Nas At Kennedy Center
Hip Hop artist Nas performs with The National Symphony Orchestra It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since Illmatic, the debut album by Nas that set the gold standard for East Coast hip hop, came out. Actually no, when you see Nas rapping in a tuxedo backed by the National Symphony Orchestra, it’s not that hard to believe. For rock bands like Metallica, doing a classical album or a is a clear sign of being long past your prime.
Nas National Symphony Orchestra
Classical crossover is a rarer thing in hip hop, but the logic is the same: The Kennedy Center is a long way from Queensbridge, and you don’t get there without attaining elder-statesman status. It’s not like the NSO is inviting Chief Keef on stage anytime soon.
Nas Kennedy Center Pbs
Nas Pbs Great Performances
So though the program notes claim that Nas has “remained vital and relevant for nearly 20 years,” well, that’s really not true. In retrospect, when Jay-Z dismissed him for having a “,” he was being charitable. The two famously feuded for the hip-hop crown, and though they’re friends now, we all know who won that war (if you have any doubts, ask teenagers today if they know who Jay-Z is, and then ask if they know who Nas is). To his credit though, Nas did have the better. (Side note: Jay-Z’s “I showed you your first Tec” line in “Takeover” refers to an where both rappers were terrified by a mob of angry Washingtonian concertgoers. Go D.C.!) To whatever degree Nas has remained relevant, though, it’s thanks to Illmatic. Michael Eric Dyson, with whom Nas at a Georgetown panel earlier this week, published a whole book about it.