmountable odds he faced in creating the greatest work of music from hip-hop’s second golden era. The film tracks the musical legacy of the Jones family — handed down to Nas from his jazz musician father, Olu Dara, the support of his Queensbridge neighborhood crew, and the loyalty of his younger brother Jabari “Jungle” Fret. Twenty years after its release, Illmatic is widely recognized as a hip-hop benchmark that encapsulates the sociopolitical outlook, enduring spirit, and collective angst of a generation of young men searching for their voice in America. Time Is Illmatic is supported by The Ford Foundation’s Just Films and Tribeca Film Institute’s Tribeca All Access program.
“I want to thank the Tribeca Film Festival for supporting the film with the incredible platform they’ve built over the years,” said Nas. “It’s an honor to premiere this film in my hometown. I also want to thank One9 and Erik Parker for their persistence and hard work. Those guys and I come from the same place and era, which gives the doc an authenticity that is important to me. We wanted this film to represent the real, from the storyline all the way down to the directors and producers.”
“Like the Festival itself, Time is Illmatic and the groundbreaking body of work it recognizes has roots grounded in New York City, but represents and reaches communities far beyond,” said Jane Rosenthal, CEO and Co-founder of Tribeca Film Festival. “The film spotlights a musical journey with community and family at its core and we look forward to celebrating this pivotal moment in hip hop history as we open our 13th edition.”
“Throughout the journey, we see the metamorphosis of Nas as a young street poet, full of a rich musical legacy, transforming the pain and isolation of growing up in Queensbridge Houses into raw, honest lyrics, illuminating a spirit that inspired generations from the past, present, and the future. Experiencing the stories, passion, and energy of a modern day alchemist shaping lyrical dust to diamonds was truly an honor and we are extremely proud to premiere the film at Tribeca,” said One9. “I want to thank Nas, Jungle, Olu Dara, The Jones family, the Tribeca Film Institute, and Ford Foundation for allowing Erik Parker and me to create an authentic and unfiltered documentary film.”
Hip Hop luminary and multi-platinum artist, Nas, released his debut album Illmatic in 1994, and he has gone on to sell over 20 million albums worldwide. The legendary Queens rapper, son of jazz musician Olu Dara, is widely recognized as a visionary and lauded for a seminal body of work that spans a two-decade career. He has released nine solo albums and three compilations, and will release Illmatic XX, a special 20th anniversary edition of the landmark debut, on April 15 by SONY Legacy. Fans can now pre-order the 2CD set on iTunes and both the 2CD set and 1LP vinyl via Amazon.com.
The 2014 Tribeca Film Festival will announce its feature film slate the first week of March.
Nas, Q-Tip & The Roots Perform On ‘The Tonight Show’
Watching this brought me back. Continuing his promotional efforts for Illmatic XX (out next week), Nas appeared on The Tonight Show to perform the classic ‘One Love’ and ‘The World Is Yours’ (below) alongside Q-Tip & The Roots.
Zane Lowe Interviews Nas
While in the UK, Nas sat down with Zane Lowe over on BBC 1 Radio. He spoke on the impact of Illmatic, producers, his writing process, lost rhyme books, opening up for The Fugees and more.
Nas Talks ‘Illmatic’ On ‘Real Time With Bill Maher’
Nas has been making several moves in lieu of Illmatic‘s 20-year anniversary, and his latest stop was on Bill Maher’s show. In addition to “participating” (not really) on the political panel and pushing Illmatic XX (out April 15th), he also spoke on poor communities, DeSean Jackson and more.
Nas Performs At The Kennedy Center In D.C. (Video)
Nas held down an entire weekend at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as part of both the Hip Hop World Festival as well as Illmatic‘s 20 year anniversary….not only that, he was backed by DJ Green Lantern and the National Symphony Orchestra. YSDWYSD got footage of the event, with Nasir performing ‘The World Is Yours’ above and ‘You’re Da Man’ and ‘Live At The BBQ’ below.
A Conversation With Nas & Michael Eric Dyson (At Georgetown University)
Nas is currently in the Nation’s Capital, and last night, was the guest of honor at Georgetown University. Above, he speaks to professor Michael Eric Dyson on the state of Hip-Hop, Illmatic (and Dyson’s book that analyzed it) and more. 9th Wonder was also in the building, handling DJ duties.
Nas – I’m A Villain (Unreleased)
Since we are late in throwing this up, information has been obtained regarding this song. A KanyeToThe user explained that it’s from somewhere between 1991 to 1994 and is assumed to be produced by Large Professor. It’s also apparently an early version of ‘N.Y. State of Mind’ and it’s been in the internet abyss for at least a few years.
UPDATE: Nas Brings Out Boldy James & Fashawn At SXSW
UPDATE: Fashawn’s appearance at Nas’ Mass Appeal showcase was added below.
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During the Mass Appeal showcase at SXSW, Nas brought out Boldy James, who spoke to XXL about Nas’ endorsement. Check it out below.
How do you feel about getting a co-sign from Nas?
Whatchu mean how I feel? It’s amazing. How would you feel? I grew up on God’s Son, you feel me? I grew up on Nas, he’s one of my favorite lyricists, and for him to tell me that what I’m doing is, you know, in the target, hitting the bull’s eye possibly one day, that’s just a blessing, man. And I’m on sight. I’m on target. For him to let me know that, it feels great. It feels worth it.
Nas – It Ain’t Hard to Tell (Remix)
I have to admit: I haven’t been liking these twists on classics so far, but Nas let go over another rework (this time of ‘It Ain’t Hard To Tell’) from the forthcoming Illmatic XX (out April 15th).
J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League Reveals Upcoming Songs With Drake, Jeezy & Nas
J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League spoke to Best Of Both Offices via phone and revealed upcoming production for Drake, Jeezy & Nas’ next albums, possibly collaborating with Warren G and Dr. Dre, going on tour as a band and dropping their own project.
Nas Performs ‘The World Is Yours’ At SXSW (Video)
One of the better treats at this year’s SXSW festival was (obviously) the Mass Appeal (and GrooveShark) showcase, featuring none other than one of the magazine’s “shareholders” Nasir Jones. Above, he performs the uber-classic ‘The World Is Yours’ for the crowd, but enjoy the extra clip below as well.
Black Twitter Reacts To Nas’ Feminist Tweet
HipHopWired reports:
Nas has offered his unique brand of social commentary via his vast catalog of music over the years, and he’s tried his best to promote intelligence via his art. However, a tweet last night from the veteran rapper comparing feminists to the Mafia without explanation has sparked a lot of discussion and confusion on Twitter.
To make matters even more interesting, Nas followed that tweet with, “I don’t have to agree with you to respect you” – also without any type of explanation. Like some Twitter users pointed out, Nas appeared in a photo this week with Angela Davis, a woman he referred to as his idol and a hero of feminists worldwide. – See more at: http://hiphopwired.com/2014/03/14/nas-angers-feminists-offensive-tweet-twitter-reacts-photos/#sthash.SFoVd6wd.dpuf
Memphis Bleek: I Started The JAY Z/Nas Beef (Video)
Memphis Bleek opens up about Jay Z and Nas’ beef, which actually began after Nas released a diss at Memphis Bleek on a DJ Clue mixtape. Bleek then followed up with his hit “Mind Right,” which spurred another response from the Queensbridge rapper, who released a freestyle, naming off Jay Z, Beanie Sigel, and other Roc-A-Fella rappers.
When asked what Nas specifically said about him, Bleek reveals that “he didn’t say nothing about me.” He also explains why he liked Jay Z’s “Takeover” better than Nas’ “Ether,” saying that most of what is said on the album is lies. He ends the conversation by saying that Jay’s track “was the hardest record in hip hop.” – Vlad TV
Nas – ’93 Stretch & Bobbito Freestyle (Part 1)
The below super gem will be featured on the previously mentioned Illmatic XX, which — you guessed it — comes in lieu of Illmatic‘s (Nas’ debut album) 20th anniversary.
Baby Mama Carmen Bryan Claims That Nas Owes $11,000 In Child Support, Is Bi-Polar
Earlier reports (that we missed) stated that Carmen Bryan is taking her baby daddy Nas to court for back child support in the amount of $11,000. In a recent interview, she then made claims (which she will be using in court) that Nas has some serious mental issues:
“Well first off, let me just say my experiences with Nas, my dealings with Nas, and my research all lead me to believe that he does suffer from bipolarism and he may be a paranoid schizophrenic. That’s my personal opinion based on my experiences and interaction with him. An incident occurred with Nas years ago when we were together. I came in the house, Destiny and I, and he was on the couch wrapped up in a blanket; his mom was on one side of him, his brother on the other side, there were a few more people in the house. My first reaction was, ‘Is everything okay? What happened?’ And that’s when Nas told me ghosts were haunting him again, and entities were whispering to him and touching him and bothering him. This is something that he mentioned when we first got together, but I had never experienced him ever experiencing it until that moment. So, I’ve witnessed this long battle with insanity.”
You can read the full interview here. Thoughts?
Nas, Steve Stoute & Dapper Dan Speak On ‘The Tanning Of America’
STASHED talks to Translation founder and author of “The Tanning Of America,” Steve Stoute, on what to expect from the VH1 premiere of his docu-series. Nas also talks about “Illmatic” turning 20 and Dapper Dan speaks on the beginnings of urban streetwear.
PIC: Nas & Cam’ron Make Amends
#QB #HARLEM #UwasntThere
Many people forget that Cam’ron was very much in the middle of the legendary JAY Z/Nas feud….the good news is, much like Mr. Carter, the beef between Nasir and Killa has come to an end as well. From Miss Info:
Cam’ron and Nas just happened to be headed from Las Vegas to New York City on the same flight. And that’s all it took to thaw a decade old rivalry. Cam was out in Vegas to support Dame and Jim Jones for their Vamp Life and Million Dollar Racers clothing line at the Agenda Trade Show.
According to my source, Nas and Cam saw each other, got to talking without any awkwardness or old tension. The photo wasn’t forced. Respect all around. And the best part, there was even talk of future collaboration.