Wikipedia

Street's Disciple

Street's Disciple is the seventh[1] studio album by American rapper Nas, released as a double album by Columbia Records. Originally scheduled for a September 14, 2004 release, the album was ultimately released on November 30, 2004. Named after one of his lyrics from "Live at the Barbeque" by Main Source, the album's cover art was digitally created using photos of Nas to create an adaptation of The Last Supper. The album marked the end of Nas' tenure with Columbia Records after ten years.

Street's Disciple
Studio album by
Nas
ReleasedNovember 30, 2004
Recorded2003–2004
GenreHip hop
Length87:33
LabelColumbia
Producer
Nas chronology
God's Son
(2002) 		Street's Disciple
(2004) 		Hip Hop Is Dead
(2006)
Singles from Street's Disciple
  1. "Thief's Theme"
    Released: June 29, 2004
  2. "Bridging the Gap"
    Released: October 5, 2004
  3. "Just a Moment"
    Released: February 22, 2005

Street's Disciple was well received by critics and debuted at number 5 on the US Billboard 200, selling over 232,000 copies in its first week of sales. It was Nas's seventh consecutive platinum record in the United States, having shipped over 1 million copies in 2 weeks of release.

Production

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Most of the album's production was handled between Salaam Remi, L.E.S. and Chucky Thompson of Sean Combs' production team The Hitmen. Remi contributed production on eleven tracks, L.E.S. produced on eight and Chucky Thompson helped on six. Salaam Remi (who collaborated with Nas on his previous LPs Stillmatic and God's Son) led all with nine solo productions. L.E.S. only produced three solo outings, but one included the single "Just a Moment". Thompson, on the other hand, had one solo production credit ("Getting Married").

Other notable producers from the album include A Tribe Called Quest member Q-Tip (who had last worked with Nas on Illmatic's "One Love" and the remix of "The World Is Yours") and D.I.T.C. producer Buckwild ("These Are Our Heroes"). Nas himself produced "Suicide Bounce" and "U.B.R. (Unauthorized Biography of Rakim)", both from the second disc. L.E.S. also brought on baggage for his productions. T. Black and Nut assisted the legendary producer on "The Makings of a Perfect Bitch" and Herb Middleton helped with the beat on "Me &You (Dedicated to Destiny)". Chucky Thompson, too, brought in extra help for "Live Now" (Barnardo "Nardo" Williams). Rapper Ill Bill made a song similar to "U.B.R. (Unauthorized Biography Of Rakim)" titled "U.B.S. (Unauthorized Biography Of Slayer)" on his album The Hour of Reprisal (2008).

Music

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Nas' father Olu Dara appears on the title track "Street's Disciple" and lead single "Bridging the Gap".[2] Aside from Ludacris ("Virgo") and Quan ("Just a Moment") no other MC's actually deliver a verse on Street's Disciple. Busta Rhymes plays hypeman to "Suicide Bounce" and Doug E. Fresh beatboxes on "Virgo". Kelis (Nas' ex-wife) helps sing the chorus along with the bridge on "American Way". The album has many guest singers, including: Amerie ("Rest of My Life"), Emily ("Reason"), Maxwell ("No One Else in the Room") and Keon Bryce ("War"). Nas also uses a voice synthesizer to make his voice high-pitched for his female alter-ego Scarlett, who appears on "Sekou Story" and "Live Now".

Street's Disciple features multiple socio-conscious and political songs, such as "A Message to the Feds, Sincerely, We the People", "American Way" and "These Are Our Heroes". The latter (originally titled "Coon's Picnic") contained attacks directed toward multiple black celebrities including: O. J. Simpson and NBA superstar Kobe Bryant. Another topic addressed by Nas were important women in his life or females in general. "Getting Married" is dedicated to his then-newlywed wife Kelis Rogers-Jones, "Me & You (Dedicated to Destiny)" is, aptly titled, directed toward Nas' daughter and "Makings of a Perfect Bitch" describes most men's idea of the ideal woman. Death and appreciating life are the subject to several songs as well such as "Live Now", "Rest of My Life" and "Just a Moment".

Release and reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic80/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [4]
Blender     [5]
Entertainment WeeklyA–[1]
The Guardian     [6]
NME9/10[7]
Pitchfork7.2/10[8]
Rolling Stone     [9]
Stylus MagazineB[10]
USA Today    [11]
The Village VoiceA–[12]

Street's Disciple was released by Columbia Records on November 30, 2004, to widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 80, based on 16 reviews.[13] Chicago Sun-Times writer Jeff Vrabel called it "sprawling and ambitious",[14] while Robert Christgau from The Village Voice found its double-CD length "ambitious not hubristic, imposing not indigestible", and wrote that Nas "finally seems comfortable with his (black) humanity. He's responsible, thoughtful, and compassionate, never mealymouthed".[12] He later named it the 11th best album of 2004 in his year-end list for the Pazz & Jop critics poll.[15] Rolling Stone magazine's Jon Caramanica said it was "the rare instance of hip-hop old and wise enough to look backward without forgetting what it was like to look ahead with awe and wonder".[9] Noah Callahan-Bever of Vibe was less enthusiastic, finding much of the songs "routine", suggesting Nas "needs new challenges, enlightening experiences, and careful insights to inspire him".[16]

In the first week of its release, the album debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and sold 232,000 copies in the United States.[17] On November 18, 2005, it was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), having shipped one million copies.[18] It was Nas's seventh consecutive platinum record in the US.[19] "Bridging the Gap" was the album's only single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 94.[20]

Track listing

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Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[21]

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"  1:50
2."A Message to the Feds, Sincerely, We the People"
2:15
3."Nazareth Savage"
Salaam Remi2:40
4."American Way" (featuring Kelis)
Q-Tip4:09
5."These Are Our Heroes"
Buckwild4:22
6."Disciple"
  • Jones
  • Lewis
L.E.S.3:00
7."Sekou Story" (featuring Scarlett)
Salaam Remi2:56
8."Live Now" (featuring Scarlett)
  • Chucky Thompson
  • Bernardo "Nardo" Williams
4:30
9."Rest of My Life"
  • Jones
  • Lewis
  • Thompson
  • L.E.S.
  • Chucky Thompson
  • Salaam Remi (vocals)
3:50
10."Just a Moment" (featuring Quan)
L.E.S.4:23
11."Reason" (featuring Emily)
Chucky Thompson, L.E.S.4:47
12."You Know My Style"
Salaam Remi2:52
Total length:41:34
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Suicide Bounce" (featuring Busta Rhymes)
Nas3:57
2."Street's Disciple" (featuring Olu Dara)
  • Jones
  • Gibbs
Salaam Remi3:57
3."U.B.R. (Unauthorized Biography of Rakim)"JonesNas3:38
4."Virgo" (featuring Doug E. Fresh and Ludacris)
Salaam Remi3:26
5."Remember the Times" (Intro)  0:51
6."Remember the Times"
  • Jones
  • Lewis
  • Russell Stone
L.E.S.3:23
7."The Makings of a Perfect Bitch"
  • Jones
  • Lewis
  • Terry Black
  • Philip Howard
  • L.E.S.
  • T. Black
  • Nut
3:15
8."Getting Married"
  • Jones
  • Thompson
  • Hayes
Chucky Thompson3:46
9."No One Else in the Room" (featuring Maxwell)
  • Jones
  • Gibbs
  • Thompson
  • Salaam Remi
  • Chucky Thompson
5:08
10."Bridging the Gap" (featuring Olu Dara)
  • Jones
  • Olu Dara
  • Gibbs
Salaam Remi3:56
11."War" (featuring Keon Bryce)
  • Jones
  • Gibbs
  • Keon Bryce
Salaam Remi4:17
12."Me & You (Dedicated to Destiny)"
  • L.E.S.
  • Herb "Staff" Middleton
3:26
13."Thief's Theme"
Salaam Remi2:59
Total length:45:59

Sample credits[21]

Personnel

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Performance
  • Nas – Rap Vocals (all tracks), Scarlett's Vocals performed by (tracks 1–07, 1–08), Multiple Instruments (2–03)
  • John F. Adams – Fender Rhodes Piano (track 2–11), Strings (2–11)
  • Amerie – Background Vocals (track 1–09)
  • Kathryn Bostic – Operatic Vocals (track 2–01)
  • Olu Dara – Vocals (tracks 2–02, 2–10), Harmonica (2–10), Trumpet (2–10), Lead Guitar (2–10)
  • David Downing – Cello (track 2–02)
  • Doug E. Fresh – Human Beatbox (track 2–04)
  • Jesse "DJ No Request" Gladstone – Additional Scratches (tracks 1–04, 1–07)
  • Vincent Henry – Clarinet (tracks 1–03, 2–09), Flute (1–03, 2–09), Baritone Saxophone (2–10), Tenor Saxophone (1–03, 2–09, 2–11), Alto Saxophone (1–03, 2–09, 2–11), Harmonica (2–10), Strings (2–10), Additional Guitar (2–10)
  • L.E.S. – Drums (tracks 1–02, 1–09), Drum Machine (1–09), All Other Instruments (1–06, 1–10)
  • Herb Middleton – Keyboards (track 2–12), Bass played by (2–12)
  • Nut – Keyboards (tracks 1–06, 1–10, 2–07)
  • Bruce Purse – Trumpet & Flugelhorn (tracks 1–03, 2–09, 2–11)
  • Quan – Outro Background Vocals (track 2–01)
  • Salaam Remi – Organ played by (track 1–02), Guitar (1–02, 1–03), Bass played by (1–02, 1–03, 2–02, 2–09, 2–10, 2–11), Fender Rhodes Piano (1–03, 2–09), Drums (1–03, 2–02, 2–10, 2–11), Piano (2–02), Strings (2–09), Synthesizer (2–09), Additional Guitar (2–10), Horns arranged by (2–09), Multiple Instruments (1–07, 1–12, 2–01, 2–06, 2–13)
  • Makeba Riddick – Background Vocals (track 2–12)
  • Chucky Thompson – Piano (track 1–02), Guitar (1–02, 2–09), Drums (1–02, 2–09), Bass played by (1–02, 1–09), Hi-Hat Cymbal (1–09), Percussion (2–09), Multiple Instruments (1–08, 2–08)
Production & Technical
  • Executive Producers: Nasir Jones, Salaam Remi, L.E.S.
  • Recording Engineers: Kevin Crouse (tracks 1–01 to 1–12, 2–01 to 2–10, 2–12 to 2–13), Gary Noble (2–11), Carlton Lynn (Additional Music on 1–08)
  • Assistant Recording Engineers: Jesse "DJ No Request" Gladstone (tracks 1–02, 1–04, 1–05, 1–08 to 1–11, 2–01, 2–03, 2–04, 2–06, 2–07), Bevin Robinson (1–02, 1–04, 1–05, 1–08 to 1–11, 2–01, 2–03, 2–04, 2–06, 2–07), Colin Miller (1–03, 2–01), Rob Marks (1–03, 1–09, 1–12, 2–02, 2–10 to 2–13), Mark Rinaldi (1–06, 1–07, 2–12), Ryan Evans (1–06, 1–07, 1–09, 2–06, 2–09, 2–12), Mimi (2–01, 2–07), Ben Kane (2–03), Alex Ndionne (2–11)
  • Audio Mixing: Kevin Crouse (all tracks)
  • Assistant Audio Mixing: Mark Rinaldi (track 1–12)
  • Mastering: Chris Gehringer
  • A&R Direction: Mike Brinkley, Timothy "Gov" Ballard, Dino Delvaille
  • Album Coordination for Sony Urban Music: Nikki Martin
  • Marketing: David Belgrave
  • Management: Sara Newkirk
  • Legal Representation: Peter Paterno ESQ, Michelle Jubelirer
  • Art Direction & Design: Chris Feldmann
  • Photography: Danny Clinch
  • Imaging: Justin Cohen
  • Graphic Artist: Patrick Cahalan
  • Prop Stylist: Debora Francis
  • Stylist: Tiffany Hassbourne

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[34] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b Drumming, Neil. Street's Disciple. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2022-08-24.
  2. ^ Abramovich, Alex. Hip-Hop Family Values. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-11-24.
  3. ^ "Street's Disciple". Metacritic. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
  4. ^ Birchmeier, Jason. Review: Street's Disciple. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-11-24.
  5. ^ Blender: 438. December 2004.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link)
  6. ^ Lynskey, Dorian. Review: Street's Disciple. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2009-11-24.
  7. ^ Collins, Hattie. "Review: Street's Disciple". NME: December 11, 2004.
  8. ^ Sylvester, Neil. Review: Street's Disciple Archived 2007-10-24 at the Wayback Machine. Pitchfork. Retrieved on 2009-11-24.
  9. ^ a b Caramanica, Jon. Review: Street's Disciple. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2009-11-24.
  10. ^ "Stylus Magazine review". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  11. ^ Jones, Steve. Review: Street's Disciple. USA Today. Retrieved on 2009-11-24.
  12. ^ a b Christgau, Robert (January 18, 2005). "Consumer Guide: Heads, Future and Past". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  13. ^ Street's Disciple (2004): Reviews Archived 2009-12-10 at the Wayback Machine. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2009-11-24.
  14. ^ Vrabel, Jeff. "Review: Street's Disciple". Chicago Sun-Times: 61. December 1, 2004.
  15. ^ Pazz & Jop 2004: Dean's List
  16. ^ Callahan-Bever, Noah. "Review: Street's Disciple[permanent dead link‍]". Vibe: 183–184. October 2004.
  17. ^ Sisario, Ben. Pop Charts: Jay-Z and Linkin Park Over U2. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-11-24.
  18. ^ Gold & Platinum: Searchable Database. Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Retrieved on 2009-11-24.
  19. ^ Nas Declares 'Hip Hop Is Dead'. Billboard. Retrieved on 2009-11-24.
  20. ^ Billboard Singles: Street's Disciple. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-11-24.
  21. ^ a b Street's Disciple (booklet). Columbia. 2004.
  22. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – NAS – Street's Disciple" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  23. ^ "Lescharts.com – NAS – Street's Disciple". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  24. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: {{{date}}}" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  25. ^ "ストリーツ・ディサイプル | Nas".
  26. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – NAS – Street's Disciple". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  27. ^ "Swisscharts.com – NAS – Street's Disciple". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  28. ^ "NAS | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  29. ^ "Nas Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  30. ^ "Nas Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  31. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2005". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  32. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2005". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  33. ^ "British album certifications – Nas – Street's Disciple". British Phonographic Industry.
  34. ^ "American album certifications – Nas – Street's Disciple". Recording Industry Association of America.
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