Maps of Music

Hip Hop Is Dead (2006)

Where the lyrics of Hip Hop Is Dead take you, and where it was really made.

Nas picked the title to provoke hip hop artists, and the reaction from Southern rappers made the title part of the album's story.

Place unknown

Do you know where this album was recorded, or where its cover was shot? Tell us and we will add it to the map.

Hip Hop Is Dead: eighth studio album by American rapper Nas
Released December 19, 2006 on Def Jam Recordings
His first album for the label
Co-financed by his previous label, Columbia Records, which once distributed for Def Jam
Title inspired by Nas's view of the music industry and the state of hip hop at the time
Features Nas's then-wife Kelis, Def Jam label-mates Kanye West and Jay-Z, and Chrisette Michele
Other guests include will.i.am, Snoop Dogg, and The Game

Nas announced the title after a performance on May 18, 2006
In a late September interview on Tim Westwood's radio show, he said hip-hop is dead because artists no longer have power
He described the album as a mixture of "street" records, "political" records and collaborations
Promo single "Where Y'all At" released June 2006, produced by Salaam Remi
That promo single was left off the album and released as a bonus track on the Japanese import version
Music video for "Can't Forget About You" premiered February 5, 2007, followed by a video for "Hustlers" with The Game
Title controversy: Nas said he chose the title to create excitement and a reaction among hip hop artists
Lil Wayne and Kanye West reacted to the title; whether West reacted to it or only promoted the album is unclear
Southern rappers including Ludacris, Trick Daddy, and Big Boi attacked the title, saying it targeted Southern hip hop
Young Jeezy later reconciled with Nas, who appeared on Jeezy's 2008 single "My President"

Born Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones on September 14, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York City; raised in the Queensbridge Houses, Queens.
Son of jazz and blues musician Olu Dara; began as "Nasty Nas" in 1989 and recorded demos under Large Professor.
Made his recording debut on Main Source's 1991 song "Live at the Barbeque"; signed with Columbia Records in 1992.

Debut album Illmatic (April 19, 1994) is regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums; selected for the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.
It Was Written (1996) debuted atop the Billboard 200; single "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" featuring Lauryn Hill brought mainstream success.
Feud with Jay-Z (2001–2005) via the diss track "Ether"; Stillmatic and God's Son helped restore his critical standing.
Released Hip Hop Is Dead (2006) and Distant Relatives (2010) with Damian Marley, whose royalties went to African charities.
King's Disease (2020) won his first Grammy for Best Rap Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
Released King's Disease II, Magic, King's Disease III, Magic 2 and Magic 3, all produced by Hit-Boy.
Announced Light-Years with DJ Premier, a 2025 collaborative album.

Generally positive reviews from most music critics
Metacritic average of 79 based on 22 reviews, which indicates generally favorable reviews
Jody Rosen of Entertainment Weekly called Nas hip-hop's grumpiest man
Rosen said the album is a lot like Nas himself: impossible not to admire, but hard to love
Jason Rubin of The A.V. Club gave the album an A− rating
Rubin praised the album's production quality and lyrical concept
Soren Baker of Los Angeles Times gave it 3 out of 4 stars
Sean Fennessey of Vibe called the album disorienting and sometimes brilliant
Fennessey complimented its bold, startling production and renewed lyrical vigor

Baker saw its sound and musical quality as weaknesses despite his positive score
Baker wrote that Nas demonstrates why he remains one of rap's most revered artists

Debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 with 355,880 copies in its first week
Dropped to number four in its second week, selling 101,000 more copies
Dropped to number eight in its third week, selling 44,800 copies
Certified gold by the RIAA on March 12, 2007 for sales of over 500,000 copies in the United States
Sold 785,000 copies by March 2014
Nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album at the 50th Grammy Awards in February 2008
Lost the Grammy to Kanye West's Graduation
Title track reached number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 48 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart

Nas said he chose the title to provoke a reaction from hip hop artists, and he said it worked
Title track produced by will.i.am, sampling Iron Butterfly, Incredible Bongo Band, and Billy Squier, and released as the first single
Second single "Can't Forget About You" with Chrisette Michele samples Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable"
Nas's then-wife Kelis appears on the album, and the two were married in 2005
Promo single "Where Y'all At" was left off the album but included on the Japanese import release