“Kill the Ego. Make It About the Art” - Nas on How to Cure the King’s Disease
Legendary musician Nas tells Stephen what the title of his album trilogy, ‘King’s Disease,’ refers to and how it can be avoided. Catch Nas at Madison Square Garden this Friday for a one-night-only performance of the trilogy and stream his latest album, ‘King’s Disease III,’ available everywhere now.
#Colbert #KingsDiseaseIII #Nas #NasirJones
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Stephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology and more. Featuring bandleader Louis Cato and “THE LATE SHOW band,” the Peabody Award-winning and Emmy Award-nominated show is broadcast from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater. Stephen Colbert took over as host, executive producer and writer of THE LATE SHOW on Sept. 8, 2015.
I have been listening to Nas for 3 decades yet he’s still like a young adult.
I know black don't crack, But I swear Naz is a vampire.
Hahah….right? Looks young now, funny thing is he sounded like an old soul on his earlier records, because looking back at those he looked so young with old man wisdom in the rhymes….you get what I am trying to say.
That Henny money taking good care of King Nas 👑 💰 🌈 💎
@@GreenCloudArtOrg420 coinbase & uber have entered the chat
@@dadsofgaming5118 just great native American genes and I think he doesn't eat meat
My boy Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones. The greatest of all time.
The Kid slash Escobar
My favorite lyricist of all time. Simply in a class of his own.
Will you be at the Mad on Fri? I want to have a snowball fight and celebrate some life for once.
@@tuckerzenski7828 Bro, if wishes were flight tickets. I'm in Nigeria.
If we talking lyricism strictly then i’d put people like royce, lupe, kdot, and aesop rock up there too. Idk if he’s in a class of his own but he’s top 10 fs. Imo lupe is the goat lyricist
@@malikai5643 I can respect that for Lupe, easily.
@@AFO_AnalyRics Yea it’s a shame he’s so underrated
I was fortunate enough to chill with Nas at a small Chris Rock after party. It was full of celebrities and Me and a buddy who are just average dudes lol. Nobody even made eye contact with us lol. But Nas said whats up to us and hung out for 10-15min minutes. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but that gesture showed me he was a down to earth guy who was well aware of his surroundings. Noticed we werent super comfortable there and he made us comfortable. I was lik 21 at the time. Super nice guy
I had a similar experience with Busta Rhymes back in the day. It's nice when celebrities show us they're just cool human beings.
Wow
That was very kind of him. Humble person
Nas seems to have a contrite and humble spirit. Especially for someone so talented. That's why we rock with him. And his music is timeless.
Which is why he goes by a stage name instead of his real name, because he's so humble and down to Earth that he rejected his own name. His "music" isn't timeless. You don't get to decide that. Timeless music is what transcends generations, this joker hasn't ben around 5 minutes. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Rush called, they laugh at your pathetic notion of timelessness. Fifty years from now, no one will remember Nas, everyone will remember that you "can't get no satisfaction".
His real first name is Nasir. 32 year career. Guess people who call themselves Bill instead of William are rejecting their real name as well?
Timeless? 🤣🤣🤣 Your definition of timeless is way way off. His music has a best by date and it's way past that.
@@Lorrdd I see you responding to a few comments saying the same shit. Tell me, who hurt you? Show me on the teddy bear where they touched you to make you feel uncomfortable. 🤡🤣
@@johnshopkins554 so, timeless in this instance means transcedal, which nas music is, it shifted through 3 generations. So his music is timeless in a sence. Thats a fact.
Man,King's disease, King's disease 2, Magic and now King's disease 3, what a run Nas had in the past few year dropping near perfect albums, so deep in his career. Living legend.
But Yet, You Don’t Hear His Greatness, On The Radio. I Just Moved From New York. You Hear Wack Ass Meg Stallion But NO Nas….. It’s WILD 😮!!!!
@@chillsillego9599because record companies don’t give a damn about him
@@JamailvanWestering Nah it's because a lot of his former fans fell off. Now with soundcloud, bandcamp etc if you ain't poppin it's you can't blame radio stations nobody listens to or labels nobody cares about
@@chillsillego9599 Radio? Ok grandpa
@@lsdiesel8025 Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Wannabe……..Comedian.
Nas is very intelligent and articulate. He's got the wisdom that only comes with age, even though I find it unbelievable that he's going on 50. He looks 30.
Facts Nas and Eminem are the main two older cats that still look youthful. I know I'm probably forgetting a few but those two are the main two that come to mind when it comes to hip-hop OGS that still look young.
Indeed
Articulate not really though.. he’s a stronger writer than a speaker
illcraft Nothing against Em but Eminem got plastic surgery to get himself younger, he got enhancements
@@avecplaisirmusic he is, as a french listener I find myself understanding very well what he has to say and listening to kd3 you can't say that anymore. Well, its just my opinion don't mind it too much. Peace
Nas is the greatest. He never chased anything in this game, he dabbled in all the elements of it but never chased any of it and it has blessed him generously. I'm proud of him... The journey he's been on has been quite a ride to watch and witness!!! Proud of that boy! Queens all day! 🙌🏾
Facts
So you are in Queens? I'm coming over from Salem, MA and I want to have a snowball celebration for anyone not with tickets. Any ideas? I'm old and don't do social media, but love the Nas way. Do you have any social pull?
tbf he did have that timeframe during the mid 90's during which he seemed disappointed that "Illmatic", despite being such a critical darling, not having made the same kind of splash commercially seemed to have bugged him and leading to attempts to make his then-released music more appealing to a broader audience. of course, I'd also say he course corrected later, I guess having realized that while he made an okay-[insert successful rapper here] he is makes for the very best NAS.
@@xxxaragon tbf that wasn't on Nas also because he didn't have fully creative control, he was still under contract
@@tuckerzenski7828 I'm from Queens yeah but I moved to Connecticut last year. Snowball celebration? Good luck, we haven't gotten any real snow down this way since 2021... Even further north here in Connecticut this whole winter has been lame... Not even an inch. Maybe you can shave some ice and hope you throw it at someone before it melts 🤷🏾♂️
i'm so proud of this dude right here. dude stayed out of the limelight for almost a decade plus and has managed to remain relevant.
Right, that's why the dude claiming "let go of ego" refuses to go by his own name and demands everyone address him by a stupid stage name
relevant? nas is timeless.
@@Lorrdd his name is Nas it's short for Nasir so no he isn't going by a stupid stage name. Nas is literally his name.
@@Lorrdd big dummy 🤪
@@Lorrdd Sometimes it's better to not press enter when writing shit you don't know anything about 🥱
Nas is the greatest
The Illest!
At what? Never heard of him. It's like trying to make Deathstroke happen in the DCEU, when we already have Deadpool. Fuck Slade Wilson, we have Wade Wilson. Goes the other way too. Namor was first, but Aquaman is the popular one.
Not really
@@johnshopkins554 Um really. He is the greatest. Deal with it.
@@Lorrdd "never heard of him" he's one of the best mcs to ever touch the mic, you never heard of him? That only proves that you know nothing about hiphop
The greatest Rapper ever.
Yes!
The King’s Disease trilogy is truly amazing. Much respect to him.
"Dead dreams bought and sold you have to try to receive your goal however you do it however you may never listen to what nobody say cause you have to know the deal you have to go by what your heart feels cause if you don't you will be misled by stupid little things put inside your head" Love the verse!
Judy, you are welcome to join the Snowball Fight of the Century at Mad for people without tickets on Friday Night. You may dismiss anything else you are doing starting right now. Get a plane, train, or automobile and go. Now!
MC Shan!
@@tuckerzenski7828 bruh u getting paid to hate ?
Yup shout out to Shan
I'm a 63-year-old white guy and don't listen to rap or hip hop but this is the most intelligent and insightful interviews with any artist of that genre that I've ever seen. Don't know who Nas is but I appreciate his comment, "kill the ego and make it about the art"
Listen to illmatic and appreciate the flow and lyrical skill. Street poetry with a message
drunk by myself is a good song to listen too.
@@ernie316 Illmatic still rules. Hellyeah
@@ernie316 he said he doesn't listen to rap so suggesting a raw hip hop album would be outta his league The song "I can" anyone could listen to n get a message...
You’d be amazed by the lyrical content in his music. Give it a shot.
The greatest of all time NAS 🐐🐐🐐
I didn't see that you have a ticket. Perhaps you'd like to join the Snowball Fight outside Mad for non-ticket holders. It's time to celebrate, with or without money. Get there.
Nas smirks knowing he was on a version of an unreleased Sade's Lovers Rock
😏👍 kudos 2 u 4 dat nostalgic reminder 👏👏🙂
@Rob305 You won't find it. Salaam Remi has it in his hard drive.
what a legend. his aura is incredible. everybody should be a bit more like nas.
Yes, Jay should learn a thing or two from Nas.
A good diet, meditation, prayer, stress management, inner peace and abundance can help you with that
@@gabbytjiroze3078 🤣 he won’t
Respect! Nas is not only a hiphop legend but stays grounded by leading by example. One of favorite artists growing up..👍🏼👍🏼
that's how one comments; rap lives would love to check NY once studios, classic pizza, and sleeping for 2 days, delicatessen, broadway and on and on
I love it how Steve genuinely loves hip hop lol
He hasn't age a bit. A LEGEND
I know I saw him and I'm like damn... This guy's almost 50
Yb better
@@FrancisNgannou1 no he not
Black don't crack i'm 38 and people still think I'm in my 20s :D
Nas 🔥 Game needs him more than ever
True poet. They say most real poets don't even hit their prime until there 40's. Nas is older than me but I had to go back as a mature grown man and listen to his art again to appreciate it more.
man he hasn't aged and his voice still like in his 20"s... . king of new york.... ❤❤❤🙌🙌🙌
Nas is the GOAT. And this second wind with the KD trilogy was a sensational way for him to enter a second prime
Third prime*
@@keeyonngilljr683 I second that….because his second run was around Stillmatic/God Son lol
@@Rosquilliam2 Yes that period I couldn't believe how much better he got with songs like You're Da Man, Rewind, What Goes Around then Get Down, Made You Look etc. True legend
Nas has the spirit of a true artist…you can see it in how he walks, how he talks, how he thinks, and how he carries himself
👍🏽
Nas is the GOAT. Everything he’s done for hip hop we are blessed to be in his presents. He’s humble and an amazing person.
Kendrick wishes he'd be as good as him, THAT'S how great Nas is. Poets come in all forms, and Nas is one of America's greatest poets of this generation.
Kendrick is also one of the greats. But agreed, Nas is a legend.
No need to compare them mate
I’m the biggest Nas fan and would agree with you but that’s the problem we have today is comparing people to each other. They are both different artist and came out in different eras. Nas will forever be the greatest of all time tho. But Kendrick is one hell of an artist and you say he wishes he’d be as good as him but sucks to say that Kendrick may have more plaques and more hits than Nas so there's always an argument for everything.
@@DonePlaying the whole point of the song was criticising homophobia and transphobia in his community and he says the word to show despite this he’s a hypocrite because he feels okay using that slur but lost his shit over white girl saying the n word at his concert. Also, Kendrick is far from the only rapper to say the f word, rap music has notoriously been homophobic until Kanye came around in the mid 2000s speaking out against it
Can anyone explain how exactly verses off _Illmatic_ end up in his new songs,too ?- Other than them being supererogative
Holy Crap😯! He doesn't age. He looks the same since when I was a kid.
He seems so much happier now. So proud of him. He's come such a long way. My favorite artists of all time hands down. 96 was the greatest year for hip hop. I heard "It was written" and the rest is history.
Then come to Mad Fri. I'm wicked throwing down my life to get there. Join us.
Same. Been a huge Nas fan and summer 96 It was written is where it started for me
@@Grgaforniateezy 18 yo me used to study that lyric sheet. I played it so much I wore out the tape. I figured I'd make the transition to DVD and was absolutely devastated when I realized "Silent Murder" wasn't on it.
"cant you see im much happier nowadays, no more child's play, living life the foul way"
👍 I know everyone says illmatic is the holy grail but it was written is my favorite also.. probably the nostalgia of walking to high school with my Sony walkman 😂😂
Nas Never gets Old... ....street dreams r made of this....
This current Nas run is HISTORY. These albums are back-to-back classics! Great music, in any genre
Smart young man right there. I can't imagine the sharks and sea-lions he has had to deal with navigating the waters to his success.
Young man?
NaS is 49 looking 20!
Sharks and Sea Lions, hmmm, I'm thinking you're a CA lady. SFO can get you to Mad by tomorrow night if you leave soon. Snowball fight. Dress warm.
His songs “The Rise and Fall” and “Surviving The Times”, tell this story.
Such a down to earth dude
His voice is unmistakable!
Nas is truly the greatest
Great enough to join the Snowball fight outside the Mad on Friday night to celebrate?
Nas the greatest to ever touch the mic untouchable aint no debate.
Way debatable...you're way wrong ofc.
@@johnshopkins554 absolutely not debatable 🤦
@@JA-mj9re pretty sure drake the weekend and snoop (the real dog) would disagree...
@@johnshopkins554 oh please shut up. Some of us know hip hop like the back of our hand. Leave the debates to us
@@chillhomie7 chill homie...
Nas saw other people aging . And literally said no I'm not doing that .
Nah, that's your old eyes needing glasses.
@@johnshopkins554 He doesn’t look 49.
@@smthone he's looking 50ish
@@johnshopkins554 you hating all through this post. @Nas said hate is confused admiration. Nas looks damn good! Stay 😡 hater! Nas is blessed🙏🏽!
@@johnshopkins554 he looks mid to late 30’s. Not sure what you are seeing.
Damn that was beautiful...I like the way Stephen shows respect to the genre and asks the right questions to reveal this legends state of mind in this day and age
Ice Cube said to NaS on his 'The Bridge' podcast, "Back then we were doing our penmanship, then you came and put it in Cursive". Highest compliments from 1 of Hip-Hop Greats!
How has Nas NEVER played MSG? That's insane.
@Rob305 that’s not a concert though not the same
NAS gives me life. His presence is Legend.
Come to Mad Fri. This is what we all need, but I make a mean snowball so wear a warm outfit.
I stayed up just to watch this interview real time! I love Nas!!! The greatest and my fav emcee of all time! 🐐 🎤 ❤️
NaS is the GOAT. I will be @ MSG tomorrow night. It's my first concert there & his too!🔥
Nas is so authentic - a real pleasure hearing him speak his mind and his truth to such a big audience 🎤👏
😇🙏🌌🥅🦿
Truly happy for him to play Madison Square Garden. The man is a living legend ❤ love and light
Cant believe he hasnt played the Garden until now…wild
Our greatest poet in hip hop history Mr. NaSir Jones The GOAT…
The legend that is Nas 💚
Nas (he doesn't say this, I do) says you don't really love him if you're not at Mad on Friday night for a snowball fight. Bring warm clothes. Just trying to goad you to come at all costs. I was in a lightsaber battle in Nevada with thousands of people. Let's all get out and play. This is THE WINTER NIGHT!
Not only a great Artist, he's a Great person, he needs to be in movies and stuff more.
He ended the interview quoting MC Shan and Shan got the nerve to be mad at Nas? Cmon King. You planted the seed that grew into the forest and you’re mad at the abundance it has become? Nas is the greatest MC ever and you sparked it! There’s no other greater compliment ever!
Nas is your favorite rappers favorite rapper. A Legend 🙏👑
The fact that he can still recall Shan’s line…true fan
Yeah Shan inspired alot of dudes who came after him from queensbridge
Amazing 🙌🏾
That last mc shan verse drop so many jewels. "Soon you'll see that time will fly, /But you spent most of it out gettin high,/ Thought about it much, much later/Could've went to school and been much greater/But you chose to lead that fate/Now you're sucking on a bone when it should've been steak
It makes sense that Nas wants a Billy Joel collaboration. He has a trilogy of songs called “NY State of Mind.” 👍🏾👍🏾
And no offense to Billy, but Nas’ NY State of Mind was even better imo!
I think it’s only two songs
@@boomdoxful2533 check out Soul Ultimate experience Vol 1. Pt 3 is on there.
@@boomdoxful2533 Nas has 3 n.y state of minds. One on his 1st album. Another on his 3rd. N another one with rakim n Alicia keys....thats what I think he meant.
I saw both Billy Joel (with Sheryl Crow and Lionel Richie) and Nas (with Wu-Tang Clan and Busta Rhymes) in concert last year. Plus EWF, Santana, NKOTB, Salt N Pepa, En Vogue, and Rick Astley. What a great year!
One of the greatest lyricists. Man true to his craft and credibility. Absolute legend. So great to see him succeeding in every aspect of life. "If (he) ruled the world"
Dude's a legend.
Nas comes from a time where you really had to be “talented” to break in. Rap artists he came up with used to read books & encyclopedias to give them a deeper wisdom of not only the World around them but of the proper usage of the English language!! Young hip hop artists today have no clue of the importance of simply reading. Nas comes from an age in hip hop that we’ll never see again.
Nas!! Top 5 of all damn time fr Such a boss on and off the stage
I got chills listening to Nas talk about hip hop. I love to see how hip hop can grow and mature
He not only talked about Hip Hop he praised, Billy Joel Al Green Sade etc.
This man is one of the greatest artists in a generation Proud to see you get to get MSG as a notch in your storied career
"Biggie's Ready to Die album came out several months after Illmatic, and Biggie was crowned king of New York in the popular culture of Hip Hop heads, Ready to Die unfairly over-shadowed Illmatic, which is truly a classic album. Though they were quite distinct artists, they innovated in analogous ways. Biggie merged language that was high and low, vernacular and vocabulary words, in a way that sounded natural. He did this with a sophisticated understanding of the patterns of black language. When a different or unusual word or phrase could be introduced while still maintaining the aesthetics of black language, he inserted it. NaS, in contrast, merged concepts that were high and low, vernacular and metaphysical, in a manner that was whole rather than pieced together, thus presenting a complex that is unusual in any music outside of jazz. What Biggie started to do with language in 1994, NaS had already begun to do with ideas on Illmatic. He carries us through the "Righteous steps" of the cosmic, oceanic, and literal dimensions of his person. He transcends." - Imany Perry (Born To Use Mics)
I’m happy to see NAS still around.
You can see Stephen trying really hard to have a mature and intellectual conversation with HipHop royalty and not sound shallow or joke too much. That's how much respect Nas commands without even knowing it.
Nas was my introduction to hip hop and will always be the King.
The smoothest cat I’ve known since 1991..King Nas
Love Nas, True to the Art and Himself!!
NY Mad. Friday. Sometimes life demands a fun night to celebrate. We all owe it to ourselves.
His respect for not only the art but for life is just humbling
The last bastion of hope we have for authentic lyricism in hip hop culture and rap music. He provokes thought through some of the most brilliant allegorical rhyme schemes ever. He methodically translates the world he sees around him and makes it accessible for all audiences. He has been in the industry since 1991. In 2020 he released four albums, during a global pandemic, 1 winning a Grammy, completed a summer tour and now the garden! He redefines longevity. Nas is HIP HOP
Nas is my favorite rapper
You should teach a class.
@@brynneholt1990 lol thanks. i actually write for a hip hop website
@@IlladelphB Facts, we had seen a lot of Hiphopers passing away through the years, 2pac, J Dilla, Stezo, Phife from a tribe called quest, Big pun, Big L, Scott La Rock, Shock G, Yaki Khadafi, Hussein Fatal, Stretch, DMX, Gift of Gab, Notorious B.I.G, black Rob, Guru from Gangstarr, Pimp C from UGK, MF Doom, eazy E, Fat pat, Jam master Jay, Mac Dre, Mac Daddy from Kris Kross, ol dirty bastard from the Wu Tang clan, Soulja slim, Heavy D, Nate Dogg, Prodigy from Mobb deep, The Jacka, Sean Ruck Price, Big Syke, Graig Mack, Nipsey Hussle, Big Markie, Dj Kay slay, Coolio. It's completely insane when you think about it. Thank God Nas is still here.
Tomorrow at MSG. Can't wait. Son in the building.
Can we all just take a moment to appreciate how youthful Nas looks at age 49!!! Madness. He's also absolutely on form right now. The King's Disease series has been a fantastic run. Long may it continue. One of the best to ever do it.
Nas is the goat 🐐💜👑💜 Kings disease 3 is now my 3 favorite album of all his Work. Salute to Real hip hop. 👑💜
Not even one negative comment. Goes to show how well regarded Nasir Jones is.
There was one, and dude wrote a book! 😂
Nas is world treasure.👑🙏
I've been listening to KD3 since its release and still haven't gotten tired of it
Something random I noticed and thought was a nice touch; When Nas walks on stage at 0:20 the band plays a short part of 'Harlem Country Girl', a song by Olu Dara who is Nas' father. I used to listen to that song a ton so I recognized it immediately
Nas is such a legend 👑
NAS IS THE GOAT 🐐
My favourite artist period No coincidence he was born in the same year as his craft !
We need a Magic 2 Nas. More albums with HitBoy please
50 Cent said he'll be on King Disease 4, maybe next year.
@user-jl5yd9qw9fooohhhh I like it!
Nas has provided me with the personal montage of my life and I hope you're lucky enough to experience that too.
This dude is so humble! Love Love Love Nasir!
Im 34 years old and i believe nas is a true spirit of what hip hop is.
A living legend… Shout out to all of us born in ‘73…. Happy 50th birthday to us and Hip Hop❤❤❤❤ We’ve been through Lots of good times and bad. But we’re still here… Surviving and Thriving 🖤❤️
Nas is a vampire. He never aged at all. WOW
Thanks for this Colbert. Nas belongs in the hall of fame.
Nas = 🐐
The Greatest of All Time
I love how Nas interviews are just as good as his music. he really teaches and talks about stuff other than just music unlike most artists.
Met Nas a few years ago in LA. Such a dope and humble guy, unbelievable to see him still in the game
Is nobody going to mention how beautiful his speaking voice is?
Nas is rich ASF. He may not get as much recognition as many other rappers but he is in the top 5 richest rappers period
Nas!! ❤💯🐐🎙️
A Man's Man, a Rapper's Rapper G-O-D-S-O-N there will be none after!! QB's finest MC.....Salute to the GOAT !!!
Kill the ego and make it about the art. That is a life motto that applies to all activities in life i guess. Very nicely said Mister Nas
That’s so crazy to me he’s been a legend for decades i would have thought he would have played there a lot of times he’s traveled the world
Dear CBS and/or Late Show interns who are stuck reading these comments: please tell Stephen and your bosses that this was a fantastic interview and choice for a guest. I don't think I have ever seen Nas on a talk show before. I was genuinely surprised and excited by him being there and you guys earned some major points for this one. Keep up the good work and do more stuff like this.
One of the most talented artists that ever existed in the hip hop industry. The fact that he remains about the music and nothing else is why Nas is one of the GOATS. Much love Nas 👍🏾
That shout out to MC Shan was so real!!!!! Dude is always true to the culture. Salute
Very rare for a 3 album trilogy to get better with each new album, and released by a rapper 3 decades into the game? Legendary.
My favorite rapper of all time.
Nas is the most humble, talented, genuinely kind, and most grounded man I've ever listened to, followed, and been a fan of. I will forever be a fan. Love you King.