Nas explains the similarities between hip-hop and Miles Davis
Nas has explained the similarities between hip-hop and one of his all-time heroes, Miles Davis.
Miles: The Autobiography is being re-released to celebrate what would have been the jazz legend’s 100th birthday this year.
The book was originally published in 1989, but the reissued version will include a foreword by hip-hop legend Nas.
In a copy of the book, obtained by Rolling Stone, Nas pays tribute to one of the greatest artists of all time and breaks down his influence on his life.
“It took me a while to understand what jazz was,” Nas writes. “I was too young, and my music of choice was hip-hop and popular Eighties hits. But through the years, I found Miles again, particularly his masterpiece album Kind of Blue.”
He continued, “Miles and hip-hop share the same blood, sweat, and tears. The same struggles and triumphs. Hip-hop is heavily influenced by jazz music. It’s our roots. So many of our biggest songs have jazz samples in them.”
Nas went on to describe the creativity and urgency that runs through both hip-hop and Davis’ music.
“Hip-hop and Miles are both innovative and extremely bold,” he said. “Learning about his personal life was a whole different experience. His journey reflected the times and different eras he lived through.”
He added, “He faced discrimination head-on. He got bloody and received scars, but he kicked his elegant shoes through racism like it was trash on the streets.”
Nas once named Kind of Blue one of his 25 favourite albums of all time. He said, “Miles and Coltrane made the ultimate jazz albums; there’s a lot of others too. Miles also got commercial success from a jazz album and if you play it, it sounds like it was supposed to be made. That album was supposed to be made. This world wouldn’t be the same without that album.”