Few artists have left a mark on hip-hop as deeply and completely as Nas. From the second he stepped onto the scene along with his groundbreaking debut Illmatic in 1994, Nasir Jones has been hailed as a lyrical genius, a avenue poet, and a real visionary. His phrases paint vivid portraits of life in Queensbridge and past, mixing social commentary, private wrestle, and razor-sharp storytelling. Over the span of three a long time, Nas has delivered basic after basic, influencing generations of artists and reshaping the sound of rap music.
On this article, we’re counting down the Prime 10 Most Widespread Nas Songs of All Time — the tracks which have outlined his legacy, rocked the charts, and stood the take a look at of time. From the uncooked, gritty realism of N.Y. State of Thoughts to the empowering anthem I Can, every tune displays a unique aspect of Nas’s unbelievable artistry. Whether or not you’re a lifelong fan or simply discovering his music, this record will take you on a journey by among the biggest moments in hip-hop historical past. So throw in your headphones, flip up the quantity, and dive into the timeless sound of one in every of rap’s biggest storytellers.
1. N.Y. State of Thoughts (1994)
When “N.Y. State of Thoughts” hit the airwaves in 1994 because the second monitor on Illmatic, it signaled a seismic shift in hip-hop. Over DJ Premier’s gritty, jazz-inflected piano loop and stripped-down boom-bap beat, a 20-year-old Nas crafted a vivid, hard-hitting portrait of life within the Queensbridge tasks. His voice, calm however intense, pulls listeners straight into the streets, narrating the each day wrestle with the attention of a poet and the realism of a documentarian. Traces like “I by no means sleep, ’trigger sleep is the cousin of demise” felt like gospel—sharp, philosophical, unforgettable. Nas’s rhymes unfold like scenes from a novel, filled with inside rhyme and lyrical complexity that blew minds upon launch and nonetheless stands the take a look at of time. The monitor doesn’t glorify the road life—it displays it with uncooked honesty. DJ Premier’s ominous beat, sampled from jazz drummer Joe Chambers, underscores the awful fantastic thing about Nas’s world. “N.Y. State of Thoughts” turned an immediate East Coast anthem, cementing Nas as one in every of rap’s most gifted storytellers. It’s not simply a gap monitor—it’s a complete world carved into 4 minutes of hip-hop perfection.
2. The World Is Yours (1994)
“The World Is Yours” is Nas at his most reflective and bold, providing a glimpse of hope amid the shadows of his actuality. Launched as a part of Illmatic, and produced by the legendary Pete Rock, the tune glides on a easy loop constructed from Ahmad Jamal’s “I Love Music,” mixing jazz parts with the grit of East Coast hip-hop. Nas’s verses oscillate between the road and the soul—he’s a product of Queensbridge however desires far past its borders. With every bar, he wrestles with mortality, goal, and the starvation to rise above his circumstances. “I’m out for presidents to symbolize me,” he raps, making it clear that his aspirations stretch so far as his pen will take him. The hook—”the world is yours”—a nod to Scarface, has turn into an everlasting mantra for generations of hip-hop followers. Nas’s easy supply and layered lyricism present a younger man sensible past his years, caught between arduous truths and tender desires. Philosophical but grounded, the tune captures the duality that defines Nas’s artistry: street-bred realism laced with introspective imaginative and prescient. It’s a masterclass in steadiness, and an everlasting hip-hop touchstone.
3. One Mic (2001)
Launched on Stillmatic in 2001, “One Mic” is a slow-burning eruption of uncooked emotion, social reflection, and lyrical brilliance. It begins in close to silence, Nas barely above a whisper as he contemplates life, peace, and goal. Because the beat builds, so does his depth, and by the point the monitor reaches its climax, he’s spitting with fiery urgency and explosive ardour. The tune’s construction—tender to loud, calm to chaotic—mirrors the emotional rollercoaster of inner-city life. Nas grapples with complicated themes: the phantasm of energy, the cycles of violence, the craving for change, and the simplicity of simply needing “one mic” to alter the world. Chucky Thompson’s minimalist, haunting manufacturing offers Nas all of the area he must take middle stage, and he seizes it. “One Mic” is greater than only a tune—it’s a strong declaration of the artist’s position in society, a plea for understanding, and a private confession. Practically a decade after his debut, Nas proved with this monitor that his voice nonetheless mattered—possibly now greater than ever. The tune stays one in every of his most passionate and politically resonant works, a name to arms disguised as a prayer.
4. If I Dominated the World (Think about That) feat. Lauryn Hill (1996)
“If I Dominated the World (Think about That),” launched in 1996 on It Was Written, marked Nas’s profitable leap from underground lyricist to mainstream visionary. That includes the soulful, honeyed vocals of Lauryn Hill—who reimagines Kurtis Blow’s hook—the tune is an imaginative manifesto the place Nas lays out a world free from systemic oppression, mass incarceration, and poverty. His lyrics are sharp but hopeful, weaving tales of freedom and Black empowerment with a poetic contact. Lauryn’s refrain lifts the monitor, infusing it with grace and emotion, making it not only a rap tune however an anthem. Produced by Trackmasters, the beat strikes a fragile steadiness between pop accessibility and avenue grit, providing Nas a platform vast sufficient to hold his socially acutely aware message. It was a business breakthrough for Nas, incomes widespread radio play whereas retaining his lyrical edge. Extra than simply wishful considering, “If I Dominated the World” was a visionary monitor that expanded the boundaries of what rap may say and do. It showcased Nas as a dreamer who remained grounded in harsh realities, mixing political consciousness with mainstream attraction like few had finished earlier than.
5. Ether (2001)
“Ether” dropped in 2001 because the opening salvo on Stillmatic, and in doing so, reignited a dormant feud and lit the hip-hop world on fireplace. Nas’s response to Jay-Z’s “Takeover” wasn’t only a diss—it was a calculated, brutal takedown that reasserted his dominance and rewrote the foundations for battle rap. Over Ron Browz’s menacing, stripped-down beat, Nas delivers blow after blow, mocking Jay’s credibility, questioning his legacy, and reclaiming his spot on the high of the sport. The now-infamous opening—“F— Jay-Z”—was the spark, however what adopted was a barrage of lyrical daggers, unrelenting in tone and precision. “Ether” wasn’t simply private—it was surgical. It reminded followers that Nas wasn’t to be underestimated, particularly when backed right into a nook. The monitor immediately turned hip-hop folklore, with “ethered” getting into the cultural lexicon as shorthand for any savage takedown. It additionally marked a profession resurgence for Nas, proving that he nonetheless had the hearth, wit, and wordplay to go toe-to-toe with anybody. Controversial, aggressive, and iconic, “Ether” is likely one of the most definitive diss tracks in music historical past—a second the place hip-hop paused and collectively held its breath.
6. Made You Look (2002)
“Made You Look,” launched in 2002 on God’s Son, is Nas in assault mode—fierce, targeted, and unapologetically uncooked. Constructed round a thunderous breakbeat sampled from the Unbelievable Bongo Band’s “Apache,” the monitor bristles with old-school vitality whereas sounding undeniably contemporary. From the second the beat drops, it’s clear Nas got here to remind everybody of his lyrical supremacy. He tears by verses with sharp precision, his voice chopping like a razor as he dismantles trade fakes and delivers quotable after quotable. The monitor has an urgency to it—a way of reclaiming territory. After a couple of business detours, “Made You Look” was a return to kind, a reaffirmation of Nas’s roots and his standing as one of many biggest to ever maintain a mic. DJ Inexperienced Lantern’s minimal, aggressive manufacturing retains the main target squarely on Nas’s phrases, and he makes each syllable rely. The title itself serves as a warning and a flex: you weren’t paying consideration earlier than, however you are actually. Revered by hip-hop purists and informal followers alike, “Made You Look” stays one in every of Nas’s most iconic singles—a hard-hitting reminder of what actual rap appears like.
7. I Can (2002)
Launched in 2002 on God’s Son, “I Can” stands as one in every of Nas’s most optimistic and purpose-driven tracks—a uncommon second in hip-hop the place uplift takes middle stage. Constructed round a pattern of Beethoven’s “Für Elise,” the beat is immediately recognizable and refreshingly totally different, providing a classical contact to Nas’s highly effective message. Quite than boast or battle, Nas takes on the position of mentor, talking on to children with heartfelt sincerity. His verses warn of the pitfalls of avenue life whereas championing training, self-discipline, and self-belief. The refrain—sung by a kids’s choir—drives house the tune’s mission: “I do know I can / Be what I wanna be.” Some critics discovered the monitor overly simplistic or didactic, however its impression was simple. “I Can” was embraced in colleges, youth facilities, and houses as a motivational anthem that proved rap may very well be each empowering and commercially viable. Nas used his platform to not flex, however to plant seeds of hope. In a style usually criticized for glamorizing negativity, “I Can” dared to be totally different. It stays one in every of Nas’s most accessible and emotionally resonant songs—a love letter to future generations.
8. Life’s a Bitch feat. AZ (1994)
“Life’s a Bitch,” one of the poignant moments on Illmatic, is a reflective, jazz-tinged meditation on mortality, avenue life, and fleeting pleasure. That includes the debut verse from AZ—broadly thought to be one of many biggest visitor verses in hip-hop historical past—the monitor is emotionally wealthy and lyrically dense. Over a laid-back, soulful beat crafted by L.E.S., constructed from The Hole Band’s “Craving for Your Love,” each rappers muse on the harshness of life and the wonder discovered briefly moments of peace. Nas’s verse is a deeply private reflection on survival, ambition, and the skinny line between despair and hope. The tune closes with a soulful trumpet solo by Nas’s father, Olu Dara, including a young familial contact that anchors the monitor’s emotional weight. “Life’s a Bitch” doesn’t attempt to provide options—it merely tells the reality. It’s the type of tune that resonates lengthy after it ends, not due to its flash, however due to its honesty. It stands as a testomony to Nas’s skill to show ache into poetry and stays a quiet masterpiece inside one in every of hip-hop’s most revered albums.
9. Hate Me Now feat. Puff Daddy (1999)
“Hate Me Now,” from Nas’s 1999 album I Am…, is a defiant anthem that radiates anger, ambition, and unshakable self-belief. That includes Puff Daddy, the monitor is drenched in drama, with orchestral prospers and a triumphant beat courtesy of the Trackmasters. It’s the sound of an artist standing tall within the face of criticism and controversy. Nas raps with venomous depth, responding to doubters and trade politics with daring declarations of survival and success. The notorious music video, which featured Nas being crucified, stirred main backlash however solely added to the monitor’s mythos. Whereas some considered it as conceited, others noticed it as a vital assertion from an artist continually underestimated and scrutinized. Puff’s presence added business gravity, however it’s Nas’s fireplace that carries the monitor. “Hate Me Now” is a tune about embracing your flaws, proudly owning your greatness, and pushing by resistance with out apology. It’s theatrical, confrontational, and unforgettable. Even a long time later, it nonetheless resonates with these navigating criticism and combating for his or her place on the planet. It’s one in every of Nas’s boldest statements—a center finger to his detractors and a crown worn regardless of them.
10. It Ain’t Exhausting to Inform (1994)
“It Ain’t Exhausting to Inform” closes Illmatic with the identical finesse and confidence that defines your complete album. Launched because the lead single in 1994, the monitor contains a good beat by Massive Professor, anchored by a loop from Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature,” which is flipped right into a silky, head-nodding groove. Nas glides over the beat with easy dexterity, delivering metaphor-laced rhymes filled with vivid imagery and dense wordplay. His voice is calm however commanding, portray scenes with traces like “I exhale the yellow smoke of Buddha by righteous steps.” Each bar showcases why Nas was hailed as the way forward for hip-hop—his lyrical command, storytelling skill, and poetic sensibility had been already in full bloom. “It Ain’t Exhausting to Inform” isn’t about proving one thing—it’s about understanding your price and delivering on that promise. As the ultimate chapter of one of the revered rap albums ever made, it leaves listeners with little question: Nas wasn’t simply one other rapper—he was a generational expertise. The monitor nonetheless sounds timeless, an ideal mix of beat and bars, and stays a cornerstone within the legacy of East Coast hip-hop.
Samuel Moore is a frequent contributor to Singers Room. Since 2005, Singersroom has been the voice of R&B all over the world. Join with us by way of social media beneath.