Nas and Hit-Boy announced their collaborative album Magic just one day before its December 24 release and less than five months after King’s Disease II. Boasting nine tracks, the album featured just two guests, DJ Premier and A$AP Rocky, and came with the promise of King’s Disease III on the song “Ugly.”
Now, Magic has made its Billboard 200 debut — but it didn’t exactly dazzle, at least not yet. According to Billboard, the project moved over 22,000 total album-equivalent units in its opening week, landing at No. 30. By comparison, King’s Disease II landed at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with approximately 56,000 total album-equivalent units moved.
While its modest debut could be attributed to the holidays and its Friday release, Playboi Carti earned a No. 1 album with Whole Lotta Red, which was released on Christmas Day 2020 (although the holiday fell on a Friday).
Unlike Magic, Nas was able to do plenty of interviews ahead of and following King’s Disease II’s arrival. In December 2021, Nas spoke about the album in an interview with Vice i-d in which he agreed the project really focused on his legacy as an MC.
“I think it should give people some insight into where I’ve been and where I’m going,” he said of the album. “But also at the same time, just expressing what I’m feeling, how my day is, and where I’m at in my age these days, and how happy I was to just get in a comfort zone and make music. And at this place where I’m at in my life, I’m happy to give people that experience.”
More specifically, Nas talked about the track “Death Row East,”which found him reflecting on his short-lived beef with Tupac Shakur and the infamous Suge Knight.
“With the ‘Death Row East’ story, there’s so many people that talk about having beef with Suge Knight, because he’s just this imposing figure in the game. Death Row was the most powerful label in 1996, so any story about running into Suge Knight is a dope, because Suge is a super famous street legend in the music industry.
Nas Reflects On 2Pac Beef That Led To 'Death Row East'
“We’d never seen nothing like it then, but my story is about the real Death Row interaction in New York. That’s why I thought it was important to tell that story, because that’s the real story of the era of the ’90s, and stuff that kind of built the path for people to walk on now.”
As for Magic, Nas again looks back on his contributions to Hip Hop culture on song such as “Hollywood Gangstas” and “Wu For The Children.” Check out the album below.
Whatever STINKY CAVE BITCH !!!!!!!! STOP PUSHING THAT GAY AGENDA & Go climb Yo Flat ass back into the caucus mountains
Whatever STINKY CAVE BITCH !!!!!!!! STOP PUSHING THAT GAY AGENDA Here & Go climb Yo Flat ass back into the caucus mountains
Not sure that’s how streaming numbers are tracked, but whatever, the album is dope.
Facts one of the best albums of last year Nas dropped 2 classics and J Cole album I liked Busta Rhymes E.L.E 2 J Cole and Nas albums I have played a lot of tracks of them albums last year im looking forward to KD3
Magic has songs that didn’t make Kings Disease II. Still great though
That’s what I think Magic is, just songs that didn’t make KD2. But, I always support Nas so I purchased it and have thoroughly enjoyed it.
I liked this album more than KD2. Nas and Hit went hard
Album is dope! Nas killed this album. He is the GOAT. Who cares about numbers? Can you really say Kanye and Drake is better with bigger sales? Be real… Magic album is 100 times better!
Drake will never be on Nas level Na is a lyrical beast one of the best to ever touch the ? or grace the game people think Drake is a ? and a good rapper all Drake is is over rated.
three albums about 20 dollars each on itunes people aren’t made of money.
All cap. And dusty Cap at that. Step your game up.
Yeah, until it comes to weed and henny, the ninjas will spend their last to turn up.
Sorry my reply to your comment went werid was saying Nas is one of the greatest of all time Drake might sell because people buy his wack album’s Nas had album’s of the year hands down Drake is way over rated and I will never class hip as hip hop
Considering that Magic was a surprise album with no promotion and dropped over the Christmas holiday, 22,000 isn’t too bad.
I thought most people subscribed to a streaming platform now. So, there is no need to purchase music unless you are a party dj. I personally purchased both his albums in 2021 and J. Cole’s Off Season, because they make my type of music. The other two big releases were subpar IMO, but that’s just me.
Nas is fully aware of what he has to do if he wants to be high in the billboard charts : visit breakfast club, drink champs, hot 97, couple of magazine interviews, tv appearances, saturday night live or stephen colbert…but he doesnt because he does not care about the numbers anymore. Prolly cuz he’s financially well off in the first place
He probably don’t want baby mama getting more child support money off sales
Never cared about numbers. Magic is so dope it should be called Illmagic.
This comment got it ?
When you look at who’s number one on the billboard, can’t help but laugh at the state of music. Masses follow mediocrity as someone bluntly told me. Magic is fire and the numbers you’re talking about won’t change it.
THIS WAS AN ALBUM FOR THE FANS. NO PROMO NO SINGLE JUST A DOPE BODY OF WORK. SALUTE TO THE 22K.
Gonna rock this on heavy rotation now that billboard trying to stir bullshit.. Nas locks. Hit boy knocks ????
Nobody worried about numbers other than blogs. Album still on repeat whether it sold 1k or 1m first week
What Jay-Z Stan came up with this bullshit headline?
Such a unprofessional headline from a respected hip hop website. And why it gotta be about stupid record sales. And I can tell you must be a big nas hater for real. Would you do a similar headline about other hip hop lagacey artist like a snoop ? or any other artist from the 90s for that matter ? You seem like a real hater for real which is so unprofessional especially to such a respectful legendary artist like nas who contributed so much to hip hop. Let’s see if you post the same type of stupid headline to other 90s rappers who does the same type of numbers as nas did with this surprise album. I’m sure you probably won’t because you showing yourself to be big Nas hater clearly. Why can’t stupid hip hop journalist like you just appreciate good music and not be so concerned about what first week numbers a rappers doing who’s been rapping since 1992.
Agree with EVERYTHING you said. . But notice how they’ll slob knob at EVERYTHING Eminem does