So the call of the street is not the only voice he hears. Hiphop is thriving as a commercial enterprise, and the young man has a distinctive voice and exceptional talent for rhyming rhythmically over beats. Yet, surrounded by poverty, crime, and alienation, and in possession of few job skills, Nasir hears the call of the streets-drug dealing, theft, robbery, gambling-and, to some extent, heeds it.īut he comes from a long line of musicians, including his father Olu Dara (a jazz artist), and is early exposed to the venerable African American musical tradition. There are numerous books in his home, though, and learning is valued there, so he continues his studies informally, devouring works of black history and expanding his vocabulary. Though highly intelligent, desirous of knowledge, and bursting with creativity, the young man becomes disillusioned with school, losing all respect for his teachers, and drops out after only eight years of formal education. He is raised largely by his hardworking mother Ann Jones, who provides a loving and stable household despite the ghetto’s oppressive social environment. Born September 14, 1973, a black youth named Nasir (which means “helper and protector” in Arabic) grows up in the notorious Queensbridge Housing Projects in Queens, NY.
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