#VitalFactz: Happy Birthday - Nas

Happy Birthday @Nas Nas. Born Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones September 14, 1973. Nas (who is originally from Brooklyn, New York & grew up in Queensbridge) was first introduced to the world as Nasty Nas at the age of 16 by the legendary Large Professor, formerly of Main Source. He was featured on the posse cut Live At The Barbecue (Featuring: Akinyele) from Main Source's 1991 debut album Breakin' Atoms. In mid-1992, Nas was approached by MC Serch of 3rd Bass, who became his manager and secured Nas a record deal with Columbia Records during the same year. Nas made his solo debut under the name of "Nasty Nas" on the single Halftime from MC Serch's soundtrack for the film Zebrahead. In 1994 he dropped his highly anticipated debut album Illmatic. it sold over a million copies with production from Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Q-Tip & Large Professor. it features the hits The World is Yours, One Love & It Ain't Hard To Tell. In 1996 he dropped his second album It Was Written. This album remains his best selling album to date selling over 2.5 million albums & topping both the R&B/Hip Hop Albums Chart & Billboard's Hot 200 Albums Chart. It includes the classic collaboration If I Ruled The World with Lauryn Hill from The Fugees as well as Street Dreams. His 3rd album released in 1999 I Am also went Double Platinum as well as topping both Charts same as his previous album. It includes the hits Hate Me Now & Nas Is Like. Later that year he released his fourth album, the Platinum selling Nastradamus. this album features the hit You Owe Me. Nas would go on to release 3 more consecutive Platinum selling albums (Stillmatic, God's Son & Street's Disciple) which includes such hits as Got Yourself A Gun, One Mic, Made You Look, I Can & Just A Moment. As for his last 3 releases (Hip Hop Is Dead, Untitled & Life Is Good) they didn't sell as his previous work, but all three still managed to top both the Billboard's Hot 200 Albums Chart & The R&B/Hip Hop Albums Chart.