nas-hip-hop-is-dead-documentary

Nas’ Hip Hop Is Dead album turned 10 earlier this week, and to celebrate, the Queensbridge rapper teamed up with Mass Appeal and Google Play to put together a short documentary on his provocative project.

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The four-part series delves into the meaning behind the album title and artwork, the making of the lead single, which features will.i.am and the same sample from “Thief’s Theme,” and the significance of Nas and Jay Z’s “Black Republican” collaboration. Esco also shares his thoughts on hip-hop’s present, and offers a candid review of his mission to shake up the game.

“In retrospect, I missed the mark by miles,” he admits. “I didn’t want to pick people apart. I felt like that was for a younger artist to do. I thought the title was enough — to say it’s dead it was to say, ‘I don’t know where to begin, I don’t know where to start.’ But at least I’ll name it this and we’ll see what goes from there.”

[Mass Appeal]

Related: Nas & Erykah Bady Perform “This Bitter Land” on Jimmy Kimmel Live