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). 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. Upon its release, Stillmatic received generally positive reviews from most music critics. The album received a classic 5 mic rating from The Source magazine.
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. 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. 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.
Uh, you know I still run with that, that blood of a slave
Boiling in my veins
It's just hot until a nigga can't take it no more
Blood of a slave, Heart of a King
Turn my voice up
Ayo, the brother is "Stillmatic"
I crawled up out of that grave, wiping the dirt, cleaning my shirt
They thought I'll make another "Illmatic"
But it's always forward I'm moving
Never backwards stupid here's another classic
C-Notes is falling from the sky
By now the credits roll starring Nas executive poet, produced, directed by
The Kid slash Escobar
Narration describes the lives and laws tribes in the ghetto trying to survive
The feature opens with this young black child
Finger scratch, cigarette burns on the sofa, turning the TV down
Mary Jane girls, 45's playing, soft in the background
Poof from C-Town's mornings was hash browns
Stepped over dope fiends, walking out the door, all of us paw
I learned the difference between the snitches, the real ones, and who's soft
And the murderous, hungriest crews
People jumping from roofs, shotguns pumping made it through my youth
Walking very thin lines, ages seven and nine
That's the age I was on my album cover, this is the rebirth
I know the streets thirst water like Moses
Walking through the hot desert searching to be free
This is my end and my new beginning Nostalgia
Out for the in a mega places, it's like a glitch in the matrix
I seen it at all, did it all, most of y'all been pop for a minute
Spitters, sinners and the game get rid of y'all
Y'all got there but y'all didn't get it all, I want my style back
Hate to cease y'all plan it's the rap reaper man
To them double up hustlers, bidders, niggaz who real
Professionals, stick up childs dreaming for meals
Let my words guide you, get inside you
From crypts to pirals this is survival
Blood of a Slave, Heart of a King
Blood of a Slave, Heart of a King
Uh, uh Blood of a Slave, Heart of a King
Uh, yea
Huh, Braveheart