Nas - 27 Summers

What this video is

Released in January 2021 as a visual single from Nas' Grammy-nominated album King's Disease (August 2020, produced entirely by Hit-Boy), '27 Summers' marks a celebration of Nas' 27-year career in hip-hop since his 1994 debut Illmatic. The video's Miami luxury setting — mansions, golf courses, Rolls-Royces, convertibles — functions as visual evidence of the generational wealth and cultural permanence Nas narrates…

Why it matters

A quintessential entry in the 'legacy flex' subgenre of hip-hop visuals, where veteran MCs use opulent lifestyle imagery to assert continued relevance. The video contrasts Nas' early career Queensbridge street documentation with Miami plutocratic imagery, embodying hip-hop's generational arc from…

The director

Jon J (credited as Jon J. Visuals) is an American music video director, producer, and cinematographer. Active since at least 2014, his IMDB credits span over 34 directing credits including work for The Pretty Reckless ('Heaven Knows', 2014), Eladio Carrión…