The Original Street Poet

Nas. I don't even need to write this (but I will) because everyone should be legally obligated to listen to and appreciate Nasir Jones. He's so important, so so important. I probably can't even put it into words how much he means to hip hop and all of music, but I'll attempt it.

Illmatic came out in 1994 and blew out all competition out of the water. It was released one month after Biggie Smalls died and it was exactly what east coast rap needed. Some new kid from Queens exploded on the scene and gave the east coast back what they had lost with Biggie. "Life's A Bitch" is a heartfelt ode to the streets where Nas grew up. "Halftime" features a typical 90s beat matched with real lyrics. This album is so important. I really can't say that enough. It's one of the best rap albums of all time and I am NOT the only one who believes that.

It Was Written was released in 1996 and was the beginning of his long feud with Jay-Z. I like this album a little bit better than Illmatic but only because one of my favorite hip hop songs of all time, "If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)" featuring Lauryn Hill). "Imagine smoking weed in the street without cops harassing" - SUCH A GREAT LINE. I really connected with that line and the whole song.

I could go on and on about Nas. I loved his album with Damien Marley, Distant Relatives. "As We Enter" is such a jam. His newest song "Nasty" is so good and it proves that he hasn't changed or gotten bad over the years. This is such a dope 90s-inspired jam. Original street poet. He is hands down my favorite rapper of all time. Nas is just the best.

If I Ruled the World

"If I Ruled the World" from Nas's It Was Written is one of my favorite hip hop/general songs of all time. Honestly, I think It Was Written is a much better album than the quintessential Nas album Illmatic but that's beside the point. This song has the best opening line "Imagine smoking weed in the streets without cops harrassing." I first heard this song in high school and I considered myself a rebel who smoked a lot of weed and always got fucked with by the local, small town cops. I was like "yeah! fuck those pigs! Nasir!" The song interpolates  "Walk Right Up To The Sun" by The Delfonics, which is pretty cool. I just wanted to shout out to this song because it's amazing. 

My Favorite Movie

Belly. It came out in 1998 and stars Nas, DMX, and T-Boz from TLC. Categorized as a "hood classic" (which it absolutely is), but I consider it an important crime drama/film noir that shows a wide range of audiences the socio-economic conditions of the ghetto of New York City in the 1990s and the powerful drug trade. Believe it or not, Nas is a phenomenal actor. So is DMX.

It's the first movie that music video director Hype Williams (Nas, TLC, Coldplay, Aaliyah, etc) and it's pretty gritty and dark. The opening scene is amazing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pniQT-Zy5WA
It's a great late 90s film noir with the a cappella version of "Back To Life" and shows the catalytic events of Nas, DMX and their friends robbing a club. Nas says "It was the best time of our lives" which is pretty great because this film is so fucked up. They then go to DMX's dope crib in Jamaica Estates and watch a weird indie movie and then have violent sex with their women. The rest of the movie chronicles their drug empire and dealings with a Jamaican drug lord. It's a great film because it's co-written by Nas. A lot of his dialogue are straight lines from his songs (some from It Was Written, even). Watch it if you've never seen it.

PS- I have a DGK Stevie Williams Belly-style skateboard sitting in my room with no trucks, wheels or grip tape. Debating on whether it should be a permanent decoration or if I should actually ride it.