Nas Says 'Hip-Hop Is Dead' Could Be His Best Album

by **SNaKe** » Sep 12th, '06, 13:42

Nas says his greatest work is ahead of him, but the veteran rapper said his fans will intimately determine if his latest album Hip-Hop Is Dead reigns over his classic albums like Illmatic (1994), It Was Written (1996), Stillmatic (2001), God's Son (2002) and others.

"It's probably the best record I ever did," Nas said. "I mean, when you work in the studio for a while, sometimes you think its great, but you don't know what it is until the people hear it. So I hope the people agree."

The Queensbridge, NY rapper signed a joint venture deal with Def Jam/Sony Music in January 2006, ending a long-running feud between he and Def Jam president Jay-Z.

The two rappers engaged in a lyrical feud which exploded with Jay-Z's 2001 diss track "The Takeover." Nas answered with the equally scathing reply, "Ether."

The two men settled their differences in Oct. of 2005, when Jay-Z brought Nas out for a performance during his "I Declare War" concert at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, NJ.

Under terms of the Def Jam/Sony Music union, Nas will produce four albums, with Hip-Hop is Dead being the first release on his own label, the Jones Experience.

The rapper hinted that fans may finally receive the long-awaited collaboration between the lyrical giants.

"I'm just with Def Jam," Nas said. "I haven't worked with anybody but myself. A little bit of work with Jay [Z], just for the fans out there and just for us."

Nas said Hip-Hop is Dead will be available to retail outlets on Nov. 7.

In related news, Jay-Z is expected to release an album of new material later in the year, but Def Jam representatives would not confirm or deny the information.