Nasty Nas. From street soldier silhouettes to manicured yet laid-back sartorial threads. Flawless skin and dreamy masculinity personified. There’s no way I’m getting through this week’s ode to style iconicity without a little swoon and some girl talk, so bear with me…
Dropping the much acclaimed Illmatic in 1994, Nas’ illustrious 22 plus years in the rap game continue. His greatest style moments preceded by his assured air and initial mean mug (read as: sexy stare down, ugh). From the get go, Nasir Jones stepped out with Queens on his back, clad in all black, oversized fits and his trusty beanie cocked to the side.
Stay laced in the best, well dressed with finesse / In a white tee, lookin’ for wifey” – Made You Look
Whether he was rocking an Avirex bomber or even the royal blue puffer jacket, head-to-toe Polo or an Adidas tracksuit, there were certain items that remained constants of Nas’ style. Items pretty synonymous with rap fashion that were largely solidified by the Doo Rags spitter. We’re talking the white tee or wife-beater, his beloved wheat Timbs, sagged dark denim jeans, and a shimmering gold or bejeweled diamond chain hanging loose round his neck. He also played with gold grills for a short while.
Cause it’s a mental game, I learned that when I got my first initial chain I didn’t fake it, it was gold plated, I was posing relatin’ “- First Chain
Littered in and amongst these staples, the One Mic MC would weave in camo fatigue – pants, jackets and fitted caps. Along with other NYC fitted cap variants. While he always keeps his hair pretty laid – often with that curved left-part – Nas was partial to hats. More so then, than now, he was definitely one to put on a bucket hat, flat-cap, ushanka, and crown even ha! And always, always a skully fit. As well as sports jerseys, coloured hoodys, graphic tees, cargo pants, shorts, gilets and the sort.
18 karat gold Cuban on, not too short, not too wide, not too long / My pendant offensive, in the truest form / Platinum gold, rose gold, what you want?” – First Chain
From Jesus pieces to rope chains, Nas kept his neck laced. As all rappers should. Never toying with anything too experimental, Nas’ style remains in the ballpark of functional, understated flair. Well, aside from that one time he put on some fur with Diddy, see: Hate Me Now. Double swoon.
With his knack for captivating storytelling; observant, life-questioning bold rhymes and his celebrated lyrical dexterity, Escobar’s style pretty much mirrored his music. Not too flamboyant yet with visible personality, sometimes flashy. We can’t really talk about what a style icon Nas was without touching on the cocky ‘90s toothpick he rocked or the once unlit blunt that’s now become super fat cigars seldom absent.
Rock Tims, rock Chucks, rock Bapes” – You Know My Style
Nowadays he’s one to rock button down shirts or pull for a fine tailored suit. Nas maintains a clean and admirable look, straddling the line of hip and relevant but also keenly mature from day to day, in much the same fashion that his music has progressed.
Back then. Nas’ could often be seen rocking a huge leather jacket (or those accidental red leather trousers). Still, he definitely appreciates a bit of leather, demonstrated further in his new upcoming clothing line, HSTRY, with Jace Lipstein of Grungy Gentleman due this autumn. The line features quite a bit of leather but aside from this, unlike many before him the 40 year old rapper’s style just might result in a collection worth copping.
I’m embracing our greatest moments recorded in time in the form of premium street fashion.”
On the rare occasion Nas was topless – on stage, in music videos or magazine spreads – we were treated to the Ether rapper’s collection of tattoos. Rarely one to make a fashion faux-pas, Nas’ rugged approach to dress has been far from transient, surfacing in the profiles of newbie rappers today and undoubtedly in the wardrobes of his fans at the time.
Pay homage to Nas, Dickies and Converse / On the eyes shades in the nighttime regardless” – You Know My Style
Whilst many living legends seem to some how ‘lose it’ in the style stakes as they age (with skin like his, is he even aging?), Nasir Jones has kept it pretty much stylish. Borrowing staples from his hey-day, balanced alongside a selection of grown silhouettes, the It Ain’t Hard To Tell rapper stays winning.
Uh, from a boy to a king / Love to rock diamonds and fancy rings I’m a thoroughbred”
Words by Laura Arowolo.
Previously: Eartha Kitt.
