Nas breaks down "It Ain't Hard to Tell" with Harvard Poetry Prof. Elisa New

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  • čas přidán 30. 04. 2017
  • Nas breaks down "It Ain't Hard to Tell" with Harvard Poetry Professor Elisa New for Poetry in America.
    Poetry in America is on a mission to bring poetry into living rooms and classrooms around the world.
    REGISTER HERE FOR OUR SUMMER INTENSIVE: POETRY IN AMERICA FOR TEACHERS: THE CITY FROM WHITMAN TO HIP HOP!
    www.gse.harvard.edu/ppe/progr...
    Learn more at www.poetryinamerica.org

Komentáře • 2,1K

  • @mikkifarmer9626
    @mikkifarmer9626 Před 7 lety +6187

    Nas rose from the projects in Queens to speaking with a Harvard professor regarding his lyrics. He is a true Hip-Hop icon.

    • @harlem6365
      @harlem6365 Před 7 lety +256

      Mikki Farmer GZA rose from the slums of Brooklyn/Shaolin to giving lectures in universities and work with NASA, another true Hip-Hop icon

    • @mikkifarmer9626
      @mikkifarmer9626 Před 7 lety +102

      I didn't know that about the GZA. The Wu-Tang alumni is also dope. Good looking out.

    • @t.y.6640
      @t.y.6640 Před 7 lety +3

      Rs!

    • @bigschnitzel9944
      @bigschnitzel9944 Před 6 lety +2

      DZA they from Staten island boy

    • @SpaceGhostFan
      @SpaceGhostFan Před 6 lety +1

      Mikki Farmer
      Why hello there, fellow Space Ghost.

  • @celestinemeyers4326
    @celestinemeyers4326 Před 3 lety +1221

    I think this is better than having a Grammy

    • @oldsnake9520
      @oldsnake9520 Před 2 lety +82

      The Grammys are racist if a black person makes a pop like album or anything that’s not hip hop it gets marked as urban.
      “Urban is a politically correct way of saying the n word”-Tyler the Creator.

    • @duhaneyparkclassics7484
      @duhaneyparkclassics7484 Před 2 lety +16

      Grammys are for sale and always have been.

    • @BlakeAlexander12
      @BlakeAlexander12 Před 2 lety +1

      Lol Grammy’s is a (NWO) joke

    • @qwerty12476
      @qwerty12476 Před rokem

      Yes it is

    • @omgimover4075
      @omgimover4075 Před rokem +2

      I realize the Grammys was full of shit after I found out Lil Wayne got a Grammy but Tupac didn’t.

  • @Nerdboy456
    @Nerdboy456 Před 7 lety +742

    Nas 43 looking like 23

    • @Sasat123
      @Sasat123 Před 5 lety +20

      I think he be inhaling those Cuban cigars his voice all types of fuked up

    • @2ksaad
      @2ksaad Před 5 lety +10

      JonathN leviyev 😂Yh man concerned for his throat

    • @Maal7432
      @Maal7432 Před 5 lety +12

      Facts, cuz when he was 23, he actually looked 23. Lmao crazy how that works.

    • @moresoulthanasockwithahole3493
      @moresoulthanasockwithahole3493 Před 3 lety +7

      well he looked 10 when he was 19

    • @godpraiser5971
      @godpraiser5971 Před 3 lety +11

      @@Sasat123 look up Interviews from the 90s his voice was always like that

  • @troyg.173
    @troyg.173 Před 3 lety +637

    Imagine being 43 years old and breaking down lyrics that you laid when you was 19 years old to a Professor

    • @nuggetz9380
      @nuggetz9380 Před rokem +43

      Thats why he is the greatest

    • @articulatedintelligence-cd4661
      @articulatedintelligence-cd4661 Před rokem +3

      surprised they didn't seize it without a warrant. in the united states of america. so touchy. it would hurt peoples feelings. death sentence! lol.

    • @csar07.
      @csar07. Před rokem +4

      Everyone included in the song is a professor of some sort, Large Professor, Nas and a harvard one

    • @troyg.173
      @troyg.173 Před rokem

      @@csar07. got you🤝🤝

    • @FardeenRiyadh16
      @FardeenRiyadh16 Před rokem +4

      Wasn't he 16 when he started writing illmatic, with New York State of Mind, then around 17 he wrote it ain't hard to tell, and I think at 18/19 he released the album

  • @ryno6040
    @ryno6040 Před 7 lety +2409

    She said his pen was extreme 🙏🏾

  • @youarewhatyoueat7245
    @youarewhatyoueat7245 Před 7 lety +1919

    They need to add Illmatic to the English curriculum.

    • @patrickmillion
      @patrickmillion Před 4 lety +36

      One of the best hip hop album....which should be part of hip hop history.a

    • @7sneves
      @7sneves Před 4 lety +79

      @@patrickmillion it's the best hip hop album of all time

    • @patrickmillion
      @patrickmillion Před 4 lety +7

      Illmatic the way nas did the album he was so poetic.

    • @nell3677
      @nell3677 Před 3 lety +4

      Seconded

    • @ericsonjacques7643
      @ericsonjacques7643 Před 3 lety +1

      Facts

  • @TraversyMedia
    @TraversyMedia Před 7 lety +1751

    Right up there with Big and Pac...A true poet

    • @abdialibabaali132
      @abdialibabaali132 Před 5 lety +12

      Traversy Media love your programming/development course.

    • @dumitrunancu1082
      @dumitrunancu1082 Před 5 lety +472

      Lol Nas is over big and pac

    • @dcyoungfly187
      @dcyoungfly187 Před 5 lety +101

      Dumitru Nancu
      Stra8 facts Nas is the GOAT

    • @drasconboy6349
      @drasconboy6349 Před 5 lety +62

      Keyser Soze Jesus I hate you Pac stans trying to discredit Biggie over 20 years later

    • @keyontyler
      @keyontyler Před 5 lety +21

      @Keyser Soze why you slandering a dead man's name I guarantee he's not what you just described him as, biggie over pac in terms of replayability, longevity, lyricist, flow all of the above pac isn't even top 10 in terms of MC's and lyricism but in terms of influence he's up there

  • @VZAAGE
    @VZAAGE Před 6 lety +2934

    What a time we live in. Music that was once considered for thugs or ignorant people is now finally being broken down by those in the upper class and being seen for the true art that it is. We so called thugs and street people were ahead of our time and our genius is finally being appreciated. The first shall be last and the last shall be first...

    • @keyontyler
      @keyontyler Před 5 lety +15

      One up

    • @toocoldgreedy9465
      @toocoldgreedy9465 Před 5 lety +66

      The basic instructions before leaving earth

    • @sokkolof
      @sokkolof Před 5 lety +9

      That's Why it's time to bring true words to them, that the path of every underground culture...and you can't do nothing about that! We've lost something and we have now opportunities to be heard and should profit of that situation , and I'm not speaking only of cash benefits

    • @joedorben3504
      @joedorben3504 Před 5 lety +26

      VZA The reason it was seen that way back then was due to the lifestyle a lot of it portrays, how trashy a lot of it can be, and the informal, broken english vernacular that a lot of it uses. It has taken this long for people to open their ears and realize that a lot of it is poetic and there is often actually something being said in rap, whether or not it's necessarily always said in the best way possible, or in a way that's "proper"

    • @astralmindny9055
      @astralmindny9055 Před 5 lety +4

      @Champ Champ White ppl don't care about that, they want to know about that cryptic, greatest of all time NY slang, they got that other shit mastered because they created it!

  • @nonstop7255
    @nonstop7255 Před 7 lety +4839

    Damn back when illmatic was released 22 yrs ago who would've thought that someday in the near future professors would be praising this hip-hop album of a young man from Queensbridge. Legendary.

    • @yarambamba9253
      @yarambamba9253 Před 7 lety +57

      Straight up...I did. The essence of real rhymes is poetic and timeless.

    • @rotatopoti
      @rotatopoti Před 7 lety +27

      Eventually someone is going to study rap in the future. He is one that they might study but I feel it might be more Wu-Tang, DOOM or Immortal Technique. I say maybe 200 years from now.

    • @TheDtruth29
      @TheDtruth29 Před 7 lety +10

      I thought the same thing too never thought this generation will be so thoroughly about illmatic album

    • @marcusfleetwood9960
      @marcusfleetwood9960 Před 7 lety +7

      23 years ago

    • @ToroidalVortexLove
      @ToroidalVortexLove Před 7 lety +1

      M. Man OCD much? 😂

  • @JWonda
    @JWonda Před 7 lety +2376

    My favorite rapper of all time! Nasir Jones!

    • @peckerepps7205
      @peckerepps7205 Před 7 lety +17

      Lions Fan shut da fuck up punk

    • @TupacAurelius
      @TupacAurelius Před 7 lety +11

      Lions Fan come on dont act that way... you are Ignorant

    • @ohwell14
      @ohwell14 Před 7 lety

      my boy woodie destroys him

    • @bradleyklassen349
      @bradleyklassen349 Před 7 lety +5

      JRoc Da Mic definitely one of the best to ever do it

    • @tenceone9306
      @tenceone9306 Před 7 lety +6

      JRoc Da Mic AZ is my favorite

  • @FlipStar26
    @FlipStar26 Před 7 lety +640

    Man I love how interested she was in the meaning behind his lyrics and I love how Nas was equally interested in not only explaining to her the meaning, but also in discovering new parallels that perhaps he would have never thought of. Brilliant!

  • @erniereyes1994
    @erniereyes1994 Před 3 lety +237

    "Beyond the walls of intelligence, life is defined"
    One of my favorite lines from any song in any genre

    • @lemonsquizy1099
      @lemonsquizy1099 Před 2 lety +24

      I think of crime, when im in NY state of Mind

    • @sleepisthecousinofdeath7395
      @sleepisthecousinofdeath7395 Před 2 lety +3

      Can you guess mine?

    • @Tigerbrown44
      @Tigerbrown44 Před rokem +6

      …rhymes so ill
      They should be
      Locked in a cell
      It ain’t hard to tell.

    • @maralinekozial9131
      @maralinekozial9131 Před 6 měsíci

      Nothing NaS wrote will ever beat when he says : "Cuban link flooded jesus , My actions are one wit the seasons" & "why shoot the breeze about it when u can be about it , my degrees are routed to those project brick houses"
      The way he worded that track will never get old or outdatted ever !!!!! Idc how much slang changes over the years

  • @OmarScruggs
    @OmarScruggs Před 7 lety +1772

    i like how Nas actually read lyrics he knows by heart. lol. found that funny

    • @localandonlinepreciousmeta3575
      @localandonlinepreciousmeta3575 Před 7 lety +130

      I like that he read too. Made sure they had it down correctly.

    • @isiedeoghon9430
      @isiedeoghon9430 Před 7 lety +135

      Cmon it's over 20 years back, you know how much stuff he's done since then?

    • @mc365mc
      @mc365mc Před 7 lety +14

      Omar Scruggs slot of people don't get that. I said the same when people slammed canibus for pulling the pad out in the battle. Yeah he shouldn't have done it, but better that then not spit anything. These type emcees with tons of complex rhymes juggling new material with show material it's just crazy, that's why they are at a disadvantage in a battle situation.

    • @princejellyfish3945
      @princejellyfish3945 Před 7 lety +31

      +mc365mc Nah man a rap battle is a completely different scenario. You gotta have that shit memorized, it comes with the territory

    • @mc365mc
      @mc365mc Před 7 lety +14

      Prince JellyFish you not getting the point. Yes it shouldn't be done in a battle. My point is, memorizing is why established artist don't battle in these battle leagues. They are at a disadvantage because they have to have play list of songs memorized for shows, they are also working on new material, so then to dedicate time and effort to come up with additional material for the sole purpose of a 1 time event is more difficult for the traditional artists vs a guy who doesn't do anything but write material for one time use. This is especially true for an artist that composes very complex rhyme schemes like CanIBus. If you had a 1 day contest to make a diss record canibus would destroy most of those dudes in the battle league.

  • @SSKMusicBeats
    @SSKMusicBeats Před 7 lety +2130

    "Oh now it is, since you said it" - exactly what William Shakespeare would probably say if he came back and got question by some of these Literature teachers/ professors lol

    • @Evan9021
      @Evan9021 Před 6 lety +179

      That's the point of Poetry.... it's open to be interpreted.

    • @BluRay8o4
      @BluRay8o4 Před 6 lety +89

      He didn’t get questioned, she’s treating rap as poetry and said what her interpretation of the lyric was. Poetry is always open to interpretations. Notice how he said he ain’t think of it that way?

    • @carltonbanks1556
      @carltonbanks1556 Před 6 lety +2

      Cake Rap (Rhythm And Poetry)

    • @BluRay8o4
      @BluRay8o4 Před 6 lety

      They are talking only about the poetry aspect.

    • @user-vj1pq6uz8m
      @user-vj1pq6uz8m Před 6 lety +26

      Even if one has intent it's all subjective to the reader. If you think "the lady" over analyzed it know that's what people do with poetry. I like this, i hope this would be a series, with many rap artists. Maybe it is

  • @michaelcorleone7598
    @michaelcorleone7598 Před rokem +150

    It’s incredible to see a Harvard prof fully appreciating Nas lyricism

    • @MultiBillionHeir
      @MultiBillionHeir Před 8 dny

      Right I think some national publisher named him one of the greatest song writers of all time

  • @louierivera330
    @louierivera330 Před 5 lety +357

    Nas: The bird
    The Professor: Ah yes, the creature with wings that can be found soaring in the sky
    Nas: Yes

    • @EdiDrums
      @EdiDrums Před 3 lety +75

      Nas: The word
      The Professor: Ah yes, the unit of language comprising one or more spoken sounds or their written representation, functioning as a carrier of meaning.
      Nas: Word

    • @StuLenS_Gaming
      @StuLenS_Gaming Před 3 lety +2

      ԐԀɪ DԆŮМS W

  • @joojoobomb
    @joojoobomb Před 7 lety +785

    This dude doesn't age though... Nas has discovered the fountain of youth...

    • @maximbelmont4668
      @maximbelmont4668 Před 7 lety +38

      LOLWAT Pac is my favorite rapper ever, but let's be real his vocabulary was pretty average. Pac music doesn't need to be broken down because it was straight forward.

    • @craigwashington4954
      @craigwashington4954 Před 7 lety +8

      LOLWAT Nas 65 years old...😂🤣

    • @ayrtisticmc4918
      @ayrtisticmc4918 Před 7 lety +38

      Craig Washington Nas was born in 1973 he's only 43 years old where did you get 65 from?

    • @nathanbengels6930
      @nathanbengels6930 Před 7 lety +3

      nigga stop making shit up, lmao

    • @mailnoseen9330
      @mailnoseen9330 Před 6 lety +5

      that is not true at all. He just didn't use metaphors in his raps often but his rhyme style was straight up poetic

  • @i.nnocuouss2912
    @i.nnocuouss2912 Před 3 lety +101

    Harvard Professor: "The way you rap one could never take it all in."
    Nas: "Right"

  • @BePartOfTheTooCrew
    @BePartOfTheTooCrew Před 6 lety +154

    Nas is undoubtedly the greatest rapper of all time

    • @Silentknight052
      @Silentknight052 Před 6 lety +2

      Too Spu I would say mos def but has is definitely top 5

    • @mayurdoshi585
      @mayurdoshi585 Před 6 lety +1

      Mos Def is amazing but can you point out how over the course of discography and years of work that Mos is better?

    • @Silentknight052
      @Silentknight052 Před 6 lety +1

      Mayur Doshi I'm just saying lyrically I like.mos more not.knocking.nas

    • @Maal7432
      @Maal7432 Před 5 lety

      *emcee*, but I know what you meant.

    • @mstefanidis1841
      @mstefanidis1841 Před 3 lety +1

      Peak nas is probably the goat but rn he is too inconsistant

  • @loveNsuccessfollowsme
    @loveNsuccessfollowsme Před 6 lety +122

    She broke the lyrics down to Nas in a better way that made him say damn i didn't think about it that way😂😅

    • @breakfastplan4518
      @breakfastplan4518 Před 3 lety +12

      It wasn't a 'Better way' it was another "perspective" - Its all his words either way. jesus christ.

    • @jyoung9298
      @jyoung9298 Před rokem +4

      Remember Nas was only a teenager writing this poetry and with no HS education.

  • @bdgeiger4
    @bdgeiger4 Před 7 lety +232

    Nas was so godly when writing Illmatic he didn't even realize half the shit he was pulling off. Also, the production on that song is unbelievable.

    • @ronaldodelacruz2171
      @ronaldodelacruz2171 Před 3 lety +7

      No shit he had pete rock, premo, qtip, large profesor and les

    • @jasonmcmechan2072
      @jasonmcmechan2072 Před 3 lety +5

      Jesus Christ is Lord God of all! God bless you all! Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is too difficult for the Lord our God, with Christ, ALL things are possible!

    • @oldsnake9520
      @oldsnake9520 Před 2 lety +2

      @@jasonmcmechan2072 dude it’s a figure of speech calm down.

    • @joshdaboss2365
      @joshdaboss2365 Před 2 lety

      @@jasonmcmechan2072 stfu

    • @neilhess6407
      @neilhess6407 Před 2 lety +1

      Not sure any artist can do what he did on their intro record. That's the goat.

  • @onpoint315
    @onpoint315 Před 7 lety +319

    That shit was deep...very good, nas a legend.

  • @dennisthemenace855
    @dennisthemenace855 Před 5 lety +46

    Rap is one of the greatest form of poetry . Honestly it IS the greatest form of poetry the many different routes and how deep it goes is unprecedented

    • @yanfraanje1294
      @yanfraanje1294 Před 7 měsíci

      Well, it is actually precedented (the ancient greeks and romans have written beautiful poetry and they also used a rhythm/flow). But i agree that it’s one of the greatest forms of poetry.

  • @GoTPLATANOS
    @GoTPLATANOS Před rokem +22

    The best part about this is that Nas is learning from her as much as he's teaching her. His ability to be receptive about other perspectives about lyrics he wrote is cool...

    • @user_unknown1488
      @user_unknown1488 Před rokem +1

      he is explaining himself to a jew, I'm glad you think that is cool ... sell out!

    • @GoTPLATANOS
      @GoTPLATANOS Před rokem +1

      @@user_unknown1488 okay, dummy...

    • @user_unknown1488
      @user_unknown1488 Před rokem +1

      @@GoTPLATANOS get back on the plantation negro, there is cotton to pick okay.

  • @vishalshah4497
    @vishalshah4497 Před 7 lety +316

    Nas is GOAT

  • @DriftDweller
    @DriftDweller Před 7 lety +630

    The teacher being philosophical and all while Nas is thinking to himself, "I was just making these lyrics when I was bored" lol

    • @Jay-wn6vu
      @Jay-wn6vu Před 6 lety +11

      OG Awesomoby so true

    • @funguy1453
      @funguy1453 Před 6 lety +3

      Lol

    • @mjz5254
      @mjz5254 Před 5 lety +73

      Not really. Do you really think best of hip-hop lyrics just came out of boredom? They didn't work hard on it?

    • @Andy-xd5dj
      @Andy-xd5dj Před 5 lety +20

      @@mjz5254 well, sometimes they do, just like that, a thought comes to mind and you elaborate on it

    • @professord8888
      @professord8888 Před 4 lety +9

      Nah, when Nas wrote this he was being mad philosophical, up to 2 mins I only hear this teacher being basic AF.

  • @josephmendoza6921
    @josephmendoza6921 Před 6 lety +43

    Not one rapper alive or dead can top Nasty NAS... Best of all time...

    • @rwarren4637
      @rwarren4637 Před rokem

      Rakim

    • @tvm2209
      @tvm2209 Před rokem +1

      @@rwarren4637 Great choice, I'd agree Rakim but really it's hard to compare objectively like apples/oranges ya know?

    • @dances998
      @dances998 Před měsícem +1

      ​@tvm2209 I know Rakim seems comparable because of his reputation that comes from the influence he had since he came up before the Golden era, he therefore had huge influence, but to compare him to Nas is insane, Nas is levels above everyone, Krs and Pac come close, but damn Nas is a half man half amazing with the pen.

  • @DonCesar93
    @DonCesar93 Před 7 lety +182

    You know you are the GOAT when you discuss your songs with a Harvard professor!

  • @AtoneMuhammad
    @AtoneMuhammad Před 7 lety +1760

    Professor: "'Givin' mics menstrual cycles' - are those cycles in any way metaphorically related to the '[break] loops'"?
    Nas: "Now it is! Since You said it!"
    ROFLMBAO!!!

    • @overstandinggod3410
      @overstandinggod3410 Před 7 lety +11

      Anthony Muhammad My point exactly!

    • @ItsJR516
      @ItsJR516 Před 7 lety +189

      Nigga was just making mics bleed and the woman had to add her own flip

    • @YZ4hunnid
      @YZ4hunnid Před 7 lety +298

      true but the best part of art is that different people from different parts of the world in different times can understand the art in ways that even the artist did not intend for.. thus making it timeless

    • @SSKMusicBeats
      @SSKMusicBeats Před 7 lety +9

      Anthony Muhammad i lost it when that dropped

    • @negritocobretti5848
      @negritocobretti5848 Před 7 lety +88

      Art can change each time you experience it. What it means to one person it may mean something else to the next. Is this lost on today's emcees?

  • @RhugidLeeHansum
    @RhugidLeeHansum Před 2 lety +19

    Dope ass interview. She listens and speaks accurately. Props to them!

  • @robertoverstreet3956
    @robertoverstreet3956 Před 2 lety +15

    One of the greatest poets period.

  • @Fredemon1
    @Fredemon1 Před 7 lety +331

    "Street knowledge amazing to scholars when we coin phrases for dollars" -Sauce Money

  • @fsmfsm9941
    @fsmfsm9941 Před 7 lety +1075

    Nas lowkey making some of these meanings up as he's going along lmfao

    • @johngist3761
      @johngist3761 Před 7 lety +8

      Faiq Mustafa loooooooool

    • @fsmfsm9941
      @fsmfsm9941 Před 7 lety +157

      It's a joke man chill tf out, Nas is the GOAT

    • @Slamontt
      @Slamontt Před 7 lety +74

      Faiq Mustafa lmao like when he said "now it is, since you said it"

    • @maxbinaei139
      @maxbinaei139 Před 7 lety +23

      hahahah i get what u mean lmfao his face when shes saying these deep meanings that she wasnt even intending

    • @maxbinaei139
      @maxbinaei139 Před 7 lety +14

      he wasnt intending*

  • @Spanishdog17
    @Spanishdog17 Před 5 lety +10

    Nas made one of the best albums ever as a teenager!!! Dude has so much talent!

  • @lilaze60
    @lilaze60 Před 4 lety +204

    Remember guys this was written by a 19 yo

    • @nathantyrrell5447
      @nathantyrrell5447 Před 3 lety +8

      17

    • @abztrakt1702
      @abztrakt1702 Před 3 lety +13

      Nathan Tyrrell Kinda both, some of it was written at 17 and some at 19. It came out when he was 20

    • @SuperTerri86
      @SuperTerri86 Před 3 lety +18

      how tf was he so smart lmao

    • @ayad3834
      @ayad3834 Před 3 lety +9

      @@SuperTerri86 I really wanna know as well, I’m tryna be like him fr, an articulate poetic type nigga

    • @tool27
      @tool27 Před 3 lety +5

      @@ayad3834 It will come to you. Keep reading and writing and you will be up next. If you truly want it enough you can have it. Good luck to you I’ll be watching for you.

  • @yerelli
    @yerelli Před 7 lety +416

    amazing interview on poetry i wish they would do more of this and explain more and further about his poetry .

  • @Bandstand
    @Bandstand Před 7 lety +1455

    I can't wait to watch Kendrick break down his lyrics in 25 years.

    • @NinjaDash360
      @NinjaDash360 Před 6 lety +3

      Bandstand hey what's up man

    • @ry4986
      @ry4986 Před 6 lety +229

      Bandstand kendrick lamar is no where close to nas level. NOT EVEN CLOSE

    • @mailnoseen9330
      @mailnoseen9330 Před 6 lety +112

      kendrick is clever but not on Nasir's level

    • @dakingrashad635
      @dakingrashad635 Před 6 lety +7

      Bandstand trust it won't be the same!

    • @josemcjuggernaut8651
      @josemcjuggernaut8651 Před 6 lety +49

      He will never be as good as Nas!

  • @estevesmartins7935
    @estevesmartins7935 Před 6 měsíci +6

    He was a true prodigy…can’t even fathom to be 18 or 19 with that amount of knowledge/ wisdom

  • @Marc-hb1le
    @Marc-hb1le Před 6 lety +14

    I'm glad that such prestigious people are recognizing the greatness of Nas's writing. I hope in a few decades Lupe Fiasco gets his own segment like this.

    • @Paris__Michael
      @Paris__Michael Před 11 měsíci +2

      ‼️‼️‼️💯💯💯💯!!!

    • @Ruin3.14
      @Ruin3.14 Před 9 měsíci +3

      He is now a professor! You sort of predicted it

  • @SixfeetStacks
    @SixfeetStacks Před 7 lety +542

    1:42 Her interpretation of "dominating break loops" is so much of a reach that it's almost a cliche that it's being said by an English teacher lmao. (or poetry professor, you get the idea)
    Although as an MC, if someone sees more into your lines than they actually are, it's like getting a compliment, so I totally understand that Nas just goes with it

    • @SomeoneFarted
      @SomeoneFarted Před 7 lety +67

      +Sixfeet Stacks She said what he meant, just in a more articulate form. She wasn't straying from the meaning at all. "Give me this form and I will dominate it".

    • @B333D33
      @B333D33 Před 7 lety +18

      That's where the poetry comes in.

    • @ben3000
      @ben3000 Před 7 lety +24

      I think she just had a clumsy lack of understanding into the way he sees the world and that line gave her glimpse into it. Her explanation wasn't reaching, in fact it was almost stating the obvious. She does that a lot in this. Still awesome tho

    • @tejasranger
      @tejasranger Před 7 lety

      Sixfeet Stacks thats her job

    • @dannyd3411
      @dannyd3411 Před 7 lety +9

      no its not reaching imo because it ties into the overall theme of the line.

  • @xolaninkosi5748
    @xolaninkosi5748 Před 7 lety +122

    One of the GREATEST!!!!!

  • @lrandle98
    @lrandle98 Před 2 lety +12

    Crazy how much she actually understands in these deep lyrics. Nas even tells her that this song is living when she asked a question about the cycles being related to the loops and he replys now it does. Crazy nice vibe and learning experience.

  • @mr.tomfoolery9159
    @mr.tomfoolery9159 Před 3 lety +12

    The break loop and menstruel cycle connection she made was fire🔥🔥🔥🤦‍♀️🔥

  • @AJTalks
    @AJTalks Před 7 lety +284

    When he was saying he gives "mic's menstrual cycles", he was talking about making the mic his bitch, not the art of mastering musical cycles lol. I guess you can interpret it any way you want though

    • @calabiyau9269
      @calabiyau9269 Před 7 lety +79

      Alex Johnson that's why nas agreed, he didn't want to explain it lol

    • @MistaMean
      @MistaMean Před 7 lety +36

      Alex Johnson that's a good way to look at it. I always took it as he regularly kills the mics... metaphorically making it bleed.

    • @AJTalks
      @AJTalks Před 7 lety +35

      Enabler I am referencing rap lyrics where Nas uses the metaphor to describe the microphone being his bitch. Nobody is disrespecting anybody's mother. Get off your high horse

    • @enabler2456
      @enabler2456 Před 7 lety +8

      '' Nobody is disrespecting anybody's mother.'' That's not what I said... Nas is giving the mic mentrual cycles, which means the mic is a female, so automatically you assume he means the mic is his ''bitch''. There is something about your culture that makes you think you have to degrade women in order to be a real man...

    • @AJTalks
      @AJTalks Před 7 lety +30

      Are you saying female is synonymous with bitch? That is very rude sir, where are your manners. Those are two entirely different words

  • @MicAssassin
    @MicAssassin Před 7 lety +160

    Deep , Dope and Insightful. Hip Hop has spawned so many great multi layered writers who create visual universes within their verses. Glad to see Brother Nas highlighted in such a positive way. Salutes!

    • @Paris__Michael
      @Paris__Michael Před 11 měsíci

      A BEAUTIFULLY SUCCINCT synOPSIS on the WONDERS and _CAPABILITIES_ , of *_HIP-HOP_* !!

  • @IlladelphB
    @IlladelphB Před 3 lety +8

    Nas is hip hop itself. He is a self taught philosopher. He is a icon that is still relevant today

  • @javsdeleo
    @javsdeleo Před 7 lety +9

    The lyrical ability Nas possessed when Illmatic came was sooo far ahead of its time. How did he have the mental acuity to shape sentences like that?! Even now when I listen to it I get chills at how he manipulated vocabulary. A true master of his craft. Half man.

  • @MakikiSkateCrew
    @MakikiSkateCrew Před 7 lety +15

    "I'm from it. I'm of it. I love it."
    Damn

  • @pureuncutlakers1010
    @pureuncutlakers1010 Před 7 lety +110

    With guys like Nas and Mos Def, you could hear the natural artistry. I would like to recite a portion or Respiration by Black Star (Mos Def), please and thank you, "So much on my mind that I can't recline. Blast the holes in the night til' she bled sunshine. Breathe in. Hell vapors from bright stars that shine. Breath out. When we smoke we trace the skyline. Heard the base ride out like it aint your mating call. I cant take it y'all. I can feel the city breathing. Chest heaving against the flesh of the evening. Sigh before we die I'm like the last train leaving." You're welcome.

    • @allocentric9018
      @allocentric9018 Před 7 lety +5

      Nicolas Dane common's verse was legendary

    • @brown_xkmd486
      @brown_xkmd486 Před 7 lety +8

      you have a lot of those lyrics wrong bro, you should google them

    • @zblock8921
      @zblock8921 Před 7 lety +1

      Mos def is wack af kid nas is top 5 u shldnt compare the 2

    • @Quandryification
      @Quandryification Před 7 lety

      Nicolas Dane my top 3 all time rap songs.

    • @tristanzegethm.n7649
      @tristanzegethm.n7649 Před 7 lety +1

      Nicolas Dane Yeah, Mos was transcendent on that one. Intelligence in hiphop is in the cemetery

  • @Hugotheman88
    @Hugotheman88 Před 5 měsíci +4

    Love the fact that this professor has so much respect and appreciation for his work.

  • @dustyluminox
    @dustyluminox Před rokem +7

    The fact she reflected her analogy of "your pen is extreme" originlly written for (NY state of Mind) - "Holdin' an M16, see, with the pen I'm extreme"
    to his breakdown of the first verse is highly respected! Two different individuals finding common ground through literature regardless of the poets background. Dope shit.

  • @shaun1364
    @shaun1364 Před 7 lety +46

    Nasty Nas...one the greatest to ever do it

  • @thejamaicanreactor
    @thejamaicanreactor Před 7 lety +89

    Wow i thiNk nas is the most intelligent rap hip hop artist.. nas should be lecturing hip hop rap music at Harvard university

  • @chillp1409
    @chillp1409 Před 6 lety +51

    I almost cry while I’m watching this, because we don’t see hiphop like this nowadays.... There ain’t nothing to breakdown.

    • @gilchivasa
      @gilchivasa Před 3 lety

      Hahaha fr though

    • @dragojlo0278
      @dragojlo0278 Před 3 lety +7

      There's things to break down if you search for it deeper than the mainstream

    • @GodsonFPS
      @GodsonFPS Před 3 lety +2

      kids just looking for a quick dollar now... no passion.

    • @lyrics2challenged
      @lyrics2challenged Před 3 lety

      It's fucking plenty.

    • @olgierdolo5510
      @olgierdolo5510 Před 3 lety

      There is, but deep underground

  • @bigdap100
    @bigdap100 Před 4 lety +4

    They could never understand how his lyrics moved us, we listened over and over again to the same songs the same lines...he was half man half amazing!

  • @gg12345ification
    @gg12345ification Před 6 lety +8

    give it 20 more years and nas will be giving the Nobel prize in poetry.

  • @WhispersOnLy
    @WhispersOnLy Před 2 lety +7

    He is the human epitome of 'Ready since I was Born' 💯

  • @theabyssofthoughts
    @theabyssofthoughts Před 3 lety +6

    No doubt the greatest rapper of all time, and I love the friendly open conversation props to the professor too! Open mindedness.

  • @dineomokgosi411
    @dineomokgosi411 Před 19 hodinami +1

    Nas always looking fresh & clean. 👌🏾Him and Pac remain the greatest hip hop poets ever!

  • @davidcoocoo287
    @davidcoocoo287 Před 5 lety +5

    A true example of someone who studies poetry to find its meaning to a true artist who is poetry.....no explanation needed......it speaks to your soul....those that know, know!!!

  • @Divine1Right
    @Divine1Right Před 6 lety +5

    I'm glad for Nas that he achieved this level of icon that decades later people still not only remember him, but praise and love his work. A lot of guys never made it this big despite being just as skilled. Like AZ for example who I always thought was very underrated. Nas just transcends rap though, he's a true cultural icon and will be recalled as a legend for centuries after his death. I wish 90s style lyrical/gangsta rap would make a comeback in the mainstream.

  • @BreuckelensFinest
    @BreuckelensFinest Před 6 lety +8

    NaS, my favorite Hip Hop MC of all times! In my humble opinion, the best & the greatest to ever do it! Salute.

  • @lashonmcleod2905
    @lashonmcleod2905 Před 2 lety

    I'm glad I found this interview because every time I listen to this track, I be like wow and I always would rewind that verse back. Dope!

  • @omniosi
    @omniosi Před 7 lety +5

    Love! Especially happy that he starts the interview talking about how rappers should progress in their subject matter as they grow. More should embrace their art in this way. Nas is all the stronger for it!

  • @malcolmisk00l
    @malcolmisk00l Před rokem +3

    I like who Nas chooses to give interviews to, every time it’s a unique conversation

  • @alexcontreras7474
    @alexcontreras7474 Před 11 měsíci

    His music has always been genuine, real and Unique👍 He is definitely one of the best!

  • @simonespanu7768
    @simonespanu7768 Před 2 lety +14

    Prof. New is not only cool for doing this, but ahead of her time. I studied literature at Notre Dame and earned a Master's of Arts while DJing and spinning "It Ain't Hard to Tell" with "Gin 'n' Juice". No professor in my seminars was receptive to something of this nature. I had a classmate who was a massive Smiths fan who wrote a paper about Morrissey's lyrics. His grade was a pass at best.

  • @terrymarsh2001
    @terrymarsh2001 Před 7 lety +3

    one of my favorite joints of all time(it aint hard to tell)...my man Nas breaking it down only as the best poet of my generation could......one love NAS

  • @SkatEarthProductions
    @SkatEarthProductions Před 7 lety +3

    This is actually the first song I ever heard by him and was immediately hooked. I've studied it for so long and still find lines that have a deeper meaning than I thought.

  • @blkkj
    @blkkj Před 7 lety +2

    This lady is awesome man, she really gets it forreal man. When I see people of different backgrounds who connect like this it's always awesome to see. People trying to understanding each other's worlds.

  • @tylerhardy2012
    @tylerhardy2012 Před 11 dny

    The way she’s in awe trying to under and getting excited while catching it is what Nas and a incredible record is

  • @TellyCasper
    @TellyCasper Před 7 lety +318

    To this day, nobody has ever had a better pen game then him including Rakim

    • @DiosanXaquerry
      @DiosanXaquerry Před 7 lety +54

      Rakim is God The Father.... Nas is Gods Son.... feel me ?

    • @TellyCasper
      @TellyCasper Před 7 lety +28

      Nah, Nas is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

    • @audioplugg5310
      @audioplugg5310 Před 7 lety +14

      Blasphemy

    • @turtleanton6539
      @turtleanton6539 Před 7 lety

      Young Wavy for sure 😊

    • @audioplugg5310
      @audioplugg5310 Před 7 lety +17

      Nas is not the GOAT. his 1st two albums are classics, but he couldn't hold on to that consistency. that's what really hurt him. he was pretty much off everybody's rap radar until the battle with Jay.

  • @liamthompson2604
    @liamthompson2604 Před 3 lety +4

    Only a lyrical genius gets this kind of air time!!. This dude is an inspiration to Hip Hop and Rap.

  • @TWILS02119
    @TWILS02119 Před 6 lety +1

    My man still pristine like he’s still 17.... peace to you Nas.... bless up!!

  • @Risto23
    @Risto23 Před 5 lety +2

    NaS a Genius...ahead of his time...to think he wrote all these rhymes when he was still a teenager is mind blowing.

  • @Ara-co1kh
    @Ara-co1kh Před 7 lety +16

    Nas is *the* goat

  • @dante666jt
    @dante666jt Před 5 lety +7

    You know Nas is the real deal when Harvard is studying him.

  • @IronClinch92
    @IronClinch92 Před 8 dny

    The highest form of dialogue. I enjoyed how engaged they were in the breakdown.

  • @T82486
    @T82486 Před 5 lety +1

    He said the first lines in this interview and I went straight to the song. It's that powerful.✊

  • @deejonas8961
    @deejonas8961 Před 7 lety +10

    nas will never age wow

  • @akhilchandrashekar1725
    @akhilchandrashekar1725 Před 7 lety +22

    yo shout out to this interviewer. amazing interview. you did way better most of the hip hop channels . much respect to the work you put in for this video .
    nas = G O A T

  • @chrisrendell3423
    @chrisrendell3423 Před 6 lety +1

    Still Listen to this album in the car
    My personal all time favourite artist 👍🏻

  • @blackberrie3567
    @blackberrie3567 Před rokem

    Love, his mentoring, and breaking down, of life's lessons and bettering one's, self and as moving on next step!😄

  • @abdulrasheedbello5535
    @abdulrasheedbello5535 Před 6 lety +5

    Salute to Nas... You're just the greatest MC's of all time

  • @sparkzmentalz2
    @sparkzmentalz2 Před 7 lety +4

    True music and a passion for the arts. I seriously can't think of too many rappers from today whose lyrics can spark a convo about poetry. These mumble rappers are all "15 minutes of fame, here today, gone tomorrow" rappers. Artists like Nas are timeless.

  • @felipemacedo8612
    @felipemacedo8612 Před 6 lety

    OMG! I've waited for this interview for a long time and I didn't even know it would ever been done!

  • @josha4869
    @josha4869 Před 5 lety +1

    So young and ungodly wise and profound. To prophetic for the mainstream to understand in its time. This album will be taught to children in history books.

  • @Risse3223
    @Risse3223 Před 3 lety +5

    A true poet. The best to ever do it.

  • @louis1443
    @louis1443 Před 7 lety +6

    The greatest hip hop album ever.

  • @gocpng4699
    @gocpng4699 Před 5 lety

    Just Being On The Earth At The Same Time As These Dudes Is A Blessing.

  • @hstkema1469
    @hstkema1469 Před 5 lety

    Love the fact that hes always been a polite educated gentleman, one love Nas! From Mexico

  • @jessehout2767
    @jessehout2767 Před 5 lety +8

    He's so lyrical. He's about so much more than these corny ass rappers today. He speaks to something more than cars, jewelry and money. He's a living legend.

  • @overzone666
    @overzone666 Před 2 lety +3

    Oh my God Nas has to be one of the greatest writers of all time

  • @ghettochildnation9390
    @ghettochildnation9390 Před 6 lety

    truly amazing.! to all the young kids watching, (if there are any watching), you can truly be anything you want to be in life..

  • @MrCarterVince
    @MrCarterVince Před 5 lety +1

    Nas is a legend! Lyrics still rock hard even till these days

  • @kennykah4466
    @kennykah4466 Před 5 lety +3

    Nas is GREAT!! His music is true knowledge and timeless!!!

  • @jerris27p
    @jerris27p Před 7 lety +184

    I guarantee if Pac was being interviewed by her, he would thoroughly impress her.

  • @daviddicicco4347
    @daviddicicco4347 Před rokem

    Nas is timeless. He had some of the best style from the way he spoke to the way he dressed. He was smooth at in all aspects of life. Truly cool to the core and smart af

  • @progress426
    @progress426 Před 6 lety

    I was breezing thru Lefrak City just today thinking about Nas. Shout out to a real artist.

  • @MrRealm1537
    @MrRealm1537 Před 7 lety +363

    I applaud nas on getting his most memorable album dissected by some great minds from a great institution...but did those lyrics really need analyzation? They werent that deep, they were all pretty straightforward to me 🤔 but what do I know I've only been listening to that album for over ten years...

    • @purposepassionandlovetv863
      @purposepassionandlovetv863 Před 7 lety +95

      MrRealm1537 For someone not from that world, probably.

    • @charliedebunc6289
      @charliedebunc6289 Před 7 lety +27

      MrRealm1537.....Yes. the poetic form yes indeed...furthermore Nas delves deeper into the young black mind so many people find inquisitive and alluring...his flow on that track was melodic like graffiti flow...the beat itself was inspiring...touching on an 80s note that symbolized the rise of the Hip Hop culture which so many can relate to like everyone can relate to Michael Jackson worldwide but also catchy to the ear...very clever....no lie I have been dissecting those verses for years and still am impressed of the flow not really a gangsta flo but still gangsta in the mental that was how he got you.

    • @lifestraight
      @lifestraight Před 7 lety +6

      Only one I didn't understand was "grape fruit troop". I dominate break loops was self explanatory yet she dragged that one out lol

    • @jumobi
      @jumobi Před 7 lety +25

      It does. Not everyone is from that "world". I remember listening to Mo Money Mo Problems as a kid in Nigeria. I liked diddy's line "bigger than the city light down in Times Square" it wasn't until I moved to New York that I finally understood it lol. Sometimes you understand by growing or by exposure to other cultures. The analysis might not help you or me, but it helps others.
      "Deep like the shining" makes sense when you watch the movie.

    • @jumobi
      @jumobi Před 7 lety +1

      My Playlists it's a word though