The third studio album from God's Son. I Am… is the follow up to 1996's It Was Written, which was a huge critical & commercial success. Originally slated to have been a double-disc release, problems with leaks forced Nas to record new music for this single-disc project. The two singles from the album, "Hate Me Now" and "Nas Is Like," are certified classics, and album cuts like "Undying Love," "N.Y. State of Mind, Pt. II," and "Favor for a Favor" have certainly aged well. As a whole album, I Am… might not share the accolades of Illmatic or It Was Written, but the Queensbridge rapper's intriguing tales of life are still top notch, and production from DJ Premier, Trackmasters, The Hitmen, Timbaland, and L.E.S. helps keep the perfect balance of what grittiness of his debut and the more polished, commercial sophomore effort.

• double vinyl pressing
• music label: Columbia 1999 / 2018

reviewed by rei kwondo 05/18