Nas Cuts Off His Braids—And Women on Social Media Are Living for the Glow-Up
Ladies, it’s official: Nas is back to fine.
The 51-year-old hip-hop legend pulled up to the Tribeca Film Festival last night looking fresh, grown, and entirelylike the smooth king we remember—and it’s all thanks to one thing: he cut off the braids.
Yes, those controversial braids. For months now, fans have been side-eyeing the rap icon’s decision to rock a braided look that had Twitter saying, “Sir, this isn’t the ‘90s anymore.” While some fans chalked it up to Nas experimenting or revisiting his Illmatic roots (pun intended), others were quick to call the style a midlife crisis moment.
But now? That’s all in the past—literally and figuratively. Nas showed up with a clean, low fade, lined up to perfection, and looking like he just stepped out of a GQ shoot instead of a nostalgic throwback. And baby, the internet noticed.
One fan tweeted:
“Nas with the fade just unlocked a new level of zaddy.”
Another added:
“He went from ‘I respect him as an artist’ to ‘I’d risk it all’ real quick.”
The glow-up is real, and the timing couldn’t be better. At 51, Nas is still serving face, style, and grown-man energy. He’s always been a lyricist with a sharp tongue, but this time, it’s the haircut doing all the talking.
And let’s be honest: we love a man who knows when to let a style go. The braids had their moment, but the fade brought the focus back to that jawline, that smile, and that timeless Nas coolness that never goes out of style.
It’s not just about aesthetics, though. Nas has quietly been aging like fine wine across the board. Between his Grammy win for King’s Disease, his hit investments (hi, Coinbase), and his calm, unbothered approach to fame, he’s becoming the blueprint for what aging gracefully—and stylishly—can look like in hip-hop.
And in a culture where so many men feel the need to do the most to stay relevant, Nas keeps it simple. Sharp lines. Clean fits. Solid bars. No antics. Just vibes.
So yes, this haircut is a small move, but it’s a reminder: sometimes the simplest glow-up is just a good barber and knowing what works for you.
As one Instagram commenter said best:
“Nas with a fade just healed my trust issues. Thank you, King.”
Now if only he’d drop another surprise album to go with the new cut, we’d really be eating.