Nastradamus is the fourth studio album by American rapper Nas, released on November 23, 1999, by Ill Will and Columbia Records. It was originally intended to be composed entirely of material from sessions for I Am... and released October 26,Birchmeier, Jason. [ Biography: Nas]. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-11-21. but in response to bootlegging of that material, release was postponed one month for Nas to record new material for Nastradamus.
The album debuted at number 7 on the US Billboard 200, selling over 232,000 copies in its first week. It received generally mixed reviews from critics, and has been regarded by some as Nas's weakest effort.Hoard (2004), p. 568. However, it achieved considerable commercial success and spawned two charting singles. On December 22, 1999, the album was certified Platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).Gold & Platinum: Searchable Database . Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Retrieved on 2008-08-09.
In retrospect, Nas said: "On that album, there’s a couple of songs that have a certain sound to it that doesn’t sound like anything else I’ve done. And it was a gray area in my life and that album represents that gray area. It was personal stuff that I’d rather not elaborate on. But I have nothing against that album."
Track listing
Sample credits SourceRap Sample FAQ: Nas . TheBreaks. Retrieved on 2009-11-21.
Life We Chose "Peace Fugue" by Bernie Worrell
Nastradamus "(It's Not the Express) It's the JB's Monaurail" by The J.B.'s
Come Get Me "We’re Just Trying to Make It" by The Persuaders "Week-End" by Cox Orange "It's Mine" by Mobb Deep
Last Words "Good Luck Charm" by Ohio Players
Big Girl "You're a Big Girl Now" by The Stylistics
New World "Africa" by Toto
Shoot 'Em Up "Carol of the Bells" by Mykola Leontovych "If I Die 2nite" by 2Pac "Shoot 'Em Up" by Cypress Hill
Charts Weekly charts Chart (1999)Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (2000)Peakposition
Certifications
References
Works cited
External links Nastradamus at Discogs Sharps and Flats at Salon.com Album Review at Yahoo! Music UK