The 40 Defining Moments of Nas' Career

Looking back at 40 moments that changed Nas' life.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Looking back at 40 moments that changed Nas' life.

This feature is a part of Complex's Nas Week, presented by Hennessy.

RELATED: COMPLEX TV RECOUNTS THE DEFINING MOMENTS IN NAS' CAREER

Regardless of where you rank him on your list, it's impossible to have an argument about the "Greatest Rapper of All Time" without mentioning Nas. Over the course of the last two decades, the Queensbridge rapper has released ten solo albums, dropped some of the hottest verses we've ever heard, and earned the praise of his fellow rappers, both past and present. He's a legend in every sense of the word and, even if he never spits another rhyme, he'd go down as one of the best to ever do it.

But Nas didn't achieve legendary status overnight. Quite the opposite actually. While his debut album, Illmatic, did give his career a big jump-start back in 1994, Nas has experienced a series of highs and lows throughout his rap career. Still he's managed to fight his way through it all, assuring himself a place in hip-hop history in the process. So as he prepares to celebrate his 40th birthday on September 14, we decided to take a look back at The 40 Defining Moments of Nas' Career. From Nasty Nas to Esco to Nastradamus…and everything in between.

Written by Chris Yuscavage (@ChrisYuscavage)

RELATED: 10 Ways Nas' "Illmatic" Changed Hip-Hop
RELATED: 25 Pictures of "Illmatic" Era Nas
RELATED: 50 Things You Didn't Know About Nas 

Changing His Name From Kid Wave to Nas

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Meeting Large Professor for the First Time

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Stealing The Show on "Live At The Barbeque"

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Hires MC Serch to Be His Manager

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Landing His Song, "Halftime," on the Soundtrack for Zebrahead

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Signing His First Recording Deal With Columbia Records

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Releasing Illmatic & Getting 5 Mics

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Dropping a Verse on Raekwon's "Verbal Intercourse"

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Hiring Steve Stoute as his Manager

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Reaching No. 1 on Billboard with It Was Written

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Beefing With Cormega

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Beefing With 2Pac

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Forming Supergroup The Firm

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Co-Writing & Starring in Belly

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Releasing His Third Album, I Am...

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Courting Controversy With "Hate Me Now" Video

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Releasing His Fourth Solo Album, Nastradamus

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Showing Love to his Neighborhood with QB's Finest Compilation

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Releasing His Fifth Solo Album, Stillmatic

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Responding to Jay-Z's Diss with "Ether" (2001)

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Attempting to "Lynch" Jay Z During Summer Jam 2002

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Releasing his Compilation Album, The Lost Tapes

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Bouncing Back From His Mother's Death on God's Son Album

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Releasing His Seventh Solo Album, Street's Disciple

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Marrying Kelis

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Reconciling With Jay-Z At The "I Declare War" Concert

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Signing to Def Jam

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Releasing His Eighth Album, Hip Hop Is Dead

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Performing at Virginia Tech Despite Criticism

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Names His Album After The N-Word

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Releasing His Untitled Ninth Album

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Wearing a Shirt With the N-Word on It to the Grammy Awards

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Battling With Conservative Critics

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Collaborates With Damian Marley on Distant Relatives

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Bouncing Back from Personal Problems on "Life Is Good"

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Winning an Emmy Award

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Breaking New Ground Lyrically with "Daughters"

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Reuniting With Lauryn Hill on the "Life Is Good/Black Rage" Tour

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Recording the "Let Nas Down" Remix With J. Cole

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Being Honored by Harvard University With the Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Fellowship

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