The run of stellar albums from Nas and Hit-Boy are coming to a close. Nas hit Instagram and revealed that Magic 3 is on the way, which will close his collection with Hit-Boy and celebrate his 50th birthday.
I want to thank everyone for taking this ride with @hitboy & I.
It’s been nothing short of Magical! The Album Drops On My Birthday. THURSDAY 9•14 at 9PM
Nas and Hit-Boy’s creative partnership has turned out to be incredibly fruitful, as they’ve released no fewer than five projects — one of which, King’s Disease II, delivered Nas his first-ever Grammy win in 2022, ending a 20+ year drought for the rap rap veteran. Alas, all good things must eventually end, and so, Nas and Hit are delivering one last album before moving on. It’ll be called Magic 3 and it’s coming out this Thursday, September 14 — Nas’ 50th birthday. Nas and Hit-Boy announced the final project (after teasing the duo’s “finale” for the past week) on Instagram:
In Hit-Boy’s post, the producer left several comments thanking “any and everyone who’s listened” and declaring that “it’s been fun,” while Nas waxed nostalgic in his own caption, writing, “It’s been nothing short of Magical!”
The first five albums — three King’s Disease projects and two installments of Magic — were credited with revitalizing Nas’ credibility with younger audiences and his own day-one fans after years of declining reception, as noted by such observers as Lonzo Ball and 21 Savage. However, Savage quickly backtracked after being featured on the Magic 2 track, “One Mic, One Gun.” Nas was later tapped to remake “Rapper’s Delight” with contemporary stars GloRilla and Latto and fellow veteran Rakim, bridging the gap between generations and proving he’s just as relevant as ever after collaborating with younger stars like Don Toliver, Lil Durk, and ASAP Rocky.
Nas will be dropping his next collaborative album with Hit-Boy, Magic 3, later this week, on Thursday, September 14, 2023. He made the announcement on Instagram, Tuesday, thanking fans for their continued support of both himself and his frequent collaborator over the years.
“I want to thank everyone for taking this ride with @hitboy & I. It’s been nothing short of Magical! The Album Drops On My Birthday. 9•14 at 9PM. Forever Grateful, Enjoy!! Nasir Jones,” he captioned a blurry photo of himself. Fans were stoked to hear the announcement in the comments section. “Greatness. Nasir, a true representation of hip hop who is always doing it for the culture,” one fan commented. Another wrote: “What a great run. peace to the goat.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 11: Hit-Boy and Nas attend “King’s Disease III” Album Celebration on November 11, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
A third project in the Magic series comes just a few short months after Nas dropped the prior album. At the time, he remarked on social media that he’s in the midst of the best year of his life. “I’m happy to be around making new music because I love it,” he wrote on Twitter. “Having the best year of my life. I caught the Holy Spirit and I’m grateful to be giving it all to the world. Magic 2.” Magic 2 featured 50 Cent and 21 Savage. Check out Nas’ announcement for the new Magic album below.
Following the release of Magic 3, Nas will have dropped six consecutive albums produced by Hit-Boy. The run has notched the two a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album with the original King’s Disease as well as nominations for Best Rap Song and a second for Best Rap Album. Be on the lookout for further updates on Nas’ Magic 3 on HotNewHipHop in the coming days.
