Nas

Nas Headshot

Rapper • Entrepreneur

Birth Date: September 14, 1973

Age: 50 years old

Birth Place: Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York

Beginning with the landmark 1994 debut Illmatic, Nas (born Nasir Jones) became a towering figure in East Coast rap. Born in Brooklyn, Nas is the son of jazz cornetist/guitarist Olu Dara. Nas moved to Queens after his parents divorced and he dropped out of grade school. He began recording as a teenager, first stirring up notice as a guest rapper on the Main Source album track "Live at the Barbeque" (which was never a single) and then teamed up with MC Serch of 3rd Bass, who managed Nas, used him on his own tracks and ultimately got him signed (However, Def Jam's Russell Simmons was among the label execs who turned down the demo that became Illmatic). The album was purely New York in its subject matter, detailing the desperation of life in the projects and the rapper's struggles to escape them; there are also moments of upbeat escape. His verbal acuity earned comparisons to everyone from Rakim to Bob Dylan, and the album's multi-producer approach, with a different sound on every track, was emulated by many rappers afterward. Illmatic almost single-handedly shifted the nexus of rap from the West Coast back to the East, with the rise of the Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z still to come. While Nas' followup work never had quite as much cultural impact, his commercial and critical fortunes have seldom flagged in the following decades. There were grumbles that his second album It Was Written slanted toward pop (which it partly did, though much of the album had an underworld/drug trade theme), yet it outsold Illmatic and hit Number One. He next planned to make a double CD that would tell his life story; however the initial sessions were leaked online and he cut I Am down to a single disc. Notably it included the Tupac/B.I.G. tribute "We Will Survive" which included a swipe at Jay-Z; the fallout from this would stretch for years to come. Jay-Z responded with the track "Takeover" (which claimed Nas "Had a spark when you started but now you're just garbage") and from there the battle was on. Nas teased his next album Stillmatic-- less a sequel to his debut that a reclaiming of his territory-with the single "Ether," whose first line was "Fuck Jay-Z!" It would be another four years before they buried the hatchet, appearing together on Nas' album Hip-Hop is Dead-- which also buried the East/West Coast hatchet by including Dr. Dre and the Game. Meanwhile Nas made some smart business investments, including Dropbox and Lyft along with opening his own sneaker store and starting a clothing line, HSTRY. Nas' twelfth album, 2018's Nasir, was a collaboration with Kanye West who co-wrote and co-produced. It continued his three-decade hit streak by entering the Billboard chart at Number Five, while prompting the usual head-scratching about whether Nas could ever top his debut.

Credits

Wu-Tang Clan & Nas: NY State of Mind Tour at Climate Pledge Arena

Music Performer
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2023

Supreme TeamStream

Director
Docuseries
2022

Supreme TeamStream

Executive Producer
Docuseries
2022

Origins of Hip-HopStream

Narrator
Docuseries
2022

The 64th Annual Grammy Awards

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2022

Nas: Wave Gods

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2022

Mary J. Blige: Love Is All We Need

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2022

Vibe: 2000's Rap Hits

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2022

Vibe: Old-School Weekend

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2022

Coin

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Movie
2022

You're Watching Video Music Box

Director
Show
2021

Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3

Self
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2021

Nas: 40 Side

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2021

Nas: My Bible

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2021

Nas: Store Run

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2021

Nas: The Pressure

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2021

Nas Feat. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie & YG: YKTV

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2021

Nas: Count Me In

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2021

Nas: Moments

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2021

Nas feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill: Nobody

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2021

Nas Feat. Charlie Wilson: No Phony Love

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2021

Nas Feat. Eminem & EPMD: EPMD 2

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2021

Nas: Death Row East

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2021

Nas Feat. Hit-Boy: Composure

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2021

The Fight Of The Century - Ali v Frazier

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2021

The Fight Of The Century - Ali v Frazier

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2021

DMX feat. JAY-Z & Nas: Bath Salts

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2021

DJ Khaled feat. Nas, JAY-Z & James Fauntleroy: SORRY NOT SORRY

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2021

Nas: 27 Summers

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2021

Award Winners

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2021

Nas: EPMD

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2021

Rap Dads

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2021

Voices of the Generation

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2021

Back To School Rap

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2021

Nas: Rare

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2021

Belly & The Weeknd Feat. Nas: Die For It

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2021

Nas: Brunch On Sundays

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2021

Nas Feat. BLXST: Brunch on Sundays

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2021

Nas: Big Nas

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2021

Rap Life Live

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2020

Rap Life Live

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2020

The BET Awards 2020

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2020

Nas Feat. Lauryn Hill: If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)

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2020

The Last DanceStream

Actor
Docuseries
2020
97%

You Ain't Got These

Self
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2020

Lil Nas X & Nas: Rodeo

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2020

Hit List: May 2020

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2020

Black Music Month: Next Generation

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2020

Nas: Ultra Black

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2020

Nas Feat. Hit-Boy: Ultra Black

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2020

Vibe: Millenium Hip-Hop

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2020

Nas: Spicy

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2020

Vibe: Best of 2020

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2020

Jhene Aiko Feat. Nas: 10k Hours

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2020

Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America

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2019

HHRB O.G.'s

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2019

00s CultureIcons

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2019

RememberingIcons

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2019

The Marley Hits

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2019

Dave East Hits

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2019

Vibe: Hip-Hop Classics

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2019

Vibe: Hip-Hop Classics Vol.II

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2019

Vibe: Old-School Hip-Hop

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2019

Rapture

Actor
Show
2018

Poetry in America

Guest
Show
2018

Nas, Dave East, Lin-Manuel Miranda & Aloe Blacc: Wrote My Way Out

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2018

Dave East Feat. Nas: The Hated

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2018

Nas Feat. Aloe Blacc, Dave East, Lin-Manuel Miranda: Wrote My Way Out

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2018

Kanye & Nas

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2018

Straight Outta NY

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2018

A '90s Hip-Hop Summer

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2018

The Black Eyed Peas Feat. Nas: Back 2 Hiphop

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2018

Swizz Beatz Feat. Nas: Echo

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2018

Nas: NASIR; The Film

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2018

All Rise

Actor
Raymond "Sunset" Green
Movie
2018

Music Talks: Nas

Actor
Show
2017

The Defiant OnesStream

Self
Docuseries
2017
100%

RMC Presents: Yacht Party 2016

Actor
Show
2017

Nas: N.Y. State of Mind

Music Performer
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2017

MLK Now 2017

Actor
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2017

DJ Khaled Feat. Nas, Travi$ Scott: It's Secured

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2017

DJ Khaled Feat. Nas & Travis Scott: It's Secured

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2017

Quest

Self
Movie
2017

Music Talk: Nas

Guest
Show
2016

2016 REVOLT Music Conference Honors Nas

Guest
Show
2016

The Get DownStream

Executive Producer
Series
2016
81%

Any Given Wednesday With Bill Simmons

Guest
Talk
2016

#20YrsLtr: Doe or Die

Self
Show
2016

Nas: Live at House of Blues Chicago 2008

Actor
Show
2016

French Montana Feat. Kanye West and Nas: Figure It Out

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2016

DJ Khaled Feat. Nas: Nas Album Done

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2016

Usher Feat. Nas & Bibi Bourelly: Chains by Film the Future

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2016

French Montana Feat. Kanye West & Nas: Figure it Out

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2016

DJ Khaled Feat. Nas: Nas Album Done (Explicit)

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2016

The American Epic Sessions

Music Performer
Movie
2016

The Land

Executive Producer
Movie
2016

I Am Bolt

Voice
Movie
2016

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Music Performer
Talk
2015

Usher Feat. Bibi Bourelly & Nas: Chains by Film the Future

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2015

Usher Feat. Bibi Bourelly & Nas: Chains

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2015

Fresh Dressed

Actor
NAS
Movie
2015

Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives

Self
Movie
2015

Bliss N Eso Feat. Nas: I Am Somebody

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2014

The Message

Actor
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2014

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

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2014

Nas - Live From the Kennedy Center

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2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

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2014

Nas: Halftime

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2014

Nas: It Ain't Hard To Tell (Explicit)

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2014

Nas: It Ain't Hard to Tell

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2014

Nas: One Love

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2014

Nas Live at the Lovebox

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2014

Time Is Illmatic

Actor
Movie
2014

Shake the Dust

Executive Producer
Movie
2014

Shake the Dust

Original Music
Movie
2014

The Arsenio Hall Show

Guest
Show
2013

Black NativityStream

Actor
Street Prophet (Isaiah)
Movie
2013
51%

Nas Feat.Amy Winehouse: Cherry Wine

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2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

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2012

Finding Your RootsStream

Guest
Reality
2012

Nas: Bye Baby

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2012

K'LA feat. Nas: Blame

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2012

Nas: Daughters

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2012

Nas: If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)

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2012

Nas: The Don

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2012

Jagged Edge Feat. Nas: I Got It 2

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2012

Nas: Cherry Wine

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2012

K'Naan Feat. Nas: Nothing to Lose

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2012

Billy on the StreetStream

Guest
Reality
2011

2Pac Feat Nas & J. Phoenix: Thugz Mansion

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2011

Common Feat. Nas: Ghetto Dreams

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2011

Nas: Nasty

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2011

Nas & Damian Jr. Gong Marley: Nah Mean

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2011

Nas & Damian Jr. Gong Marley feat. Amadou & Marriam: Patience

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2011

Nas & Damian Jr. Gong Marley feat. Dennis Brown: Land Of Promise

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2011

Hawaii Five-0Stream

Guest Star
Series
2010

Estelle Feat. Nas: Fall In Love

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2010

Nas Feat. Damian Jr. Gong Marley, Amadou and Mariam: Patience

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2010

Nas & Damian Marley: As We Enter

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2010

Damian Marley Feat. Nas: As We Enter

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2010

Nas & Damian Jr. Gong Marley: Dispear

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2010

Nas & Damian Jr. Gong Marley: Patience

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2010

Lopez Tonight

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2009

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Music Performer
Talk
2009

Beastie Boys Feat. Nas: Too Many Rappers

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2009

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Young Jeezy Feat. Nas: My President

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2008

Nas Feat. Chris Brown, The Game: Make The World Go Round

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2008

Nas feat. Keri Hilson: Hero

Actor
Show
2008

Nas Feat. Keri Hilson: Hero

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2008

Tyson

Original Song
Movie
2008

Chelsea Lately

Guest
Talk
2007

Nas: Surviving The Times

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2007

Kanye West Feat. Nas, Rakim, KRS-One: Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)

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2007

Nas: Can't Forget About You

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2007

Kelis Feat. Nas: Blindfold Me

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2006

The Colbert Report

Guest
Talk
2005

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Music Performer
Talk
2005

Damian Jr. Gong Marley Feat. Nas: Road to Zion

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2005

Kool G Rap Feat. Nas: Fast Life

Music Performer
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2004

Nas: The World Is Yours (Official HD Video)

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2004

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

Nas Feat. Olu Dara: Bridging The Gap

Music Performer
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2004

Nas: Got Ur Self A...

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2004

Nas: Made You Look

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2004

Nas: Nastradamus

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2004

Nas: Street Dreams

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2004

Nas: The World Is Yours (Remix)

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2004

Nas & Jagged Edg: I Got It 2

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2004

Nas feat. Puff Daddy: Hate Me Now

Music Performer
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2004

Nas feat. Quan: Just a Moment

Music Performer
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2004

Lil Jon, Bravehearts & Nas: Quick to Back Down

Music Performer
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2004

Murda Muzik

Actor
Movie
2004

Real Time With Bill MaherStream

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Music Performer
Talk
2003

Nas: I Can

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2003

Nas: Quick to Back Down

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2003

Nas: Made You Look: God's Son Live

Music Performer
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2002

Last Call With Carson Daly

Music Performer
Talk
2002

Nas: One Mic

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2001

Nas: I Got It

Music Performer
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2001

Ticker

Actor
Det. Art "Fuzzy" Rice
Movie
2001

Nas Feat. Ginuwine: You Owe Me

Music Performer
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2000

Jermaine Dupri Feat. Nas & Monica: I've Got to Have It

Music Performer
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2000

Nas: Hate Me Now

Music Performer
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1999

Nas: Nas Is Like

Music Performer
Show
1999

In Too DeepStream

Actor
Drug Dealer on Street Corner
Movie
1999
39%

Belly

Actor
Sincere
Movie
1998

Nas Feat. R. Kelly: Street Dreams (Remix)

Music Performer
Show
1997

Nas Feat. R. Kelly: Street Dreams (Remix)

Music Performer
Show
1997

The Chris Rock ShowStream

Guest
Talk
1996

Nas: Fast Life

Music Performer
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1995

Nas & Kool G Rap: Fast Life

Music Performer
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1995

Nas: The World Is Yours

Music Performer
Show
1994

Late Show With David Letterman

Music Performer
Talk
1993

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Music Performer
Talk
1992

Great PerformancesStream

Music Performer
Franchise
1972

News aboutNas