Name	Nas Is Like
Cover	Nas_is_like.jpg
Artist	Nas
From album	I Am...
Released	March 2, 1999
Format	CD single
Recorded	1998
Genre	East Coast hip hop
Length	3:57
Label	Columbia
Producer	DJ Premier
Last single	"Escobar '97"(1997)
This single	"Nas Is Like"(1999)
Next single	"Hate Me Now"(1999)

"Nas Is Like" is the first single from Nas' third album I Am.... The song is the sixth collaboration between Nas and producer DJ Premier. It was critically well received as it was a change from the more commercial and pop-oriented singles from It Was Written and Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Nature Present The Firm: The Album. The song contains a combination of braggadocios and introspective lyrics over a choppy string sample.

Content

The Lyrical presence of Nas was clearly evident from the first lines: "Freedom or jail, clips inserted,/ a baby's bein' born Same time my man is murdered,/ the beginning and end" In the third verse of the song, Nas uses similes to describe his prowess. These include: "I'm like a whole lot of loot, I'm like crisp money / Corporate accounts from a rich company / I'm like ecstasy for ladies, I'm like all races / combined in one man; like the '99 summer jam."

Production

In the 14 Deadly Secrets by DJ Premier, Primo said:

Samples

The song is also notable for featuring one of the most sought-after samples by cratediggers. For almost a decade since the track's release, the main sample used by DJ Premier remained unknown. However, April 2008 an unnnamed MP3 file featuring the original sample used was uploaded to the Internet by Dusty Kid from Strictly Breaks. Right after, the sample was identified as "Cantata of New Life" by John Rydgren. However, it was later revealed that the track was actually John Rydgren and Bob R. Way's 1966 song "What Child Is This?", from their record Thoughts on the Carols.

Other than this, the song also contains scratched vocal samples from Nas' previous songs "It Ain't Hard to Tell" from 1994 and "Street Dreams" from 1996. The song also samples bird chirps from Don Robertson's "Why" and a vocal sample from Biz Markie's "Nobody Beats the Biz".

Music video

The song's music video directed by Nick Quested shows Nas rapping in the Queensbridge projects and features a cameo by NBA player Ron Artest.

Reception and Influence

"Nas Is Like" was positively received on a commercial and critical level. It reached number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 14 on the Canadian Singles Chart. M.F. DiBella of Allmusic justifies the success of "Nas Is Like" stating: "Superproducer Premier comes to save the day...["Nas Is Like" is] nothing short of Illmatic perfection. "Nas Is Like"'s symphonic composition is the perfect complement for an MC of Nas' supreme vocal quality and precise lyrics."

The song's popularity caused various songs to borrow "Nas Is Like"'s beat, structure and lyrics:

During his brief feud with Nas, Memphis Bleek recorded a song named "Memphis Bleek Is..." which stylistically mimicked "Nas Is Like".

On Royce da 5'9"'s 2007 mixtape The Bar Exam, he freestyles over the "Nas Is Like" instrumental and forms a song with a similar structure.

Lyrics from "Nas Is Like" were later sampled in Braille and Rob Swift's 2008 song "The IV".

Track listing

A-Side

# "Nas Is Like" (Main) (3:50) # "Nas Is Like" (Clean) (3:57) # "Nas Is Like" (Instrumental) (3:57)

B-Side

# "Dr. Knockboots" (Main) (2:25) #*Produced by Poke & Tone # "Dr. Knockboots" (Clean) (2:25) # "Dr. Knockboots" (Instrumental) (2:25)

Charts

{|class="wikitable" |- !Chart (1999) !Peakposition |- |Canadian Singles Chart |align=center|14 |- |U.S. Billboard Hot 100 |align=center|86 |- |U.S. Billboard Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks |align=center|30 |- |U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Singles |align=center|3 |}

External links

Nas - Nas Is Like Official Hip Hop Music Video

References

Category:1999 singles Category:Nas songs Category:Songs produced by DJ Premier

Name	Mobb Deep| Img =
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Queens, New York, U.S.
Genre	Hip hop, East Coast hip hop, mafioso rap, hardcore hip hop
Years active	1992–present
Label	4th & B'way (1992-1993)Infamous (2003-present)Loud (1995-2003)G-Unit (2005-2009)
Associated acts	Big Noyd, Nas, Raekwon, Kool G Rap, Infamous Mobb, The Alchemist, Littles, Capone-N-Noreaga, 50 Cent, G-Unit
Url	http://www.publicenemy.com/
Current members	HavocProdigy

Mobb Deep is an American hip hop duo from Queens, New York, USA,that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hard-core East Coast hip-hop groups." The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery, as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones Pt. II." Mobb Deep have become one of the most successful rap duos in hip hop, having sold over 3 million records. The majority of their albums have been critically acclaimed, in particular The Infamous, which is considered a classic. They are partially credited for the resurgence of East Coast rap in the early to mid-'90s.

Havoc and Prodigy were also judges for the 7th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.

Biography

Origins

Havoc and Prodigy started rhyming in 1986, then later they both attended the High School of Art and Design in New York City. Havoc took the role of producer and secondary MC, while Prodigy assumed the position of primary MC. Originally dubbing themselves the Poetical Profits, the duo later changed its name to Mobb Deep in order to "reflect their reputation on the streets.")) When Havoc and Prodigy were 18, they released their debut album as Mobb Deep, called Juvenile Hell, which was led by the single "Peer Pressure." The album sold poorly and was met with harsh reviews that dismissed the duo as just another hardcore group with little to distinguish it from the rest of the hip-hop world, despite production by DJ Premier and Large Professor. However, a few songs from Juvenile Hell did gain some recognition, such as "Hit It from the Back," "Locked in Spofford," and "Me and My Crew." Also in 1993, Havoc had a guest appearance on the critically acclaimed Black Moon album Enta Da Stage, on a song called "U Da Man."

Rise to success

The group saw its first major success with their second album, The Infamous, released in 1995. Mobb Deep catapulted to the top of the hardcore hip-hop scene through Havoc and Prodigy's straightforward narration of street life. Mobb Deep portrayed the struggles of living in New York City's Queensbridge Houses. Following its release, The Infamous became one of the most influential albums of the East Coast hardcore hip-hop genre. The duo's production stood out, as the beats were often hard-hitting and direct—a testament to Havoc, who produced the tracks almost exclusively throughout Mobb Deep's career. Furthermore, the smash hit single "Shook Ones Pt. II" received critical acclaim and was well-received within the hip-hop community. Mobb Deep's third album, Hell on Earth was released in 1996, debuting at number six on the Billboard album chart. The album continued the duo's portrayal of harsh street life, while further pushing them to the forefront of the hardcore hip-hop scene, along with contemporary East Coast rappers like The Notorious B.I.G., Wu-Tang Clan collective, Jay-Z, and fellow Queensbridge associate Nas.

In 1996, they appeared on the Red Hot Organization's compilation CD, America is Dying Slowly, alongside Biz Markie, Wu-Tang Clan, and Fat Joe, among many other prominent hip hop artists. The CD, meant to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic among African American men, was heralded as "a masterpiece" by The Source magazine.

In 1998, the duo collaborated with reggae dancehall rapper Bounty Killer on the track "Deadly Zone" for the soundtrack to Blade. In 1999, they released the highly anticipated Murda Muzik album. Despite extensive bootlegging (nearly 30 songs of unreleased material leaked onto the Internet) and countless delays, the album debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and quickly received platinum certification—further highlighted by the popular single "Quiet Storm." Shortly afterward, Prodigy released his long-awaited solo album H.N.I.C, in which the MC collaborated with other artists (B.G. and N.O.R.E.) and producers (including The Alchemist, Rockwilder, and Just Blaze).

Changes

Mobb Deep released Infamy in 2001. The song "Burn" (featuring Vita) was perceived as a response to Jay-Z's "Takeover" on The Blueprint, as was "Crawlin'," in which Prodigy's two verses both mention Jay-Z. The album marked a major stylistic change in which the duo moved away from raw, minimalist, stripped-down beats and toward more commercial fare with such songs as "Hey Luv (Anything)." This transition fostered accusations of "selling out"—upsetting many long-time fans who did not wish to see them veer away from their original style.

Although these stylistic adjustments opened up Mobb Deep to a wider audience, many critics and fans consider their style change as a detriment to Mobb Deep's street image and record sales (most evident when comparing the platinum-selling Murda Muzik to Infamy, which struggled to attain gold-record status).

In 2003, the group split with Loud Records and released Free Agents: The Murda Mix Tape, in which Havoc and Prodigy proclaimed themselves "free agents" and addressed the group's split with its old label and its search for a new label. Jive Records signed the duo later in the year through a deal with the group’s own imprint. Mobb Deep then released Amerikaz Nightmare in 2004, which was seen by the general hip-hop audience as a weaker release, resulting in poor sales and the group’s subsequent departure from the label. Today, as a result of various mergers, all of Mobb Deep's studio albums from 1995 to 2004 are owned by Sony Music Entertainment.

Discography

Juvenile Hell (1993)

The Infamous (1995)

Hell on Earth (1996)

Murda Muzik (1999)

Infamy (2001)

Amerikaz Nightmare (2004)

Blood Money (2006)

The Safe Is Cracked (2009)

References

External links

Interview with Prodigy - 2006

2007 Interview with Prodigy

Category:American hip hop groups Category:1990s music groups Category:2000s music groups Category:G-Unit Records artists

Category:African American musical groups Category:Loud Records artists Category:Members of the Nation of Gods and Earths Category:Musical duos

Name	Damian Marley
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Damian Marley
Alias	Junior Gong
Born	July 21, 1978Kingston, Jamaica
Genre	Reggae, reggae fusion, dancehall, dub, ragga, hip-hop
Years active	1996–present
Label	Tuff Gong, Ghetto Youth International, Universal
Associated acts	Bob Marley, Ky-Mani Marley, Ziggy Marley, Stephen Marley, Julian Marley, Nas, Bruno Mars, K'naan

Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley (born July 21, 1978) is a reggae artist who has won three Grammy awards. Damian is the youngest son of Bob Marley.

Damian was two years old when his father Bob Marley died; he is the only child born to Marley and Cindy Breakspeare, Miss World 1976. Damian's nickname Junior Gong is derived from his father's nickname of Tuff Gong. Marley has been performing since the age of 13. He shares, along with most of his family, a full-time career in music.

Albums

His 1996 debut was Mr. Marley. His second release, Halfway Tree was released in 2001 and received the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. His third album, Welcome to Jamrock was released in September 2005. Welcome to Jamrock centers on poverty and politics in Jamaica. Marley stated, that Welcome to Jamrock is about hope and that he wants to continue to spread that throughout his music. At the 2006 Grammy Awards, he won Best Reggae Album and Best Urban/Alternative Performance for Welcome to Jamrock. He is the only Jamaican reggae artist in history to win two Grammy Awards on the same night. He is also the only reggae artist to win in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance category at the Grammy Awards. Welcome to Jamrock was considered the best reggae song of the decade by the New York Times. On May 17, 2010, Marley released Distant Relatives, a collaborative album with Nas. The album title is inspired by Nas and Damian’s relationship, but also their shared African ancestry, which is a common thread

Tours and guest appearances

In 2004 Marley participated in the 27-city Bob Marley Roots, Rock, Reggae Festival Tour with his four brothers, Ziggy, Julian, Stephen and Ky-Mani who all have their own professional recording careers.

Marley frequently tours with his brothers Julian and Stephen, who are both members of the Ghetto Youths Crew. In December 2006 Marley appeared alongside brothers Stephen and Julian in Stephen's music video "The Traffic Jam". In 2004, Marley recorded a song with hip hop group Cypress Hill called "Ganja Bus" on their album Till Death Do Us Part. Marley also appears on the song "Get a Light" by Snoop Dogg. This song is on the album Tha Blue Carpet Treatment. He also made a song with Method Man and Redman. He is featured on a recent Gwen Stefani remix "Now That You Got It" (produced by Swizz Beatz).

January 25, 2005 was the release date of Morgan Heritage's album Full Circle; Damian Marley appeared on the song "Girlz 'Round The World".

On September 7, 2005 he did a 1 minute long freestyle as a guest in the famous hip hop programme Rap City on BET, freestyling on the beat of his song, "Welcome To Jamrock".

During mid-2006, Marley went on tour with musical artist Ben Harper all around the US. He played on many known stages, such as Central Park New York. He was also one of the many artists who played at the inaugural Osheaga Festival, in Montreal.

In May 2006, Marley performed at KROQ Weenie Roast. In June 2006, Marley performed at Bonnaroo Music Festival. In July 2006, Damian should have played at the Danish music festival Roskilde Festival, but had to cancel due to troubles with customs.

On January 7, 2006 Marley conducted the main performance at Peace Fest in Trinidad.

On September 19, 2006 Marley became the first reggae artist to perform for the popular PBS show Austin City Limits.

Marley also participated in Season 3 of Extreme Makeover Home Edition by performing a special concert for the Rainford family, in which the father Dunstin was a Jamaican native.

Over the last year he has played numerous University homecomings including Emory and Indiana, often accompanied by his brother Stephen. Stephen was also present when Marley played music festivals such as Miami's Bang, Earth Day in San Francisco and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2007 in Indio, California.

Marley was the opening act for Van Halen during their 2007 Reunion tour concerts in Philadelphia.

Marley performed at the June Black Arts festival in Huntsville, Alabama on June 2007, alongside his second cousin Lance "Wayne" Marley.

Marley recently did a song with pop sensation Gwen Stefani. The two made a remix version to the song "Now That You Got It" off of the album The Sweet Escape. Stefani now performs this song on her Sweet Escape Tour.

A collaboration with Guru has been released on Jazzmatazz 4, "Stand Up Some Things'll Never Change" in 2007

Marley recorded his song "Welcome to Jamrock" in Simlish for , an expansion pack in the The Sims series. The song also featured on FIFA 06 soundtrack.

He also collaborated with Mariah Carey on her new album E=MC² (April 15, 2008) on a song called "Cruise Control". The two recorded the song together in Boca Raton, Florida in December 2007.

Marley recently appeared at the Sonoma County Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa on June 7, 2008.

Marley also made an appearance at the 1st annual Romantic Rhythms Music Festival on the island of Antigua in the Caribbean. He appeared alongside a varied list of entertainers such as Shaggy, Lionel Ritchie, Kenny Rogers, Keyshia Cole, Maxi Priest and Brian McKnight, to name a few. The festival ran from June 13 to 15, 2008.

Marley has also helped out on B-Real's debut solo album with the song "FIRE".

Marley and Stephen's latest release is a song called "The Mission", a track from Reggae Gold 2008 album. The track was produced by Trevor "Baby G" James.

Every February in Miami, Marley and his brothers perform at his family's annual Caribbean Festival in honour of their late father Bob Marley.

A song of his, "Something For You (One Loaf Of Bread)" also produced by Trevor "Baby G" James, appears on hit videogame FIFA 09.

In 2009, Damian Marley and Nas are slated for an international tour after the release of their collaborative album Distant Relatives.

Damian Marley is also slated to perform at the Rock the Bells hip hop festival this summer. The concert will hit 10 North American Cities from June 27 and Aug 9. The festival will include, Common, Nas, The Roots and Big Boi along with others. The tour will make stops in Chicago, Toronto, Washington, D.C., Boston, New York, Detroit, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami and Vancouver.

February 5, 2010: Damian Marley participated along with Hip-Hop artist Nas at BET's SOS Help for Haiti, a telethon in aid of the earthquake ravaged nation. They performed the song "Strong Will Continue" from their long-awaited album Distant Relatives.

February 23, 2010: Damian Marley performed a free show at the Whistler Live Village Square as part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

February 24, 2010: Damian Marley performed a free show at LiveCity Yaletown as part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Cultural Olympiad.

March 19, 2010: Damian Marley teamed up with Nas again to perform at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas.

May 19, 2010: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno featured a performance by Damian Marley and Nas of the first single - As We Enter - off of their newly released CD Distant Relatives.

May 25, 2010: Damian Marley and Nas performed in front of a sold out crowd at the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA.

June 11, 2010: Damian Marley and Nas performed in Manchester, Tennessee at the 9th Bonnaroo music and arts festival.

July 3, 2010: The 25th Cologne Summerjam on his tour with Nas

July 24, 2010: Splash Music Festival in Germany on his tour with Nas

August 3, 2010: The Late Show with David Letterman performing "Count Your Blessings" with Nas.

August 14, 2010: Damian & Nas played in Commerce city Colorado at Mile High Music Festival.

August 15, 2010: Damian & Nas played at the Outside Lands festival in San Francisco, CA.

August 28, 2010: Damien Marley and Nas perform at the Charlottesville Pavilion on the historic Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, Va.

September 3, 2010: Damian "Junior Gong" Marley and Nas perform at Moe.Down music festival in Mohawk, New York.

September 6, 2010: Damian Marley and Nas performed at first avenue in Minneapolis Mn.

September 8, 2010: Nas and Damian Marley performed at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA.

Personal life and beliefs

Born as Damian Marley, he was nicknamed "Jr. Gong" in honour of his legendary father, Bob "Tuff Gong" Marley. His mother is Jamaican jazz musician, former model and crowned Miss World 1976 Cindy Breakspeare. He has 13 siblings total; 10 on his father's side and 3 on his mother's side. Damian was two years old when his father died, killed by the spread of melanoma to his lungs and brain, at 36 years of age. Marley has been in the music business since he was a child. He is a Rastafari and his music reflects both his beliefs and the Rastafari guiding principles of one love, one planet, and freedom for all nations. While he travels and tours the better part of the year, his home base is split between Kingston, Jamaica and Miami, Florida. He has a younger half brother Christian and a half sister Leah from his mother Cindy. He is also a leading icon in the Caribbean. Damian Marley has a football team named after him in England known as FC Zion

Discography

1996: Mr. Marley

2001: Halfway Tree

2005: Welcome to Jamrock

2010: Distant Relatives (with Nas)

Singles

Other charted songs

References

External links

Category:Jamaican reggae musicians Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Reggae fusion artists Category:Jamaican Rastafarians Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:People from Kingston, Jamaica Category:Jamaican people of English descent