Sharing an episode from our friends over at Broken Record. On Broken Record, acclaimed producer Rick Rubin, bestselling author Malcom Gladwell, and former New York Times editor Bruce Headlam talk with the musicians you love about their lives, inspiration, and craft. Rick Rubin has interviewed so many great artists over the years—including Andre 3000, Missy Elliott, and Neil Young. Today we will hear Rick’s conversation with hip-hop legend, Nas. Nas dropped one of the most universally loved rap albums of all time in 1994 with Illmatic, and he remains one of the greatest MCs of all time. Few hip-hop artists have maintained relevance over decades based on their skill alone. Nas has never chased headlines or crossover success, instead focused on elevating his craft and the culture. And that dedication has paid off: King’s Disease, Nas’ 12th album, won Best Rap Album at the 2021 Grammys. In the preview you’re about to hear, Rick Rubin talks to Nas about his earliest experiences with rap in the Queensbridge housing projects where he grew up, how recording King’s Disease with Kanye West in Wyoming almost took him out of his zone, and how early beef with Jay-Z made them both stronger rappers.

You can listen to more episodes of Broken Record at https://podcasts.pushkin.fm/brstupidfly.

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