MasterClass

Nas Teaches Hip-Hop Storytelling

From the landmark album "Illmatic" in 1994 to the Grammy-winning "King’s Disease," Nas has been exposing truth through rhymes and vivid street poetry for more than 25 years. Now he’s sharing his journey, the evolution of Hip-Hop, and a brand-new song with you. Hip-Hop, lyricism, flow—learn how to tap into the power of your own voice and turn your experiences into music with one of rap’s all-time greatest artists.

Where to Watch Nas Teaches Hip-Hop Storytelling

12 Episodes

  • Meet Your Instructor
    E1
    Meet Your InstructorDiscover Nas’s life story and how writing lyrics and making music became a way for him to channel his thoughts and served as a form of therapy. Learn Nas’s take on the importance of ambition and drive in pursuing your dreams.
  • Telling Your Life Story Through Music
    E2
    Telling Your Life Story Through MusicNas takes you through a case study of how he wrote “N.Y. State of Mind,” one of his most iconic songs, and breaks down the importance of details and why describing the way an experience made you feel is the key to writing powerful lyrics.
  • Rapping and Rhyme Schemes
    E3
    Rapping and Rhyme SchemesNas explains the concepts of beat, timing, and rhythmic patterns and shares how he challenges himself and breaks a pattern. He also explains how you can experiment with unexpected words and rhymes to make your raps more interesting.
  • In the Studio: Writing an Original Rap Song
    E4
    In the Studio: Writing an Original Rap SongGet a firsthand, real-time view of Nas’s writing process, with takeaway tips on how to formulate ideas to a beat.
  • In the Studio: Recording an Original Rap Song
    E5
    In the Studio: Recording an Original Rap SongWitness Nas’s genius in action as he records an original song. Nas also breaks down one of his techniques: spitting lyrics spontaneously and then going back and fixing the parts that didn’t work in real time.
  • Using Poetic Lyrical Techniques
    E6
    Using Poetic Lyrical TechniquesNas explains the value of using poetic techniques in lyrics: wordplay, analogies, metaphors, figurative language, slang, and cultural references. He shares examples from his own lyrics and shows you how using these techniques can improve yours.
  • Case Study: Writing Challenges
    E7
    Case Study: Writing ChallengesNas breaks down his song “Rewind,” in which he decided to tell a story backward, to explain how thinking outside the box through writing challenges can help you improve your skills, move the genre forward, and do something no one has done before.
  • Learning from Hip-Hop Legends
    E8
    Learning from Hip-Hop LegendsThis lesson covers how listening to music legends influences your art and can inspire you on your own musical journey. Nas talks about his music idols, the growth of Hip-Hop, and the lasting impact of Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur.
  • Using Your Power and Voice
    E9
    Using Your Power and VoiceNas uses case studies of his songs “One Love” and “Ultra Black” to emphasize the importance of writing songs that make a statement or communicate societal ills, and how artists have a responsibility to talk about topics that can make a difference.
  • Nas’s Artistic Evolution
    E10
    Nas’s Artistic EvolutionNas talks about how he evolved and matured as an artist and the importance of growing and changing. He analyzes two of his songs from different points in his career to show you how his style and music have shifted.
  • The Music Industry
    E11
    The Music IndustryNas talks about the current state of the music business and how it’s changed. He encourages you to think about being business-minded and eventually owning your music so you are in control of your own destiny.
  • Hip-Hop Is Our Universe
    E12
    Hip-Hop Is Our UniverseNas sums up the global influence of Hip-Hop and how it has changed the world for the better. He reflects on his career and how the genre has evolved to include messages about success and achievement, and he shares some final words of wisdom.

 

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