"Hero" is a song by American rapper

Nas Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones. Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to: Aviation * Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea * National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia ** Nas Air (S ...

, released June 2008 as the

lead single A lead single (or first single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. A similar term, "debut ...

from his untitled album. The song, which features vocals from American R&B singer

Keri Hilson Keri Lynn Hilson (born December 5, 1982) is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, she began her musical career as a songwriter and backing vocalist for other artists under the wing of record producer Anthony De ...

, was produced by

Polow da Don Jamal Fincher Jones (born October 15, 1977 or 1978), known professionally as Polow da Don, is an American record producer from Atlanta, Georgia. He began his career as a recording artist in the late 1990s, leaving college to pursue a career with ...

Background

After claiming that hip hop had died on his previous album, Nas raps on "Hero" about stepping up and bringing it back. The third verse of the song addresses the controversy surrounding the album, originally titled ''Nigger'':

It's
Universal Universal is the adjective for universe. Universal may also refer to: Companies * NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company that is a subsidiary of Comcast ** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of N ...
apartheid, I'm hogtied, the corporate side
Blocking y'all from goin' to stores and buyin' it
First L.A. /nowiki>Reid/nowiki> and
Doug Morris Doug Morris (born November 23, 1938) is an American record executive. He was chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Universal Music Group from 1995 to 2011, as well as Sony Music Entertainment from 2011 to 2017. He is the founder and CEO ...
was riding with it
But ''
Newsweek ''Newsweek'' is an American weekly news magazine based in New York City. Founded as a weekly print magazine in 1933, it was widely distributed during the 20th century and has had many notable editors-in-chief. It is currently co-owned by Dev P ...
'' article startled bigwigs; they said, "Nas, why is you tryin' it?"
My lawyers only see the Billboard charts as winning
Forgetting, Nas the only true rebel since the beginning
Still in musical prison, in jail for the flow
Try telling
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan; born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...
, Bruce /nowiki>Springsteen/nowiki>, or
Billy Joel William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Piano Man" after his Signature song, signature 1973 song Piano Man (song), of the same name, Joel has ha ...
they can't sing what's in they soul!
So untitled it is
I never changed ''nothing'', but, people, remember this
If Nas can't say it, think about these talented kids
With new ideas, being told what they can and can't spit
I can't sit and watch it, so shit I'ma drop it!
Like it or not, you ain't got to cop it
I'm a hustla in the studio, cups of Don Julio
No matter what the CD called, I'm unbeatable y'all!

The reference to Doug Morris, then the chairman and CEO of the Universal Music Group, is preserved in the version of "Hero" that appeared on ''The Nigger Tape'', a mixtape released in the run-up to the untitled album's release. In the album version of "Hero," the lyric "Doug Morris" is censored.

Music video

The music video premiered on

BET Black Entertainment Television (BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting Black American audiences. It is the flagship channel of the BET Media Group, a subsidiary of Paramount Global's CBS Entertainment Group. Originally launched ...

on July 7, 2008.Video: No Video
/ref> It features the

Audi R8 The Audi R8 is a mid-engine, 2-seater sports car, which uses Audi's trademark quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. It was introduced by the German car manufacturer Audi AG in 2006. Production ended in the first quarter of 2024. The car is ...

and

Ken Jenkins Ken Jenkins (born August 28, 1940) is an American actor, best known for his role as Dr. Bob Kelso, the chief of medicine on the American comedy series '' Scrubs'' (2001–2009). He has also had notable appearances in many popular TV shows. Ea ...

both make appearances in the video. The video appeared at #63 on BET's ''Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2008'' countdown. It was directed by

Taj Stansberry Taj Stansberry (born in Oakland, California Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is the county seat and most populous city in Alameda County, California, Alameda County, w ...

.NAS - Hero
''Clipland''. Accessed June 16, 2010.

Track listing

;CD single # "Hero" featuring Keri Hilson (Clean) # "Hero" featuring Keri Hilson (Dirty) # "Hero" featuring Keri Hilson (Instrumental)

Charts

References

External links

"Hero" music video
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hero (Nas Song) 2008 singles Keri Hilson songs Nas songs Song recordings produced by Polow da Don Songs written by Nas Songs written by Polow da Don Songs written by Nelly