“If Barack looses, I might make my new residence outside of the country.”

~

By Kurtis Lee  |  Send to Friend

The provocative and always conscious lyrics of multi-platinum hip hop artist, Nasir “Nas” Jones, were on display hardcore Friday night.
Upwards of 2, 000 fans filed into the hall where Nas was playing to bear witness to one of their immortals.
“Philly is like home away from home, because New York is so close,” says Nas, donning a red Phillies cap, while relaxing on a couch in his dressing room before the show.

Maybe a bit too comfortable backstage, Nas, graced the stage to a throng of camera flashes and screams nearly an hour and a half past the scheduled show time of 9pm. Of course, the crowd quickly forgave him for his tardiness as he opened with a verse from the controversial track titled “N.I.G.G.E.R,” off his ninth and most recent LP, known simply as Untitled. To the crowd’s satisfaction Nas quickly followed up by performing the mainstream single “Hip Hop is Dead,” from last year’s album of the same name, his first album with Def Jam records.

Backed by mix tape master, DJ Green Lantern, the Queensbridge, New York native dipped into his stellar library of hits that spanned over the course of his fourteen-year career. Fans rapped along as Nas performed tracks such as “New York State of Mind” and the gritty street anthem, “Got Yourself Gun,” which was taken to a whole other level when he rapped the second versus to the West Coast beat of famed producer Dr. Dre’s 2001 track “Still D.R.E.”

Nas was quick to divulge his admiration for Dre.

“I really would like to work with Dr. Dre, but he’s doing Detox, so it would have to be after that’s finished,” said Nas.

Political quips were high on Nas’ agenda for the evening, considering this was the night of the first presidential debate in the general election.
“This election is the greatest show on earth right now,” reveals the introspective Nas. “If Barack looses I might make my new residence outside of the country.”

“Black President,” a track off his latest album, which allowed him to voice his support for Barack Obama at the show, gives hope to those who have lost faith in politicians. The song samples an Obama speech and uses Tupac’s famous line from his song “Changes” which he states, “Even though it seems heaven sent/We ain’t ready to see a Black President.” Nas adds to this hook by using a phrase popular to the Obama campaign, “Yes we can…change the world.”

However, the highlight of the night came when he performed the beat heavy hit “Hate Me Now” from his 1999 album I Am. While performing the track, Nas was not at all subdued in revealing his dislike for John McCain.

“Middle fingers to McCain,” shouted Nas repeatedly to the crowed, which in turn exploded with an auditorium full of people flipping the bird.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Music Playlist at MixPod.com