Nasir Jones (born September 14, 1973), better known by his stage name Nas, formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper. Son of jazz musician Olu Dara, Nas is well known for his 1994 ebut album Illmatic. This album established Nas as one of hip-hop's most profound lyricists, introducing his signature poetic style. He has since then been regarded as one of hip-hop's greatest MCs . Raised in the notorious Queensbridge housing projects in New York City, he represents a continuation of a hip-hop tradition in Queensbridge that has spanned through early hip-hop, including the Juice Crew, Mobb Deep, and MC Shan.