Nas names his favourite Run-DMC album
Nas is one of the legends of New York hip-hop. Born and raised in the legendary Queensbridge neighbourhood, home of the Juice Crew and Mobb Deep, the Illmatic rapper is considered one of the best emcees of all time. The ‘N.Y. State Of Mind’ musician has a wide range of influences and has always been open about how he came into the game and who inspired him.
Lyrically, the rapper set a very high standard, and even the best rappers in New York were incomparable to him. While Bad Boy Entertainment brought a luxurious vibe and sex appeal with acts such as Lil Kim, Nas brought raw, unfiltered social commentary with a gritty and grimy sound that was leagues above his competition.
With his feet firmly planted within the roots of the New York rap scene, Jones was inspired by his surroundings and influenced by figures from his city, especially from Queens.
Queens has produced many potent artists over the years. From contemporary artists such as Nicki Minaj and 50 Cent to old-school pioneers such as LL Cool J and Kool G Rap, the borough has undoubtedly provided the culture with some legends. However, one of the most well-known acts from the New York City borough is Run-DMC, and Jones has always had a deep respect for the trio and the music they created.
In an interview, Nas once praised Run-DMC and some other essential Queens-based hip-hop musicians. One local group he admired was Juice Crew. Comprised of Marley Marl, Roxanne Shante, MC Shan, Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane, Mister Cee, Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, DJ Polo, and Mr Magic, the Juice Crew found great success on the New York hip-hop scene and quickly became one of the most potent crews in the city.
During his interview, Nas admitted that one of his favourite albums of all time, Kool G Rap and DJ Polo’s 1990 project, Wanted: Dead or Alive, “Kool G Rap is a major influence. What he did with rapping was he took the lyric level to the highest level it can go.”
He continued, “Rakim was scientific, Big Daddy Kane was acrobatic, but Kool G Rap was bloody chainsaws fighting each other lyric style. He took it to a level where it can’t go no further. He took it to the highest level.”
However, Nas admitted his favourite album of all time is the 1985 Run-DMC LP King Of Rock. Speaking about his love of the album, Nas told Complex, “That’s one of the first rap albums. The commercial success with a different sound—it had rock, they were of a next phase, next plateau from the Furious Five and the Treacherous Three. They were the next thing so they personified the next thing.”
He concluded, “And then Raising Hell showed how they evolved as hip-hop superstars. The greatest moment of my life being a rap fan was probably when King of Rock came out.”
You can listen to King Of Rock below.