Hip-hop fans have reason to celebrate. Nas has confirmed that his highly anticipated collaborative album with DJ Premier is officially complete. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the Queensbridge legend revealed that the project includes material spanning more than a decade of sessions.
When asked about the album, Nas said, “I can’t wait for people to finally hear it. I don’t know about anybody else, but for me and him, it was personally a long time coming for us to do it.” The statement highlights the personal and professional significance of the reunion for both artists.
The collaboration between Nas and DJ Premier has been one of hip-hop’s most awaited projects since rumors first surfaced in the early 2000s. Premier produced some of Nas’ most iconic tracks, including “N.Y. State of Mind,” “Represent,” and “Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park)” from Nas’ 1994 debut Illmatic. Their combined legacy has set high expectations for the album.
The first single from the project, “Define My Name,” was released earlier this year as part of Mass Appeal Records’ Legend Has It… series. The series celebrates New York hip-hop legends and features artists like Slick Rick, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Mobb Deep, and posthumous releases from Big L. Mass Appeal also partnered with Marvel to create a Legend Has It… comic, turning the featured artists into superhero versions of themselves.
Over the years, Nas and Premier repeatedly expressed a desire to reconnect in the studio but struggled to align schedules. Now, after years of speculation, the collaboration is complete, promising the classic chemistry that fans have long anticipated.
Nas did not announce a release date, but confirmation of the project has reignited excitement among hip-hop purists. DJ Premier has previously suggested that the album will honor their classic sound, focusing on soulful sampling, boom-bap beats, and lyricism rooted in New York grit.
With Nas continuing his artistic resurgence through the King’s Disease and Magic series, this long-awaited album with DJ Premier could become a defining moment in his career, delivering a timeless sound for both longtime fans and new listeners.
