Nas has revealed that the driving force behind him putting out so much music over the last three years is one coming from a higher power.
On Saturday (July 22), the Queensbridge rap legend took to Twitter to give a brief explanation about his musical output and where it all actually stems from.
“I’m happy to be around making new music because I love it,” he said. “Having the best year of my life. I caught the Holy Spirit and I’m grateful to be giving it all to the world. Magic 2.”
You can check out Nas’ tweet below:
Magic 2 — which was released on Friday (July 21) — is the fifth collaborative project between Nas and Hit-Boy since 2020. The first, King’s Disease — which was released in August 2020 — bagged Nas his first ever Grammy win for Best Rap Album.
The dynamic duo then returned a year later to release King’s Disease II in August 2021, with Magic arriving just a few months later in December 2021. King’s Disease III was released the following year in November 2022.
In June, God’s Son expressed his excitement about getting back into the studio, noting that he feels he’s in a “creative growth spurt” of sorts and still desires to make music that makes people feel something.
“I’m in one of these creative growth spurts,” he told Vanity Fair. “It’s something that I’m really excited about, and it surprises me – but I’m not too, too surprised because I was also waiting for the day that I felt like this again, and I knew it would come.”
When previously asked about his King Disease series with Hit-Boy, and if he plans to continue creating consecutive records, he shared that he really enjoys the “constant flow” of music and that he doesn’t “wanna stop it once it’s flowing the way it’s flowing.”
“It feels very free, and I just wanna see what happens as I stick to it. And I’ve been sticking to it, and it’s been my whole life now,” he explained. “Like, if I’m recording, I don’t do anything else, really. It hasn’t been this way for me for probably 20 years. I think that’s what I think today, maybe tomorrow I think about, well, actually accurately, seven years, or since I’ve been really in the studio, but when it comes in my head now, it’s been that long — 20 years.”
Despite having just released Magic 2, Nas has revealed that he’s already “halfway through” recording his next album with Hit-Boy.
On the second verse of the track “Abracadabra,” from his latest project, Nas explains that he’s already hard at work putting the finishing touches to his next project.
“I’m a magician, you should listen, it’s never the same tricks/ 2020 when we did the first one, five-album run, not a cursed one, it’s a blessed one/ By the time y’all hear this, we be halfway through the next one/ Bless up, all the rappers we lost, I’m hopin’ they rest up,” Nas raps on the track.
It’s unclear if The Illmatic spitter is plotting a third installment in the Magic series, a fourth installment of King’s Disease, or going in a completely new direction entirely. But whatever he decides to do, he’s in the midst of an impressive run.
Magic 2 was ok, nothing great tbh
It’s better than your whole life # troll down
@YourDaddy Cool. Now go eat a dick
I’m glad other people like this new Nas stuff, but it’s kinda weak. It sound unfinished and undercooked. His flows are off, the beats are cheap sounding, and his rhymes have gotten cornier because he doesn’t know what to rap about anymore. He’s just kinda talking about nothing. It’s very forgettable. I think people act like they like this Nas-Hitboy stuff more than they actually do. I have a hard time believing people are actually putting these albums on repeat; because they’re boring. It’s just..missing something. He keeps saying it’s coming effortlessly, but maybe he should give more effort, because it sounds rushed.
Nas has been called boring for a large part of his career. I think he reaches a slightly different demographic with the new stuff and he genuinely sounds happy with what they are creating. I personally, am enjoying Nas with the battery in his back for now and i dont think the beats are horrible. Even the songs that he’s just rapping about whatever are better than 90% of the shit coming out.
Trash rapper desperately needs money for his alimony payments
It’s cool he’s feeling good but so mich music it’s kind of watered down but magic was ok it wasn’t his best but it’s cool for real nas fans but there’s a reason alot of people don’t buy or stream it…
hallelujah
While Magic 2 is the 4th best of a 5-album run, it’s weird to see people out here talking about Nas sounding underwhelming and not poignant. Yet these same people think tracks what have no meaning behind them whatsoever are worthwhile. I had a guy tell me to go listed to Gummo by 6ix9ine and tell him any Nas sounds better than that. I listened to it and I was embarrassed for doing so. It’s one of the worst rap songs I’ve ever heard. But this is what people like now, I guess…
I concur. Nas is still stringing words together as good as he ever has, except now there’s a little more current pop culture mixed into the lyrics. Hit boy isn’t necessarily one of my favorite producers but when he’s on, he’s on and versatile with his sound.
@stormcloak I think your exaggerating your perception on Nas’s music. If you understand the art you’ll appreciate the growth of Nas as a legendary hip hop artists