Hip Hop Is Dead

The title Hip Hop is Dead stirred up some controversy, as many felt Nas was aiming at Southern rappers who were rising in popularity around this time, primarily with less lyrical crunk and snap music. Nas clarified his message in an interview with MTV:

When I say ‘hip-hop is dead’, basically America is dead. There is no political voice. Music is dead […] Our way of thinking is dead, our commerce is dead. Everything in this society has been done.

The album featured many high-profile producers such as Dr. Dre, Kanye West, Scott Storch, will.i.am, along with his usual producers Salaam Remi and L.E.S. This album was also significant as it was his first with Def Jam after he was signed by then-president JAY-Z, his former foe. Things came full circle as Def Jam initially passed on signing Nas in the beginning, leading him to sign with Columbia Records, where he stayed for more than ten years.

The label change didn’t slow down his success as Hip Hop is Dead debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and achieved platinum status with support from the singles “Hip Hop is Dead” and “Can’t Forget About You” with Chrisette Michele. The album was also nominated in the Best Rap Album category in 2008 but lost to Kanye West’s Graduation.