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| Artist: Nas |
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Product Summary
Release Date: 12/19/2006
See more in Rap / Hip-Hop
Song Listing
Disc 1
Song Title
Sample
1. Money Over Bullsh*t ~ Nas
2. You Can't Kill Me ~ Nas
3. Carry On Tradition ~ Nas
4. Where Are They Now ~ Nas
5. Hip Hop Is Dead ~ Nas
6. Who Killed It? ~ Nas
7. Black Republican ~ Nas
8. Not Going Back ~ Nas
9. Still Dreaming ~ Nas
10. Hold Down The Block ~ Nas
11. Blunt Ashes ~ Nas
12. Let There Be Light ~ Nas
13. Play on Playa ~ Nas
14. Can't Forget About You ~ Nas
15. Hustlers ~ Nas
16. Hope ~ Nas
| Title and all, Nas's eighth solo album clearly intends to spark controversy. But what gives Nasir Jones the right to declare that HIP HOP IS DEAD? For one Nas's 5-mic debut album ILLMATIC represents the best of a by-gone era. Since then he's tried to find his place in the ever-evolving genre, flirting with the mainstream to mixed results, all the while mired in beef with former allies and childhood friends as well industry rivals. The fact that HIP-HOP IS DEAD is the product of his teaming with one of those former(?) rivals, Jay-Z, shows that business trumps beef--as Nas emphasizes on track one, "Money Over Bull****."
The title cut, with its pounding Iron Butterfly beat and nihilistic lyrics, is profoundly provocative. And while the long-awaited collaboration with Jay-Z on "Black Republicans" will inevitably draw attention, Nas shows he's best on his own--doing his Sam Spade impression in the hard-boiled detective story "Who Killed It"; producing an unapologetic swansong to his hood life in "Not Going Back"; and spitting introspective street poetry in "Can't Forget About You." Nas is past trying to relive his ILLMATIC glory--and that's ultimately the point--yet HIP HOP IS DEAD contains both the gutter ghetto anthems and gritty brilliance that made him a legend in the first place. |
Album Notes and Credits
Notes & Personnel Info |
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Personnel: Adam Hill (viola); Vincent Henry (flute, clarinet, soprano saxophone); LeRoi Moore (saxophone); Bruce Purse (trumpet, bass trumpet, flugelhorn); W. Marshall Sealy (French horn); Mark Batson, Salaam Remi (keyboards, drums); Paul Cho, Mike Elizondo (keyboards). |
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Additional personnel: Marsha Ambrosius, Tre Williams, Chrisette Michele, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Kelis, Snoop Dogg, Game, will.i.am. |
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Audio Mixers: Dylan Dresdow; Kevin Crouse. |
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Recording information: Amerycan Studios, Hollywood, CA; Chung King, New York, NY; Encore Studios, Burbank, CA; Hit Factory Criteria, Miami, FL; Legacy Studios, New York, NY; Mandatory Entertainment; NRG Studios, N. Hollywood, CA; Record One Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA; Sony Music Studios, New York, NY; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA; the Record Plant, Hollywood, CA; The Studio, Philadelphia, PA; Westlake Recording Studios, LA, CA. |
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Title and all, Nas's eighth solo album clearly intends to spark controversy. But what gives Nasir Jones the right to declare that HIP HOP IS DEAD? For one Nas's 5-mic debut album ILLMATIC represents the best of a by-gone era. Since then he's tried to find his place in the ever-evolving genre, flirting with the mainstream to mixed results, all the while mired in beef with former allies and childhood friends as well industry rivals. The fact that HIP-HOP IS DEAD is the product of his teaming with one of those former(?) rivals, Jay-Z, shows that business trumps beef--as Nas emphasizes on track one, "Money Over Bullshit." |
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The title cut, with its pounding Iron Butterfly beat and nihilistic lyrics, is profoundly provocative. And while the long-awaited collaboration with Jay-Z on "Black Republicans" will inevitably draw attention, Nas shows he's best on his own--doing his Sam Spade impression in the hard-boiled detective story "Who Killed It"; producing an unapologetic swansong to his hood life in "Not Going Back"; and spitting introspective street poetry in "Can't Forget About You." Nas is past trying to relive his ILLMATIC glory--and that's ultimately the point--yet HIP HOP IS DEAD contains both the gutter ghetto anthems and gritty brilliance that made him a legend in the first place. |
Producer: Will.I.Am; Kanye West; Scott Storch; Nas; Mark Batson; Salaam Remi; Aaron Fessel; Chris Webber; Paul Cho; Alvin West; Devo Springsteen; Will.I.Am; Kanye West; Scott Storch; Dr. Dre; Nas; Chris Webber; L.E.S.; Mark Batson; Stargate; Salaam Remi; Wyldfyer |
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Engineer: Marc Lee; Conrad Golding; John Stahl; Andrew Dawson; Brian Sumner; Kevin Crouse |
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Musical Guests | |
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The Game |
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Jay-Z |
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Snoop Dogg |
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Kanye West |
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Kelis |
Entertainment Reviews
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CD Review: Nas - Hip Hop Is Dead
By: Michael Fraiman
Cinema Blend CD Reviews
Published on: 1/6/2007 12:00 AM
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| Nas wrapped up "2006 in controversial rap" with the anything-but-subtle Hip Hop Is Dead, a powerful example of rap that's angry for all the right reasons. Determinedly abrasive, his anger toward the inanity of modern rap is shared among the other more sophisticated hip-hop albums of 2006-The Roots' Game Theory and Mos Def's Tru3 Magic, for example-and ranks with them as one of the best hip-hop albums of last year. ...read the full review | |
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Nas - Hip Hop Is Dead - CD
By: Sterfish
Blogcritics.org Reviews
Published on: 1/31/2007 9:04 AM
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| In the title of his new album as well as in his hit single of the same name, Nas asserts that hip-hop is dead. The sheer thought of the man behind the classic album Illmatic declaring hip-hop dead sent shockwaves through the industry with artists ranging from Big Boi to new labelmates Ludacris and Young Jeezy expressing disdain at Nas's remarks. With Hip Hop Is Dead, Nas has made one of his better albums, one that proves that hip-hop has life in it yet. ...read the full review | |
Compilation Appearances
Associated Artists and Works
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DMX |
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Green Lantern |
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Marley, Damian |
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Distant Relatives [PA] [Digipak] ~ Marley, Damian |
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Distant Relatives [Clean] ~ Marley, Damian |
Technical Info
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Release Date : 12/19/2006 |
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Original Release Date : 2006 |
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Catalog ID : 0007229 |
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Label : Def Jam (USA) |
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Number of Discs : 1 |
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Studio/Live : Studio |
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Mono/Stereo : Stereo |
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SPAR Code : n/a |
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UPC : 00602517028296 |
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (p.72)
- 4 stars out of 5 -- "Nas never solves the crime, but his point is implicit -- few MCs are taking the artistic chances he does."
- 4 stars out of 5 -- "Nas never solves the crime, but his point is implicit -- few MCs are taking the artistic chances he does."
Entertainment Weekly (p.84)
- "[D]enser and more grandiose than the minimalist digital funk heard on rap radio." -- Grade: B
- "[D]enser and more grandiose than the minimalist digital funk heard on rap radio." -- Grade: B
Vibe (p.109)
- "HIP-HOP IS DEAD is a loud, expansive album, packed with brand names and big ideas -- and is arguably the best thing Nas has done since 1996's IT WAS WRITTEN."
- "HIP-HOP IS DEAD is a loud, expansive album, packed with brand names and big ideas -- and is arguably the best thing Nas has done since 1996's IT WAS WRITTEN."
XXL (Magazine)
(p.133)
- "Nas' latest opus comprises solid lyrics and layered beats and proves that hip-hip isn't dead, it's just been asleep..."
(p.133)
- "Nas' latest opus comprises solid lyrics and layered beats and proves that hip-hip isn't dead, it's just been asleep..."
Mojo (Publisher)
(p.100)
- 4 stars out of 5 -- "A fully realised, painstakingly compiled assault on hip hop's slide into bling-ridden mediocrity."
(p.100)
- 4 stars out of 5 -- "A fully realised, painstakingly compiled assault on hip hop's slide into bling-ridden mediocrity."
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