nas Details

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones (born September 14, 1973), known commonly as Nas (formerly known as Nasty Nas And Nas Escobar), is a prominent American rapper.
 
 He was raised in the infamous Queensbridge housing projects in Queens. The son of jazz trumpeter Olu Dara, Nas is best known for his 1994 debut LP Illmatic, widely considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. This album established Nas as one of hip-hop's most celebrated lyricists, introducing his signature poetic style and storytelling abilities. 
 
 In the years following the release of Illmatic, Nas pursued a more commercial 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 "selling out". 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 progressive and personal aesthetic. While Nas' current artistic direction differs greatly from his most successful work, it has ensured that he remains one of the most respected and acclaimed contemporary rappers.
 
 1973–1992: Childhood and early career
 
 Nas was born in Brooklyn, New York, as the elder of Olu Dara and Fannie Ann Jones's two children; his brother Jabari (nicknamed "Jungle" because he was born in the Congo) is the younger of the two. The family lived for a time in Brooklyn, before moving to Queensbridge, the largest public housing project in the United States. Olu Dara left the household in 1986, when Nas was 13, and Ann Jones raised her two boys on her own. Nas dropped out of school in the eighth grade and began selling drugs on the streets of New York. He educated himself, reading about African culture and civilization, the Qur'an, the Bible and the Five Percent Nation. He a