Hero (Nas song)

2008 single by Nas featuring Keri Hilson

"Hero"

Single by Nas featuring Keri Hilson
from the album  Untitled
Released| June 23, 2008 (2008-06-23)
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
| "Be a Nigger Too"
(2007)  | "Hero"
(2008)  | "Make the World Go Round"
(2008)

|
|

Keri Hilson singles chronology
| "Scream"
(2007)  | "Hero"
(2008)  | "Energy"
(2008)

|
|

"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

[edit]

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]

R&B singer-songwriter Keri Hilson sings the song's chorus.[4]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

CD single

1. "Hero" featuring Keri Hilson (Clean)
2. "Hero" featuring Keri Hilson (Dirty)
3. "Hero" featuring Keri Hilson (Instrumental)

## Charts

[edit]

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

[edit]

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
6. ^ NAS - Hero Clipland. Accessed June 16, 2010.
7. ^ "Nas Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
8. ^ "Nas feat. Keri Hilson – Hero". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
9. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
10. ^ "Nas Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
11. ^ "Nas Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* "Hero" music video

* 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|

* "Oochie Wally"
* "Surviving the Times"
* "Less Than an Hour"
* "Be a Nigger Too"
* "As We Enter"
* "Define My Name"

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
* We Need to Talk

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)"
* "Bae"

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

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