When Nas released his first album Illmatic in 1994, it wasn’t just a promising debut from an up-and-coming rapper. It was a watershed moment in hip-hop, an album that would influence the course of the genre going forward, and which is still making a major impact on hip-hop today. Although Illmatic wasn’t initially a huge seller, it was embraced by critics and helped bring new attention to East Coast (and particularly New York City) hip-hop, and its reputation has only grown in the 25 years since it was first released. Nas went on to achieve greater commercial success starting with his next album, 1996’s It Was Written, with hit singles “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)” and “Street Dreams.”
The tension between underground experimentation and mainstream accessibility has defined Nas’ career, from popular songs like “Nastradamus,” “I Can” and “Can’t Forget About You,” to collaborations with artists ranging from Justin Bieber to Damian Marley and Lin-Manuel Miranda. He’s continued to receive critical acclaim for his recent albums, including 2018’s Nasir, which was produced by Kanye West. It’s not easy to live up to the expectations of revolutionizing an entire genre, but Nas has proven himself more than up to the task.
House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, 8 p.m. Aug. 10, starting at $39.50 plus tax and fee, 18+. 702.632.7600
