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Hip Hop Is Dead
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Hip Hop Is Dead Image
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 175 Ratings

  • Summary: 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.

Top Track

Hip-Hop Is Dead
Hip hop Hip hop Is dead Hip, hip hop Hip hop Is dead Hip, hip hop Hip, hip hop Is dead Hip, hip hop Hip hop Hip hop If hip hop should die before... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. RapReviews.com
    100
    Nas has made a passionate album to reawaken your love of the art and if your heart isn't thumping in your chest by the end then it's not hip-hop that's dead, it's you.
  2. MSN Consumer Guide (Robert Christgau)
    91
    The fun comes easier when he fools around with the title conceit, and even sometimes when he thinks about it.
  3. Dot Music
    90
    Nas's insight, erudition and poetic intensity override all other concerns.
  4. Rolling Stone
    80
    Nas has always sounded older than his years, but there are moments on his eighth album when he sounds like the lead in the hood version of Grumpy Old Men.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    Hip Hop Is Dead is a lot like Nas himself: impossible not to admire, but hard to love.
  6. AllMusic
    70
    Hip Hop Is Dead is not Illmatic.
  7. Austin Chronicle
    40
    With Dr. Dre, Kanye West, and even Jay-Z on its guest list, Hip Hop Is Dead makes for an ample, yet ultimately morbid, party.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 71 out of 82
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 82
  3. Negative: 9 out of 82
  1. Connorcox1997
    Mar 15, 2019
    10
    Nas's eight album Hip Hop is Dead makes a strong statement in the music industry back in 2006 and even in todays music. In Hip Hop is Dead,Nas's eight album Hip Hop is Dead makes a strong statement in the music industry back in 2006 and even in todays music. In Hip Hop is Dead, Nas tells how the genre he grew up listening to was dying at the time and he wanted make the album to understand that Hip Hop is still alive. I absolutely loved all the songs on the album, the beats are different from his previous albums but there still are dope, and the production is great. Hip Hop is Dead is definitely my 5th favorite Nas Album. This Album is defiantly worth a listen. I highly recommend it.… Expand
  2. NeegG
    Dec 28, 2006
    10
    Definitely the best album Nas has had in years, production is a little spotty but Nas is still spot-on with his lyrics and doesn't let Definitely the best album Nas has had in years, production is a little spotty but Nas is still spot-on with his lyrics and doesn't let the guests overshadow him.… Expand
  4. B'rundeJ
    Dec 19, 2006
    10
    Greatest album Ever. Production, Lyrics, Sex Appeal, Nice Teeth...all make this album of 2006 and beyond. This is a must have!
  5. davidc
    Jan 21, 2007
    10
    brilliant,phat tracks, it sounds alot like illmatic. its the ressurection.
  6. MikeZ
    Dec 21, 2006
    9
    Minus the LAME-ASS beat on "Blunt Ashes" & the corny concept of "Not Going Back", NAS has a almost perfect LP!
  7. groundfisher
    Aug 27, 2007
    8
    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 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...… Expand
  8. Mr.C
    Dec 19, 2006
    0
    Album is very mediocre.

See all 82 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

92
#92 Best Album of 2006
35
#35 Most Discussed Album of 2006
56
#56 Most Shared Album of 2006

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