Maps of Music

Magic 3 (2023)

Where the lyrics of Magic 3 take you, and where it was really made.

Nas teased the album with the words 'The Finale' and released it on his fiftieth birthday, so the date was chosen as the release day.

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.

8 September 2023, almost two months after Magic 2: Nas posted a cryptic Instagram video hinting at another album
The video showed the letter 'N' of his logo and the words 'The Finale'
12 September: album officially announced, with title, artwork and release date
Release date set on his 50th birthday
Tracklist revealed only hours before release

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.

Metacritic: average score of 86 from five reviews, indicating universal acclaim
Clash (Robin Murray): said it could well be Nas and Hit-Boy's finest hour together
HipHopDX (Eric Diep): called it another chapter that does not quite surpass the original, but the swan song before his decision to retire
HipHopDX: said it puts the stamp on one of the most interesting late-career series in Hip Hop history
Sputnikmusic (Mitch Worden): called it everything special about the six-LP run and an excellent effort from modern rap's most surprisingly stellar partnership
AllMusic (David Crone): wrote that Nas's footing here is effortlessly self-assured, with bars loosely constructed but never carelessly
AllMusic: noted the MC's legacy as the bedrock behind the words, with New York luxuries running through his verses

The album's only guest is Lil Wayne, who appears on the track Never Die
TSK samples Barabas, performed by Belgian band Hooverphonic
I Love This Feeling samples I think I'll stay home today by Billy Paul
The tracklist has 15 songs, including Based on True Events and its Part 2
Magic 3 was released only a few weeks after Magic 2, according to French Wikipedia