Nasir (stylized in all caps) is the eleventh studio album by American rapper Nas, released on June 15, 2018, through Mass Appeal and Def Jam Recordings. It marked his first album in six years since "Life Is Good" (2012). The album features guest appearances from Kanye West, Puff Daddy, 070 Shake, Tony Williams, and The-Dream. West also served as the album's executive producer, with additional production contributions from Mike Dean, Andrew Dawson, Dot da Genius, and Cashmere Cat, among others.
Nasir is the fourth of five seven-track albums produced by West during what has come to be known as the "Wyoming Sessions," with each album being released weekly. It follows the releases of Pusha T's "Daytona," West's "Ye," and West's collaboration with Kid Cudi, titled "Kids See Ghosts," and precedes Teyana Taylor's "K.T.S.E." Nasir reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and No. 16 on the UK Albums chart.
Background[]
DJ Khaled released his 2016 album, Major Key, which included a track titled "Nas Album Done" featuring Nas. This song announced the completion of Nas's album. In the same year, Kanye West expressed his desire to produce an album for Nas, seemingly making a promise to Barack Obama that he would accomplish this.[1]
In May 2017, Nas' brother Jungle posted on Instagram from a recording studio, using the hashtag #NasAlbumAlmostDone.[2]
Reception[]
The album received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Some praised the lyrical content and Nas's performance, while others felt that the production was inconsistent. It debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 chart. "Nasir" is notable for being part of Nas's illustrious career, continuing his legacy as one of hip-hop's most influential and respected artists. The collaboration with Kanye West brought together two iconic figures in the music industry, each known for their impact on hip-hop.
Track listing[]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Not for Radio" (featuring Puff Daddy and 070 Shake) |
|
|
3:22 |
| 2. | "Cops Shot the Kid" (featuring Kanye West) |
|
|
2:47 |
| 3. | "White Label" |
|
|
2:58 |
| 4. | "Bonjour" (featuring Tony Williams) |
|
|
3:21 |
| 5. | "Everything" (featuring The-Dream and Kanye West) |
|
|
7:32 |
| 6. | "Adam and Eve" (featuring The-Dream) |
|
|
4:10 |
| 7. | "Simple Things" |
|
|
2:19 |
| Total length: | 26:29 | |||
Personnel[]
Musicians[]
- Phillip Peterson – cello, string arrangement (tracks 1, 4)
- Victoria Parker – violin (tracks 1, 4)
- Plain Pat – drums (tracks 5, 6)
Technical[]
- Zack Djurich – engineering
- Sean Solymar – engineering
- Juan "AyoJuan" Pena – engineering (track 1)
- Mike Malchicoff – engineering (track 4)
- Mike Dean – mixing (tracks 1, 3, 5)
- Jess Jackson – mixing (tracks 1, 3, 5)
- Andrew Dawson – mixing (tracks 2, 4, 6, 7)
- BoogzDaBeast – programming (track 1)
- Ryan Hendrickson – engineering (tracks 1, 4)