Rapper brings drama, hip-hop and reggae

Controversy seems to naturally swirl around Nasir Jones.

Al Sharpton and the NAACP have condemned his albums. He's had confrontations with some of hip-hop's greatest, including Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Jay-Z and Def Jam. And lately his name is smeared across tabloids because his wife, “Milkshake” singer Kelis, is divorcing him.

Through it all, the New York City rapper known as Nas stays strong. He's seen harder times.

He spoke to us about his music, the recession and his coming Wednesday performance with reggae star Damian Marley in the Stir Concert Cove at Harrah's Casino in Council Bluffs.

Q. You've got a lot going on (touring, studio time, family drama, etc.). How do you stay focused?

A. In music, if you give a lot, you get a lot back. You get new challenges and new ideas every time you complete a project. Music keeps me busy. I get the best rewards from my music.

Q. When did you first realize you were musically inclined?

A. It had to be when I was writing at home before I had a record. I probably said to myself, “Wow, I think I can do this.” But I didn't really know until I put something out there and got approval from the people who heard it. We all know we're good, but we don't know how good until we get some reaction.

Q. Tell me about your collaboration with Damian Marley.

A. It started off as an EP (extended play, which contains more music than a single). I liked his music and what he does. The feeling was mutual. So we started working on it and thought it might as well be an album.

Q. When will your joint album, “Distant Relatives,” drop?

A. Hopefully the fall. We have a few more things to tweak.

Q. What's the feel to the album?

A. Reggae is one of the roots of hip-hop. Hip-hop music has helped reggae in its transition periods. Together we kind of wanted to give people that. To find the roots of reggae and hip-hop. Of course, Africa is the main theme that made us put this album together. So there are some African sounds mixed with rap and dance hall and reggae. The album has its own flavor.

Q. What do you hope people will take away?

A. We're in a recession. It's a hard time for America. People are killing themselves over jobs, but we take for granted what we do have here. We inspire all the other nations in major ways. We don't think about how some family is dying trying to get here.

In the world, we're family. We're all relatives in a way. So we named the album “Distant Relatives” because it talks to all people.

I'm proud to be American. We're not as greedy and capitalist as everyone says. We do have heart. With this project, we plan to give back to some of the people.

Q. You've always been a very socially conscious rapper, unlike many. Did you ever think you could be so influential with your narratives?

A. No. I did think someone would hear it. I only looked at my music as a street thing, a poetic thing. Something that could be universal. When I started, rap music was still fighting its way through breaking down barriers. Now it's more mainstream and viewed as an international thing. It's accepted. I think we all as musicians — whether someone picks up a guitar or a pen — can be influential. I think about how young I was when I started and how I'm pushing forward today. It's crazy to me.

Q. People say “Illamatic” forever changed the hip-hop community. How did it change your life?

A. That was my first record. You work on your first record your whole life until it comes out. Everything you've lived, thought about and experienced comes out on that first album. I'm happy I was able to document my life during that time when it wasn't a popular thing to be from the projects. It set the whole stage for most of the things that came after. It was like I said, “Yo, I don't have a leather suit on or a big rope chain.” It's not glossy; it's a gritty album. I go back and listen to that album with my friends, and we think about what I was talking about. Apparently more people than just us were able to identify. It is my most prized possession.

Q. Do you think you're the best?

A. In many people's opinions, but not in mine. Honestly, I don't think there is a best.

Q. Lil Wayne and Jay-Z continually say they're the best. But you ... rarely, if ever.

A. Everyone wants to be the top guy. We work hard at what we've done and we want it to be acknowledged. It's like the Grammys. It's a great competitive thing. But at the end of the day, there are a lot of great people who are great at what they do.

Q. What is the state of hip-hop today?

A. People still don't get my album “Hip Hop Is Dead.” People are still debating that subject. I obviously think it's big, bigger than ever. People are still trying to find the newest and realest. Of course, you have auto tunes, poppy stuff, Southern stuff. So you look at the game and say, “What is going to be that thing that takes rap to the next level?” You have to go back to what is rap. It's bragging, boasting, hot beats, hard beats, imagination and creativity. We're always looking for that one artist that changes rap into another direction and makes all the other artists follow.

Q. So who is that guy for you? Who are you listening to?

A. Drake and always Scarface.

Q. Why?

A. Drake is new. (He's a rapper from Toronto.) He's here to show anybody who questions him that he'll get at you. He's like fresh water right now on dry land. Scarface is the realist rapper. He's the most musically serious, besides Kanye (West), right now. What Scarface says in his rhymes is real. You can't get away from (Lil) Wayne right now. So that's what I'm listening to. I'm waiting on Dr. Dre's album.

Q. Do you prefer to stay underground or go mainstream?

A. You can't stay in one place in the world of hip-hop. You've got to show them you can survive, that you can beat the haters and beat people's expectations. In any music genre, either you're so good underground that it becomes mainstream whether you like it or not or you have fun showing your flexibility. I always had fun with my street audience. You've got to balance it for everyone. I think this record with me and Damian is touching our fans in a different way. It's all about keeping it fresh and natural from your heart.

Contact the writer:

444-1075, j.loza@owh.com