The knowledge behind the art: Nas

December marks the anniversary of three Nas albums: Stillmatic, God's Son and Hip Hop is Dead. Nasir Jones is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time, and his album covers are synonymous with his legacy. We take a look back on the covers that prophesied his rise through the rap game, from Illmatic to God's Son.

From the beginning of his career, it was evident Nas was going to change the landscape of rap. His very first appearance on a 1991 track "Live at the BBQ" still sounds fresh:

Verbal assassin, my architect pleases
When I was twelve, I went to hell for snuffing Jesus

This proved to be one of the most important bars he ever laid - he went on to use a portion of that verse on the intro for his debut album, leaving that line unfinished. The original thought wasn't repentance - the cover art was supposed to feature Nas holding Jesus in a headlock! For whatever reason, the idea was abandoned and the alternative is one of the most recognized and most mimicked covers in rap

Nas kept the idea of the classic Illmatic with his next three releases; It Was Written , I Am... and Nastradamus. This continuation shows his evolution, entering the game as a boy, growing into a man by the sophomore, and a pharaoh by the third LP.

The things I was seeing happen, these things were written. These things were written in the Bible, in the Quran, and on the walls of Egyptian and Roman buildings. These things were written about the kings and queens that have come and gone. These things were written about great men, about poets, and about killers. All these things that happened, have a meaning. Everything that happens segues into each other. These things are all supposed to happen. There’s a meaning to life. - Nas on It Was Written with Complex Magazine.

The thematic of It Was Written and I Am... was heavily based on mafioso rap, and Nasir was conscious of it. He did himself poetic justice on "Undying Love," ending his life as a man and taking up a form of a prophet on Nastradamus.

Since Illmatic it was written, I am Nastradamus
That's the answers to the puzzle I gave you - "Stillmatic (Freestyle)"

However, the story didn't quite turn out the way Nas wanted it to - the intention of releasing I Am... and Nastradamus as a double CD couldn't be realized due to one of the first internet leaks of all time. The making of the latter was rushed, and it's widely regarded as his worst album. The intended restart turned into an even greater downfall, but the way Nas profited on it is one of the greatest comeback stories of all time

Per Christianity, Christ was the last prophet, and many disagreed he was God's Son until he rose from the dead. Nas found his failure to deliver an excellent album as death to the prophet persona, perfectly fitting into the story. From there on, he wasn't a man or a prophet - he was the God's Son

Now here's a promise
My next few albums, instead of projects
They'll be a difficult test inside the cover for the mind's opticsStillmatic is a caricature of the materialistic side of mankind, and Nas alike. He's wearing an eye-catching orange outfit, and his jewelry might be too excessive even for a rapper - Nasir claimed he was wearing every single piece of jewelry he's had. In the background the water level is rising, the city is shown in pessimistic colors, as well as the skies and the pigeon - the doomsday is approaching

However, on God's Son Nas is completely naked, as he's cleansed of all his sins. He looks sad, mourning for the loss of his mother and ashamed of his dark past. Only chain he has is a Jesus piece, and the all-blue background is calming. On the back cover, Nas is holding two white doves, symbolizing peace, and also referring to the Biblical story of the Noah's Ark

The genius within the man is irrefragable. This of course is not all he did - so much more knowledge lays in his lines and so much more symbolic in the remaining album covers