Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones (born September 14, 1973), known simply as Nas, formerly Nasty Nas is an American rapper.

The son of jazz musician Olu Dara, Nas is best known for his 1994 debut album Illmatic, considered by many as one of the greatest and most celebrated hip-hop albums of all time. This album established Nas as one of hip-hop’s most profound lyricists, introducing his signature poetic style. Raised in the notorious Queensbridge housing projects in New York City, he represents a continuation of a hip-hop tradition in Queensbridge that spanned through early hip-hop, including the Juice Crew, Marley Marl, and MC Shan. He is married to R&B singer Kelis.

In the years following the release of Illmatic, Nas pursued a more mainstream direction, which resulted in wider success but decreased artistic credibility among critics and hip-hop purists. Furthermore, Nas’ increased commercial success was accompanied by stylistic changes that fostered accusations of giving in to corporate wishes that compromised the style his fans enamored. Nevertheless, the LP Stillmatic is often credited for restoring Nas’ credibility among fans. Since the success of Stillmatic, Nas continues to maintain a high profile within the hip-hop community, and has pursued a decidedly personal aesthetic. He remains one of the most respected and acclaimed contemporary rappers, both with audiences and critics alike.

In January 2006, Nas signed a label deal with Def Jam, further emphasizing the Jay-Z/Nas truce, and raising expectations for a collaboration even higher. After some time, Nas and Def Jam agreed on an official title, Hip Hop Is Dead…The N, which was shortened to Hip Hop Is Dead, though the UK release features a bonus track at the end called “The N.” The album featured production from will.i.am, Kanye West, Dr. Dre and Scott Storch, as well as longtime Nas collaborators L.E.S. and Salaam Remi. A street single named “Where Y’all At” was released in June of 2006. It was produced by Salaam Remi, and contained a sample from Nas’ “Made You Look,” but it did not make Hip Hop Is Dead’s final cut.

His first single, bearing the name of the record, was produced by will.i.am, and contains the same melodic sample (“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”) as Nas’ 2004 single, “Thief’s Theme.” The album debuted on Def Jam and Nas’ new imprint at that label, The Jones Experience, at number one on the Billboard 200 charts, selling 355,000 copies—Nas’s 3rd number one album, along with 1996’s It Was Written and 1999’s I Am… Nas, upon signing with Def Jam, will be releasing a further 3 records/albums under the label as part of his contract. A music video for “Can’t Forget About You” has been made the world premiere came out on February 5, 2007, while “Hustlers” and “Black Republican” are being considered for future video shootings. “Can’t Forget About You” featuring Chrisette Michele boasts a sample from Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable.”

The title of the album generated plenty of controversy, as many fans and artists (particularly those of Southern origin) began to debate over the actual state of rap music’s vitality; several Southern acts took offense to the title, taking it to be directed at their region in particular.

Nas also worked on a song called “Shine On ‘Em” for the film Blood Diamond starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou, which opened in US theatres on December 8, 2006.

His song “Thief’s Theme” was featured in one of the scenes in the Academy Award-winning movie The Departed directed by Martin Scorsese.

Nas has recently mentioned a new album in the works this year. According to an MTV interview he is quoted of saying,”New album is in the making right now,” outside the set of his new video for “Can’t Forget About You.”

Nas also is making a shoe called The Disciples with 310 Motoring, the same shoe maker that made The Game’s Hurricane sneakers.

Nas is currently on a nation-wide tour promoting his latest album Hip Hop Is Dead.

Nas’s video for Hustler’s the 3rd single off of Hip Hop Is Dead has already been shot according to The Game in an interview with MTV. Also, Nas has stated in an interview with MTV that a video for Black Republican featuring Jay-Z is also underway and is being directed by an unknown director. Many other rappers such as Lil’ Wayne, and Papoose have made remixes of Black Republican and changed the chorus to Black Democrat in order to show support for democrats although it is obvious that Nas is not a Republican from all his disapproval of Bush in many interviews.

A beautiful couple, I guess true love is out there.