They Came From Queens - Celebrity of the Week - Nas From Queensbridge

Nasir Jones -- a.k.a. Nas -- grew up in the Queensbridge Houses, the largest public housing complex in the city, right by the Queensboro Bridge. The son of the jazz and blues musician Olu Dara, Nas first directed his musical talents toward instruments. But as a young man it was his storytelling and poetic ability that led to his big break and his debut album Illmatic in 1994.

The success of that album brought Nas to the forefront of East Coast rap, and to public rivalries with Jay-Z and later 50 Cent. He has remained on the hip-hop scene since the early 90s, continuing to cut new records, with a possible new release this fall. One of Nas' more interesting side projects was the album Nas and Ill Will Records Present QB's Finest, a collaboration in 2000 with a number rappers from the Queensbridge Houses, including Mobb Deep.

"They Came From Queens" is a new weekly feature on Queens.About.com, highlighting the major talents from the borough. Got a Queens-born fave you want to hear more about? Let me know.

• They Came From Queens - Nas From Queensbridge
• Nas - Official Website
• Nas Bio [About.com]
• #1 Essential Hip-Hop Album - Illmatic by Nas [About.com]

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