Wired 25: The Greatest Nas Guest Verses Of All-Time

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While struggle rappers can’t even get off the bench, Nas just continues to age like fine wine. The man born Nasir Jones recently celebrated his 40th birthday in grand fashion, as he should. While God’s Son’s album catalog proves to be an audio treasure chest of classics, he also has a legacy of memorable guest appearances that deserve their own spotlight.

Combing through 22 years of material proved to be a hefty task, but what better way to salute The Don on his 40th? Here we chose his greatest 25 guest features of all-time covering a wide range of eras of his career from: Nasty Nas (army jacket with an Uzi in the lining) to Escobar (pink suits) to Nastradumus (afro Nas) to present day (Nas, The Don).

Did we get it right? Let us know your picks in the comments section.

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Photo: Nas

Main Source ft Nasty Nas – “Live At The BBQ”

Our first introduction to Nasty Nas and boy what a world premiere it was. When he said “When I was twelve, I went to hell for snuffing Jesus,” we knew he was going to be special, if not blasphemous.

Nas, Cormega, Kamakazee – “On The Real”

Marley Marl cooked up a ridiculous piano loop that gave Esco’s words a deeper meaning when he opened the track with “to my seed, may I lead you into no greed or evil”.

Rick Ross ft. Nas – “Triple Beam Dreams”

This one is special for a couple of reasons. Nas proves that he can still can hang with today’s greats – so much so Ross set him up for success with the opening verse privelages. Additionally we can never escape “I would be ivy league if America played fair”.

QB’s Finest ft. MC Shan, Havoc, Cormega, Millenium Thug, Nature, Capone, Tragedy Khadefi, Prodigy & Nas- “Da Bridge 2001”

On this remake “The Bridge” remake, Nas closes out this posse cut answering Memphis Bleek with a verse so strong he had to go get his boss to sub him out b. “Oh no you didn’t / want to know who’s life is written.”

Missy Elliot ft Nas, Eve & Q-Tip – Hot Boyz Remix

At a time when Nas was in that ackward space of his career he came back to the streets on this remix. “Get your mama’s house shot up
/ bodies all chopped up / when them bodies pop up / I ain’t getting’ locked up.”

Kool G. Rap ft. Nas – “Fast Life”

In one of Esco’s most classic features, he blessed us with an ill opening bar that we still can’t get over “Yo I got guns from Italy / smoke trees considerably.”

Fat Joe ft. Nas, Big Pun, Jadakiss & Raekwon – “John Blaze”

This posse cut never gets old – neither does Nas’ opening verse.

Funkmaster Flex ft. Nas – “Rhymes, Cash, Weed Cars Freestyle”

In a brief but very memorable freestyle Jones hit us a with a priceless flow over some cut up break beats.

Raekwon ft. Nas – “Rich & Black”

Rae’ and Nas gave us some 1995 Cuban Linx type goosebumps when they finally reunited in 2011.

Noreaga ft. Nas – “Body In The Trunk”

Nas and NORE made one of the best story raps with their tale of someone who was too pressed to see the grenade.

Common ft. Nas – “Ghetto Dreams”

Over a sweeping NO I.D. beat, Nas takes the show while he flaunts his mojo that keeps women spellbound “y’all ni—s in trouble / keep your girls behind closed doors /cross your fingers / be happy I haven’t chose yours.”

Mobb Deep ft. Nas – “It’s Mine”

Over a Scarface sample Nas’ takes a great song to classic status – he even says it himself “sh-t is better than a novel / autobiographic / spit it on tracks / it becomes classic.”

Nas, Noreaga & Nature – “Triple Threat”

“Sex and money go together like techs and nine shells / swiss cheese you and cover it up like Roswell”, enough said b.

Kanye West ft. Nas, Really Doe – “We Major”

Another classic appearance by Nas with slick double entendres sprinkled throughout his entire verse most notably our favorite “Look, I used to cook before I had the game took / either way my change came like Sam Cooke.”

Tragedy Khadafi ft. Noreaga & Nas – “Calm Down”

If you are interested in hearing what a classic Queensbridge record sounds like then look no further. Peep how Nas get his TJ Swan on with the hook.

Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah & Nas – “Verbal Intercourse”

In probably his most epic verse ever, Nas shows crabs how to rhyme.

Mobb Deep ft. Nas & Raekwon – “Eye For An Eye (Your Beef Is Mine)”

More evidence of what kind of magic the Mobb and Nas can make when they are on civil terms.

Scarface ft. Nas & Tanya Herron – “In Between Us”

Nas gives us a heartfelt recount about his childhood and shares some O.G. knowledge about dodging the pitfalls of life.

Capone N Noreaga ft. Nas – “B EZ”

Right before his beef with Jay-Z really erupted, Nas dropped this verse with a couple subliminals aimed at the Roc-A-Fella camp.

Mobb Deep ft. Nas – “Give It Up Fast”

Another classic Mobb Deep and Nas collaboration – maybe it’s something in that Queensbridge tap water.

Jay-Z ft. Nas – “Success”

Jay-Z and Nas had already worked together previously but this was the far better meeting of the two legends. Ironically Jones references his previous rivalry with Hov and mentions the shade Fat Joe gave him when he signed to Def Jam Records “Worst enemies wanna be my best friends / best friends wanna be enemies like that’s what’s in.”

Wu-Tang Clan ft. Nas – “Let My Ni—s Live”

While Wu’s The W wasn’t what we were all hoping for, we did get this gem featuring Nas. We have yet to confirm if Esco did really date Sade though.

Diddy ft. Nas & Cee-Lo – “Everything I Love”

A lot of people missed this joint. Nas had Diddy sounding like a different man with a Smoothe Da Hustler “Broken Language” type flow with a touch of Cee-Lo’s soulfulness on the hook.