Less than two months ago, Nas and Hit-Boy released Magic 2. The mid-July release was Nas and Hit’s fifth album since summer 2020, and followed up a late 2021 LP. The latest installment featured a reunion with 50 Cent, as well as the inclusion of the 21 Savage peace-offering collaboration from late last year, “One Mic, One Gun.”

This week (September 14), Nas will turn 50 years old. Moments ago, the MC revealed on Instagram that he and Hit-Boy will deliver Magic 3 that very same day, at 9pm EST. The move comes as Nas’ company, Mass Appeal, has been among the leaders in celebrating Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, including art exhibitions, concerts, and more.

 

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Magic will now have as many installments as Nas and Hit’s King’s Disease franchise, which launched in 2020—kicking off the MC/producer battery album series. That first installment earned Nas his first Grammy Award in a decorated career that goes back to the early 1990s. He was then nominated in the same “Best Rap Album” category for KD2. Along the journey, the artist reunited with the founders of The Firm, Dr. Dre, Ms. Lauryn Hill, DJ Premier, and Fif.

Nas is dropping his last Hit-Boy produced album on his 50th bday this thursday. Magic 3 😢🪄🪄🪄. Those are tears of joy btw. thank you to any and everyone who has listened and supported the movement. pic.twitter.com/UQMJ9f13n5

— Hit-Boy (@Hit_Boy) September 12, 2023

On Twitter, Hit-Boy revealed that Magic 3 marks their final collaborative album. He tweeted with reported “tears of joy” while thanking his supporters. This year, the Fontana, California producer released two volumes or Surf Or Drown, which involved Nasir, as well as Alchemist, Big Sean, and Dom Kennedy. In his IG caption, Nas thanked fans for taking this journey with him and end, also alluding to a destination in a respected discography.

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Before King’s Disease, Nas has often made albums with an ensemble of producers. In the 2010s, he partnered with Damian Marley for Distant Relatives and with Kanye West for NASIR. Since the mid-2000s, Nas promised a collaborative album with Illmatic producer DJ Premier in an interview with Scratch magazine.

“Black Magic” from Magic 2 currently appears on the Ambrosia For Heads playlist:

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#BonusBeat: A late 2022 episode of AFH‘s What’s The Headline podcast that examines Nas’ career renaissance and a track-by-track breakdown of King’s Disease III: