S. Samuel
Rap veteran Nas took a unique approach to his new "Daughters" music video as the Life Is Good single's visual shows him through his teenage daughter Destiny Jones' eyes.
Presented in the first-person perspective, the new clip follows Destiny from birth through her teenage years.
Opening with the sound of a baby crying and the name and date of birth of his daughter Destiny, the dad-rap track traces Destiny’s life from her third birthday to watching her dad’s videos to concerned parent Nas not wanting his daughter to sext on Twitter and instagram a box of condoms. While future generations may have to ask their own parents what instagram and Twitter is, “Daughters” shows another side to the versatile MC. More importantly, now that Jay-Z has the Blue Ivy tribute “Glory” and Nas has “Daughters,” I’m hoping this starts the most sentimental beef ever, with each rapper battling over who can write the most touching tribute to his kid. Your move, Jay. (FUSE TV)
Heading into the weekend, director Chris Robinson spoke on the record’s importance.
“Right off the bat, he really loved the idea of the P.O.V.,” the video’s director, Chris Robinson, told MTV News. “I think that this song for Nas is so personal, everything in the song is real, that he wanted to share this moment with his fans, with the world, and it was actually his suggestion,” Robinson revealed. “I was ready to cast someone, and he was real calm and said, ‘Hey, Dest is gonna be here, I think we need to keep it real.'” (MTV)
Nas’ “Ghetto Dreams” collaborator Common recently reacted to the new record.
“I feel like in art you gotta be free to express what you need to say,” Common told XXLMag.com. “That’s our job. That’s what we do. When you an artist, you can pour out your soul. Sometimes that’s the way to get it out. I don’t think it’s different than what Marvin Gaye was doin’, it’s the same mentality. Marvin Gaye did an album called Here, My Dear. The judge said he had to give all the proceeds from one of his next albums to his ex wife that he was divorcing. So he wrote all the songs about they relationship.” (XXL Mag)
The rap veteran and his daughter were recently spotted on the song’s music video set.
Nas was joined by his daughter Destiny on set of the Chris Robinson-directed video for “Daughters” earlier this week. The hip-hop superstar, who also has a son with ex-wife Kelis, reflects on his relationship with his 17-year-old daughter on the powerful single, which will appear on his upcoming album Life Is Good, due July 17. Despite his good intentions, the No I.D.-produced song has struck a sour note with Destiny’s mother, Carmen Bryan. (Rap-Up)
Check out the “Daughters” music video below:
