Hero (Nas song)

"Hero"
"Hero"
Single by Nas featuring Keri Hilson
from the album Untitled
Released	June 23, 2008
Recorded	2008
Genre	Hip hop
Length	4:00
Label	The Jones Experience; Def Jam; Columbia;
Songwriter(s)	Nasir Jones; Jamal Jones; Jamaal Sublett; Cornell Haynes;
Producer(s)	Polow da Don
Nas singles chronology
Keri Hilson singles chronology

"Hero" is a song by American rapper Nas, released June 2008 as the lead single from his untitled album.^[1]^[2] The song, which features vocals from American R&B singer Keri Hilson, was produced by Polow da Don.

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 apartheid, I'm hogtied, the corporate side
Blocking y'all from goin' to stores and buyin' it
First L.A. [Reid] and Doug Morris was riding with it
But Newsweek 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, Bruce [Springsteen], 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!^[3]

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 on July 7, 2008.^[5] It features the Audi R8. Keri Hilson and Ken Jenkins 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.^[6]

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's mixtape, The Ni**er Tape.
America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 winners Quest Crew 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 released a freestyle of this song titled "Hero (Freestyle)" on his 2008 mixtape Star Power.

Charts

Chart (2008)	Peak position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[7]	60
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[8]	70
UK Singles (OCC)^[9]	70
US Billboard Hot 100^[10]	97
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[11]	82

References

^ Nas Is Back! - Releases First Single "Hero" From UNTITLED Album Archived 2008-06-11 at the Wayback Machine
^ Hero (feat. Keri Hilson) - Single
^ Nas - Hero Lyrics^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Mangat, Ajitpaul. "Nas - [Untitled] | Music Review". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
^ Video: No Video
^ NAS - Hero Clipland. Accessed June 16, 2010.
^ "Nas Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
^ "Nas feat. Keri Hilson – Hero". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
^ "Nas Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
^ "Nas Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022.

External links

"Hero" music video

[1] Nas Is Back! - Releases First Single "Hero" From UNTITLED Album Archived 2008-06-11 at the Wayback Machine

[2] Hero (feat. Keri Hilson) - Single

[3] Nas - Hero Lyrics^{[permanent dead link]}

[4] Mangat, Ajitpaul. "Nas - [Untitled] | Music Review". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 2012-03-03.

[5] Video: No Video

[clipland-6] NAS - Hero Clipland. Accessed June 16, 2010.

[sc_Canada_Nas-7] "Nas Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022.

[sc_Switzerland_Nas_feat._Keri_Hilson-8] "Nas feat. Keri Hilson – Hero". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 28, 2022.

[sc_UK_Nas_Feat._Keri_Hilson-9] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 28, 2022.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Nas-10] "Nas Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_Nas-11] "Nas Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022.

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v t e Nas singles
Illmatic	"Halftime" "It Ain't Hard to Tell" "Life's a Bitch" "The World Is Yours" "One Love" "N.Y. State of Mind" "One Time 4 Your Mind"
It Was Written	"If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" "I Gave You Power" "Street Dreams"
The Firm: The Album	"Firm Biz" "Phone Tap"
I Am...	"Nas Is Like" "Hate Me Now"
Nastradamus	"Nastradamus" "You Owe Me"
Stillmatic	"Rule" "Got Ur Self a Gun" "One Mic" "Ether"
God's Son	"Made You Look" "I Can" "Get Down"
Street's Disciple	"Thief's Theme" "Bridging the Gap" "Just a Moment"
Hip Hop Is Dead	"Hip Hop Is Dead" "Can't Forget About You"
Untitled	"Hero" "N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave and the Master)"
Life Is Good	"Nasty" "The Don" "Daughters" "Cherry Wine" "Bye Baby"
Nasir	"Cops Shot the Kid"
King's Disease	"Ultra Black"
King's Disease II	"Nobody"
Other singles	"Escobar '97" "Oochie Wally" "Surviving the Times" "Less Than an Hour" "Be a Nigger Too" "As We Enter"
Collaborations	"Fast Life" "Head over Heels" "Love Is All We Need" "Grand Finale" "Hot Boyz" "Did You Ever Think" "It's Mine" "I've Got to Have It" "What's Going On" "I'm Gonna Be Alright" "Thugz Mansion" "In Public" "Blindfold Me" "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been)" "My President" "Too Many Rappers" "Fall in Love" "Ghetto Dreams" "Champion" "Free" "Something to Believe In" "Chains" "Figure It Out" "Sorry" "Rodeo" "Sorry Not Sorry" "Die for It"
Other songs	"Made Nas Proud"

v t e Keri Hilson
Discography
Studio albums	In a Perfect World... No Boys Allowed
Singles	"Energy" "Return the Favor" "Turnin Me On" "Knock You Down" "Make Love" "Slow Dance" "I Like" "Breaking Point" "Pretty Girl Rock" "One Night Stand" "Lose Control (Let Me Down)"
Featured singles	"Hey Now (Mean Muggin)" "The Way I Are" "Scream" "Hero" "Superhuman" "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)" "Number One" "Everything, Everyday, Everywhere" "Medicine" "Oh Africa" "Got Your Back" "In the Air"
Other songs	"The Way You Love Me" "Hold My Hand"
Related articles	The Clutch
Category