Hip Hop Is Dead

For the song from this album, see Hip Hop Is Dead (song).

Hip Hop Is Dead
Studio album by Nas
Released	December 15, 2006 (see release history)
Recorded	2006
Genre	Hip hop
Length	63:15
Label	Def Jam, Columbia, The Jones Experience
Producer	will.i.am, Salaam Remi, L.E.S., Wyldfyer, Kanye West, Dr. Dre, Scott Storch, Mark Batson, Stargate, Chris Webber, Devo Springsteen
Nas chronology
Street's Disciple (2004) Hip Hop Is Dead (2006) Untitled (2008)
Singles from Hip Hop Is Dead
"Hip Hop Is Dead" Released: November 2006 "Can't Forget About You" Released: January 23, 2007

Hip Hop Is Dead is the eighth studio album by American rapper Nas, released December 15, 2006 on Def Jam Recordings. His first album for the label, it was co-financed by Nas's previous label, Columbia Records, which once distributed for Def Jam. The album's title was inspired by Nas's view of the music industry and the state of hip hop music at the time.

The album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 355,880 copies in its first week. His third U.S. number-one album, it had sold 764,000 copies by November 2008.^[1] Upon its release, Hip Hop Is Dead received generally positive reviews from most music critics. Hip Hop Is Dead was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album,^[2] ultimately losing to Kanye West's Graduation at the 50th Grammy Awards^[3]

Background

Nas announced the album's title after a performance on May 18, 2006 ^[4][5] In a late September interview on English DJ Tim Westwood's Radio show, Nas said, "Hip-hop is dead because we as artists no longer have the power." He went on to say, "Could you imagine what 50 Cent could be doing, Nas, Jay, Eminem, if we were the Jimmy Iovines? Could you imagine the power we'd have? I think that's where we're headed." He has described the album as a mixture of "street" records, "political" records and collaborations.^[6] In another interview for MTV.com, Nas discussed the concept of the album title and the social atmosphere and condition of the music industry that inspired it, stating:

When I say 'hip-hop is dead', basically America is dead. There is no political voice. Music is dead ... Our way of thinking is dead, our commerce is dead. Everything in this society has been done. It's like a slingshot, where you throw the muthafucka back and it starts losing speed and is about to fall down. That's where we are as a country ... what I mean by 'hip-hop is dead' is we're at a vulnerable state. If we don't change, we gonna disappear like Rome. I think hip-hop could help rebuild America, once hip-hoppers own hip-hop ... We are our own politicians, our own government, we have something to say.^[7]

—Nas

In an interview on the music television show 106 & Park, while promoting his untitled 2008 album, Nas said that he chose "Hip Hop Is Dead" as the title of the album in order to engender excitement and a reaction among hip hop artists. He went on to say that it worked, due to reactions from artists like Lil Wayne and Kanye West. The title had a major impact in the hip hop world, especially for Southern hip hop, whose artists have been blamed for cheapening the quality of hip-hop with crunk and snap music. Southern rapper Young Jeezy had made statements against the title of Nas' album, and also furthered his comments by questioning Nas' street credibility. They have since reconciled, with Nas appearing on Jeezy's 2008 single, "My President".^[8] Many other Southern rappers such as Ludacris, Trick Daddy, and Big Boi (whose fellow Outkast member, Andre 3000, declared hip hop dead on 2001's "Funkin' Around", off Big Boi and Dre Present...Outkast) have also attacked Nas' album title claiming that it is targeted at Southern hip hop.^[9] Nas also has a fair share of supporters such as fellow New York rappers KRS-One, DMX and Ghostface Killah.

Reception

Commercial performance

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[10]
Robert Christgau	(A-)[11]
Entertainment Weekly	(B)[12]
The Guardian	[13]
The New York Times	(favorable)[14]
Pitchfork Media	(7.8/10)[15]
PopMatters	(8/10)[16]
Rolling Stone	[17]
USA Today	[18]
The Village Voice	(favorable)[19]

Selling 355,880 copies in its first week, Hip Hop Is Dead joined It Was Written (1996) and I Am… (1999) as Nas's third album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.^[20] The title track "Hip Hop Is Dead" (produced by will.i.am), which contains samples from "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly, and "Apache" by Incredible Bongo Band, and Billy Squier's "The Big Beat", was the first single of the album.^[21] It received airplay on radio stations in Australia (Triple J), the UK, and in United States, notably on Hot 97.^[5][22] The single recently reached #48 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart^[23] and #41 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single from the album Hip Hop Is Dead is "Can't Forget About You" (Featuring Chrisette Michele). It contains a sample from Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable".

Critical response

Hip Hop Is Dead received generally positive reviews from most music critics.^[24] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 79, based on 22 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".^[24] Nas is hip-hop's "grumpiest man", according to Jody Rosen for Entertainment Weekly, and the album "is a lot like Nas himself: impossible not to admire, but hard to love".^[25] Among those music writers and critics that reviewed Hip Hop Is Dead favorably was Jason Rubin of The A.V. Club, which gave the album an A- rating. Rubin praised the album's production quality and lyrical concept, and stated "Hip Hop is unsparing in its diagnosis of rap's ills, but ultimately, it's hopeful. It contains a smart, tight, cohesive analysis of where rap went astray, but also the seeds of the genre's rebirth and renewal."^[26] Despite perceiving its sound and musical quality as a weaknesses, Los Angeles Times writer Soren Baker gave it 3 out of 4 stars and wrote "Nas demonstrates why he remains one of rap's most revered artists, as his defense of hip-hop culture is impassioned and informed, if not fully realized".^[27] Sean Fennessey of Vibe called the album "disorienting and sometimes brilliant" and complimented its "bold, startling production and a renewed lyrical vigor".^[28] The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, losing to Kanye West's Graduation (2007), at the 50th Grammy Awards in February 2008.^[29]

Track listing

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Money Over Bullshit"	L.E.S., Wyldfyer	4:16
2.	"You Can't Kill Me"	L.E.S., Al West	3:14
3.	"Carry on Tradition"	Scott Storch	3:49
4.	"Where Are They Now"	Nas, Salaam Remi	2:44
5.	"Hip Hop Is Dead" (featuring will.i.am)	will.i.am	3:45
6.	"Who Killed It?"	Salaam Remi, will.i.am	3:10
7.	"Black Republican" (featuring Jay-Z)	L.E.S., Wyldfyer	3:45
8.	"Not Going Back" (featuring Kelis)	Stargate	4:09
9.	"Still Dreaming" (featuring Kanye West & Chrisette Michele)	Kanye West	3:37
10.	"Hold Down the Block"	Mark Batson	3:58
11.	"Blunt Ashes"	Chris Webber	4:03
12.	"Let There Be Light" (featuring Tre Williams)	Kanye West, Devo Springsteen*, Paul Cho*	4:28
13.	"Play on Playa" (featuring Snoop Dogg)	Scott Storch	3:33
14.	"Can't Forget About You" (featuring Chrisette Michele)	will.i.am	4:34
15.	"Hustlers" (featuring The Game & Marsha Ambrosius)	Dr. Dre	4:06
16.	"Hope" (featuring Chrisette Michele)	L.E.S., Nas, Alexander "Spanador" Mosely	3:05

Bonus tracks
No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
17.	"Shine on 'Em" (iTunes pre-order)	Salaam Remi	2:42
18.	"The N (Don't Hate Me Now)" (UK & Circuit City)	Salaam Remi	2:48
19.	"Where Y'all At" (Best Buy)	Salaam Remi	4:09

*Co-producer

Personnel

#	Title	Notes
	Hip Hop Is Dead	Executive producer: Nasir Jones A&R: Jay Brown A&R for Ill Will Music Group: Mike Brinkley A&R Administration: Terese Joseph A&R Coordination: Fabienne Leys Marketing: Tracey Waples Marketing coordination: Shari Bryant Management: Michael "Blue" Williams for Family Tree Entertainment Mastering: Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound, NYC Photography: Afshin Shahidi Creative direction: Andy West Cover design: Tavon Sampson Wardrobe: Mike Bogard for The B Lynn Group Photo and art coordination: Nichell Delavaille Package production: Doug Joswick Legal representation: Kenny Meiselas, Esq. and Paul Rothenberg, Esq. Sample clearance agent: Deborah Mannis-Gardner for DMG Clearances, Inc. Business Affairs: Michael Seltzer, Antoinette Trotman, Ian Allen
1	"Money Over Bullshit"	Songwriters: N. Jones, L. Lewis, W. Coleman All Instruments: L.E.S. & Wyldfyer
2	"You Can't Kill Me"	Songwriters: N. Jones, L. Lewis, A. West Sample: "Sly" by Herbie Hancock & the Headhunters All Instruments: Al West
3	"Carry on Tradition"	Songwriters: N. Jones, S. Storch All Instruments: Scott Storch
4	"Where Are They Now"	Songwriters: N. Jones, S. Gibbs, J. Brown, B. Byrd, R. Lehnhoff Sample: "Get Up, Get into It, Get Involved" by James Brown
5	"Hip Hop Is Dead"	Songwriters: N. Jones, W. Adams, J. Lordan, D. Ingle Sample: "Apache" by Michael Viner & The Incredible Bongo Band Sample: "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly Sample: "The Big Beat" as performed by Billy Squier Drums, Drum Programming, Farfisa organ & Keyboards: will.i.am
6	"Who Killed It?"	Songwriters: N. Jones, S. Gibbs, W. Adams Sample: "I Ain't No Joke" by Eric B & Rakim Drums, Bass & Keys: Salaam Remi Flute, Soprano Saxophone & Clarinet: Vincent Henry Bass Trumpet, Flugelhorn & Trumpet: Bruce Purse French Horn: W. Marshall Henry Cello: Patrice Jackson Viola: Adam Hill
7	"Black Republican"	Songwriters: N. Jones, S. Carter, L. Lewis, W. Coleman, C. Coppala Sample: "Marcia Religiosa" by City of Prague Philharmonic
8	"Not Going Back"	Songwriters: N. Jones, T. Hermansen, M. Ericksen, K. Roger-Jones
9	"Still Dreaming"	Songwriters: N. Jones, K. West, C. Payne, C. Ernst-Wells Sample: "The Interim" by Diana Ross Sample: "Use Me" by Bill Withers
10	"Hold Down the Block"	Songwriters: N. Jones, M. Batson Drums, Bass & Keyboards: Mark Batson Saxophone: Leroi Moore Vocals: Mark B. Mayfield
11	"Blunt Ashes"	Songwriters: N. Jones, M. Webber Sample: "Mercy, Mercy Me(The Ecology)" by Marvin Gaye All Instruments: Chris Webber
12	"Let There Be Light"	Songwriters: N. Jones, K. West, T. Williams, D. Harris, P. Cho Sample: "Beddie Biey" by Steve Arrington Sample: "Take The Money And Run" by Steve Miller Band Drums: Mark Biondi Keyboards: Paul Cho
13	"Play on Playa"	Songwriters: N. Jones, S. Storch, C. Broadus, M. Gaye, L. Ware, A. Ross Sample: "After the Dance" by Marvin Gaye
14	"Can't Forget About You"	Songwriters: N. Jones, W. Adams, C. Payne, I. Gordon Sample: "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole Drums, Drum Programming & Keyboards: will.i.am
15	"Hustlers"	Songwriters: N. Jones, J. Taylor, M. Ambrosius, A. Young, M. Elizondo Keyboards: Mike Elizondo Keyboard Bass: Liomnel "LJ" Holoman
16	"Hope"	Songwriters: N. Jones, L. Lewis Additional Vocals: Chrisette Michele
*	"Shine on 'Em"	Songwriters: N. Jones, S. Gibbs
*	"The N (Don't Hate Me Now)"	Songwriters: N. Jones, S. Gibbs
*	"Where Y'all At"	Songwriters: N. Jones, S. Gibbs, C. Stepney, R. Rudolph Sample: "Made You Look" by Nas Sample: "Rainy Day in Centreville" by Minnie Riperton

Chart history

Chart positions

Album Chart (2006) Peak position Australian ARIA Albums Chart[30] 50 Belgian Albums Charts (Wallonia)[31] 76 Canadian Albums Chart 45 Dutch Albums Chart[30] 95 French Albums Chart[30] 89 Swiss Albums Chart[30] 22 UK Albums Chart[30] 68 U.S. Billboard 200[32] 1 U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[33] 1 U.S. Billboard Top Rap Albums[34] 1

Singles Year Song Chart positions Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot Rap Tracks 2006 "Hip Hop Is Dead" #41 #48 #25 2007 "Black Republican" #124 #102 - "Cant Forget About You" - #46 -

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by The Inspiration by Young Jeezy

Billboard 200 number-one album December 31, 2006 - January 6, 2007

Succeeded by 21 by Omarion

Release history

Region	Date
Ireland	December 15, 2006
United Kingdom	December 18, 2006
United States	December 19, 2006

References

1. ^ Grein, Paul. "Chart Watch Extra: What A Turkey! The 25 Worst-Selling #1 Albums". Yahoo! Music. November 21, 2008.
2. ^ List of Grammy Award Nominess. Retrieved on 2011-5-10.
3. ^ Grammy Award Winner 2008. Retrieved on 2011-5-10.
4. ^ Bolden Janeé Nas Drops New LP In September, Declares Hip-Hop Dead Sohh.com. Retrieved on June 19, 2006.
5. ^ ^{a b} Latest News: Mariah, Billy Corgan, Wu-Tang and More Rolling Stone. Retrieved on July 30, 2006
6. ^ Mixtape Monday: Nas Wants To Join Jay-Z In Africa; Snoop, Dre Reunite. MTV News. Retrieved on October 9, 2006.
7. ^ MTV News Exclusive: Nas Previews New LP. MTV.com. Retrieved on December 20, 2006.
8. ^ Shake. Young Jeezy Says Nas Has No Street Credibility. Hiphopdx.com. Retrieved on December 20, 2006.
9. ^ Mixtape Monday: Is Hip-Hop Dead? Luda, Big Boi Disagree With Nas. MTV.com. Retrieved on December 29, 2006
10. ^ Brown, Marisa. Review: Hip Hop Is Dead. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-10-27.
11. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide: Hip Hop Is Dead". MSN Music: April 2007. Archived from the original on 2009-10-27.
12. ^ Rosen, Jody. Review: Hip Hop Is Dead. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2009-10-27.
13. ^ Lynskey, Dorian. Review: Hip Hop Is Dead. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2010-10-16.
14. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa. Review: Hip Hop Is Dead. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-10-27.
15. ^ Macia, Peter. Review: Hip Hop Is Dead. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on 2009-10-27.
16. ^ Frauenhofer, Michael. Review: Hip Hop Is Dead. PopMatters. Retrieved on 2009-10-27.
17. ^ Serpick, Evan. Review: Hip Hop Is Dead. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2009-10-27.
18. ^ Gardner, Elysa. Review: Hip Hop Is Dead. USA Today. Retrieved on 2009-10-27.
19. ^ Spies, Michael. Review: Hip Hop Is Dead. The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2009-10-27.
20. ^ Hasty, Katie. Nas Scores Third No. 1 Album With 'Hip-Hop Is Dead' Billboard. December 27, 2006.
21. ^ Collins, Roger. "The Big Beat". Iomusic News. http://iomusic.com/Bands_and_Artists/N/Nas/. Retrieved 2008-12-05. 
22. ^ Bolden, Janeé. Nas Drops New LP In September, Declares Hip-Hop Dead. Sohh.com. Retrieved on July 19, 2006.
23. ^ Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard. Retrieved on December 6, 2006.
24. ^ ^{a b} Hip Hop Is Dead (2007): Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2009-10-27.
25. ^ Rosen, Jody. Music Review: Hip Hop Is Dead Entertainment Weekly. December 8, 2006.
26. ^ AV Club - Hip Hop Is Dead review. AVClub.com. Retrieved on November 15, 2008
27. ^ Baker, Soren. Review: Hip Hop Is Dead. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2009-10-27.
28. ^ Fennessey, Sean. "Review: Hip Hop Is Dead". Vibe: 109–110. January 2007.
29. ^ 2008 Grammy Awards - Hip-Hop Nominees & Winners - 50th Annual Grammy Awards Nominations. About.com. Retrieved on November 15, 2008
30. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Nas - Hip Hop Is Dead - Music Charts". αCharts. http://acharts.us/album/14796. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
31. ^ "Nas - Hip Hop Is Dead". Ultratop. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Nas&titel=Hip+Hop+Is+Dead&cat=a. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
32. ^ "The Billboard 200 - Hip Hop Is Dead - Nas". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=305&cfgn=Albums&cfn=The+Billboard+200&ci=3081519&cdi=9162859&cid=01%2F06%2F2007. Retrieved 2009-01-08. ^{[dead link]}
33. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - Hip Hop Is Dead - Nas". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=333&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+R%26amp%3BB%2FHip-Hop+Albums&ci=3081475&cdi=9161469&cid=01%2F06%2F2007. Retrieved 2009-01-08. ^{[dead link]}
34. ^ "Top Rap Albums - Hip Hop Is Dead - Nas". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=335&cfgn=Albums&cfn=Top+Rap+Albums&ci=3081512&cdi=9162444&cid=01%2F06%2F2007. Retrieved 2009-01-08. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Nas at DefJam
• Street's Disciple at Columbia Records
• Column about the larger musical/cultural context that informs "Hip-Hop is Dead"
• About.com Review of Hip Hop Is Dead
• About.com Review of "Black Republican"
• About.com Review of "Hip-Hop Is Dead"
• Pitchfork Media Review of "Black Republican"
• Hip Hop Is Dead concert review at UKEvents.net