Queensbridge, NY 1993

Today marks the 23rd anniversary of Nas’ seminal debut Illmatic. One year before the album dropped, photographer Chi Modu traveled to Queensbridge Houses to visit the 19-year-old MC (still known as “Nasty Nas”) in his element. The resulting photographs, intimate and visually poetic, offer a rare glimpse into the world of an artist on the brink of greatness. Young Nasir Jones sits on his bed in one shot, a stuffed panda bear behind him, a bullet hole in the wall above his head. Another contact sheet strip shows Nas outside of Queensbridge rolling, vibing etc… These strips, both pre-Illmatic, were taken on two separate occasions. Modu took the photos on assignment for The Source magazine where he was the photo editor at the time...Continue at site