Happy birthday, Nas! On Thursday, September 14th, the pioneering rapper turned 50 years old, and he’s marking the occasion with the release of his 17th studio album, Magic 3. Stream the record below.
Arriving just under eight weeks after Nas’ previous album, Magic 2, Magic 3 is the final volume in an album-trilogy collaboration between the “New York State of Mind” rapper and producer Hit-Boy. The duo first teamed up for 2020’s King’s Disease, and have since collaborated on four additional albums, including the first two entries in the Magic series. The first Magic record dropped in 2021.
Spanning 15 tracks, the new Magic 3 is lush with elements indicative of the duo’s partnership, as well as highlights, like the track “Never Die,” which features Lil Wayne. Speaking about working with Hit-Boy in an interview with Rap Life Radio’s Ebro Darden, Nas described the producer as “[his] Quincy [Jones].” Magic 3 is out via Mass Appeal Records, and is available in cassette, CD, and 1xLP formats. Orders are ongoing.
Additionally, Mass Appeal has another fun piece of Nas merch that’s now available: the official Nas-themed Rubik’s Cube, entitled the “King’s Magic Cube.” Once solved, each of the six sides of the puzzle game reveal the album artwork from the six albums Hit-Boy has produced for Nas. Check it out here.
Beyond his Hit-Boy collabs, Nas also recently appeared on a Swizz Beatz project released in April commemorating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, alongside Lil Wayne, Jay Electronica, Benny the Butcher, Jadakiss, and more. Entitled Hip Hop 50 Vol. 2, the EP was the follow up to Hip Hop 50 Vol. 1, which was released in July 2022 and also featured a Nas appearance.
Meanwhile, Nas’ “NY State of Mind Tour” with Wu-Tang Clan and De La Soul is ongoing, and will continue through the end of October with a North American leg that’ll take the rap titans to cities across the US. Check out the full list of dates, and grab your tickets here.
Magic 3 Artwork:
Magic 3 Tracklist:
01. Fever
02. TSK
03. Superhero Status
04. I Love This Feeling
05. No Tears
06. Never Die (feat. Lil Wayne)
07. Pretty Young Girl
08. Based on True Events
09. Based on True Events Pt. 2
10. Sitting with My Thoughts
11. Blue Bentley
12. Jodeci Member
13. Speechless Pt. 2
14. Japanese Soul Bar
15. 1-800-Nas-&-Hit