Nas Explains Why Supreme Team Influenced His Lyrics

Nas famously immortalized his neighborhood kingpin, Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff, and his Supreme Team drug empire on his classic debut album “Illmatic” — and now he’s making a movie about him!

During a Q&A for his Showtime docuseries, “Supreme Team” … Nas spoke on how McGriff and his Queens-based gang were influential in getting C.R.E.A.M. and helping pump his creative juices in the process.

After rising to prominence in the early 90s at the height of NYC’s crack-cocaine boom, McGriff was eventually convicted of murder in 2007 and eventually sentenced to life in prison … where he remains to this day.

ST’s success in the streets and flashy wardrobe are said to directly influence the styles — and command the respect — of early hip hop artists, and the docuseries digs into that phenomenon.

The conversation between his co-director Peter J. Scalettar and Billboard’s Deputy Director of R&B/Hip-Hop Carl Lamarre marked the end of the 2022 Tribeca Festival … and NYC Mayor Eric Adams and Tribeca CEO Jane Rosenthal were watching the convo.

Incarcerated Supreme Team leader, and McGriff nephew, Gerald “Prince” Miller called in from federal prison.