Queens legend finally wins Grammy for Best Rap Album

Nas, a native of the Queensbridge Houses, won his first Grammy after decades of work. Photo BY MIKAMOTE via wikimedia commons

By Rachel Vick

After 14 nominations across a nearly 30-year career, Queensbridge rapper Nas won his first Grammy for Best Rap Album Sunday.

Nas’ 13th studio album “King’s Disease” debuted at number five in the U.S. on the Billboard 200 in August, generating critical acclaim and passionate responses from fans who have listened since the Queens legend dropped “Illmatic” in 1994.

Fans rejoiced at the long overdue recognition, with hip hop icons, popular publications and local supporters — including the New York Mets — celebrating the achievement.

“Nas dropping Illmatic, It Was Written, Stillmatic and The Lost Tapes and being snubbed of a Grammy his entire career, then finally winning one with a mature album at 47 years old is a beautiful story arch…” tweeted All Love Hip Hop following the announcement. “Congratulations to Nasir Jones on winning Best Rap Album of the Year.

The album won praise for its relevance, takedowns and cultural references amid the COVID-19 pandemic and movement against institutional racism. 

“I’m rapping the same way I did when I was on the block, but now there’s a new world,” Nas told the website NME. “I don’t really know the world that these stars live in anymore.”

The COVID crisis almost derailed the album’s release, but producer Hit-Boy pushed for completion, he added.

Nas has not yet spoken publicly about the award, which was announced prior to the show Sunday night, but Hit-Boy shared an emotional response to the news on Instagram. He found out about the in from fellow nominee BIg Sean, who had a feature on King’s Disease.

“I love my brothers Nas and Big Sean,” he wrote. “We got more work to do 🏆 KINGS DISEASE!!!”