Nas continues epic run of albums with release of ‘Magic 2’

When it comes to the legends of hip-hop and rap, it is impossible to discuss the genre’s lengthy history without mentioning the Queens Bridge legend Nasir Jones, better known simply as Nas. When the rapper debuted on the scene in 1994 with his debut album Illmatic, it was deemed an instant classic that quickly elevated him to success and stardom.

For many rappers, aging with grace while trying to showcase the honesty and hunger of hustling in the streets while trying to build a career is tough to navigate as the new reality of big money, big business, and changing styles can be hard to translate to records. Nas has turned that premise on its head, showcasing a run of albums over 30 years into his career that stands up to any work throughout his catalog and is a strong reminder that he is still the lyrical genius and rhyme smith that burst on the scene with tales of New York on tracks like The World Is Yours and N.Y. State of Mind. Beginning in 2020, Nas returned with King’s Disease, an album of classic rhymes and bravado alongside the then relatively unknown young producer, Hit-Boy. Unbeknownst to fans around the world, the pair would deliver four more albums by the middle of 2023, having released a second and third volume of the King’s Disease albums while also dropping not one but two albums under the moniker of Magic.

With the release of Magic 2 on July 21st of this year, the rapper and his producer continued a late-career run that has the music world in awe of the output and a staunch reminder of the lyrical genius that has always defined Nas’ rhymes. Featuring just two guest appearances, by 50 Cent and 21 Savage, Nas knows that he is the star and clearly has plenty of rhymes still in his lyric book, even spitting that “by the time fans hear this, we’re already working on the next one.”

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