Conversation so far:
How did Nas begin Nas's career?
As a teenager, Nas enlisted his best friend and upstairs neighbor Willy "Ill Will" Graham as his DJ.
Who else helped?
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In the late-1980s, he met up with the producer Large Professor and went to the studio where Rakim and Kool G Rap were recording their albums.
What was his first album?
In 1994, Nas's debut album, Illmatic, was finally released.
It was awarded best album of 1994 by The Source.
Did he have any performances before then?
In 1991, Nas performed on Main Source's "Live at the Barbeque".
In mid-1992, Nas was approached by MC Serch of 3rd Bass.
Who did he work with?
Nas was approached by MC Serch of 3rd Bass, who became his manager and secured Nas a record deal with Columbia Records during the same year.

Question: What were his hits?
Self-contained rewrite: What were Nas' hits?