Hip hop fans are basically the masters of holding their breath. We've been waiting on the Nas and DJ Premier album for what feels like a lifetime. Seriously. It’s been decades. If you grew up in the 90s, the idea of a full-length project between the greatest storyteller from Queensbridge and the greatest producer from Texas (via Brooklyn) was the ultimate "what if."
It’s a unicorn.
For years, it lived in the same mythical space as Dr. Dre’s Detox or that Kendrick and J. Cole collab that everyone swears is coming "any day now." But lately, things have shifted. The rumors aren't just rumors anymore; they’ve got legs. When Nas dropped "Define My Name" in early 2024, he didn't just give us a nostalgia trip. He basically confirmed that the full-length effort is finally, actually, happening.
The NY State of Mind Legacy
You can’t talk about a Nas and DJ Premier album without looking at the DNA of Illmatic. That’s where the obsession started. In 1994, Premier produced three tracks on that record: "N.Y. State of Mind," "Represent," and "Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)." Those three songs didn't just define an album; they defined a genre. They created a blueprint for what gritty, cinematic New York rap should sound like.
Preemo has this way of chopping samples that feels like a heartbeat. Nas has a flow that feels like a conversation with a street philosopher. Put them together and it's lightning in a bottle.
But then, things got weird.
After Illmatic, the collaborations became sporadic. We got "I Gave You Power" on It Was Written. We got "Nas Is Like" and "N.Y. State of Mind Pt. II" on I Am.... Then, mostly silence. While Nas spent the 2020s on an incredible run with Hit-Boy—releasing six albums in quick succession—the Premier fans were left scratching their heads. Why wouldn't Nas go back to the source?
Honestly, it probably came down to timing and creative growth. Nas needed to prove he could evolve beyond the "boom bap" box people tried to keep him in. He did that. Now, he’s in a victory lap phase where he can give the fans exactly what they’ve been begging for since 1999.
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Why the "Untitled" Label Confuses People
There’s often a lot of confusion when people search for the Nas and DJ Premier album because Nas already has an "Untitled" album from 2008. You remember that one—the one with the controversial original title that he had to change due to pressure from his label and retail outlets. That was a political, heavy-handed project produced largely by stic.man of Dead Prez and Polow da Don. It has nothing to do with Preemo.
The upcoming project is a totally different beast.
When people talk about the "untitled" Premier project, they’re talking about a collaboration that hasn't officially been named yet. For a while, fans just called it "The Preemo Album." It’s the white whale of discographies.
"Define My Name" and the 30-Year Itch
When "Define My Name" hit streaming services to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Illmatic, it felt like a relief. The song starts with that classic Premier scratch—a sound that triggers an immediate dopamine hit for anyone who loves real hip hop.
The lyrics were telling:
“Thirty years later, at the age of fifty, we set the city on fire.”
Nas sounds hungry. That’s the most important part. He’s not mailing it in. He’s 50 years old and rapping like he’s still trying to get signed to Columbia. Premier, meanwhile, is still the gold standard for production. He hasn't lost his touch. He’s still using the MPC, still digging for those obscure jazz loops, and still making drums that kick like a mule.
The chemistry is undeniable. It makes you wonder why they waited so long. Maybe they needed to wait for the industry to circle back around. Hip hop is currently obsessed with "grown man rap"—lyrics that actually mean something and production that doesn't rely on cookie-cutter trap beats. The timing for a Nas and DJ Premier album has never been better than right now.
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What to Actually Expect (Without the Hype)
Let's be real for a second. Is this going to be Illmatic 2?
No.
If you go into this project expecting it to sound like 1994, you’re going to be disappointed. Both artists have changed. Premier’s style has become more refined, almost orchestral in its simplicity. Nas isn't the 20-year-old kid on the corner anymore; he’s a venture capitalist and a legend who has seen it all.
Expect stories. Expect social commentary. Expect Nas to address his legacy.
One of the coolest things about Premier's recent work (like his projects with Royce da 5'9" as PRhyme) is how he pushes rappers to be more technical. He doesn't just give you a beat; he gives you a landscape. He’s likely going to push Nas into pockets we haven't heard him in for a while.
The Hit-Boy Comparison
It’s impossible to discuss this without mentioning Hit-Boy. The run Nas just had with Hit-Boy is arguably the greatest "late-career" run in music history. Not just rap—music. They won a Grammy. They released Magic and King’s Disease trilogies that were consistently high quality.
Some fans are actually worried. They think, "Can Preemo top what Hit-Boy just did?"
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It’s a valid question. Hit-Boy brought a modern energy to Nas. He made him sound relevant to 20-year-olds while keeping the old heads happy. Premier is a different animal. He’s not trying to be modern. He’s trying to be timeless.
A Nas and DJ Premier album isn't about competing with the charts. It’s about cementing a legacy. It’s for the heads. It’s for the people who want to hear the scratch, the boom, and the bap. It's a different vibe entirely.
What We Know So Far
Details are still a bit thin, but we can piece some things together based on interviews:
- It is a full album. This isn't just an EP or a couple of singles. Nas confirmed at the end of "Define My Name" that the album is coming.
- The production is strictly Premier. Unlike Illmatic, which was a "who's who" of producers (L.E.S., Pete Rock, Q-Tip, Large Professor), this is a 1-on-1 collaboration.
- It’s been in the works for a while. Preemo has hinted in various radio interviews over the last five years that they have "a vault" of material.
- The release window. While no date is set in stone, the momentum from the Illmatic 30th anniversary suggests we’re looking at a late 2024 or early 2025 arrival.
Actionable Steps for the True Fan
If you're trying to prep for what might be the biggest hip hop release of the decade, don't just sit around and wait. You've got homework to do.
- Listen to the "Define My Name" single again. Pay attention to the transitions. That’s the sonic palette they’re working with.
- Go back to the PRhyme albums. If you want to know what modern DJ Premier sounds like when he’s locked in with one MC for an entire project, those Royce da 5'9" collabs are the closest comparison you’ll find.
- Revisit the I Am... sessions. A lot of the Premier tracks that were supposed to be on Nas's original double-album version of I Am... leaked or ended up on The Lost Tapes. Tracks like "Come Get Me" show just how aggressive this duo can get.
- Watch the "Mass Appeal" documentaries. DJ Premier is a co-founder of the Mass Appeal label (along with Nas). Understanding their business relationship helps you understand why this album is finally happening now—they own the masters, they own the label, and they have total creative control.
The Nas and DJ Premier album represents more than just music. It’s a full-circle moment for two icons who changed the world from a small studio in New York. It’s proof that in hip hop, you don't have to "age out." You just have to stay sharp.
Stay tuned. When that first official tracklist drops, the internet is going to break. And for once, it’ll be for something that actually matters.