Student Events recruits Nas for fall concert
by Daniel D. Snyder
Associate Editor
Arts | 8/26/08
Posted online at 7:56 PM EST on 8/25/08
/ Last updated at 2:37 AM EST on 8/25/08
Since I'm not particularly well versed in the far away kingdom of hiphop, I will announce the fall concert with all the faux enthusiasm (with jazz hands) I can muster. So, without further delay, the Justice and Student Events are pleased to announce (jazz hands at the ready) the 2008 fall concert headliner, hip-hop heavyweight, Nas (jazz hands activate!).
So, at this point you're either bouncing off the walls or, like I was at first, ambivalent and unsure of whether or not this is a good thing. For those of you in the latter category, I've done some snooping through the rugged forests of the Internet, and I'm happy to report that there is, in fact, good reason to celebrate. It turns out Nas, formerly Nasty Nas (change is positive, apparently), is considered one of the best emcees of all time. Ready to buy your tickets yet? No? Then read on.
Born and raised in New York's Queensbridge housing project, Nas released his debut album, Illmatic, in 1994 to critical acclaim. Praised for its previously unheard lyrical depth, the album was hailed as "a densely textured, deeply lyrical portrait of life in Long Island City's Queensbridge projects" by the New York Times. The record signaled the resurgence of the moribund New York hip-hop scene and helped pave the way for Biggie Smalls, Jay-Z and a new generation of New York rappers." Not bad for a man who didn't even graduate middle school.
Since then, Nas has released, with varying degrees of success, eight more studio albums, the most recent of which caused quite a stir with its original working title. He has also graced the silver screen (roles include uncredited drug dealers on background street corners) and gotten into a widely publicized brouhaha with hiphop's rival champion, Jay-Z (may Brandeis remain in his good graces after this offense).
But wait! That's 'Nas' all! Following Nas, in late November will be the elusive laptop shredder Greg Gillis, more commonly known to the public as the real Batman, even more commonly known as Girl Talk. Though you may not have heard his work directly, you most assuredly have been hearing pieces of his songs your whole lives. Gillis, who has played the Cholmondeley's arena here at Brandeis once before, specializes in the mash-up genre, which essentially involves the sampling and layering of multiple original tracks into one cohesive, flowing song. Is it original? No. Is it genius? Absolutely. Danceable? Just try to stop me.
So, surely by now you must be drooling in anticipation of the coming months. Not one, but two nationally recognized acts, neither of which can be considered "washed up," on the same night! I'd stake out a place in the ticket line now if I were you … or myself.
So, at this point you're either bouncing off the walls or, like I was at first, ambivalent and unsure of whether or not this is a good thing. For those of you in the latter category, I've done some snooping through the rugged forests of the Internet, and I'm happy to report that there is, in fact, good reason to celebrate. It turns out Nas, formerly Nasty Nas (change is positive, apparently), is considered one of the best emcees of all time. Ready to buy your tickets yet? No? Then read on.
Born and raised in New York's Queensbridge housing project, Nas released his debut album, Illmatic, in 1994 to critical acclaim. Praised for its previously unheard lyrical depth, the album was hailed as "a densely textured, deeply lyrical portrait of life in Long Island City's Queensbridge projects" by the New York Times. The record signaled the resurgence of the moribund New York hip-hop scene and helped pave the way for Biggie Smalls, Jay-Z and a new generation of New York rappers." Not bad for a man who didn't even graduate middle school.
Since then, Nas has released, with varying degrees of success, eight more studio albums, the most recent of which caused quite a stir with its original working title. He has also graced the silver screen (roles include uncredited drug dealers on background street corners) and gotten into a widely publicized brouhaha with hiphop's rival champion, Jay-Z (may Brandeis remain in his good graces after this offense).
But wait! That's 'Nas' all! Following Nas, in late November will be the elusive laptop shredder Greg Gillis, more commonly known to the public as the real Batman, even more commonly known as Girl Talk. Though you may not have heard his work directly, you most assuredly have been hearing pieces of his songs your whole lives. Gillis, who has played the Cholmondeley's arena here at Brandeis once before, specializes in the mash-up genre, which essentially involves the sampling and layering of multiple original tracks into one cohesive, flowing song. Is it original? No. Is it genius? Absolutely. Danceable? Just try to stop me.
So, surely by now you must be drooling in anticipation of the coming months. Not one, but two nationally recognized acts, neither of which can be considered "washed up," on the same night! I'd stake out a place in the ticket line now if I were you … or myself.
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