Nas, the prominent East Coast rapper who once roamed the streets of the rough Queensbridge projects, is now standing tall, having opted for a success in the music industry rather than trouble in the back alleys and streets. Nas delivers a raw, gritty style of rap music, a style that has often been criticized as too violent by critics but that is hailed as insightful and real to fans. Nas has always been an outspoken member of the rap community, working and collaborating with a wide-ranging team of other artists and producers. Some of his most well-known singles like "Hate Me Now," "One Mic" and "I Can" have sailed to the top of the charts, making Nas a royal figure in the ever-expanding industry of rap music.

Nas was born Nasir Jones, the son of famed jazz musician Olu Dara. He dropped out of school at an early age and took to the streets in search of gangs and an opportunity to flirt with danger. 1991 brought Nas's break when he connected with fellow artist Main Source. Soon Nas was on the "up and coming" list for rappers in on the East Coast scene. He eventually signed a contract with Columbia Records, and he released his major label debut album in April 1994. The album, called Illmatic, was highly anticipated among fans and critics, and it managed to exceed everyone's expectations. It sold very well worldwide and spawned the hits "N.Y. State of Mind," "Halftime" and "It Ain't Hard to Tell." With his debut, Nas established himself as a tough competitor in the industry, drawing on his street smarts and thuggish personality to help boost sales.

Nas was most definitely not finished after Illmatic, and he went on to release It Was Written, which also became a worldwide phenomenon with many of the singles becoming staple songs in dance clubs and bars around the world. Some of the notable tracks off of the album continue to be "Street Dreams" and "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)." Nas has not been without his share of mis-steps and misfortunes. He stumbled in sales in the early 2000s and created controversy among other rappers, but through it all, Nas has managed to hold on to his reputation as one of the best known East Coast rappers in the business.