So, Nas goes on CNN to speak out against teen violence, following the death of Derrion Albert – the Chicago teen who was beaten to death. Rather than focus on the issue at hand, CNN’s Don Lemon decides instead to focus on some wack lyrics Nas wrote 20 million years ago and how it might have led some teenagers to go on a killing a spree. He literally rips a page from The O’Reilly Factor, citing the same exact line that Bill-O used to campaign against — yes, you guessed it — Nas in the wake of Virginia Tech shooting. Now Nas could’ve handled the interview better. Saying “I’m not gonna change my music to make it more positive…because that’s not real,” for example wasn’t the most reasonable thing to say while trying to speak out against the violence that occurred in Chicago.

Now what I really want to know is who dressed him up in a pink spandex tee and black leather jacket? C’mon, son.

If you only have time for one external post today you should definitely check out Hip-Hop Is Read’s Illmatic Archives.

• Hip Hop Is Read Presents Nas: The Illmatic Archives

Amerie – “Why R U” Remix (F/ Nas, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, and Caine)
It sounds like Amerie rounded up everyone who owed her musical favors and wrung a verse out of them at gun point. Nas’ phone bill must taken up a notch because, lawd knows, he dialed this one in.

Fans of senior citizen rap rejoice! I’ve been hyped for this track to leak ever since those videos from their performance at Bonnaroo popped up. Now that it’s hear I’m glad to say it doesn’t dissapoint. Read the rest of this entry »

Back when Nasir Jones was a kid with a dream and still went by Nasty Nas, he dropped a demo in 1991 to get himself a little visibility in the hip-hop scene. The demo tape, which turns 18 this year, has re-surfaced and we thought you might like a little ol’ skool Nasir to vibe to on your lunch break.

• Click here to download Nas’ demo tape.

[Raise a bottle of Dom to Slang Rap Democracy]

Nas has just snuggled up to the coziest seat on the increasingly crowded Drake bandwagon. In an interview with Omaha World-Herald, Esco was quoted as saying that hip-hop is “always looking for that one artist that changes rap into another direction and makes all the other artists follow.” He described Young Drizzy as that next guy. How original?
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Hit the jump for one more pic of Nas partying it up with his new BFF.
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In Day 2 of Yeezy-watch 2009, I just heard the upsetting rumor that Kanye and Amber broke up. I’ve always said that if they can’t make it work, then maybe no one can! All sarcasm aside, this upsets me for three reasons:

1. Kanye finally found someone who could keep up with his level of crazy
2. Rumor has it that this stems from an affair with Cassidy (Really, Amber?)
3. Nas and Kelis are just entering the nasty part of the divorce proceedings.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.