Nas - Hip Hop Is Dead Audio

Nas
Hip Hop Is Dead
Audio

Nas has watched as his beloved hip-hop has gone from its innocent days of B-Boy battles and lyrical sport to today's fake-thug posturing and commercial excesses, and he's got something to say about it.

Throughout his storied career - which began with 1994's classic Illmatic and has spanned the last decade with over 12 million albums sold - Nas has been more than just the genre's foremost lyricist and thinker. He has become a statesman, some would argue hip-hop's "conscience."

Will.I.Am productions show up twice on Nas's new album: the title track, "Hip Hop Is Dead" is set to a heavy rock beat interspersed with old-school breaks and showcases some of Nas' most dexterous mic work in years. "Unforgettable," featuring Def Jam songstress Chrisette Michele, riffs off a Nat King Cole sample, with Nas' looking forward to the golden years, while looking back on his past.