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Nas has dropped a music video for “Sitting With My Thoughts,” which begins with a shoutout from none other than Method Man.
In the video, which is from Nas’ 2023 album with Hit-Boy, Magic 3, the Wu-Tang Clan legend gives his fellow New Yorker his flowers.
“What’s happening, man? You already know it’s an honor to be on the road with Nas,” Meth says. “That man has come a long, long way. He been in the game for years and he still winning Grammys.”
The Leff-directed visual was shot during Nas, Wu-Tang Clan and De La Soul‘s New York State of Mind Tour in 2023.
It also features cameos from Raekwon, RZA, U-God and Masta Killa, as well as De La Soul’s Posdnuos and Maseo and former NBA star Ron Artest.
The clip follows Nas as he prepares for a show in Las Vegas, capturing his pre-performance routine which includes getting a fresh cut and rubbing shoulders with his rap peers.
Nasty Nas has plenty of reasons to be reflective these days. Later this month, his classic 1994 debut Illmatic will celebrate its 30th anniversary.
To commemorate the occasion, New York State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey introduced a resolution last week paying tribute to the five-mic album.
“What were you doing when you were 20 years old?” Bailey said during a session. “Many of us were in college. We were finding who we were. Nasir Jones, poetically known as Nas, was making the greatest Hip Hop album of all time, Illmatic.”
The Senator went on to discuss how the album was “the soundtrack to my youth.”
“Nas has been a Hip Hop griot — the rapid response system for the streets, for lack of a better term,” he continued. “And if you have a top five without Nas in it, you shouldn’t listen to rap music.”
After previously admitting that he was tired of the Illmatic nostalgia, the Queensbridge rap legend has enjoyed a career resurgence in recent years thanks to his prolific partnership with Hit-Boy.
Magic 3, released in September, marked their sixth full-length collaboration in four years — but it doesn’t appear the pair have any plans to reconvene for another.
When announcing the album shortly before its release, Nas confirmed that it would be his last with the West Coast beatmaker.
“I want to thank everyone for taking this ride with @hitboy & I,” he wrote on social media. “It’s been nothing short of Magical!”
Hit-Boy also reflected on their journey, saying: “Nas is dropping his last Hit-Boy produced album on his 50th bday this thursday. Magic 3. Those are tears of joy btw. thank you to any and everyone who has listened and supported the movement.”
