Stillmatic

Last updated
Stillmatic
Nas-stillmatic-music-album.jpg
Studio album by
Nas
ReleasedDecember 18, 2001
Recorded2000–2001
Genre
Length56:34
Label
Producer
Nas chronology
Nastradamus
(1999)		Stillmatic
(2001)		 The Lost Tapes
(2002)
Singles from Stillmatic
  1. "Rule"
    Released: October 6, 2001
  2. "Got Ur Self A..."
    Released: December 4, 2001
  3. "The Flyest"
    Released: December 16, 2001
  4. "One Mic"
    Released: April 16, 2002

Stillmatic is the fifth studio album by American rapper Nas, released on December 18, 2001, by Ill Will and Columbia Records. In contrast to his previous work's gangsta rap themes, the album contains socially conscious and philosophical themes similar to that of his 1994 debut Illmatic . Nas' lyrics address topics such as ghetto life, American politics, and his feud with rapper Jay-Z.

Contents

Stillmatic was a commercial and critical success and helped re-establish Nas' career, following a period of critical disappointment with his previous album Nastradamus (released in 1999). [1] [2] It debuted at number 8 on the US Billboard 200 and sold over 342,600 in its first week of sales, eventually going on to sell over 2,026,000 copies in the United States. [3] It has been certified Platinum by Recording Industry Association of America. [4]

Background

Though he had gained critical acclaim with his classic debut album Illmatic in 1994, Nas' image had been quickly deteriorating in the hip-hop community with his change of theme, from the philosophical topics of Illmatic to the gangsta rap and commercialized sound that became the focus of his later albums. [5] While his second album, It Was Written received positive reviews and introduced him to a greater audience, the follow-ups I Am... and Nastradamus were considered mediocre in comparison by critics. [5] [6] The release of Stillmatic was an attempt by Nas to reestablish his credibility in the hip-hop community, with the title signifying his intentions to continue where Illmatic left off.

Feud with Jay-Z

Jay-Z had previously dissed Nas in his song "Takeover", taken from his September 2001 release, The Blueprint. [5] On Stillmatic, Nas retaliated with the anticipated song, "Ether," a response to "Takeover" which insinuated that Jay-Z had stolen lyrics from The Notorious B.I.G. several times, that he had sold out, and that he was a misogynist, among other things. Several hip-hop aficionados believe Nas won the feud based on this track, which many felt was much more vicious and ruthless than "Takeover", although this is still a subject of debate within hip-hop circles. Jay-Z would respond with "People Talkin", "Don't You Know", "Blueprint 2" from The Blueprint 2: The Gift and the Curse and the radio freestyle "Supa Ugly." [7]

Singles

The first single from Stillmatic was "Rule" featuring R&B singer Amerie. It was not heavily promoted but still managed to reach number 67 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. [8] It did not receive a video and was issued on compact disc, so many are unaware that it was a single. "Got Ur Self A..." was believed to have been the first single from Stillmatic. "Got Ur Self A...", produced by Megahertz, contains a sample from the theme song to the HBO crime drama The Sopranos . The third single was "One Mic", which received acclaim for its content and video.[ citation needed ]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 69/100 [9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [12]
NME 7/10 [13]
Pitchfork 9.1/10 [14]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [15]
The Source 5/5 [16]
Spin 7/10 [17]
USA Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [18]
Vibe 3.5/5 [19]

Stillmatic was met with generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 69, based on 12 reviews. [9]

The Source awarded the album a perfect "five-mic" rating, [16] and Blender 's Alex Pappademas praised it as "a surprising return to form". [11] Reviewing for The Village Voice , Selwyn Seyfu Hinds said: "Stillmatic isn't merely a reunion or rehash of Illmatic themes. The Nas on this record has grown, with the emotional expansion such maturation suggests. For one, he has never before drawn upon his anger, with a burning focus and controlled intensity that underscores nearly every song. Some of it can surely be ascribed to the Jay-Z battle, but more seems due to the deeper, internal struggle Nas has waged against the fallout from his early, precocious success". [7] Steve Jones of USA Today stated, "diss songs aside, Nas' strength has always been his incisive lyrical analyses of current events." [18] John Bush from AllMusic said: "Dropping many of the mainstream hooks and featured performers in order to focus his rapping, Nas proves he's still a world-class rhymer, but he does sound out of touch in the process of defending his honor. Despite the many highlights, a few of the tracks just end up weighing him down". [10] Elizabeth Mendez Berry of Vibe called it "infuriatingly inconsistent" but also "an exercise in lyrical courage and musical might". [19]

Some reviewers were more critical. Rolling Stone magazine's Kathryn McGuire said: "Striving to maintain street cred while reaching for pop success has left Nas vacillating clumsily on past projects, and this record is riddled with similar inconsistencies. One moment he casts himself as a gritty cat who feels most at home on a project bench, calling out neighborhood snakes ('Destroy and Rebuild') and ducking gunshots ('One Mic'). The next, he's delivering dumbed-down verses over the Track Masters' rinky-dink rendition of Tears for Fears' 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World.'" [15] In The Village Voice's "Consumer Guide", Robert Christgau found the release unworthy of a review and instead relegated it to a listing of ungraded "duds" in the column. [20]

Retrospective appraisals have been relatively positive. In The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), Chris Ryan wrote that Stillmatic "finds Nas sticking with what works, creative storyraps and trenchant social commentary. He still errs when he makes attempts at club tracks, but the album is largely a success." [6] Writing in the Encyclopedia of Popular Music , Colin Larkin commended Nas for "rebuilding his creative and commercial standing" in the early 2000s with Stillmatic. [21] In 2005, Chris Rock compiled a list of his Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums of all time, to which he ranked Stillmatic at number 20, commenting "It's like Mama Said Knock You Out eleven years earlier, where a guy just reclaimed his spot with some great records". [22]

Track listing

Stillmatic track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Stillmatic (The Intro)"
Hangmen 32:11
2."Ether"
 Ron Browz 4:37
3."Got Ur Self a Gun"
 Megahertz 3:48
4."Smokin'"Jones Nas, Precision3:47
5."You're da Man"
 Large Professor 3:26
6."Rewind"
Large Professor2:13
7."One Mic"
Nas, Chucky Thompson for The Hitmen 4:28
8."2nd Childhood"
 DJ Premier 3:51
9."Destroy & Rebuild"
  • Jones
  • Lawrence Parker
  • Paul Hendricks
  • Michael Risko
 Baby Paul, Mike Risko5:24
10."The Flyest" (featuring AZ)
 L.E.S. 4:38
11."Rule" (featuring Amerie)
 Trackmasters 4:32
12."My Country" (featuring Millennium Thug)
Lofey5:12
13."What Goes Around" (featuring Keon Bryce)Jones Salaam Remi 4:59
14."Every Ghetto" (featuring Blitz The Ambassador)
  • Jones
  • Lewis
L.E.S.3:28
Total length:56:34
Disc 2 (Limited Edition)
No.TitleProducerLength
1."No Idea's Original" The Alchemist 3:07
2."U Gotta Love It" (snippet)L.E.S.1:33
3."My Way" (snippet)The Alchemist1:36
4."Make It Last" (snippet)L.E.S.1:57
5."Doo Rags" (snippet)Precision1:22
Total length:9:35

Notes

Samples

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Stillmatic
Chart (2001–2002)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [24] 54
Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) [25] 28
Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) [26] 9
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [27] 40
French Albums (SNEP) [28] 124
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [29] 64
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [30] 95
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [31] 56
US Billboard 200 [32] 5
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [33] 1

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for Stillmatic
Chart (2002)Position
Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) [34] 37
Canadian Rap Albums (Nielsen SoundScan) [35] 19
US Billboard 200 [36] 31
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [37] 5

Certifications

Certifications for Stillmatic
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [38] Gold50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [39] Gold100,000*
United States (RIAA) [40] Platinum1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

Dorsey Wesley, better known by his stage name Megahertz, is an American record producer, composer and songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nas</span> American rapper (born 1973)

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, better known by his stage name Nas, is an American rapper. Rooted in East Coast hip hop, he is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. The son of jazz musician Olu Dara, Nas began his musical career in 1989 under the moniker "Nasty Nas", and recorded demos for fellow East Coast rapper Large Professor. He was later featured on the 1991 song "Live at the Barbeque" by his group, Main Source.

<i>Reasonable Doubt</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Jay-Z

Reasonable Doubt is the debut studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on June 25, 1996, by his own record label Roc-A-Fella Records and distributed by Priority Records. The album features production provided by DJ Premier, Ski, Knobody and Clark Kent, and also includes guest appearances from Memphis Bleek, Mary J. Blige, Jaz-O, and the Notorious B.I.G., among others. The album features mafioso rap themes and gritty lyrics about the "hustler" lifestyle and material obsessions.

<i>The Blueprint</i> 2001 studio album by Jay-Z

The Blueprint is the sixth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released on September 11, 2001, through Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. Its release was set a week earlier than initially planned in order to combat bootlegging. Recording sessions for the album took place during 2001 at Manhattan Center Studios and Baseline Studios in New York City. Contrasting the radio-friendly sound of Jay-Z's previous work, The Blueprint features soul-based sampling and production handled primarily by Kanye West, Just Blaze, and Bink, as well as Timbaland, Trackmasters, and Eminem, who also contributes the album's sole guest feature.

<i>Gods Son</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Nas

God's Son is the sixth studio album by American rapper Nas. It was released on December 13, 2002, by Ill Will and Columbia Records. Production took place during 2001 to 2002, and was handled by several producers, including Salaam Remi, Chucky Thompson, Ron Browz, Eminem, and The Alchemist. Partly inspired by the death of his mother in early 2002, God's Son covers lyrical themes such as religion, violence, and his own emotional experiences. It has been recognized by critics as some of Nas' most personal work.

"Ether" is a diss track by American rapper Nas, from his 2001 album Stillmatic. The song was a response to Jay-Z's "Takeover", released earlier that year. "Ether" has been called a "classic" diss track and the "wildest" in hip hop history by music publications.

<i>The Lost Tapes</i> (Nas album) 2002 compilation album by Nas

The Lost Tapes is a compilation album by American rapper Nas. It was released on September 23, 2002, by Ill Will Records and Columbia Records, who wanted to capitalize on what was seen in hip hop music as Nas' artistic comeback the year before, and compiles previously unreleased tracks that were discarded from recording sessions for the rapper's previous studio albums I Am... (1999) and Stillmatic (2001). It features production by L.E.S., The Alchemist, Poke and Tone, and Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, among others. With low-key, sparse sounds and observational lyrics about urban life, the songs are largely autobiographical and nostalgic, departing from the thug persona of Nas' previous records.

<i>Breaking Atoms</i> 1991 studio album by Main Source

Breaking Atoms is the debut album of American/Canadian hip hop group Main Source, released July 23, 1991, on Wild Pitch Records. Production was handled by the group, primarily by member Large Professor, and took place during 1990 to 1991 at Homeboy Studio, Power Play Studios, and Libra Digital in New York City. Recorded during the golden age of hip hop, Breaking Atoms is distinguished stylistically by its incorporation of jazz and soul music samples. The album has been highly regarded by music writers due mostly to its production, whose heavy and original use of sampling influenced hip hop producers for a considerable portion of the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nas discography</span> East Coast hip hop recording artist discography

The discography of Nas, an American rapper, consists of seventeen studio albums, one collaborative album, one group album, five compilations, four mixtapes, one extended play, and seventy-nine singles. Nas has sold over 20 million records in the United States alone, and 35 million albums worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Love (Nas song)</span> 1994 single by Nas

"One Love" is a song by American rapper Nas, released October 25, 1994 on Columbia Records. It was issued as the fifth and final radio single in promotion of his debut studio album Illmatic (1994). The song was produced by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, who also contributed vocals for the chorus line. According to Nas, the title of the song originates from Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician Bob Marley's song of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Got Ur Self a Gun</span> 2001 single by Nas

"Got Ur Self a Gun", also known as "Got Ur Self A..." for the clean versions of the album and single, respectively, is the second single from the 2001 album Stillmatic by the American rapper Nas. The song is produced by Megahertz and samples The Sopranos theme song "Woke Up This Morning", performed by Alabama 3. It reached #87 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Mic</span> 2002 single by Nas

"One Mic" is a song by American rapper Nas, released April 16, 2002 on Columbia Records and distributed through Ill Will Records in the United States. It was issued as the third single from his fifth studio album, Stillmatic (2001). The single peaked at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Nas's third top-fifty hit on the chart.

<i>From Illmatic to Stillmatic: The Remixes</i> 2002 EP by Nas

From Illmatic to Stillmatic: The Remixes is an extended play by Nas. It includes six remixed versions of songs from the earlier Nas LPs Illmatic, It Was Written, and Stillmatic. It was released by Columbia Records on July 2, 2002. It features AZ, R. Kelly and Foxy Brown.

<i>Illmatic</i> 1994 studio album by Nas

Illmatic is the debut studio album by American rapper Nas. It was released on April 19, 1994, by Columbia Records. After signing with the label with the help of MC Serch, Nas recorded the album in 1992 and 1993 at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording Studios in New York City. The album's production was handled by DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S., and Nas himself. Styled as a hardcore hip hop album, Illmatic features multi-syllabic internal rhymes and inner-city narratives based on Nas' experiences growing up in the Queensbridge Houses in Queens, New York City.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Nas album) 2007 greatest hits album by Nas

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by rapper Nas released through Columbia Records on November 6, 2007. It features twelve of Nas' singles from his Columbia releases from Illmatic to Street's Disciple and two new tracks. Nas' 2006 studio album Hip Hop Is Dead was overlooked because it was released by Def Jam and not Columbia. Nastradamus and The Lost Tapes were also left out. The collaboration made with Cee-Lo for the Rush Hour 3 soundtrack is also included on the album. Greatest Hits debuted at No. 124 on the Billboard 200, selling about 6,800 copies, and No. 20 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. As of August 2008 the compilation has sold over 20,000 copies in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Untitled Nas album</span> 2008 studio album by Nas

The untitled ninth studio album by American rapper Nas, commonly referred to eponymously as Nas, or simply Untitled, was released on July 15, 2008 by The Jones Experience, Columbia Records and The Island Def Jam Music Group. Its original title Nigger was omitted due to controversy surrounding the racial epithet. The album is distinguished for its political content, diverse sources of production, and provocative subject matter. The album features guest appearances from Chris Brown, Keri Hilson, Busta Rhymes, and The Game, among others.

<i>It Was Written</i> 1996 studio album by Nas

It Was Written is the second studio album by American rapper Nas, released on July 2, 1996, by Columbia Records. After the modest commercial success of his debut album Illmatic (1994), Nas pursued a more polished, mainstream sound for It Was Written. Produced largely by Trackmasters, it departed from the debut's raw, underground aesthetic and embraced mafioso and gangsta themes. The recording also marked the first appearance of Nas's short-lived supergroup The Firm, featuring the rappers Foxy Brown, AZ, and Cormega.

<i>I Am...</i> (Nas album) 1999 studio album by Nas

I Am... is the third studio album by American rapper Nas, released on April 6, 1999, by Columbia Records. Following the commercial and critical success of 1996's It Was Written, Nas put to work on a double album that merged the styles of his first two albums and detailed entire aspects of his life. Although he was able to use most songs, other songs that would have made I Am… a double album leaked onto the internet in MP3 format, forcing him to record new material for two separate single-disc releases.

<i>Streets Disciple</i> 2004 studio album by Nas

Street's Disciple is the seventh studio album by American rapper Nas, released as a double album by Columbia Records. Originally scheduled for a September 14, 2004 release, the album was ultimately released on November 30, 2004. Named after one of his lyrics from "Live at the Barbeque" by Main Source, the album's cover art was digitally created using photos of Nas to create an adaptation of The Last Supper. The album marked the end of Nas' tenure with Columbia Records after ten years.

<i>The Lost Tapes 2</i> 2019 compilation album by Nas

The Lost Tapes 2 is a compilation album by American rapper Nas, released on July 19, 2019 by Mass Appeal Records and Def Jam Recordings. It is the sequel to the compilation album The Lost Tapes, released in 2002. The Lost Tapes 2 features unreleased tracks from Nas’ last four studio albums: Hip Hop Is Dead (2006), Untitled (2008), Life Is Good (2012) and the album scrapped in favor of Nasir (2018). It includes production from producers such as RZA, Swizz Beatz, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, No I.D., Pete Rock and The Alchemist, among others.

References

  1. ↑ Ryan et al. Hoard (2004), p. 568.
  2. ↑ Leroy, Dan. "Nas Reviews". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  3. ↑ "More Than Words". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media) 120 (27): 33. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  4. ↑ "RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America . Archived from the original on June 26, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 Birchmeier, Jason. Biography: Nas. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-11-21.
  6. 1 2 The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), p. 569.
  7. 1 2 Hinds, Selwyn Seyfu. Review: Stillmatic. The Village Voice . Retrieved on 2009-11-21.
  8. ↑ Billboard Singles: Stillmatic. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-11-22.
  9. 1 2 Stillmatic (2001): Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2010-10-16.
  10. 1 2 Bush, John. Review: Stillmatic. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-11-21.
  11. 1 2 Pappademas, Alex (February 2002). "Review: Stillmatic". Blender . Alpha Media Group (5): 114.
  12. ↑ Baker, Soren. Review: Stillmatic [ permanent dead link ]. Los Angeles Times . Retrieved on 2009-11-21.
  13. ↑ Needham, Alex (January 11, 2002). "Review: Stillmatic". NME . Archived from the original on October 2, 2002. Retrieved October 16, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) . NME . Retrieved on 2010-10-16.
  14. ↑ Thompson, Paul A. (January 29, 2023). "Nas: Stillmatic Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  15. 1 2 McGuire, Kathryn. Review: Stillmatic. Rolling Stone . Retrieved on 2012-02-14.
  16. 1 2 "Got Five on It". The Source (150). March 2002.
  17. ↑ Ryan, Chris (February 2002). "Reviews". Spin . p. 107.
  18. 1 2 Jones, Steve. "Review: Stillmatic". USA Today : D.06. December 18, 2001.
  19. 1 2 Berry, Elizabeth Mendez. "Review: Stillmatic". Vibe : 120. February 2002.
  20. ↑ Christgau, Robert (March 12, 2002). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved September 17, 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  21. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. p. 1993. ISBN   978-0857125958.
  22. ↑ Chris Rock's Top 25
  23. ↑ Reid, Shaheem. "Mary J. Blige Track On Nas' Stillmatic To Be Cut For 'Personal Reasons'". MTV.com. January 25, 2002. Retrieved August 11, 2008.
  24. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 199.
  25. ↑ "Albums : Top 100". Jam! . January 10, 2002. Archived from the original on December 10, 2004. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  26. ↑ "R&B : Top 50". Jam! . February 14, 2002. Archived from the original on February 14, 2002. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Nas – Stillmatic" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Nas – Stillmatic". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Nas – Stillmatic". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  30. ↑ "スティルマティック | Nas" . Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Nas – Stillmatic". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Nas Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  33. ↑ "Nas Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  34. ↑ "Canada's Top 200 R&B; albums of 2002". Jam! . Archived from the original on October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  35. ↑ "Top 100 rap albums of 2002 in Canada". Jam! . Archived from the original on October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  36. ↑ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2002". Billboard . Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2002". Billboard . Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Nas – Stillmatic". Music Canada.
  39. ↑ "British album certifications – Nas – Stillmatic". British Phonographic Industry.
  40. ↑ "American album certifications – Nas – Stillmatic". Recording Industry Association of America.

Notes

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.