SOURCE : HIPHOPDX.COM
Nas’
widely lauded classic debut, Illmatic,
is now an achievement a half a lifetime in the rear view as the Queensbridge
rapper turns 40 years old today (September 14). Illmatic, which quickly
characterized the best aspects of New York City Hip Hop for many fans and
critics alike, was released in April of 1994 when Nas was only 20 years old.
Nearly two decades later, the rapper, who first made his recording debut on Main
Source’s “Live At The Barbeque” in 1991, took some time to reflect on his
career and growth at a Hennessy-sponsored birthday party.
When asked whether or not his age has affected his perspective as an
artist and lyricist, Nas first alluded to his maturity as a young rapper. “No I
wouldn’t say [I’m] ‘more thoughtful,’" he said. "I think I was thoughtful back
then when I was younger. The speed changes, when it comes to trying to get on
and then once you’re on you have to adjust your life with it.”
He continued by explaining that occupying new spaces and adopting new
identities is something that has led to some change. “When you adjust your life
it means you got new things in your life happening," he said. "You move, you
become a businessman, a father. That matters. That weighs in.”
Nas recently embarked on a new business relationship with the
popular-within-Hip Hop brandy maker Hennessy. In a previous interview with Miss
Info, the emcee spoke at length about the venture and his visiting the
Cognac region of France where Hennessy is produced. Earlier this year, Nas also
invested assets in the Brooklyn-based Mass Appeal Magazine. In years past, he
has acted as an official spokesperson for the sneaker and apparel company Fila
and has also more recently been a public partner of the annual and ever growing
Rock
The Bells festival.
While Nas’ first child was born just months after his debut, he has
recently shared a more intimate portrayal of fatherhood with songs like 2012’s
“Daughters,”
a track that served as the third single for his eleventh album, Life
Is Good. That song, which received two Grammy nominations, offered an
honest look at his daughter Destiny Jones and his own positioning as a
father.
When asked if his taste in culture has changed and developed with his
age, Nas responded “a lot.” Still, he also referenced wanting to have nice
things and dress older as a child. “But I was always this dude trying to be up
in some fly silk and stuff like that,” he said. “I got pictures of myself at
like 12 years old with cool silk shirts and all of that, it was just a natural
thing.”
With regard to his skill as an emcee, Nas distinguished his older
self as “more relaxed” but no less skillful. “As far as intensity of rhyme,” he
said, “when you’re young and on fire, there’s nothing like that feeling. So,
where I’m at now is just a more relaxed place, but you know, I think it’s still
in me when I need to get crazy. I know it’s still here."
It has now been more than a year since the release of Life Is Good,
an album that marked the end of his contract with Def Jam Recordings, where he
was signed in 2006. On the Def Jam imprint alone, Nas has released albums
2006's Hip Hop Is
Dead, Untitled and
a collaborative album with Damian Marley in 2010. Prior to his signing with Def
Jam, Nas released material on Columbia Records.
Earlier this year Nas
announced that he was working on his twelfth studio album. When asked about the
title in this recent interview, the rapper alluded to a release with little lead
up. "I was ready at one point to announce the title," he said, "but too much was
happening and I couldn't...my bad about that. I'm not saying nothing. It's just
gonna drop."