Having listened to all seventeen of Nas’s studio albums, plus the ‘Lost Tapes,’ the Queen’s Bridge native has been an Urban east coast Grio who demystifies American street culture with word play that goes beyond pseudo intellectual hood logic. To the casual Hip Hop listener, Nas is not as charming and witty as his only Hip Hop peer Jay-Z, and he never made the same effort to find the commercial success, but, as far as high profile relationships go, there is not a more consistent ‘true story’ teller who explores themes of love, family relationships, and betrayal like this Hip Hop Shakespeare.
It is quiet fascinating to comprehend that at age 50, the self actualized Mastermind merges with super producer Hit-Boy to complete 95 tracks of his best work, separated in two trilogies, across six albums in three years. The series which began with King’s Disease in 2020, then King’s Disease II, then Magic was released Christmas Eve 2021, King’s Disease III and Magic 2 released just two months ago on July 21.
Magic 3, with 15 tracks announced as the final edition to the magnum opus, puts Nas miles ahead of a time when he nursed career wounds after winning the rap battle with Jay-Z, then ultimately losing the corporate war by signing to the then Def Jam’s then President. On ‘Takeover’ Jay questioned the work ethic of a 28 year old Nas ‘four albums in 10 years,?’ but the God Son is now vindicated as he has gotten better with time.
With nothing more to prove in Hip Hop, the wordsmith eyes Hollywood trinkets in his future.
“I directed my first
Docu-series the EGOT is near me
Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony, this is not no theory,” he raps on Speechless Pt. 2.
The Mass Appeal owner who coordinated the Hip Hop 50 Celebrations at the Yankee Stadium in August, points to the dangers of of being caught up on social media, and Artificial Intelligence, but remains no nonsense and fearless as a civil rights leader in his declaration on Japanese Soul Bar that ‘When you talk to us make sure you talk to us with common sense.’
The arc from Illmatic to Magic 3, real and imagined is a career of tasteful toasting, now curated creation with Hit-Boy supplying the beats.
Nas owes Hip Hop nothing and with Lil Wayne as the sole feature on this album, the bar is set for the best to follow.
He likes who he has become and having fun creating street symphonies hinting that he might not be done yet. Six time is the charm.
★★★★☆
Magic 3 is released by Mass Appeal.
