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Nasir Jones took himself from the Queensbridge projects to become a worldwide star by creating some of the most influential Hip Hop records of all time.

The son of a Jazz musician, Nas was born with a musical thirst, one that was channeled into hip hop under the influence of neighbor and friend ‘Ill Will’. Even after dropping out of high school, Nas continued to educate himself, utilizing his intellectual life view in his rhymes as he began to garner attention from the likes of producer Large Professor. At just 18, Nas recorded a stand-out verse on Main Source’s ‘Live at The Barbeque’ propelling him to new heights and even securing him a record deal from Columbia under the management of 3rd Bass’ ‘MC Serch’.

With the hype building, Nas was hailed as the best MC since ‘Rakim’ and delivered a certified classic album with his debut, Illmatic. Nas’ complex and insightful rhymes met with world class production and made for a hip hop album unlike anything before it. The album received five mics from ‘The Source’ and is now considered one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.

The album however, did not translate into commercial success and with mounting pressure from his label, Nas began to slide towards a more mainstream sound for the next run of albums which included ‘I Am…’ and ‘Nastradamus’.

It took a now legendary beef with fellow New York rapper Jay Z to set him back on the right track. Nas countered Jay’s ‘The Takeover’ with the lethal diss song ‘Ether’ which fuelled the release of the ‘Stillmatic’ album and re-secured Nas’ place as one of Hip Hop’s premier talents. He has maintained this success through follow up albums and huge festival appearances and in 2014 a documentary was released documenting the importance of ‘Illmatic’ and Nas on Hip Hop’s history.

Live reviews

I caught my favourite rapper Nas at XOYO. It was my first time seeing him perform live after years of listening to his music from the other side of the world, so I was stoked to finally get the opportunity. Supported by DJ Green Lantern, the intimate show was filled with Nas fans young and old in a basement like setting, giving the illusion of an old school underground Hip Hop show. Nas ran through tracks from his eleventh studio album ‘Life Is Good’ but it was clear his intent was to take us on a journey back to where it all started. Going as far back as ‘Illmatic’, his first studio album to perform classics like ‘Represent’ ‘If I Ruled the World’ and ‘Hate Me Now’. He tested his fans by holding out the mic on various occasions to see if we knew the lyrics - don’t worry Nas, we got you! We recited the lyrics as we bounced to the beat of each track with nothing but love and energy in the atmosphere as Hip Hop took back the night.

Nas displayed his humble, witty demeanour in the scattered intervals of the show where he shared stories with the crowd. At one point he took requests, giving us the power to decide what we wanted to hear. The New York native gave a surreal performance of the 2001 hit ‘One Mic’, closing his eyes as he poured out the lyrics to a mesmerised audience. He even took the time out to sign CDs and other memorabilia during his sold out 90 minute performance. This came after the lyrist caught sight of an Illmatic vinyl, stopping him in mid-sentence and proving that he had real supporters over in London. I was ecstatic to get two albums signed that I brought in anticipation but realistically did not think I would.

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NAS's performance simply-put, is a flash-back throughout the years and albums. If I Ruled The World (Imagine That), my most memorable song from his set. It was a chilled summer evening, at Summer Set Music Festival back in 2012. Crowd was buzzing with lighters in the air, speakers blasting and NAS putting all he had into that mic. Wearing a blue and white shirt and jeans, with a tiny bit of bling and his shades, he electrified the stage. Coming out and getting the crowd pumped by saying, "Put Your Hands Up" and, "I love the smoke ya'll putting up in the air" often. Beats spewed out of the speakers with no vocals, NAS actually rapped all his song! No lip-syncing, no background vocalists, just him and the crowd. Now of course the die-hard NAS fans knew every word and rapped along with NAS, as for me, I rapped what I remembered, but it didn't matter how much of a fan you were or were not when you saw his performance. Because when he finished you came out a die-hard fan and a satisfied concert-goer. Since NAS doesn't really put out much new stuff, its easy to catch up on his music. So you can enjoy his performance to the fullest, every time.

Not a fan of the venue (United Center). Nas requires a smaller venue bc his lyrics, not his energy, take precedence. The UC is for a mega popstar with a large gross allegiant fanbase (e.g. Taylor Swift, Kanye West). There's no intimacy amongst fans at the UC, either. Overall, it's a terrible place for most artists.

Nas is my favorite rapper hands down. Id love for him to perform fan hits, not billboard hits. I wish he were as daring a performer as he is a rapper. Most Nas fans dont like "Hate Me Now" or "I Know I Can" but bc theyre his biggest singles, they'll be played instead of "The Rise and Fall", or "Take It In Blood", "Blaze a 50" or how about "Wanna Play Rough?". Maybe Chicago's an awful city for an artist. It's ironic that Nas's fearless lyrics and depth of content is suppressed by his entertaining stage presence fueled by the need for "Mass Appeal".

This was one of the most epic events I've EVER attended! Nas by himself is enough! But, couple this legendary icon with the infamous Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Wallah, magic has taken place! He performed his 1st album with the Symphony in chronological order which was so melodic. Then once he finished illmatic the symphony cleared the stage and gave a helluva encore by performing all his mainstream hits and even a couple of his newer tracks from Nasir ( his newest album to date). To say I was pleased is an understatement! I was enthralled!!! Nas will forever be a class act in my eyes!

I was blessed with the opportunity to see Nasir, DMX and Lil Kim @ the Colliseum (WVU Mountaineers basketball court)in Morgantown,WV... I was right up in front row at center stage to hear one of my Top 5 favorite Hip-Hop artists and it was GREAT! Didn't care much for Lil Kim but Nasir and X made the show worth it. I got the opportunity to throw my demo up to Nas and it was taken backstage... I just wonder if he ever took the time to listen to it... Definitely a memorable concert for me

Nas was EVERYTHING!!!!! This was my first time having the opportunity to be blessed with watching him perform live and he didn't disappoint! He had energy from the beginning to the end of his set, taking us down a road on memory lane with his classics and keeping us current with his new joints, accompanied by a live band and background vocals of the late great Natalie Cole's nephew. AMAZING!!! I can't wait for another chance to see him again!

It was amazing! The opening act was a DJ which was great because it kept the crowd going, without having an opening act that nobody was really interested in. Nas was great, he performed all the songs people would have wanted to hear and he had a live drummer and DJ which made the whole experience better. I wish the show had started earlier so that he could have been on for longer.

I've been a big Nas fan since the late '90s. I've seen him live 3 times and this is the show I've wanted to see. This was Nas kicking it confidant and on point with no backups. The venue was perfect for his style of rap, not an arena but big enough to fit all his fans. Pair it with the amazing documentary and it was one of the best events I've been to period.

Nas is Amazing!!!! I love how personal he is with his fans and hes still sexy as ever. Wish he woulda did Ether the. Loved the new artist Nick Grant and Wale really rocked the crowd!!!! Dissapointed Lauren Hill couldn't make it but looking forward to seeing both of them really soon. Can't wait till the next show.

He is so AMAZING!! Great performer. So many classics, i could watch him live all day everyday lol! Banger after banger. Definitely worth every penny! Watching him just made me fall even more in love with his music especially with all the garbage hip hop out these days.

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Nas is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 10 concerts across 5 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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U.S. rapper Nas is leading hip-hop's 50th anniversary celebrations

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The New York State of Mind Tour Proves That Rap’s Forefathers Are Here to Stay

By Andre Gee

“30 years,” Busta Rhymes growled to thunderous applause near the end of his set at last night’s New York State of Mind Tour at Newark’s Prudential Center. “Leaders of the New School’s first album came out in 1991. I’ve been brothers with Nas and Wu-Tang for 30 years. Camaraderie for 30 years, brotherhood for 30 years, same code of ethics for 30 years … reppin’ this hip-hop shit for real, for 30 years.”

The hip-hop legends performed for a mixed-age crowd that spanned from young millennials to boomers who likely remember buying Leaders of the New School’s first album back in 1991. While standing on the show’s elevated stage, looking over the crowd, RZA, the abbot of the Wu-Tang Clan, introduced the show after an incredible record-scratching exhibition by DJ Scratch. He told the crowd that the New York State of Mind Tour was a reference to New York, and specifically to the Bronx, the birthplace of hip-hop.

During Wu-Tang, Nas, and Busta Rhymes’ roughly two-hour tour through their vast catalogs, there were no signs of generational fracture. Everyone — including 52-year-old Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who RZA announced had extended the show past its 11:00 p.m. curfew — was on the same page. The mayor of the city across the river from Newark should take note. 

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The show ran in relay-race fashion, with interspersed collaborations being strategically used to bring the next man out. Wu opened the show, then Nas did his set, then Busta Rhymes performed, then Nas again, then Wu-Tang closed. This allowed the audience to get their fill from each act without feeling like any artist upstaged the other. Nas’ initial set was solid, as the weight of beloved songs would have kept the crowd engaged no matter how he performed.

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It’s hard to not view Nas’ pickup in energy through the Verzuz prism, where Timbaland and Swizz Beatz have rap legends throwing live volleys back and forth at each other, with each tasked to outdo the other onstage or lose the round. Most rap fans would probably say they preferred Nas’ catalog to Busta’s, but after the latter’s uproarious set, Nas knew he had to follow up and affirm his dominion over the night. 

And it didn’t come out of malice, but instead from a sense of mutual respect. All of these men are pushing 50 and were reared during hip-hop’s infancy. Back then, the pipeline to rap stardom often came from wowing people with live performances. Nas’ breakout song is called “Live at the BBQ,” after all. Nowadays, a timid MC can record a song in their bedroom and get signed without ever hitting a stage — which is beautiful, but also omits the rite of passage that Nas rapped about on “Halftime,” which he regrettably didn’t perform last night.

“Back in ’83, I was an MC sparking/But I was too scared to grab the mic’s in the park and/Kick my little raps ’cause I thought niggas wouldn’t understand,” Nas raps on the 1992 single. “And now in every jam, I’m the fucking man.”

These days, rap festivals feel can feel like a cog in the backing-vocal industrial complex. A dwindling number of new acts feel representative of a time when it was understood that “MC means move the crowd,” as Rakim famously noted.

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Method Man wasn’t the only surprise appearance of the night: He brought out his partner-in-rhyme and son of New Jersey, Redman, to perform “Blackout.” The moment would have been more exciting only if the newly-licensed skydiver had rapelled from the rafters. Meth called him the 11th member of the Clan, meaning the whole crew was in the building and onstage at the end, when Busta and Nas returned to celebrate the latter’s 49th birthday. Nas then closed the show by going through all three verses of “One Mic,” which he rarely does. Perhaps he was compelled by being around his peers.

How many of today’s MCs will be able to take the stage in 2052 to boast about ripping stages for 30 years? For so many reasons, some not their fault, the number seems dishearteningly low. That’s why last night’s Prudential Center showcase was special. It was the best-case scenario for a trio of acts that started rapping before some of today’s hottest rappers were even born. Hip-hop’s fan base is growing as more fans enter middle age. There’s absolutely a lane for adult contemporary hip-hop, and arena shows for hip-hop icons. But for younger rappers, the task is to develop the catalogs, fan bases, and live shows that keep fans interested 30 years later. 

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Wu-Tang Clan and Nas confirm joint 2023 tour

The hip-hop legends are bringing their NY State of Mind tour to New Zealand, Australia, North America, the UK and Europe this year

Wu-Tang Clan and Nas are bringing their NY State of Mind joint tour around the globe.

The hip-hop legends are expanding on their 2022 North American run with more than 30 new dates. The 2023 tour will start in May in Auckland, New Zealand, then head to the Australian cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. In June, they'll travel through Europe and the UK, with stops in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin, Glasgow and London. 

Wu-Tang and Nas will finish the tour in North America through September and October, putting on performances across the US and Canada. Stops include Nashville, Tampa, Brooklyn, Washington, DC, Toronto, Chicago, Vancouver, Portland, Seattle and Las Vegas.

In the middle of the UK and European leg of the tour, Wu-Tang Clan and Nas will bring NY State of Mind to Manchester's Parklife festival as headliners. 

In December, Nas released a new collaborative single with 21 Savage called ' One Mic, One Gun '.  

See the full list of dates, and check out a short documentary about the tour below.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by DJ Mag (@djmagofficial)

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Nas (Nasir Jones) first reached an international audience when his track “Halftime” was tapped by producer MC Serch as the opening cut on 1992’s Zebrahead movie soundtrack.  Signed to Columbia Records, the first full-length album by poet and rhyme-master Nas arrived in 1994, Illmatic .  The RIAA platinum hip-hop landmark featured “It Ain’t Hard To Tell,” “The World Is Yours,” and “One.”  1996 brought the breakthrough double-platinum It Was Written (#1 R&B for 7 weeks, #1 pop for 4 weeks), with his first major crossover singles “Street Dreams” and “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That).” Success continued with the double-platinum I Am in 1999 (again #1 pop and #1 R&B), with the chart singles “Nas Is Like,” “Hate Me Now” (featuring Puff Daddy), and “You Won’t See Me Tonight” (featuring Aaliyah).

Subsequent albums by Nas included: the RIAA platinum Nastradamus (1999, #2 R&B, #7 pop, with “Nastradamus” and “You Owe Me,” featuring Ginuwine); the platinum Stillmatic (2001, #1 R&B, #5 pop, with “Got Ur Self A…,” “ “One Mic,” and “Rule”); the platinum God’s Son (2002, #1 R&B, with huge R&B/pop crossover hits “Made You Look” and “I Can”); and the platinum double-CD Street’s Disciple (2004, #2 R&B, #5 pop, with “Bridging the Gap” and “Just a Moment”). And his 2012 album, Life Is Good earned him 4 Grammy nominations including Rap Album of the Year and is certified RIAA gold.

Over the years, Nas has also been the featured guest on a number of crossover hits by other artists, among them: Allure (“Head Over Heels,” 1997); Missy Elliott (the #1 “Hot Boyz,” 1999); fellow Queensbridge rapper Mobb Deep (“It’s Mine,” 1999); Jagged Edge (“I Got It 2,” 2002); J-Lo (“I’m Gonna Be Alright,” 2002); Kanye West (“Classic (Better Than I’ve Ever Been),” 2006); DJ Khaled (“Nas Album Done,” 2016); Swizz Beats (“Echo,” 2018); Jhene Aiko (“10K Hours,” 2020) and others.

In August 2020, Nas released King’s Disease . King’s Disease marked Nas’ first new album in 2 years. The album was entirely produced by Hit-Boy, and Gabriel “G Code” Zardes serves as the albums co-executive producer. The album won “Best Rap Album” at the 2021 GRAMMYs, marking Nas’ first ever GRAMMY win.

In August of 2021, Nas released King’s Disease II , a sequel to the GRAMMY Award winning album. King’s Disease II was executive produced by Nas and Hit-Boy and features collaborations with Eminem, EPMD, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, YG, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Hit-Boy & more. The album earned a nomination for “Best Rap Album” at the upcoming 64th GRAMMY Awards. Most recently, Nas released a surprise album titled Magic featuring A$AP Rocky and DJ Premier.

In addition to his successful career in music, Nas has pursued a career in motion pictures that began with his co-starring role (alongside DMX) in 1998’s cult classic crime drama Belly , a film by director Hype Williams (with whom Nas has done several music videos). Most recently, he was the executive producer of the 2016 Netflix series The Get Down .

Nas is also the co-founder of Mass Appeal Records.

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One of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time, with classic albums and hit singles that cement his legendary status.

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Beginning with his classic debut, Illmatic , Nas stood tall for years as one of New York City’s leading rap voices, outspokenly expressing a righteous, self-empowered swagger that endeared him to critics and Hip-Hop purists. Whether proclaiming himself “Nasty Nas” or “Nas Escobar” or “Nastradamus” or “God’s Son,” the self-appointed King of New York battled numerous adversaries for his position atop the epicenter of East Coast rap, none more challenging than Jay-Z , who vied with Nas for the vacated throne left in the wake of the Notorious B.I.G.’s 1997 assassination. Such headline-worthy drama informed Nas’ provocative rhymes, which he delivered with both a masterful flow and a wise perspective over beats by a range of producers: legends like DJ Premier, Large Professor, and Pete Rock; hitmakers like Trackmasters, Timbaland, and will.i.am; street favourites like Swizz Beatz, Megahertz, and the Alchemist; and personal favourites of his own like L.E.S., Salaam Remi, and Chucky Thompson. Nas likewise collaborated with some of the industry’s leading video directors, including Hype Williams and Chris Robinson, presenting singles like ‘Hate Me Now’, ‘One Mic’, and ‘I Can’ with dramatic flair.

Throughout all the ups (the acclaim, popularity, and success) and downs (the expectations, adversaries, and over-reaching), Nas continually matured as an artist, evolving from a young street disciple to a vain all-knowing sage to a humbled godly teacher. Such growth made every album release an event and prolonged his increasingly storied career to epic proportions.

Born Nasir Jones, son of jazz musician Olu Dara, Nas dropped out of school in the eighth grade, trading classrooms for the streets of the rough Queensbridge projects, long fabled as the former stomping ground of Marley Marl and his Juice Crew as immortalized in ‘The Bridge’. Despite dropping out of school, Nas developed a high degree of literacy that would later characterize his rhymes.

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At the same time, though, he delved into street culture and flirted with danger, such experiences similarly characterizing his rhymes. His synthesis of well-crafted rhetoric and street-glamorous imagery blossomed in 1991 when he connected with Main Source and laid down a fiery verse on ‘Live at the Barbeque’ that earned him up-and-coming notice among the East Coast rap scene. Not long afterwards, MC Serch of 3rd Bass approached Nas about contributing a track to the  Zebrahead  soundtrack. Serch was the soundtrack’s executive producer and had been impressed by ‘Live at the Barbeque’. Nas submitted ‘Halftime’, and the song so stunned Serch that he made it the soundtrack’s lead-off track.

Columbia Records meanwhile signed Nas to a major-label contract, and many of New York’s finest producers offered their support. DJ Premier, Large Professor, and Pete Rock entered the studio with the young rapper and began work on  Illmatic . When Columbia finally released the album in April 1994, it faced high expectations;  Illmatic  regardless proved just as astounding as it had been billed. It sold very well, spawned multiple hits, and earned unanimous acclaim, followed soon after by classic status.

The two years leading up to Nas’ follow-up,  It Was Written  (1996), brought another wave of enormous anticipation. The ambitious rapper, who had begun working closely with industry heavyweight Steve Stoute, responded with a significantly different approach than he had taken with  Illmatic : where that album had been a straightforward Hip-Hop album with few pop concessions, the largely Trackmaster-produced It Was Written made numerous concessions to the pop-crossover market, most notably on the two hit singles, ‘Street Dreams’ and ‘If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)’. These singles — both of which drew from well-known songs, Eurythmics’ ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)’ and Kurtis Blow’s ‘If I Ruled the World’, respectively — broadened Nas’ appeal greatly and awarded him MTV-sanctioned crossover success. This same crossover success undermined some of his Hip-Hop credibility, however, and a minor backlash by purists resulted.

Nas addressed his critics on ‘Hate Me Now’, the second single from his next album,  I Am  (1999). The effort had originally been planned as a double-disc concept album comprised of autobiographical material, but when some of the tracks were leaked,  I Am  was scaled down and released as a single disc, with the DJ Premier-produced ‘Nas Is Like’ chosen as the lead single. Besides ‘Nas Is Like’ and ‘Hate Me Now’, which both broke into the Billboard Hot 100, ‘You Won’t See Me Tonight’ and ‘K-I-S-S-I-N-G’ also charted as singles. Originally scheduled by Columbia as a follow-up album comprised of the pirated material from the  I Am  sessions,  Nastradamus  (1999) — released in time for the holiday shopping season, roughly six months after its predecessor — was instead comprised almost entirely of new material, recorded quickly to meet the late-November release date. The album failed to garner the abundance of critical praise that had become customary for Nas. Moreover, unlike its two predecessors,  Nastradamus  failed to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart, peaking at number seven instead, and failed to go double platinum. Though relatively disappointing on these counts,  Nastradamus  still went platinum and spawned two charting singles, ‘Nastradamus’ and ‘You Owe Me’, so the album wasn’t a failure, just disappointing.

In the late-’90s wake of The Notorious B.I.G.’s assassination, Nas reigned atop the New York rap scene alongside few contemporaries of equal stature. In addition to his endless stream of hits by the industry’s most successful producers — ‘If I Ruled the World’ (produced by the Trackmasters), ‘Hate Me Now’ (Puff Daddy), ‘Nas Is Like’ (DJ Premier), and ‘You Owe Me’ (Timbaland), among others — he co-starred in the Hype Williams-directed film Belly  (1998) alongside DMX and contributed to the soundtrack.

Furthermore, Nas led a short-lived supergroup of New York rappers known as the Firm (also comprised of rappers Foxy Brown , AZ, and Nature, with producers  Dr. Dre and the Trackmasters) and assembled a broad coalition of fellow Queensbridge rappers for the QB  Finest compilation (2000). Amid all of this publicity, though, criticism began to mount. For every crossover fan Nas won with his dramatic MTV-aired videos, he lost support among purists, some of whom felt he had sold out, abandoning Hip-Hop ideals in favour of commercial success. The relative disappointment of Nastradamus  was symptomatic of this downturn.

A series of incidents in 2001 provided a key turning point for Nas’ decline. The rapper’s personal life was becoming increasingly complicated; he encountered relationship trouble with the mother of his daughter and, of greater consequence, his mother began suffering from cancer. To make matters worse, longtime rival Jay-Z pointedly dissed Nas on ‘Takeover’, the much-discussed lead-off song from his acclaimed  Blueprint  album (2001). (It didn’t help that Jay-Z had risen atop the New York rap scene, giving him ample justification to call out Nas, who had receded from the public eye while he dealt with his personal issues.)

Nas responded strikingly in December 2001 with  Stillmatic , the title a reference to his classic  Illmatic  album, which had been released nearly a decade earlier.  Stillmatic opened with the song ‘Ether’, a very direct response to Jay-Z, followed by the aggressive lead single ‘Get Ur Self A….’ These two songs, in particular, rallied the streets while the moving video for ‘One Mic’ received heavy support from MTV. Throughout 2002, Nas continued his comeback with a number of guest appearances, among them Brandy’s ‘What About Us?’, J-Lo’s ‘I’m Gonna Be Alright’, and Ja Rule’s ‘The Pledge’, as well as yet more news-making controversy, this time involving his no-show at popular radio station Hot 97’s annual Summer Jam.

Amid all of the drama, Nas managed to salvage his esteemed reputation and reclaim his lofty status atop the New York scene.  Stillmatic earned immediate acclaim from fans and critics alike and sold impressively, while Columbia furthered the comeback campaign with two archival releases, one of the remixes ( From Illmatic to Stillmatic ), the other of outtakes ( The Lost Tapes , which notably includes some of the pirated  I Am material). Then at the end of the year, Columbia released a new studio album,  God’s Son  (2002), and Nas once again basked in widespread acclaim as the album sold well, spawned sizable hits (‘Thugz Mansion’, ‘Made You Look’, ‘I Can’), and received rampant media support. Two years later Nas returned with  Street’s Disciple  (2004), a sprawling double album that delved deeply into various issues, most notably politics and his impending marriage to Kelis. The two-sided ‘Thief’s Theme’/’You Know My Style’ single dropped in summer 2004, several months before the album’s release, and was followed that fall by the proper lead single ‘Bridging The Gap’.

Street’s Disciple came and went, however, without the level of commercial success that had become customary, as it struggled to go platinum. More troubling, the new kid on the block 50 Cent took a swipe at Nas on ‘Piggy Bank’, a call-out song on  The Massacre  (2005), further bringing the veteran rapper’s status into question.

In a surprising turn of events later that year, Nas made a surprise appearance at Jay-Z’s much-hyped I Declare War concert in October 2005. Together the two rivals performed ‘Dead Presidents’, Jay-Z’s 1996 debut single; the classic song, produced by Ski Beatz and featured on  Reasonable Doubt  (1996), features a prominent sample of ‘The World Is Yours’, a 1994 classic by Nas. The reconciliation of Jay-Z and Nas opened the door to a deal with Def Jam. The record label, overseen by Jay-Z as president at the time, signed Nas and, in turn, released  Hip-Hop Is Dead (2006). The album didn’t sell especially well, but it did inspire a lot of commentary about the state of Hip-Hop and included a much-anticipated collaboration with Jay-Z, ‘Black Republican’. A politically-charged self-titled album, at one point considered to be titled N*gger , materialized in 2008, and not without some controversy of its own. Following his divorce from Kelis, Nas released  Distant Relatives , an album-length collaboration with Damian “Junior Gong” Marley, in 2010. Two years later, his divorce would be addressed on the venomous  Life Is Good , an album that featured Nas holding Kelis’ wedding dress on the cover.

Words: Jason Birchmeier

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SPILL LIVE REVIEW: WU-TANG CLAN & NAS w/ DJ SCRATCH @ BUDWEISER STAGE, TORONTO

WU-TANG CLAN & NAS w/ DJ SCRATCH

@ budweiser stage, toronto, september 4, 2022.

Toronto was treated to a night of classic ‘90s hip-hop nostalgia with two of the decade’s finest: Wu-Tang Clan and Nas. Along with supporting act, DJ Scratch, the hip-hop innovators brought their co-headlining tour, N.Y. State of Mind Tour , to Toronto’s Budweiser Stage for an exciting performance.

Despite Busta Rhymes being recently added to the N.Y. State of Mind Tour as the show opener, Mr. Rhymes was nowhere to be seen at Bud Stage. The unexplained absence was filled in by DJ Scratch (producer; Busta Rhymes, DMX, Q-Tip, Method Man) who delivered an afterparty experience for the pre-show. Hyping up the crowd with an array of classic R&B, dancehall, and a set sprinkled with some of the greatest hip-hop tracks spanning the genre’s history, DJ Scratch brought the artform of DJing back to the game with a performance that brought the energy of a party to a sold-out amphitheatre.

Rather than Nas and the Wu-Tang Clan split their performances into two separate sets, like most concerts, the two chose to rotate between short sets throughout the night. Kicking off this rotation was Wu who opened their set with a set of verses from the leading rappers of the clan, as introduced by RZA: Gza performing “Liquid Swords”, Inspectah Deck with Gang Starr’s “Above The Clouds”, Raekwon with “Incarcerated Scarfaces”, Ghostface Killah performing “Mighty Healthy”, and a surprise verse from Cappadonna with “’97 Mentality”. Backed by a live DJ, the full Clan took the stage – including the addition of U-God, Masta Killa, and Young Dirty Bastard – for a ruthless performance of “Bring Da Ruckus” and “Da Mystery Of Chessboxing”. While the absence of Method Man weighed heavy on the group’s performance, the Wu shines for their natural chemistry together, particularly that between Gza and Ghostface as they hyped one another up, doubling and completing each other’s lines effortlessly. Standing as two of the greatest MC’s of the Clan, Ghostface and Gza’s combined flow remains unparalleled.

WU-TANG CLAN

As the Wu cleared the stage for Nas’ first set of the night, Raekwon stayed on to perform his solo track, “Verbal Intercourse” with Ghostface and Nas – a definite highlight for the night. Supported by a DJ and a live drummer, Nas stomped across the stage with a commanding presence. Over the course of ten songs, Nas proved his worth as a premier MC as he ebbed and flowed with a performance that perhaps won over an audience that, at first, seemed more excited to see the Wu-Tang Clan. Performing tacks, such as “The Message”, “Get Down”, “N.Y. State Of Mind”, and Mobb Deep’s “Eye For An Eye (Your Beef Is Mines) with Raekwon, Nas brought a refined level of finesse along with his raw attitude that was thrilling to watch.

Returning for a brief set, the second Wu-Tang set largely started Raekwon and Ghostface as the two went through a handful of the former’s solo tracks (notably “Ciminology”, and “Ice Cream”), before Gza came out with “Duel Of The Iron Mic” – yet another surprising highlight from the night. While the rest of the Clan emerged to perform a quintessential trio of songs – “C.R.E.A.M.”, “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit”, and “Can It Be All So Simple” – the second set from Wu-Tang Clan was a special affair, especially for fans of Gza, Ghostface, and Raekwon.

Coming back on for a second set, Nas continued to stun the audience with an exceptional performance. From “Hate Me Now” and “Street Dreams” to “Wu For The Children” and “Nas Is Like”, Nas was equally sublime and bombastic with a performance that felt like a victory lap from one of the few ‘90s rappers to still release music at a consistent pace. Ending his final set with “The World Is Yours”, “Made You Look”, and “If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)”, Nas put on a stellar performance.

Taking the stage for a final performance, Rza took the stage with a message of love and unity, set over a funky instrumental of The Beatles’ “Come Together”, only for the Clan to come out and absolutely crush it on “Reunited” interluded with a verse from Gza’s “4 th Chamber”. After giving Young Dirty Bastard a chance to shine on “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” and “Got Your Money” – matching the unique timbre and explosive performance of the late Ol’Dirty Bastards – The Wu closed their set with a hard-hitting performance of “Triumph” and “One Mic”, which saw Nas take the lead for the closing number, supported by the Clan.

All in all, the N.Y. State of Mind Tour was an exciting affair that saw Wu-Tang Clan and Nas assert their position as hip-hop royalty. While the overall performance would have benefited from a more traditional format – one consecutive set for Nas, another for the Wu – both artists delivered hard-hitting performances. Despite being largely driven by nostalgia, Nas proved his worth as an MC a cut above most, while Wu-Tang Clan blew the audience away with their tight knit chemistry and organic flow.

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Nas x Wu-Tang Clan = NY State of Mind

Nas and Wu-Tang Clan are teaming up for the “NY State of Mind” Tour, the year’s most talked-about rap show and one that’s coming to roughly two dozen markets across America in the coming months – and one you can catch live and in person, thanks to the amazing tickets on this website! But since we’re talking about two of the most enduring talents in hip hop history here, you know that the best sets won’t last for long.

So if you want to catch these titans performing songs like “If I Ruled the World,” “Protect Ya Neck,” “C.R.E.A.M.,” and “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” back to back, then check the Nas Tour schedule below and get your tickets today!

Sunday, June 30th, 2024 6:00 PM

Nas with The Colorado Symphony Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, CO

Saturday, July 13th, 2024 8:00 PM

Nas & Columbus Symphony Orchestra Bicentennial Pavilion At Columbus Commons Columbus, OH

Friday, July 19th, 2024 8:00 PM

Nas Palace Theatre Albany Albany, NY

Saturday, July 20th, 2024 8:00 PM

Nas & The Rhode Island Philharmonic Providence Performing Arts Center Providence, RI

Sunday, July 21st, 2024 8:00 PM

Nas Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts Vienna, VA

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Here's a complete list of the LIV golfers playing in the 2024 Masters Tournament

The 2024 Masters Tournament will begin with the first round on Thursday, April 11. Nearly 90 golfers were invited to the annual event at Augusta National for 2024.

Invitee criteria changed between 2023 and 2024. This year, an NCAA Division I Men's Individual Champion earned a spot in the field (so long as he remains an amateur ahead of the tournament). Augusta National also accommodated the PGA Tour schedule changing to a calendar-year system by allowing winners of tour events last fall to qualify.

WATCH: Top American golfer Wyndham Clark previews 2024 Masters

Despite growing its field of players, LIV Golf will have fewer participants in the 2024 Masters Tournament than in 2023 because the circuit doesn't award Official World Golf Ranking points.

In the end, 13 golfers from the LIV Golf circuit are set to compete in the Masters Tournament this year.

2024 Masters Tournament: Everything you need to know about how to watch and live stream the event

LIV Golf players in the 2024 Masters Tournament

• Bryson DeChambeau
• Sergio García
• Tyrell Hatton
• Dustin Johnson
• Brooks Koepka
• Adrian Meronk
• Phil Mickelson
• Joaquín Niemann
• Patrick Reed
• Charl Schwartzel
• Cameron Smith
• Bubba Watson

Is Tiger Woods playing in the Masters?

Woods is not part of the LIV Golf circuit. There's been no official confirmation but signs point to Woods giving it a shot.

'Zero mobility' in the ankle: Tiger Woods former teammate Notah Begay weighs in before the Masters

How to watch the Masters Tournament

• TV channels:  ESPN, CBS, CBS Sports Network
• Live stream: Paramount+,   Fubo , ESPN+

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Snow Strippers Concert Review: An Electroclash and EDM Revival

Detroit-based electropop duo Snow Strippers incited unlikely chaos for a Monday evening as they took the stage for a sold-out show at the Crystal Ballroom in Somerville on April 1. The duo, composed of Tatiana Schwaninger and Graham Perez, delivered a sonic experience steeped in digitized melodies and video game-esque sound effects.

DRES, a dynamic collaboration between damon r. and Extra Small, opened the show with an electric remix of “Attention” by Charlie Puth. As they transitioned into “bf847,” their energy surged and the crowd picked up, complemented by a flashing backdrop featuring a seemingly out-of-context edit of Justin and Hailey Bieber. Their angst-filled teenage vocals reverberated through the room but sometimes landed indecipherably, unevenly distributed behind the densely layered programmed beats. Despite their lack of polished stage presence, the band’s quirky dance moves and distinctive sound relayed their eccentric energy, warming up the crowd for the performance to follow.

Snow Strippers kicked off the concert with “Just Your Doll,” a fan-favorite single off the album “Night Killaz Vol. 1.” With boosted bass, Perez’s experimental synths, and Schwaninger’s obscured vocals, the duo danced around the stage, hyping up the audience as they began their energetic set. Transitioning seamlessly into more instrumental tracks like “Hurt So Good,” each song blended into the next, the energy in the pit amplifying with each transition.

Schwaninger and Perez ignited the stage, enveloped in vibrant strobe lights synced to Perez’s pulsating beats. Schwaninger animatedly bounced back and forth on stage as she yelled into the mic. Meanwhile, Perez seamlessly transitioned from behind his DJ booth, emerging at the climax of each song as the charismatic hype man. Bumping around while enthusiastically fist-pumping and wrist flicking, the duo fed off of each other’s raucous energy and filled the stage.

Repetitive visuals reminiscent of a DIY suburban teen aesthetic flashed behind them as they performed “Under Your Spell,” another beloved single from their album “April Mixtape 3.” Schwaninger and Perez kept the energy playful throughout the hypnotizing, repetitive chorus. At times, the concert resembled more of a listening party, given the electronic vocals on their tracks that couldn’t be replicated live. But the energy remained electric and unhinged, with the tightly packed crowd moshing as Perez spammed gunshot and airhorn sound effects from his DJ booth.

A highlight of the night was their performance of “It’s A Dream,” featuring Lil Uzi Vert. The transition into the track sent the crowd into a euphoric frenzy of screams and jumps as they sang along to every word. As the duo announced their final song, “Just a Hint,” fans threw all of their remaining energy into the mosh pit, sustaining the chaotic energy until the very last moment.

Snow Strippers undeniably channels the essence of the 2000s and 2010s, blending nostalgic sounds and visuals with their own distinctive experimental flair. Their raw, digitized sound captures the essence of the underground electronic music scene, drawing in a dedicated and rapidly expanding fanbase.

—Staff writer Camilla J. Martinez can be reached at [email protected] . Follow her on X @camillajinm .

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What Time Will the Total Solar Eclipse Be Viewable in Your Area? All About the Path of Totality

The rare total solar eclipse starts in the United States around noon CDT

Prepare for the skies to go dark as the total solar eclipse heads your way on April 8.

The upcoming total solar eclipse, the first of its kind since 2017 , occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, making the face of the Sun obscured from view. As a result, many people around the United States will experience a darkened sky . 

Because a solar eclipse is incredibly rare, with the next one not taking place until 20 years from now, many skygazers are making a full event of the spectacle. 

While some people may feel the astrological affects of the event , others in the path of totality will have a front-row view as the eclipse makes its way from Mexico through the United States and into Canada in the afternoon. 

Wondering if you’ll experience the complete darkness of the solar eclipse? Read ahead to learn more about when the total solar eclipse will make its way to your city. 

What time does the solar eclipse start?

Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty

The eclipse begins in Mexico on Monday, April 8 at about 11:07 a.m. PDT. From there, it will make its way to the United States, crossing into Texas at about 1:27 p.m. CDT.

What cities are in the path of totality for the solar eclipse? 

STR/AFP via Getty

The path of totality, or the area in which people will experience the Moon completely blocking the Sun, will range between 108 and 122 miles wide in North America, per NASA . That is significantly larger than the 2017 eclipse, which ranged from about 62 to 71 miles wide. NASA also reports that an estimated 31.6 million people live in the path of totality this year, compared to 12 million in 2017.

Additionally, those in the line of the path of totality will also experience a partial eclipse before and after the totality. According to NASA, “99% of people who reside in the United States will be able to see the partial or total eclipse from where they live.” They add that every contiguous U.S. state, plus parts of Alaska and Hawaii, will at least experience a partial solar eclipse.

Drew Angerer/Getty

Below is when each city in the path of totality will begin to experience the totality of the eclipse. For a more detailed chart on start times, visit NASA . 

Dallas, Texas, 1:40 p.m. CDT

Idabel, Okla., 1:45 p.m. CDT

Little Rock, Ark., 1:51 p.m. CDT

Poplar Bluff, Miss., 1:56 p.m. CDT

Paducah, Ky., 2:00 p.m. CDT

Carbondale, Ill., 1:59 p.m. CDT

Evansville, Ind., 2:02 p.m. CDT

Cleveland, Ohio, 3:13 p.m. EDT

Erie, Pa., 3:16 p.m. EDT

Buffalo, N.Y., 3:18 p.m. EDT

Burlington, Vt., 3:26 p.m. EDT

Lancaster, N.H., 3:27 p.m. EDT

Caribou, Maine, 3:32 p.m. EDT

When does the solar eclipse end?

Rick Kern/Getty

After making its way through Maine, the solar eclipse will come to a close in Canada. The total solar eclipse will start in Brantford, Ont. at 3:17 p.m. and conclude its path of totality in Perth-Andover, N.B. at 4:35 p.m., per CBC News .

What time will the solar eclipse be viewable in your area? 

As previously stated, even if you don’t live near the path of totality, you will likely still experience a partial eclipse in your area. 

NASA has made it easy to figure out the best viewing times for your city. Simply visit NASA’s website and log in your zip code to their handy calculator. From there, you can track the various phases of the solar eclipse in your area, including watch times.

For more coverage on the total solar eclipse, you can watch PEOPLE's live stream on X and Facebook .

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