i didnt know Nas had a #1 song on the Billboart Hot 100

[JustCKing]

So we gone just act like you owe me didn't happen

"You Owe Me" wasn't a crossover attempt. Was it radio friendly? Yes, but for it to be a crossover, it had to be a song that would introduce Nas to new audiences. That beat and Ginuwine weren't going to do that. Both artists (Nas and Ginuwine) and the producer (Timbaland) of the song were already huge in the Hip Hop/R&B world.

Nas has made several radio friendly, commercial songs, but "If I Ruled The World" is the only real crossover that he's had. Having Lauryn (biggest star of one of the biggest groups at the time) on that chorus helped introduce him to a whole new fan base. It may not have been a Top 10 hit, but it helped cross Nas over.

 

[Consigliere]

When did he try to crossover and it didn't work?

 

[Sugar]

and didnt even post the song..

Final Destination 6?

 

[Foxmulder]

He didnt fail though.He went plat.

 

[Foxmulder]

@King Biko He went plat.So he didnt fail.I hear you though.It wasn't his best effort.

 

[Rapmastermind]

Technically speaking the T/S is correct. "Thank God I found You Remix" was on the single, maxi single I think. So NaS does infact get credit for a #1 single. But as many have posted. His Biggest hit is "Hot Boyz (Remix)" which also had an original and remix and it came in at #5. If the Remix is on the single then they both get credit for it's chart position.

NaS biggest solo hit was "I can" and his biggest selling single is "Street Dreams". Sadly NaS singles never did that well on the charts but his albums have always done very well. He has 9 Platinum albums. What's funny is even though a lot of NaS singles didn't blow up on the charts. It felt like they did. Like "If I Ruled the World" and "Hate Me Now" felt like they were #1 singles the way they were being played when they came out. Here's his full chart breakdown:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nas_discography

 

[Rapmastermind]

"You Owe Me" wasn't a crossover attempt. Was it radio friendly? Yes, but for it to be a crossover, it had to be a song that would introduce Nas to new audiences. That beat and Ginuwine weren't going to do that. Both artists (Nas and Ginuwine) and the producer (Timbaland) of the song were already huge in the Hip Hop/R&B world.

Nas has made several radio friendly, commercial songs, but "If I Ruled The World" is the only real crossover that he's had. Having Lauryn (biggest star of one of the biggest groups at the time) on that chorus helped introduce him to a whole new fan base. It may not have been a Top 10 hit, but it helped cross Nas over.

Actually "You Owe Me" was a crossover attempt. By 99, Timbaland had crossed over after the Missy, Ginuwine and Aaliyah projects blew up. He was also enjoying a lot of success with Rap artist at this point. You said that "If I ruled the world" was a crossover song but it peaked at #53 on the Billboard Hot 100. "You Owe Me" peaked at #59. Both of those were high for NaS. So "You Owe Me" was most definitely a cross over attempt for NaS so was "Hate Me Now" featuring Puffy.

 

[JustCKing]

Actually "You Owe Me" was a crossover attempt. By 99, Timbaland had crossed over after the Missy, Ginuwine and Aaliyah projects blew up. He was also enjoying a lot of success with Rap artist at this point. You said that "If I ruled the world" was a crossover song but it peaked at #53 on the Billboard Hot 100. "You Owe Me" peaked at #59. Both of those were high for NaS. So "You Owe Me" was most definitely a cross over attempt for NaS so was "Hate Me Now" featuring Puffy.

What audience was "You Owe Me" an attempt to reach that Nas hadn't already tapped into though? That was my point. That record seemed like it was meant to sustain the audience that he captured with "If I Ruled The World" and "Hate Me Now" than it was crossing over.