Stillmatic is the fifth studio album by American rapper Nas, released December 18, 2001 on Columbia Records in the United States. In contrast to his previous work's gangsta rap themes, it contains socially conscious and philosophical themes similar to those of his debut album, Illmatic (1994). Nas's lyrics address topics such as ghetto life, U.S. domestic and foreign policies, and his beef with rapper Jay-Z.

Stillmatic served as a commercial and critical success that helped re-establish Nas' career, following a period of critical disappointment with the releases of I Am… and Nastradamus (1999).^[1][2] It debuted at number 8 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart with sales of 342,600, eventually peaking at number 5 and selling over 2,026,000 copies in the United States.^[3] Upon its release, Stillmatic received generally positive reviews from most music critics. The album received a classic 5 mic rating from The Source magazine.^[4]

Conception[link]

Background[link]

Having gained critical acclaim with his classic debut album Illmatic in 1994, the image of Nas had been quickly deteriorating in the hip-hop community with his change of theme, from the philosophical topics of Illmatic to the gangsta rap and commercialized sound that became the focus of his latter albums.^[5] While his second album, It Was Written, received fairly positive reviews and introduced him to a greater audience, the follow-ups I Am... and Nastradamus were considered mediocre in comparison by critics.^[5] Some criticized his inability to continue his critical success, with Jay-Z rapping in "Takeover" that he released "one hot album every ten year average". The release of Stillmatic was an attempt by Nas to reestablish his credibility in the hip-hop community, with the title signifying his intentions to continue where Illmatic left off.

Feud with Jay-Z[link]

Jay-Z had previously dissed Nas in his single "Takeover", taken from his September 2001 release, The Blueprint.^[5] On Stillmatic, Nas retaliated with the anticipated song, "Ether", a response to "Takeover" which insinuated that Jay-Z had stolen lyrics from The Notorious B.I.G. several times, that he had sold out, and that he was a misogynist, among other things. Several hip-hop aficionados believe Nas won the feud based on this track, which many felt was much more vicious and ruthless than "Takeover", although this is still a subject of debate within hip-hop circles. Jay-Z would respond with the radio freestyle "Supa Ugly".^[6]

Singles[link]

The first single from Stillmatic was "Rule" featuring R&B singer Amerie. It was not heavily promoted but still managed to reach number 67 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.^[7] It did not receive a video and was issued on compact disc, so many are unaware that it was a single. "Got Ur Self A..." was believed to have been the first single from Stillmatic. "Got Ur Self A..." contains a sample from the theme song on the HBO drama The Sopranos. The third single was "One Mic", which received acclaim for its content and video.

Reception[link]

Commercial performance[link]

The album was released on December 11, 2001 and was certified Platinum by Recording Industry Association of America on January 16, 2002.^[8] By 2011, the album has sold over 2,026,000 copies in the United States.^[9]

Critical response[link]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[10]
Blender	[11]
Los Angeles Times	[12]
NME	(7/10)[13]
PopMatters	(favorable)[14]
Rolling Stone	[15]
The Source	[16]
Stylus Magazine	A−[17]
USA Today	[18]
The Village Voice	(favorable)[6]

Stillmatic received generally positive reviews from most music critics.^[19] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 69, based on 12 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".^[19] Stillmatic received 5 mics from The Source magazine–a distinction set aside only for classic hip-hop albums.^[16] Despite finding its production "half-realised", Alex Needham of NME gave the album a 7/10 rating and wrote that "lyrically, Nas is pretty much back on form".^[13] Blender's Alex Pappademas called it "a surprising return to form" and stated "Even if it’s a fluke, Stillmatic still feels like a ren-Nas-sance".^[11] Elizabeth Mendez Berry of Vibe gave the album a 3½ out of 5 disc-rating and found it "infuriatingly inconsistent", but called it "an exercise in lyrical courage and musical might".^[20] It was on the 2005 list of Rolling Stone's top 100 albums and ranked 20th on Chris Rock's Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums of all time.^[21] The success of the album helped resurrect Nas's career, as he has since released several successful and critically acclaimed albums.^[5]

Track listing[link]

Notes

• In Track 13, "My Country", the second verse is by Millennium Thug, and the third verse is shared between Millennium Thug & Nas, though he is not mentioned on the track listing.
• The first pressing of Stillmatic contained "Braveheart Party", a Swizz Beatz production that featured Mary J. Blige and The Bravehearts. It was track eleven between "The Flyest" and "Rule". It was removed from future pressings of the album at Blige's request.^[22]
• The Japanese release of Stillmatic features three additional tracks: "No Idea's Original", "Everybody's Crazy" and "Black Zombies". Each can also be found on The Lost Tapes, a 2002 Nas compilation album.
• A limited edition version of Stillmatic contains a bonus disc with snippets from five songs on The Lost Tapes.

Personnel[link]

Credits for Stillmatic adapted from Allmusic.^[23]

Chart history[link]

Album

Singles

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Nathan Brackett, Christian Hoard (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide: Completely Revised and Updated 4th Edition. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. 

External links[link]

• Stillmatic at Discogs
• Stillmatic at Metacritic
• Background on 5 mic rating — Straight from the Source

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Aston George Taylor, Jr.^[1] (born August 5, 1968)^[1] better known as Funkmaster Flex is an American hip hop DJ, rapper, musician and producer on New York City's Hot 97 radio station and host of the hit MTV show Funk Flex Full Throttle.

Music[link]

Funkmaster Flex (Aston George Taylor Jr.) was born in the Bronx borough of New York City with music flowing through his veins thanks to his father Aston George Taylor Sr., a sound system DJ for local clubs throughout the city.^[2] By 16, Flex began DJing at local nightclubs a perfecting his mixing and turntable talents.^[2] At 19, he got his first job as a record boy for fellow Bronx native, Chuck Chillout for WRKS 98.7 Kiss-FM in New York. One evening, Chillout was late for his show and Funkmaster Flex got his big break and was allowed to stand in, thus beginning his career in radio.^[3]

He later left KISS for a brief stay at 107.5 WBLS-FM, meanwhile Flex kept up his club appearances at many of Vito Bruno's operated nightclubs including The Tunnel, Home Bass and Mecca. Bruno helped convince Joel Salkowitz, a regional vice president of Hot 97, to begin airing live broadcasts from clubs where Flex was performing like The Tunnel. He called the hours of Saturday evening programming the "Saturday Night House Party". When they realized the resurgence of Hip Hop was coming fast from its fallout in the eighties they increase the hours and days of these style of shows.^[4]

Salkowitz went and saw Funkmaster Flex perform and work the crowd at the Home Bass. After that night, he was convinced that Flex was his man and in the spring of 1992, Funkmaster Flex began mixing and hosting his own show, a specialized rap show on Hot 97. The first pop station in New York to showcase rap. Flex has been with Hot 97 ever since and aired nationally through syndication throughout the weeknights and weekends.^[4]

Production[link]

By the mid 1990s, Flex was signed by a major record label, Loud Records, for a series of innovative 60 Minutes of Funk mixtapes. All four of them achieved gold status in the US.^[3] On The Tunnel with Def Jam in 1999, Flex managed to get some of the biggest names in hip hop to contribute, including Dr. Dre, Nas, Jay-Z, DMX, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Method Man and 50 Cent to participate.^[3]

He currently continues to be a prolific producer with a solid list of albums and artist he has supported over the years including Yvette Michele, Pras, DJ Kool, Armand Van Helden and many others.^[5]

Television[link]

Flex first started appearing on television in the early nineties on Yo! MTV Raps hosted by Fab 5 Freddy, Ed Lover and Doctor Dré.^[6][7] Soon, MTV began to ask Flex to do various spots on up and coming Hip Hop artists and his true passion for cars and trickin' out their celebrity rides.

In 2003, Flex debuted his first television series, Ride with Funkmaster Flex on the Spike cable network.^[8] The show documented the explosive subculture of cars that are popular in the Hip Hop culture and with Hollywood celebrities. Noteworthy moments in series included a look into Diddy's private jet and a visit to Eminem's studio in the Motor City and look at his hot GMC Yukon.^[8][9]

Soon after Ride's success, Flex wanted to explore his passion for car racing and developed a unique way to get it done with a new one-off Spike TV show race event - The Funkmaster Flex Super Series Invitational.^[10] The race featured 60 hungry late model stock car drivers from across the country turning laps at The Waterford Speedbowl in Conn.^[10] Flex went behind the scene to see what it takes to become a winner in racing while bringing out celebrities like Orange County Choppers, LL Cool J and Lil' Kim to watch the event.^[10] Monica Taylor Enterprise - Rare Footage of Super Series

ESPN noticed Ride with Funkmaster Flex and decided they wanted a show to help them reach more automotive enthusiast who watched racing, NASCAR and sports. Flex came a calling with a show focusing on custom cars and interviewing leading sports celebrities from the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball and the world of Hip Hop including Danica Patrick, Terrell Owens and Jason Giambi. The show was called All Muscle with Funkmaster Flex and began airing early 2007.^[11]

Later in 2007, Flex shifted his focus to influencing automotive design. Based on what he was witnessing at the competitions at his various Custom Car & Bike Show tour events, he decided he wanted to push the envelope with these amateur designers with a new show - Car Wars with Funkmaster Flex on ESPN.^[12] With initial sponsorship from Castrol and later Ford Motor Company, Car Wars asked different car customizers from across the country to modify existing vehicles for cash prizes. The show developed lots of noteworthy designed Ford Expeditions, Ford Fusions and other vehicles. If featured famed automotive designers like Patrick Schiavone, former Ford North American Truck & SUV Design Director now Vice President of Design at Whirlpool and Ford Explorer Exterior Design Manager, Melvin Betancourt and Louis D'erasmo of Valanca Auto Concepts.^[13]

For Fast Machines with Funkmaster Flex, Flex returned to Spike TV and his customization roots once again focusing on making some exciting muscle and modern car customization for celebrities like a 1955 Chevy Bel Air for Dale Earnhardt Jr., a 1966 Pontiac GTO for Pontiac Enthusiast Magazine, 1970 Chevy Chevelle for the U.S. Marines. It also featured a fantastic interview with Royal Purple race driver Kathryn Minter.^[14]

In 2010, Flex returned to his MTV roots with a new show - Funk Flex Full Throttle. Flex was back doing what he does best: interview the most buzzed-about hip-hop artists - with his signature raucous, familiar style - and complete car customizations that have made him a legend in the automotive world. Whether Flex was on location at Spring Break, the New York Auto Show or hanging in his tricked-out garage the show was exciting. Full Throttle also integrated reality elements as Flex directed his team of car customizers at various builds and allowed viewers inside the lifestyle of Hip Hop stars - be it clubbing with Diddy, or helping Swizz Beatz select a top-of-the-line dream ride.^[15]

Stay tuned for the second season of Full Throttle and a potential new Hip Hop lifestyle series from Flex in the future.

Funk Flex - On the Road[link]

Flex developed and promotes an annual eight-city Funkmaster Flex Custom Car & Bike Show Tour, bringing the most exclusive and expensive candy colored rides to fans in cities from Miami to Atlantic City.

The tour moves across the country and has featured artists such as Drake, Nicki Minaj and Fabolous. Each stop showcases the hottest customized rides in competition for cash prizes, model and recording talent search. In 2010, Flex added the Funkmaster Flex Lifestyle Expo. The Expo featured sneaker and DJ battles, video game competitions, skateboard demos along with discounted prices on the hottest shoes, fitted hats and underground gear.^[16]

The Tour also showcases the premiere show for sneaker enthusiasts and Street Wear Culture, "The International Sneaker Battle." The Battle brings together sneaker enthusiasts and everyone involved in the culture of Hip Hop, graffiti, DJing, sneakers, clothing, art, and overall fashion.

Flex also loves to show off his personal collection of muscle cars at each stop. He has amassed over 40 cars in his collections. Here are his favorites.^[17]

1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass - A car his father once owned and started his passion for American muscle cars.

1969 Dodge Charger R/T - The first muscle car he ever purchased, even though he admits he isn't really a Mopar fan.

1970 Chevy Chevelle SS 502 - Flex's favorite and the one car he will never part with.

1967 Ford Galaxie G-Machine - One Flex's favorite Ford products.

Controversy[link]

Things got ugly in 2002 after Flex was accused of attacking Power 105.1’s Steph Lova. According to reports, the attack stemmed from allegations made during a Nas interview with Steph Lova in which the rapper claimed Flex had been taking payola. In the end, Flex pleaded guilty to harassment, and was also ordered to stay away from the Power 105.1 DJ.

Auto design - Flex style[link]

In 2005, Ford Motor Company opened its Dearborn design studio doors to Funkmaster Flex to look at how to customize its product line-up and add exposure to the brand. To date, Flex has worked on a lot of innovative projects for Ford.^[18]

2006 Ford Fusion - Flex is named the first customizer to transform the Fusion for the street.^[18]

2008 Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition - Flex follows his idol Carroll Shelby and is given the opportunity to have a limited edition Expedition with unique design cues with his name on it. The car is revealed for the first time at the New York Auto Show.^[19]

2009 Ford Flex - Flex reveals his version of the new crossover at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) along side Hip Hop artist Nelly.^[20]

2010 Ford Taurus SHO - Flex tricks out the iconic Taurus for 2009 SEMA show.^[21]

2010 Ford Explorer - Flex tricks out the all-new redesigned Explorer for the 2010 SEMA show.^[22]

2011 Ford Fiesta - A contest to win an all-new 2011 Ford Fiesta receives over a quarter of a million entries on FordUrban.com^[23]

Video games[link]

Flex is a featured DJ on The Beat 102.7 in the 2008 Grand Theft Auto IV - The Lost and the Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony.^[24]

He is a celebrity adversary and a unlockable free agent fullback in season mode of ESPN NFL 2K5. He also has an unlockable team, the Baurtwell Funkmasters.^[25]

Flex was an unlockable character in Def Jam: Vendetta. In that game, he was the in-game narrator of almost all fights. Except in After Hours matches, which don't have narrating.

Flex's music is featured in his own game - Funkmaster Flex's Digital Hitz Factory.^[26]

Discography[link]

• The Mix Tape, Vol. 1 (1995)
• The Mix Tape, Vol. II (1997)
• The Mix Tape, Vol. III (1998)
• The Tunnel (1999)
• The Mix Tape, Vol. IV (2000)
• Car Show Tour (2005)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Funkmaster Flex at the Internet Movie Database
• Funkmaster Flex at Discogs