Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1973, Nasir Jones, better known as Nas, seemed destined for music greatness since childhood. With jazz musician Olu Dara as his father, Nas began perfecting his own musical talents by the young age of four, playing the trumpet before eventually moving onto to writing and performing his own songs. He is consistently ranked as one of the greatest MCs of his generation and has a debut album, Illmatic, that continues to receive critical acclaim to this day. With twenty plus years of experience in the music business to his credit, he has built a Nas net worth that is estimated to be at $17 million.
His music reflects his passion for and interest in the African culture, in fact. With 12 albums to his name, Nas has sold over 25 million records worldwide and also routinely collaborates with fellow artists like Damian Marley. He began his musical career in the late 1980s after he met record producer Large Professor. He began recording his own music in this producer’s studios, getting his first big break in 1994 with the release of Illmati. Despite it being his debut album, it has also proved to be one of his most successful and one that launched him into mainstream hip hop culture. His critics say that his debut record played a major role in how hip hop sounds and is recorded today, in fact.
Since 1994 and his major break into the music industry, Nas has gone on to release 11 more albums, eight of which have gone platinum consecutively. He was involved for a brief time in a rather controversial dispute with fellow hip hop star Jay-Z Net Worth. The feud stemmed from both parties’ critiques of each other’s music and performances, as well as a reported love affair between Nas’s girlfriend and Jay-Z. With that dispute resolved, however, Nas continues to make music and be an in-demand performer worldwide. He performs both domestically and in faraway places, including the African nation of Angola.
How Much Is Nas Worth Now?
With a Nas net worth of $17 million, some people may wonder why this figure is relatively low in comparison to the net worth of other rappers and hip hop stars. In fact, Nas contributes a significant portion of his income to charitable causes, particularly those that center on helping Africa and the African people. He also gives free concerts in the aftermath of tragic events, such as when he performed at Virginia Tech after the on-campus shootings and killings.
However, his net worth allows him to remain a formidable players in other industries outside of music. For example, he used his own money to help fund Mass Appeal Magazine, for which he serves as its associate publisher. He also is in the works to open his own sneaker store and recently opened his own online store, which is called 123Society.com. He is a skilled investor and has invested in companies like Hennessey, which has also allowed him to become a spokesperson for the Wild Rabbit line. He likewise inked a deal with Fila to become its celebrity spokesman.
His future plans involve recording his twelfth studio album and releasing it under the Def Jam label to which he is currently signed. However, he noted that this newest album will be the last one that he will record for Def Jam, leaving some question about his future label plans. His net worth continues to be built in part from his musical and entrepreneurial successes. Nas also will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Illmati this year.