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God's Son
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God's Son Image
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 18 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 150 Ratings

  • Summary: Jay-Z's mortal enemy returns with his third (!) release of 2002, which includes collaborations with Alicia Keys and 2Pac (yes, that 2Pac, who, as you may recall, died several years ago).

Top Track

I Know I Can
I know I can Be what I wanna be If I work hard at it I'll be where I wanna be I know I can, I know I can Be what I wanna be, be what I wanna be If I... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    100
    Here, Nas is so fierce, so plainspoken, so lean with words, that he demolishes not just the oeuvre of our ruling rappers (yes, including Eminem's) and recalls the music's lyrical champs like Rakim, he even brings to mind hip-hop progenitors like Muhammad Ali in the "Rumble in the Jungle" era.
  2. Billboard
    90
    Thought-provoking and masterful, God's Son finds Nas finally realizing his full potential as an MC.
  3. Pitchfork
    86
    In many ways, God's Son is lyrically superior to Illmatic. Nas has created an album that is at once mournful and resilient, street-savvy and academic.
  4. AllMusic
    80
    God's Son isn't quite the masterpiece is could be -- mostly because Nas is so self-involved, sometimes seemingly intoxicated by his kingliness -- but it's surely one of the most remarkable albums of the Queensbridge rapper's highlight-filled career, just a notch or so below Illmatic and Stillmatic.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    As with all thug poetry, the ego and malice are blinding, but moments of self-deprecation and social responsibility out-flash the gun bursts.
  6. Launch.com
    70
    After years of puzzling releases, Nas has finally delivered a collection worthy of his landmark 1994 debut.
  7. Village Voice
    Aug 10, 2011
    50
    Nas doesn't ruin a decent beat, but rarely is he able to improve one.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 34
  3. Negative: 5 out of 34
  1. emceefan
    Aug 2, 2012
    10
    And Nasty Nas strikes again with another platinum WORTHY album, which many artists never are WORTHY but go platinum anyway. Nas tells littleAnd Nasty Nas strikes again with another platinum WORTHY album, which many artists never are WORTHY but go platinum anyway. Nas tells little ghetto children to follow their dreams, dedicated songs to his mother who recently died, and had a song with Pac. Pac who died six years before, beefed with Nas and Mobb Deep, and Nas forgives and forgets it all, to feature 2Pac & J. Phoenix in Thugz Mansion N.Y. And all of this in the midst of the Nas - Jigga feud that Nas won and Jigga the fake ass n**** had to hope for forgiveness for sucking ****. Nas followed Stillmatic with his 4th instant classic album that won the feud. At this point, Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones should be a household name everywhere.… Expand
  2. sooha
    May 4, 2004
    10
    so amazin! why he doesn't come to China
  4. KoonceO
    Mar 20, 2003
    10
    The entire album is mind raveling. Nas is definitely in a league of his own by revealing the true entity of hip-hop or should I say, The entire album is mind raveling. Nas is definitely in a league of his own by revealing the true entity of hip-hop or should I say, "street-hop". His lyrics are personal, truthful, and street. And at times educational. Nas is not commercial; but more like a rapper writing down his experiences on a note pad. … Expand
  5. DanielD
    Dec 11, 2006
    10
    Probably the best album Nas has ever made!!! And this is coming from a person who was introduced to hip-hop by "It Was Written" and fell in Probably the best album Nas has ever made!!! And this is coming from a person who was introduced to hip-hop by "It Was Written" and fell in love with hip-hop because of Nas.… Collapse
  6. [Anonymous]
    Jun 19, 2004
    9
    Ridiculous, probably the best four song opener in hip hop in a long time.
  7. DonovanC
    May 20, 2004
    8
    This is a real hip-hop album. It may not be as good as It Was Written but he matured as a rapper and was very deep with his lyrics. Nas did This is a real hip-hop album. It may not be as good as It Was Written but he matured as a rapper and was very deep with his lyrics. Nas did his thing on this one.… Expand
  8. todaywasagooday
    Dec 1, 2022
    0
    Please. Stop overhyping these average albums. This is just a good record. Nothing more. Nothing compared to Em's best works, Kanye's bestPlease. Stop overhyping these average albums. This is just a good record. Nothing more. Nothing compared to Em's best works, Kanye's best works and Kendrick's best works.… Expand

See all 34 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

42
#42 Best Album of 2002
30
#30 Most Discussed Album of 2002
20
#20 Most Shared Album of 2002

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