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WHEREAS, Nasir Jones, known to the world as Nas, inarguably one of the most gifted, accomplished and influential Hip-Hop emcees to ever touch a microphone will perform the classic album Illmatic with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Heinz Hall on Saturday July 26th, 2025; and
WHEREAS Nas has elevated the artform and culture through transformative lyricism and musical innovation, building bridges between the generations of the African-American musical tradition; and
WHEREAS, the genius of Pittsburgh-born jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal - whose ethereal phrasing, modal elegance, and minimalist command shaped modern jazz - has reverberated far beyond concert halls, entering the DNA & bloodstream of hip-hop culture; and
WHEREAS, in the seminal track “The World Is Yours” (1994), Nas and Pete Rock sampled Jamal’s “I Love Music”, transforming a meditative jazz groove into an anthem of self-determination, introspection, and urban poetics;
WHEREAS, the artistic convergence of Ahmad Jamal’s timeless compositions and Nas’s unmatched lyrical vision stands as a monumental testament to the cultural impact of America’s Black musical lineage - providing a direct connection between Nas’ New York and Jamal’s Pittsburgh. A dialogue across space, time and genre that speaks to truth, culture, and creativity; and
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize that this rich legacy shall be honored as a precious artifact in the canon of American music, where jazz and hip-hop converse not only in sound, but in spirit.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare, July 26th, 2025 to be “Nas Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.