As I have been doing with rap albums over the years, I want to attempt to predict what Nas' new album, "King's Disease 2" would sell in it's first week out.
Showing posts with label nas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nas. Show all posts
How Many Platinum Albums Does Nas Have
This post is about how many platinum selling albums Nas has. To does that don't know what selling platinum means, it means an album selling over a million copies.
Since he released his first album in 1994, Nas has so far had 7 platinum selling albums.
The list of all his platinum selling albums are below.
1. Illmatic (1994)- 2X Platinum
2. It Was Written (1996)- 3X Platinum
3. I Am (1999)- 2X Platinum
4. Nastradamus (1999)- Platinum
First Week Sales of Nas's "The Lost Tapes 2"
Legendary rapper, Nas released a compilation album, The Lost Tapes 2 on the 19th of July, and after a full week in stores, it sold 23,617 copies first week. It debuted at number 10. on the Billboard chart. I definitely thought it would sell a little more than that, but I guess people don't buy compilation albums the way they buy original studio albums.
First Week Sales Prediction of Nas's "The Lost tapes 2"
Nas just dropped a new project, The Lost Tapes 2 yesterday and I am going to attempt to predict what it would sell in its first week in stores. The first The Lost Tapes was released 17 years ago (2002), and it instantly became a fan favorite. It comprised of unreleased songs from his I Am (1999) and Stillmatic (2001) album recording sessions. In the same light, The Lost Tapes 2 comprises of unreleased songs from four album recording sessions- Hp Hop Is Dead (2006), Untitled (2008), Life is Good (2012), and Nasir (2018).
Eric B Says Tupac and Nas Were Going to Record an Album Together
In a recent interview, legendary DJ, Eric B (of Eric B. & Rakim fame) talked about Tupac wanting to make a joint album with Nas back in 1996. That is hard for some to believe because Tupac had dissed Nas on a couple of songs on his 5th album. In 1996, two months after Tupac died, his first posthumous album dropped, titled The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. On that album, there were two tracks (Bomb First and Against All Odds) were Tupac dissed Nas, Mobb Deep, Jay Z and a host of other New York rappers. But a week before Tupac got shot and killed in Vegas, he ran into Nas at a park in New York. And after they spoke and squashed their beef, he planned to redo those tracks, and take Nas's disses out of them. But he died before that happened, and Suge Knight didn't want to tamper with Tupac's work, so he released the album like that.
Eric B was at the New York park that night when Nas and Tupac squashed their beef, and he said on the plane to Vegas, Tupac had told him he would love to make an album with Nas. Reggie Wright Jr, Tupac's ex-bodyguard also said something similar during his recent VLAD TV interview. Below are Eric B's words on Tupac wanting to make an album with Nas.
"I had a conversation with Tupac and I told him, I said, "I said, Pac let me say something to you. I said, remember as kids when you had a little dog, and you push the dog, or you kick him...you take a stick and keep sticking him? I said...Nas said he don't want no problems, I said but you gon wind up with a problem if you keep pushing him and pushing him, and you pushing him into a corner. And he's gonna bite you.' And he was like, 'Yo, E men! Yo nobody ever said that to me...' So we showed up at the park, we had probably about 80 people with us. Nas got another 50 60 people with him in the park. So I tell Pac, I said 'men, you gotta go over there and talk to him men.' Cos I said, 'We all...this is about to be a mess.' Now, we all from Queens, so you know, Nas is my little brother...so you know, we all family. So now, I'm in the middle. So I told Pac, I said, 'Pac, you you gotta make this right because this is about to be a mess.'
Eric B was at the New York park that night when Nas and Tupac squashed their beef, and he said on the plane to Vegas, Tupac had told him he would love to make an album with Nas. Reggie Wright Jr, Tupac's ex-bodyguard also said something similar during his recent VLAD TV interview. Below are Eric B's words on Tupac wanting to make an album with Nas.
"I had a conversation with Tupac and I told him, I said, "I said, Pac let me say something to you. I said, remember as kids when you had a little dog, and you push the dog, or you kick him...you take a stick and keep sticking him? I said...Nas said he don't want no problems, I said but you gon wind up with a problem if you keep pushing him and pushing him, and you pushing him into a corner. And he's gonna bite you.' And he was like, 'Yo, E men! Yo nobody ever said that to me...' So we showed up at the park, we had probably about 80 people with us. Nas got another 50 60 people with him in the park. So I tell Pac, I said 'men, you gotta go over there and talk to him men.' Cos I said, 'We all...this is about to be a mess.' Now, we all from Queens, so you know, Nas is my little brother...so you know, we all family. So now, I'm in the middle. So I told Pac, I said, 'Pac, you you gotta make this right because this is about to be a mess.'Top 5 Richest Rappers (Forbes List)
The Forbes employee responsible for calculating rappers net worth and ho much they make yearly, Zack O'Malley Greenburg was on The Breakfast Club show yesterday, and he gave a breakdown of the top 5 richest men in Hip Hop for 2019, and what makes up their net worth.
Before mentioning the top 5 richest rappers in 2019, he talked about a few rappers that almost made the list. In the list of those rappers were Birdman, Eminem, and Nas. He said if Drake didn't have such a big year, Nas would have been at the number 5 spot, instead of Drake.
Anyway, below are the top 5 richest rappers in 2019 according to Forbes.
5. Drake ($150 Million)
4. Kanye West ($240 Million)
3. P Diddy ($740 Million)
Before mentioning the top 5 richest rappers in 2019, he talked about a few rappers that almost made the list. In the list of those rappers were Birdman, Eminem, and Nas. He said if Drake didn't have such a big year, Nas would have been at the number 5 spot, instead of Drake.
Anyway, below are the top 5 richest rappers in 2019 according to Forbes.
5. Drake ($150 Million)
4. Kanye West ($240 Million)
3. P Diddy ($740 Million)
Ranking Nas's Albums
Nas is considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, so today, I have decided to rank his albums from best to worst. He has 11 studio albums in total. For those that don't really know much about Nas, let me try and run through his story quickly before I get into the ranking.
Nas first got on the scene at 18 back in 1991, when he appeared on the Main Source song, Live at The Barbecue. His verse was so ill on the song that he became the golden child of Hip Hop. He got his deal the following year with Columbia Records. He started working on his album that same year, and dropped the first single for his debut album (Illmatic) before the end of 1992, titled Halftime. In 1994, he dropped his debut album, Illmatic, which many consider to be one of the greatest Hip Hop albums of all time. He has gone on to drop 10 more albums since then, and one of the highlights of his career is the highly publicized beef he had with Jay Z between 2001-2004.
So, let's get into the ranking.
1. Illmatic (1994)
Numero uno is Illmatic. This a flawless album; I mean, every rap line is where it is supposed to be...no words are out of place. And for someone that had just turned 20, living in the projects, his vocabulary and subject matter on the album is very impressive. It is 10 tracks, 9 songs, and every song is dope. (5/5)
2. Stillmatic (2001)
I was tempted to put this at the top, over Illmatic, but I would say the flow/deliver on Illmatic is still second to none while talking about Nas albums... this is where Illmatic shines over Stillmatic. But Stillmatic is a more rounded album; storytelling, lyrical depth, concept songs, delivery/flow, production...everything is so on point. Nas has a song on here where he is rapping backwards; he told a story backwards. The dude is just a musical genius, and I would say if any album proves that, it is this album. (5/5)
3. Untitled (2008)
I would say this is the most underrated Nas album. I still wonder why people overlook it so much. Production is on point. Concept is super on point- he had a song rapping about a cockroach. He had a song with Busta Rhymes where he and Busta are rapping from the point of view of friend chicken. He and Busta delivered their verses masterfully. The album is very political, but Nas is skilled enough to make politics interesting to an average joe. This album needs to get the respect it deserves. (5/5)
Waka Flocka Says The Black Community Need to Respect Technology
In his recent interview on Hot 97 radio with his wife (Tammy Rivera), Waka Flocka said that the black community in America need to respect technology. He said the only way the black community would go extinct is if they don't do technology. He said this after his wife said he comes up with a new tech idea everyday.
Read his words on this below...
"We need to respect technology, that's all I'ma tell y'all. Respect it. The only way I know the black community is gonna go extinct is if they don't do technology. Nobody in the hood respect technology. They better respect technology. It's all I'ma say."
I'm totally with him. And this is why you hardly have black billionaires in America. (There are a total of 13 black billionaires in the world; 4 are from America, and the remaining 9 are from Africa). Black people need to pay more attention to technology. Black people are so focused on getting paid for stuff, instead of actually owning stuff. And even if they do own stuff, it is homes they focus on. I ain't saying real estate isn't a good form of investment/business, but you can't compare the returns you get from real estate to that you get from the tech business...especially Information Technology.
Read his words on this below...
I'm totally with him. And this is why you hardly have black billionaires in America. (There are a total of 13 black billionaires in the world; 4 are from America, and the remaining 9 are from Africa). Black people need to pay more attention to technology. Black people are so focused on getting paid for stuff, instead of actually owning stuff. And even if they do own stuff, it is homes they focus on. I ain't saying real estate isn't a good form of investment/business, but you can't compare the returns you get from real estate to that you get from the tech business...especially Information Technology.
Dave East Says a Collaboration with Jay Z Would Bring Out the Best in Him
During his The Bumbu Room interview, New York rapper, Dave East was asked who he would love to collaborate with right now, and he said Jay Z. He went on to say the reason why he would want this to happen is because he believes being on the same song with Jay Z would push him to rap in a way he has never rapped before.
Read his words below...
"Hov. Jay Z. I don't know. Honestly with that I would want to kind of create something. I feel like just his take on the game and just the way he done twisted words and...just his wordplay over the years to me has been so elite. I feel like it would just umm push me to talk in a way or rap in a way I haven't maybe I haven't done before. Same thing I kind of with Nas. You know what I'm saying."
Read his words below...
Kelis Ran Off to Columbia with She and Nas's Son
Without informing her ex husband/baby daddy (Nas) or the court, Kelis traveled out of the United States in December (2018) to Columbia with she and Nas's son. This is in violation of the court agreement between her and Nas. As agreed in court, Nas was meant to see Knight (their son), on New year's Eve, but she violated their custody agreement.
According to Nas, she has broken their custody agreement 17 times since January of 2018. It's a pity they can't make this work.
Nas's 11th Album is Almost Done
Nas hasn't dropped an album since 2012's Life Is Good, and that was 5 years ago. A lot of his fans are hungry for some new Nas music, and he keeps promising to drop soon, but we keep getting disappointed. He even made a song with DJ Khaled last year titled "Nas Album Done," and yet, still no album.
But it appears he is really focused on getting his 11th album done right now. We don't have a title for it yet, but his brother, Jungle put up a picture of him and Nas in the studio five days ago with this caption- "@nas Studio.. #NasAlbumAlmostDone#HipHop #QueensBridge #NYC."
I am guessing it is for real this time. We might get the album before the end of the year. Nas is fully independent now, and has his own label (Mass Appeal Records), so he can put the album out anytime he wants with no delays.
But it appears he is really focused on getting his 11th album done right now. We don't have a title for it yet, but his brother, Jungle put up a picture of him and Nas in the studio five days ago with this caption- "@nas Studio.. #NasAlbumAlmostDone#HipHop #QueensBridge #NYC."
I am guessing it is for real this time. We might get the album before the end of the year. Nas is fully independent now, and has his own label (Mass Appeal Records), so he can put the album out anytime he wants with no delays.
Pic: Nicki Minaj and Nas at Sweet Chick Life Restaurant
Checkout this picture of Nicki Minaj and Nas at Nas's New York restaurant, Sweet Chick Life. Nicki posted the picture on her Instagram about a week ago with the caption- "Only KINGS recognize QUEENS. @sweetchicklife has the best food 👅 congrats @nas" Nas re-posted the post a few hours later. This picture will make more people think the rumors about them dating are actually true, but I am sure it is all for publicity.
Nas's Baby Mama (Carmen Bryan) Speaks on How She Helped Nas Break Jay Z Down on Ether
One of the biggest rap beefs of all time was caused by a woman, and apparently, that same woman helped mold one of the greatest rap beef songs in Hip Hop history- Ether. Yup!
Although the reason Nas and Jay Z had beef was cos she was sleeping with Jay Z, when she was still with Nas (some times taking Nas's Bentley out to see Jay), she said she didn't like how Jay Z was going at Nas using her cheating ways as ammo, so she decided to help Nas breakdown Jay Z psychologically, because she knew a lot about him.
While explaining her role in the Nas versus Jay Z beef during her recent interview with DJ VLAD, she spoke on how she helped Nas craft Ether.
"Once I realized what Jay was doing, I was like, 'you know, am not going to allow him to belittle Nas anymore. Like, I'm the only person on the planet that can belittle this nigga. I'm not letting anybody else have that opportunity. And so, I just umm! Called Nas and was like 'alright let's talk.' So, I had a conversation with Nas like an attorney would have with their client. And I just basically told him 'listen, if you want to win this case, you're gonna have to go this route.' Cos I knew what type of person Jay Z was. Jay Z is very...he can be insecure. Umm! He has a little bit of low self esteem in certain areas. And, he's sensitive. And I kind of knew what areas to...you know...we all have sensitivities...we all have, you, things about us that we don't necessarily want the public to know about and I told Nas 'this is your opportunity to do whatever you need to do, but you have to do it all in one song. All of this subliminal...just rock this nigga, and let's move on.'...I told Nas everything that happened between Jay Z and I so that he could write the song consciously knowing what could come back as far as like, you know, a rebuttal."
That was a chess move right there. That was why Super Ugly didn't have such an impact, because Nas already knew what was coming, He knew Jay Z's biggest weapon in the beef was that he had slept with his baby mama. But Nas's biggest weapon was that he had someone on his side that knew all the little intricate details about Jay Z. That's why, apart from stating a lot of facts and dropping the heavy diss lines on Ether, Nas had the funny lines like "Dick sucking lips" attacking Jay's secret insecurities. Lines like "were you abused as a child, scared to smile, they called you ugly" and "you no mustache having, with whiskers like a rat" were the real death blows on Ether. Cos they were the things Jay had shared with Carmen Bryan in private. They were the things that made Jay Z's soul burn slow. They were the things that made him almost cry on Angie Martinez show shortly after Ether came out.
Although the reason Nas and Jay Z had beef was cos she was sleeping with Jay Z, when she was still with Nas (some times taking Nas's Bentley out to see Jay), she said she didn't like how Jay Z was going at Nas using her cheating ways as ammo, so she decided to help Nas breakdown Jay Z psychologically, because she knew a lot about him.
While explaining her role in the Nas versus Jay Z beef during her recent interview with DJ VLAD, she spoke on how she helped Nas craft Ether.
"Once I realized what Jay was doing, I was like, 'you know, am not going to allow him to belittle Nas anymore. Like, I'm the only person on the planet that can belittle this nigga. I'm not letting anybody else have that opportunity. And so, I just umm! Called Nas and was like 'alright let's talk.' So, I had a conversation with Nas like an attorney would have with their client. And I just basically told him 'listen, if you want to win this case, you're gonna have to go this route.' Cos I knew what type of person Jay Z was. Jay Z is very...he can be insecure. Umm! He has a little bit of low self esteem in certain areas. And, he's sensitive. And I kind of knew what areas to...you know...we all have sensitivities...we all have, you, things about us that we don't necessarily want the public to know about and I told Nas 'this is your opportunity to do whatever you need to do, but you have to do it all in one song. All of this subliminal...just rock this nigga, and let's move on.'...I told Nas everything that happened between Jay Z and I so that he could write the song consciously knowing what could come back as far as like, you know, a rebuttal." That was a chess move right there. That was why Super Ugly didn't have such an impact, because Nas already knew what was coming, He knew Jay Z's biggest weapon in the beef was that he had slept with his baby mama. But Nas's biggest weapon was that he had someone on his side that knew all the little intricate details about Jay Z. That's why, apart from stating a lot of facts and dropping the heavy diss lines on Ether, Nas had the funny lines like "Dick sucking lips" attacking Jay's secret insecurities. Lines like "were you abused as a child, scared to smile, they called you ugly" and "you no mustache having, with whiskers like a rat" were the real death blows on Ether. Cos they were the things Jay had shared with Carmen Bryan in private. They were the things that made Jay Z's soul burn slow. They were the things that made him almost cry on Angie Martinez show shortly after Ether came out.
Nas's Baby Mama (Carmen Bryan) Talks About Getting Pregnant for Jay Z
In a recent interview of hers, Nas's baby mama, Carmen Bryan spoke about being pregnant for Jay Z at one point in the 90s. For those that don't know her story and how she sparked one of the greatest beefs in Hip Hop history, let me run through her story real quick.
Carmen is legendary music producer, Large Professor's cousin, and Nas was working closely with Large Professor in the early 90s, and at one point, he met Carmen, and they instantly started dating. After a year of dating, they had a child (Destiny Jones) in 1994, Nas dropped Illmatic same year, and blew up on the scene. At this point, Nas is touring, groupies are all around him, and he and Carmen start having problems. And as he starts to neglect her the more, another rapper (Jay Z) started giving her attention. This was around 1997-1998. They started sleeping together, and Carmen Bryan got pregnant for Jay Z.
During the course of her recent interview with DJ VLAD, she was asked if she was ever pregnant for Jay Z, and she answered with...
"Yes. I had a miscarriage...This was before all of that (beef)...I think I was definitely less than three months. It was the first trimester...It wasn't anything crazy. It wasn't planned. It wasn't like 'oh, we gonna have this baby, then move forward with our...' No."
That would have been one very odd situation. I mean, Jay Z and Nas having kids by the same woman. I bet Beyonce wouldn't have gotten into Jay Z's life if that had happened. I guess some things happen for a reason.
Carmen is legendary music producer, Large Professor's cousin, and Nas was working closely with Large Professor in the early 90s, and at one point, he met Carmen, and they instantly started dating. After a year of dating, they had a child (Destiny Jones) in 1994, Nas dropped Illmatic same year, and blew up on the scene. At this point, Nas is touring, groupies are all around him, and he and Carmen start having problems. And as he starts to neglect her the more, another rapper (Jay Z) started giving her attention. This was around 1997-1998. They started sleeping together, and Carmen Bryan got pregnant for Jay Z.
During the course of her recent interview with DJ VLAD, she was asked if she was ever pregnant for Jay Z, and she answered with...
"Yes. I had a miscarriage...This was before all of that (beef)...I think I was definitely less than three months. It was the first trimester...It wasn't anything crazy. It wasn't planned. It wasn't like 'oh, we gonna have this baby, then move forward with our...' No." That would have been one very odd situation. I mean, Jay Z and Nas having kids by the same woman. I bet Beyonce wouldn't have gotten into Jay Z's life if that had happened. I guess some things happen for a reason.
Freeway Talks About First Time Meeting Nas After Their Beef
Back in the days of the Nas and Jay Z beef, the first direct response Nas gave to Jay Z's 2001 summer jam stage diss was a track titled Stillmatic. On that track, Nas not only went at Jay, he went at Beanie Siegel, Freeway, and the all Rocafella crew. They all came back at him individually, and as a collective whole on different songs. This meant Freeway had diss tracks aimed at Nas.
Those times are in the past now. Nas and Jay Z have long squashed their beef, and were even business partners at one point. In his recent DJ VLad interview, former Rocefella Records artist, Freeway spoke about the first time he met Nas after their beef.
"I remember umm! It was the Roc Boys video. First time me and Nas really got to chop it up. I was...I had...after I shot my part, I had to leave cos I had a show tat night, so Nas was leaving out the same time. And I'm like 'damn dog.' I know I was coming at your neck and everything, but I fucking your shit. I was like they used to call me the Philly Nas.' He was like, 'na Free, I love your shit too. I listen to all your shit, I love your shit.' He gave me a hug, then he got in th wrong Maybach. He got into Jay Maybach, then he got out and said 'this ain't my Maybach.' Then he got in his Maybach and pulled up."
Those times are in the past now. Nas and Jay Z have long squashed their beef, and were even business partners at one point. In his recent DJ VLad interview, former Rocefella Records artist, Freeway spoke about the first time he met Nas after their beef.
Throwback Picture: JD, Monica, and Nas
Checkout this throwback picture of JD, singer, Monica, and Nas. This was from the video shoot for I've Got to Have It back in 2000.
Nas and Partner (John Seymour) Open New Sweet Chick Eatery in LA
Nas has a good reason to not be full time in the music scene right now; the man is caking up. Two years ago, he partnered with Brooklyn restaurateur, John Seymour to expand the Sweet Chick eateries. The existing two Sweet Chick eateries are already a favorite spots for such celebrities like Zac Efron, Scarlett Johansson, and Zendaya. Now, Nas and Seymour have opened a new Sweet Chick eatery in Los Angeles.
The new Sweet Chick L.A spot is set on 2,500 square-foot-space with soaring exposed beam ceilings. Below are pictures of Nas and John Seymour celebrating the opening of the L.A Sweet Chick eatery two nights ago.
The new Sweet Chick L.A spot is set on 2,500 square-foot-space with soaring exposed beam ceilings. Below are pictures of Nas and John Seymour celebrating the opening of the L.A Sweet Chick eatery two nights ago.
Throwback Picture of Nas, Mobb Deep, and Raekwon in the Studio
Checkout this throwback picture of New York greats, Nas, Mobb Deep (Prodigy and Havoc), and Raekwon smoking in the studio. This must be around 1995, when Nas was working on It Was Written, and Rae was working on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Havoc produced two songs on It Was Written, and also rapped on two songs off the album. Prodigy had a verse on one song off the album. And Nas was on Verbal Intercourse, a song on Raekwon's debut album, Only Buil 4 Cuban Linx...
Throwback Picture of Nas in Queensbridge Housing Projects Room
Checkout this throwback picture of Nas in his room back in Queensbridge projects. That's Nas in apartment 5D, Queensbridge projects, around the time Illmatic dropped two decades ago. You can see the NES on the dresser.
That was the early 90s era when Nintendo video game was the shit. This was before Playstations. Back then if you had a NES or Sega Genesis console you were popping. I had the Sega Genesis.
That was the early 90s era when Nintendo video game was the shit. This was before Playstations. Back then if you had a NES or Sega Genesis console you were popping. I had the Sega Genesis.
Nas to Drop His 11th Album this Year
It seems we are finally going to get a new album from Nas. It is long overdue. His last album was Life Is Good, which was released 5 years ago. That's half a decade ago.
In his recent interview with Billboard, he was asked whether we should be expecting a new album from him this year, and he answered in the affirmative.
Read how the conversation went below...
In his recent interview with Billboard, he was asked whether we should be expecting a new album from him this year, and he answered in the affirmative.
Read how the conversation went below...
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