"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 ( ...

, released June 2008 as the

lead single A lead single (also known as a debut 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. Release s ...

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 R&B singer, songwriter and actress. She was born and raised in Decatur, Georgia and spent most of her youth working with producer Anthony Dent as a songwriter and background vocalist for ...

, was produced by

Polow da Don Jamal Fincher Jones (born October 15, 1977, or 1978), professionally known as Polow da Don, is an American record producer and rapper. Jones has produced a variety of singles for a multitude of artists including "Anaconda" by Nicki Minaj (2014 ...

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 ** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal ** Universal TV, a ...
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 is the current chairman of 12Tone Music Group. He previously served as chairman and CEO of the Universal Music Group from 1995 to 2011 and Sony Music Entertainment from 20 ...
was riding with it
But ''
Newsweek ''Newsweek'' is an American weekly online news magazine co-owned 50 percent each by Dev Pragad, its president and CEO, and Johnathan Davis, who has no operational role at ''Newsweek''. Founded as a weekly print magazine in 1933, it was widely ...
'' 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. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
, Bruce /nowiki>Springsteen/nowiki>, or Billy Joel 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 (acronym BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting African-American audiences. It is owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global via BET Networks and has offices in New York City, Los ...

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. The car is exclusively designed, developed, and manufac ...

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, United States) is an American director and photographer, known for his music videos with artists such as Rihanna, J Lo, Usher, Ne-Yo, John Legend, Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Keyshia Cole, Swizz Beatz, Eve, 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)

Remixes and in other media

*The song is featured in the racing game Midnight Club: Los Angeles. *An uncensored version of the song is featured on Nas and

DJ Green Lantern James Christopher D'Agostino (born July 7, 1975), professionally known as DJ Green Lantern, is an American hip hop DJ and producer from Rochester, New York. In 2002, D'Agostino was signed by American rapper Eminem, to become the official DJ for S ...

's mixtape, ''The Ni**er Tape''. * America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 winners

Quest Crew Quest Crew is an American hip-hop dance crew from Los Angeles, California who were declared winners of the third season of ''America's Best Dance Crew''. They made their first few appearances individually on shows like ''So You Think You Can D ...

performed to a remix of this song on their first week on the show. * Chamillionaire released a freestyle of this song before the release of ''Mixtape Messiah 4''. It was originally intended to be a throwaway, but was released on the said mixtape. *

Wiz Khalifa Cameron Jibril Thomaz (born September 8, 1987), better known by his stage name Wiz Khalifa, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. He released his debut album, ''Show and Prove'', in 2006 and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 20 ...

released a freestyle of this song titled "Hero (Freestyle)" on his 2008 mixtape ''Star Power''.

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