Nas Has Another Album Coming & RZA And Swizz Beatz Are Involved (Video)
Six weeks ago, Nas released his twelfth solo album, NASIR. Produced by Kanye West, the seven-track effort is part of the five albums recorded in Wyoming over the last year. Rolling with the G.O.O.D. Music team of producers marked a distinct creative moment for the Queens, New York legend. It also was his first release in over five years.
Nas wants to keep that momentum going. He told Angie Martinez in front of a live New York City audience that another album is in the works, and coming soon. “[There is] another album that I already had been working on before [NASIR],” Nas said last night (July 27) in a video captured by journalist Eric Diep. “Since I did this, I gotta do something that, you know, goes in another direction a little bit,” admitted the MC, whose NASIR marked the first release not to reach #1 since 2004’s Streets Disciple. “So I’m finishing up the next one.”
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The lyricist also told Angie that his fans will not have another lengthy wait. “No, it’s not gonna be that long because half of it was already [recorded].” The co-founder of Mass Appeal Records confirmed a report from Swizz Beatz that the two had been recording a project in 2016. He also revealed that the recording marked a reunion with Wu-Tang Clan’s Abbott. “I did do something with Swizz [Beatz], I did stuff with RZA. I’m a big Wu-Tang fan. RZA’s real.”
Like Swizz, RZA has produced Nas in the past. The Queensbridge MC famously appeared on Raekwon’s 1995 “Purple Tape” cut, “Verbal Intercourse.” Five years later, Esco guested on Wu’s The W, care of “Let My Ni**as Live.” Notably, RZA stepped away from production on his group’s most recent album, 2017’s The Saga Continues. Using some of the same equipment RZA used in the early 1990s, DJ Mathematics produced that affair, with RZA playing the executive role. In the last decade, The Abbott has crafted beats for A$AP Mob, Earl Sweatshirt, as well as Kanye West & JAY-Z.
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At present, Nas has yet to release any videos to NASIR. Slick Rick-sampling single “Cops Shot The Kid” has entered the Top 100. The album was released hours after initially scheduled, despite a live streaming event just blocks from Nas’ childhood home. West, Marley Marl, Havoc, and other Rap peers were in attendance.
Today (July 28), Nas’ Mass Appeal imprint released N.O.R.E.’s 5E album.