NAS vs. Nas

Peter Wood

The National Association of Scholars (NAS) is sometimes confused with the hip hop artist and actor, Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, widely known as Nas. The mistake is understandable.  Here’s how to tell the difference:

NAS

 

Category

 

Nas

 

 

Born in Manhattan, represents Western Civilization

 

Underground Beginnings

 

Born in Brooklyn, represents Queens

Campus Coalition for Democracy

 

Original Public Persona

 

Kid Wave

Journal, Academic Questions, 1987

 

Debut

 

Album, Illmatic, 1994

With AAUP on academic freedom

 

Public Feud

 

With rapper Jay-Z, 2001-2005

For his part in the protests against the Western Culture requirement at Stanford University in 1987

 

Criticism of Rev. Jesse Jackson

 

Called him “the biggest player hater,” and said, “His time is up.”

“one of the main advocacy organizations criticizing the liberal professoriate”—Neil Gross; “the finest academic organization in all of America”—Mike Adams

 

Rankings

 

#2 top rap lyricist of all time, according to The Source

“An indispensable voice for academic freedom and careful, thoughtful inquiry in the modern American university.”—Eugene Volokh 

 

Praise

                                  

 

“Nas is definitely one of the best emcees to touch the mic”—The RZA

Foundation for Individual Rights in Education on University of Delaware Dorm Indoctrination

 

Best Collaboration

 

Raekwon on “Verbal Intercourse”

In 2007, NAS president Steve Balch received the National Humanities Medal from George W. Bush, but NAS criticized Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” initiative and some of his policies on federal loans to college students.

 

Relationship to Former President George W. Bush

 

In 2007, Nas called for George W. Bush’s head on a platter at a concert in Toronto: “If I ruled the world, I would give everyone in here George Bush’s head on a silver platter.”

Emphasizes the development of the imagination as part of liberal education. Publishes original poetry, art, and music criticism in Academic Questions.

 

The Arts

 

“I fell in love with all that poetry; I mastered that. Cutting school with Preme team, the fat cat was at.”—

lyrics to “The Don”

“NAS is a network of scholars and citizens united by our commitment to academic freedom, disinterested scholarship, and excellence in American higher education. Membership in NAS is open to all who share our commitment to these broad principles.”

 

 

Coming Together

 

“My folk against your folk, but we all kinfolk.” – lyrics to “Get Down”

 

1999, The Fraser Barron Scholarship in Renaissance History

 

Fellowships

 

2013, Harvard established the Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Fellowship

What Does Bowdoin Teach?

 

Biggest Hit

 

“If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)”

“We stand for reasoned scholarship in a free society.”

 

Classic line

 

“A thug changes, love changes, and best friends become strangers.  Word up.”— lyrics to “If I Ruled the World”

“We’re proud that the enemies of free inquiry on campus detest us.” – Peter Wood

 

Response to Haters

 

“If you wanna hate me then hate me.”



Image: "Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley - Hovefestivalen 2010" by NRK P3 // CC BY-SA

  • Share

Most Commented

September 6, 2024

1.

Professor Alleges "Widespread" Discriminatory Hiring Coverup at University of Washington

Audio acquired by the National Association of Scholars describes allegations of coverup race-based hiring coverup at the University of Washington...

October 29, 2024

2.

The Looming Irrelevance of Middle East Study Centers

Today’s Middle Eastern Studies Centers are facing a crisis due to the winds of change in the Middle East and their own ideological echo chamber....

September 25, 2024

3.

NAS Statement on University of Pennsylvania Sanction of Amy Wax

The National Association of Scholars is outraged—but not surprised—by Penn's decision to penalize Wax for exercising her academic freedom. ...

Most Read

May 15, 2015

1.

Where Did We Get the Idea That Only White People Can Be Racist?

A look at the double standard that has arisen regarding racism, illustrated recently by the reaction to a black professor's biased comments on Twitter....

October 12, 2010

2.

Ask a Scholar: What is the True Definition of Latino?

What does it mean to be Latino? Are only Latin American people Latino, or does the term apply to anyone whose language derived from Latin?...

September 21, 2010

3.

Ask a Scholar: What Does YHWH Elohim Mean?

A reader asks, "If Elohim refers to multiple 'gods,' then Yhwh Elohim really means Lord of Gods...the one of many, right?" A Hebrew expert answers....