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Nas Takes It to the Street

New album includes appearance by fiance Kelis

June 28, 2004 12:00 AM ET
Nas wants to make his seventh record, Street's Disciple, his most personal album yet. The set, due September 14th, is the rapper's first since 2002's God's Son, though this spring also saw an expanded reissue of his classic debut Illmatic, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.

Among the new songs is 'Getting Married,' about the Queens, New York, rapper's engagement to "Milkshake" singer Kelis. "It asks, 'How does a man who's progressing, but still holding on to his nuts, talk about getting married?'" he says.

Kelis helps out on the song, but the album is mostly solo, a throwback to Nas' early work. Disciple will be a double CD, a conceit many rappers have failed at. "A lot of double albums didn't cut it," Nas admits, "but with mine, I need that much time to say what I need to say."

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