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Absentee Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
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Hip Hop Is Dead
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Dr. Dre, Kanye West and will.i.am are among the producers for the rapper's follow-up to 'Street's Disciple,' which marks his first release for Def Jam.
| LABEL: | Def Jam |
| RELEASE DATE: | 19 December 2006 |
| DISCS: | 1 disc |
| GENRE(S): | Rap |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The average user rating for this album is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 89 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
groundfisher gave it an8:
This would get a 9 from me if the production was better. "Hip-hop is Dead" is a celebration of hip-hop. It is a strong album from Nas and the album's title and concept is not really something new, but it signifies a change in content from Nas with less 'gangsta rap' and more good, old fashioned hip-hip. Gangsta rap IS commercialised hip-hop and one of the things that has killed true hip-hop; Nas has got rich off gangsta rap and now laments that hip-hop is dead. That irony is not lost on Nas. In fact, there is humour in this album that isn't evident in many previous albums, with Nas attacking the album's concept from many different viewpoints, even those viewpoints which gently mock his own. I don't really want to go into depth but just to mention something that I feel Nas didn't address. Remembering times past can lapse into pure nostalgia and whilst it's fine to remember past hip-hop artists and recall Main Source's "Breaking Atoms", for example, you also have to remember the bad things. We didn't have ridiculous, commericalised gangasta rap clones 15+ years ago on the charts. Instead we had a complete and utter corporate construct called Vanilla Ice at the top of the charts. MC Hammer was there too. This was during the golden age of hip-hop. The golden age is well and truly over and whilst hip-hop isn't dead, it has just about hit rock bottom. Hopefully Nas isn't the only one who changes direction...
Brannon M gave it a9:
Classic
Ricardo O gave it a10:
in a world full of emptyness, finally someone that can inspire us to improve
Vahe K gave it an8:
Good Album. one great song, the rest of album is ok
Josh T gave it an8:
If any One gave this album less than a 7 or an 8 don't know sh@t, and i read some of y'all comits. Like Jamal S(It lacks a single killer BEAT) People like this just listen to hip-hop because of the beats, they don't read between the lines. I beat this N@g@a this dip-set is hot(they don't be talking bout sh@t) Hip-Hop Is Dead is not a classic but it better than Streets Disiple, Nastrudams, I Am, and I think it better then it was written. Nas may not have the best ear for beats; but pound for pound lyrically there is only one person in the history of the game that even come close to nas and that is the greatest MC of all time Pac. Not Jigga, Not Big, not anyone has the lyrical tale as Nas or Pac. Holla
Mahmoud R gave it a10:
Supreme Lyricism. Dope beats. What more could you ask for?
Cool Jones D. gave it a10:
I absolutely love this album. You all should get it.

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