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If you start your career at the very top, how do you follow up? How do you breathe longevity into success? Nas knows as well as anyone. In 1994, he made his studio debut with Illmatic, an instant classic. And now, more than 20 years later, he’s still at it.
This summer, Nas is back on tour, reminding everyone why he’s one of the greatest lyricists ever. At the same time, Sprite, who featured Nas in its commercial spots in the ’90s, just launched a collection of limited-edition cans that feature his lyrics, as well as those of Biggie, Rakim, and Drake—hip-hop icons who have followed their own path and stayed true to themselves along their journey.
From June through August, 16 different sets of their words will appear across Sprite cans. Here at Complex, we’re big fans of Nas, so we decided to reach back a little further and find 16 life lessons we learned from his lyrics.
On Effort
Song: “It Ain’t Hard to Tell”
“Poetry’s deep I never fell”
Nas has been able to find the creative spark to write 11 solo albums and produce more than two decades’ worth of music. And he hasn’t fallen off. The lesson? Produce the best work that you can and you’ll be rewarded by it.
On Ascension
Song: “The World Is Yours”
“The world is yours”
Nas makes even the weightiest ambitions seem attainable. On the hook, Pete Rock asks, “Whose world is this?” Take it from Nas: “The world is yours, the world is yours; it’s mine, it’s mine, it’s mine...”
On Trusting Yourself
Song: “Trust”
“Live with it and love it”
Take ownership of your actions and decisions and be ready for the consequences, whatever they may be. Be yourself, proudly, and forget the haters.
On Ambition
Song: “My Generation”
“It’s truth, that I am you, and I am proof”
Nas grew up in the Queensbridge Houses, the largest public housing development in North America. His parents divorced when he was a kid, yet he overcame adversity to become one of the most accomplished hip-hop artists of all time. It’s a remarkable story and further proof to strive for greatness, no matter what’s standing in your way.
On Living Life to the Fullest
Song: “If I Ruled the World”
“Living longevity to the destiny”
In Nas’ world, we’d focus on filling our days with meaning—living a long life with purpose, clarity, and empathy. We may not be in Nas’ world, but by focusing on bettering ourselves and improving the circumstance of those around us (not just ourselves), our own lives can feel richer and more complete.
On Striving
Song: “Back When”
“Before there was an audience to watch us, I assure you there was a process”
It took a lot of hard work and many years for Nas to reach his apex, and even then, it took more work to stay at the top. Even if things are going well, don’t fall victim to complacency.
On Focus
Song: “I Can”
“If I work hard at it, I’ll be where I wanna be”
There are a lot of things that need to align for success to be found, but the only way to be ready when that time comes is to work hard, even when no one seems to be paying attention.
On Leadership
Song: “My Way”
“Respect all, fear none”
Show respect to your peers, but don’t let fear get in the way of achieving what you want. Be strong and true to yourself and others will pick up on that.
On Authenticity
Song: “Mastermind”
“It ain’t a game, it’s the life”
On “Mastermind,” Nas raps about living by your own ideas—not money or fame—for the betterment of yourself and those around you.
On Experience
Song: “You’re Da Man”
“Look at me now, 10 years deep”
Nas, like everyone else, has haters. Nas silences his critics not through fighting back, but by rising above and letting his success speak for itself.
On Honesty
Song: “Made You Look”
“Y’all appointed me to bring rap justice”
By always speaking truthfully, Nas earned the respect of his peers and listeners. Now an elder in the industry, he knows what it takes to achieve success. His opinion carries a lot of weight, and he earned that by remaining honest, even in the face of wild success.
On Sincerity
Song: “The Message”
“So when I rhyme it’s sincerely yours”
Part of Nas’ appeal is the sincerity of his words. He makes music that has a message and purpose. His success reaches beyond individual accolades.
On Success
Song: “Nas Is Like”
“Y’all know what I’m like, y’all play it in your system every night”
People may talk badly about you, or your goals, but if you achieve success through hard work, there’s nothing they can say. Success drowns out the haters.
On Simplicity
Song: “One Mic”
“All I need is one mic, one beat, one stage”
All Nas needs to feel fulfilled are the tools of his trade. He got to that spot by creating art that had purpose. It’s not just about him, and because of that, he reaps the benefit of his work.
On Consistency
Song: “Hero”
“Cause they know I’m gonna give em what they want”
Nas reached the point where, every time he picked up the mic, greatness was expected. Every time he released an album or a single, or put his mind to anything, the results were there, because he trained himself to work hard to achieve it.
On Training
Song: “N.Y. State of Mind”
“It’s only right that I was born to use mics”
Nas realized his ambitions as an artist through his dedication to the craft. Even if you’re born talented, you still need to work to achieve success. In other words, don’t coast, go hard, and work to achieve what you want. As Nas rapped with AZ, back in ‘97, “Obey your thirst kid,” and find success.
