Nas Imparts Vital Wisdom to Up-and-Coming Street Rappers on Ensuring Longevity
Nas is offering up some sage advice to street rappers looking to stay alive long enough to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
“That’s a hard one for us because the streets are the streets. We listen to music from people directly from those circumstances. Young people making the hit records are telling you what’s happening: education, disease, miseducation. Life is a tough test,” the industry veteran shared in a new interview with Billboard, commemorating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
The "One Mic" emcee acknowledged that while ensuring their well-being might not present a clear-cut path, embracing empathy could prove instrumental.
“The streets are the stomping grounds of warriors and good and bad people. There’s kids that come from these environments with something to say,” the 49-year-old added. “When you ignore them, you ignore the youth. I don’t think we can stop the street mentality overnight. It’s a thing that’s in place that is strong.”
Still, Nas firmly asserted that those individuals need “come into their senses on their own” in order to safeguard their wealth and avoid both incarceration and mortality.
“When you look at Hip-Hop’s history, you see all the companies and empires that fell because of stupidity,” the rapper highlighted. “If they see that, they have to realize they are the next one if they don’t change. There’s a lot of stories they could watch about Hip-Hop empires that made terrible mistakes that destroyed families and lives.”
Nas encouraged the younger generation to “check the history” before adding that it’s ultimately up to the individual.
“It’s their decision and their maturity level, and when they are going to figure it out because time is ticking — the next thing you know, you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he continued. “I just pray for them and hope for the best because talking to them is one thing, but they have to be ready for it. Sometimes they have to learn on their own. ”
