The music world is preparing for a major milestone as the 100th birthday of the legendary Miles Davis approaches.
Although the jazz pioneer passed away in 1991, his “Kind of Blue” influence remains a cornerstone of modern sound. To mark this centennial, Simon & Schuster is launching a special anniversary edition of the 1989 classic, Miles: The Autobiography, on May 21, 2026.
This commemorative release bridges the gap between jazz history and the current cultural landscape with brand new forewords from two massive voices, acclaimed essayist Hanif Abdurraqib and rap royalty Nas. For Nas, the connection to the trumpet legend is deeply personal. His father, Olu Dara, was a jazz cornetist who played during Davis’ era, giving the Queensbridge lyricist a front row seat to the genre’s evolution.
In an excerpt of his foreword shared by Rolling Stone, Nas describes the shared DNA between the two genres. “Miles and hip-hop share the same blood, sweat, and tears. The same struggles and triumphs. Hip-hop is heavily influenced by jazz music. It’s our roots. So many of our biggest songs have jazz samples in them,” he writes.
Nas also digs into the raw resilience Davis displayed throughout his career, noting that the musician’s battle against systemic walls mirrors the struggles seen in the rap world. He highlights how Davis navigated a world that was often hostile to his genius with a defiance that remains inspiring decades later.
“Hip-hop and Miles are both innovative and extremely bold. Learning about his personal life was a whole different experience. His journey reflected the times and different eras he lived through. He faced discrimination head-on. He got bloody and received scars, but he kicked his elegant shoes through racism like it was trash on the streets,” Nas explains.
This centennial edition gives a new generation of readers a chance to dive into Davis’ unfiltered thoughts on his music, his battles with addiction, and the legends he played with. With these fresh insights from Nas and Abdurraqib, the release ensures that the “Prince of Darkness” stays as relevant as ever 100 years after his birth.
