Life Is Good (Nas album)

File:Kelis 1.jpg (photographed in 2010) inspired much of the album.]]

In 2010, Nas released his studio album Distant Relatives, a collaboration with Damian Marley that reinvigorated the rapper creatively. He soon became distracted by tax problems and an expensive, highly publicized divorce from his wife Kelis months before their son's birth, events that influenced his direction for Life Is Good.{{cite news|last=Hancox |first=Dan |date=July 5, 2012 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jul/05/nas-hiphop-belongs-to-all-of-us |title=Nas: 'Hip-hop belongs to all of us now' |newspaper=The Guardian |at=section G2, p. 10 |location=London |access-date=July 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717172237/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/jul/05/nas-hiphop-belongs-to-all-of-us |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |url-status=live }} His songwriting on the album was also influenced by adjusting back to life as a single man.{{cite web|date=July 22, 2012 |url=https://www.npr.org/2012/07/22/157043285/nas-on-marvin-gayes-marriage-parenting-and-rap-genius |title=Nas on Marvin Gaye's Marriage, Parenting And Rap Genius |publisher=NPR |access-date=July 31, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922072005/http://www.npr.org/2012/07/22/157043285/nas-on-marvin-gayes-marriage-parenting-and-rap-genius |archive-date=September 22, 2012 |url-status=live }} Nas also wanted to write more original subject matter rather than another album "about how you came up in the hood and how you had to make it out of the hood". Although he did not find his album "quite so much about the marriage or the divorce", Nas likened Life Is Good to Marvin Gaye's 1978 album Here, My Dear, which was written by Gaye in response to his own deteriorating marriage and released as a financial settlement.{{cite magazine |last=Murphy |first=Keith |date=June 29, 2012 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/482365/nas-opens-up-about-personal-moments-on-life-is-good-album |title=Nas Opens Up About Personal Moments On 'Life Is Good' Album |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526065917/https://www.webcitation.org/6B1mbDOKS?url=http://m.billboard.com/entry/view/id/45114%3FKSID=11c4faa0c126585527a06af69227d0e3&ints_viewed=1 |archive-date=May 26, 2024 |url-status=dead }} For Life Is Good{{'}}s album cover, a photo was taken of Nas in a polished white suit, sitting in a night club's VIP lounge, appearing forlorn, and holding over his knee Kelis' actual green wedding dress, which he said was the only item she left him.

When writing the album, Nas also reflected on aging and maturation, fatherhood, and his 20-year experience in hip hop music. Nas discussed the album's personal subject matter in an interview for Billboard:

{{cquote|When I started working on the record, I tried to avoid it. The timing was just calling for me to not avoid all the shit that was going on out there. It was like a 10,000-ton gorilla in the room watching me. This is the way I got it off of my chest. This album talks about life, love and money. It talks about the fact that marriage is expensive. Life Is Good represents the most beautiful, dramatic and heavy moments in my life.}}

Recording sessions for the album took place at the following recording studios—4220 Studios, Conway Recording Studios, and EastWest Studios in Hollywood, Instrument Zoo Studios in Miami, Jungle City Studios and Oven Studios in New York City, Record One in Sherman Oaks, and Westlake Studios in Los Angeles.{{cite web |url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8768685&style=music&fulldesc=T |title=Nas – Life Is Good CD Album |publisher=CD Universe |access-date=August 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203215144/http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8768685&style=music&fulldesc=T |archive-date=February 3, 2014 |url-status=live }} Nas worked with several musicians, including Amy Winehouse, Mary J. Blige, James Poyser, Anthony Hamilton, Miguel, Large Professor, and Hal Ritson, among others.{{cite AV media notes|others=Nas|title=Life Is Good|publisher=Def Jam Recordings|id=B001705602|year=2012|type=CD liner}} For the album, Nas wanted the production to complement his lyrics' nostalgic themes with 1980s hip hop influences. He primarily worked with hip hop producers No I.D. and Salaam Remi, a frequent collaborator of Nas. Remi said that he wanted his production "to be something that a mumble-mouth rapper can't rap on. You better have something to say and be speaking up."{{cite journal|last=Marriott |first=Rob |date=May 21, 2012 |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/05/nas-cover-story |title=Nas: Return of the Don (2012 Cover Story) |journal=Complex |access-date=July 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919053602/http://www.complex.com/music/2012/05/nas-cover-story |archive-date=September 19, 2012 |url-status=live }} Along with producer Swizz Beatz, No I.D. and Nas related to the latter's lyrics concerning divorce during the recording sessions.

During the sessions, Nas recorded the song "No Such Thing as White Jesus" with singer Frank Ocean and producer Hit-Boy, who misplaced the track while sorting through music he had produced for Jay-Z and Kanye West's album Watch the Throne (2011). Although he later recovered it, the song was not included on Life Is Good.{{cite web|last=Markman|first=Rob|date=January 24, 2013|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1700754/nas-frank-ocean-white-jesus-producer|title=Nas And Frank Ocean's 'White Jesus' Will Be 'Heard by the World'|publisher=MTV News|access-date=May 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530023223/http://www.mtv.com/news/1700754/nas-frank-ocean-white-jesus-producer/|archive-date=May 30, 2014|url-status=dead}}

{{quote box|quoted=1|quote=Life Is Good leaves Nas in his comfort zone, where the vital music of his youth proves a rousing platform for commenting on matters of middle age.|source=—Evan Rytlewski (The A.V. Club, 2012)|width=25em|align=left|style=padding:8px;|border=1px}}

The album incorporates musical references to both older and contemporary hip hop. Its production features live instrumentation,{{cite news|last=Capobianco |first=Ken |date=July 17, 2012 |url=http://articles.boston.com/2012-07-17/music/32699973_1_hip-hop-kelis-life |title=Nas, 'Life Is Good' |newspaper=The Boston Globe |location=Boston |access-date=July 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120929004949/http://articles.boston.com/2012-07-17/music/32699973_1_hip-hop-kelis-life |archive-date=September 29, 2012 |url-status=dead }} orchestral music, R&B, and boom bap elements.{{cite journal|last=Soderberg |first=Brandon |date=July 17, 2012 |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/07/nas-life-good-def-jam/ |title=Nas, 'Life Is Good' (Def Jam) |journal=Spin |location=New York |access-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526065953/https://www.webcitation.org/6B1mjwjBr?url=http://m.spin.com/entry/view/id/21050%3FKSID=b32202f18758ae6952bcb0f7b05693d5 |archive-date=May 26, 2024 |url-status=live }} Music journalist Evan Rytlewski denotes "boom-bap drums, lush keyboards, smooth saxophones, and the occasional Run-D.M.C. and MC Shan sample" to be "tasteful accents" from golden age hip hop. Ryan Hamm of Under the Radar views that Remi and No I.D.'s production "lean[s] toward opulent and epic",{{cite journal|last=Hamm |first=Ryan |date=July 30, 2012 |url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/life_is_good/ |title=Nas: Life Is Good (Def Jam) |journal=Under the Radar |location=Los Angeles |access-date=July 31, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826093231/http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/life_is_good/ |archive-date=August 26, 2015 |url-status=live }} while Pitchfork{{'}}s Jayson Greene writes that the latter's produced songs "exude the warm TV-fireplace crackle of ... throwback production." Anupa Mistry of Now writes that "boom bap classicists Salaam Remi and No I.D. weave a raw, funky, orchestral lattice customized for Nas's age-appropriate raps".{{cite journal|last=Mistry |first=Anupa |date=July 19, 2012 |url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=187826 |title=Nas – Life Is Good |journal=Now |volume=31 |issue=47 |access-date=July 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622080139/http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=187826 |archive-date=June 22, 2022 |url-status=live }}

Life Is Good features nostalgic and adult themes, including aging and maturity. Nas' rapping is characterized by internal rhymes, a relaxed, plainspoken flow, and transparent lyrics addressing moments in his life, including his youth and the personal events leading up to the album.{{cite magazine |last1=Ramirez |first1=Erika |last2=McDermott |first2=Tyler |location=New York |date=July 17, 2012 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/481316/nas-life-is-good-track-by-track-review |title=Nas, 'Life is Good': Track-By-Track Review |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526070114/https://www.webcitation.org/6B1mrGWo2?url=http://m.billboard.com/entry/view/id/45867%3FKSID=f782e29d1e91aee94f33b17c9df12c8f&ints_viewed=1 |archive-date=May 26, 2024 |url-status=live }} Erika Ramirez of Billboard observes "stories of internal and external battles, some of which he won and some he lost." David Dennis of The Village Voice writes that his lyrics address hip hop's "golden era" and "the trials and tribulations of adult relationships".{{cite web |last=Dennis |first=David |date=July 17, 2012 |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/07/nas_life_is_good_review.php |title=Does Nas's New Album Prove That Life Is Good For Older Rappers? |work=The Village Voice |access-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020124742/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/07/nas_life_is_good_review.php |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |url-status=dead }} Brandon Soderberg from Spin asserts that his lyrics "constantly remind nostalgics that the good ol' days were often chaotic and desperate".

Nas' comparison of this album to Gaye's Here, My Dear is appropriate, according to Slant Magazine{{'}}s Manan Desai: "Like Nas, Gaye was pushing 40 when he recorded his album", Desai wrote. "He'd cemented his position as one of R&B's greatest, and yet, he never sounded more anguished about where all that fame was leading him. There's something similar going on throughout Life Is Good; the more we hear Nas repeat that titular refrain, the less convincing he sounds." AllMusic's David Jeffries said the lyrics about his divorce were "unfiltered carpet bombing of love and marriage"; both Jeffries and Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic characterize the content as "venomous".{{cite web|last=Birchmeier |first=Jason |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/nas-mn0000373634 |title=Nas – Music Biography, Credits and Discography |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=July 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603034837/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/nas-mn0000373634 |archive-date=June 3, 2012 |url-status=live }} Conversely, Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone views that Nas "cuts his rhymes with midlife realism and daring empathy".{{cite magazine|last=Dolan |first=Jon |date=July 17, 2012 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/life-is-good-20120717 |title=Life Is Good |magazine=Rolling Stone |location=New York |access-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722003121/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/life-is-good-20120717 |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |url-status=live }} Ken Capobianco of The Boston Globe writes that the songs "mix anger, nostalgia, and insight."

{{Listen

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| filename = Nas - Loco-Motive sample.ogg

| title = "Loco-Motive"

| description = Nas tries to reconcile his growing distance from "the streets", while referencing his financial troubles, on the track.

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| title2 = "Stay"

| description2 = A modal jazz rap,{{cite web|last=Amidon |first=David |date=July 17, 2012 |url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/160990-nas-life-is-good/ |title=Nas: Life Is Good (take two) |website=PopMatters |access-date=August 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918050441/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/160990-nas-life-is-good/ |archive-date=September 18, 2012 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|last=Martin |first=Andrew |date=July 17, 2012 |url=http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/nas/life-is-good/52739/ |title=Album Review Nas – Life Is Good |website=Prefix |access-date=August 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831184723/http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/nas/life-is-good/52739/ |archive-date=August 31, 2012 |url-status=live }} the song features wooly saxophone, somber bass, and venomous lyrics.

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On the opening track "No Introduction", Nas reflects on his impoverished upbringing and maturation into a "graphic, classic song composer".{{cite journal|last=Santos|first=Nate|date=August–September 2012|title=Record Report: Nas 'Life Is Good'|journal=The Source|issue=254|page=87}} The song's subject matter ranges from lifestyle boats to revolutionary ideals: "Hood forever, I just act like I’m civilized / Really what’s in my mind is organizing a billion Black muthafuckas / To take over JP and Morgan Goldman and Sachs / And teach the world facts and give Saudi they oil back". "Loco-Motive" has an underground vibe and keyboards similar to Nas' 1994 song "N.Y. State of Mind".{{cite web|last=Madden |first=Mike |date=July 20, 2012 |url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/07/album-review-nas-life-is-good/ |title=Album Review: Nas – Life Is Good |website=Consequence |access-date=August 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001005321/http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/07/album-review-nas-life-is-good/ |archive-date=October 1, 2012 |url-status=live }} "A Queens Story" has boom bap and classical elements in its production, including classical piano, orchestral strings and funky drums. Its lyrics pay homage to Nas' native Queens and his creative influences. "Accident Murderers" incorporates pipe organ in its production, and its lyrics addresses senseless violence with a rags to riches narrative by Rick Ross.

On "Daughters", Nas is bewildered at the responsibilities of fatherhood, as he addresses his daughter's social networking activity and worries about his past undermining his parental authority.{{cite news |last=Rytlewski |first=Evan |date=July 24, 2012 |url=https://www.avclub.com/nas-life-is-good-1798173569 |title=Nas: Life Is Good |newspaper=The A.V. Club |location=Chicago |access-date=July 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929005717/http://www.avclub.com/articles/nas-life-is-good,82822/ |archive-date=September 29, 2012 |url-status=live }} Killian Fox of The Observer writes that Nas' observations on his ex-wife's "hefty childcare payments" and his 18-year-old daughter "dating unsuitable men" are resonated by his "recollections of his early years as a Queensbridge hustler – just the kind of unsuitable young man he's warning his daughter about these days".{{cite news|last=Fox |first=Killian |date=July 14, 2012 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jul/15/nas-life-is-good-review |title=Nas: Life Is Good – review |newspaper=The Observer |location=London |at=The New Review section, p. 30 |access-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720011330/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/jul/15/nas-life-is-good-review |archive-date=July 20, 2012 |url-status=live }} "Reach Out" features Mary J. Blige and incorporates the piano loop from Isaac Hayes' 1970 song "Ike's Mood". Its lyrics address Nas' feeling displaced "when you're too hood to be in the Hollywood circles, you're too rich to be in the hood that birthed you". "You Wouldn't Understand" addresses life struggles and features a mellow production and neo soul influences. "Back When" has flickering production and mytholigizing lyrics by Nas: "check out the oracle bred by city housing".

The up-tempo "The Don" samples Super Cat's 1982 song "Dance inna New York" and has a 1990s hip hop sound. Its lyrics extol both Nas' rapping prowess and New York City. According to No Ripcord's James McKenna, "Stay" mixes soul and jazz elements, "bringing to mind Low End Theory era A Tribe Called Quest and Tupac's Me Against the World, and lyrics "questioning the line between love and hate".{{cite web|last=McKenna |first=James |date=August 24, 2012 |url=http://www.noripcord.com/reviews/music/nas/life-good |title=Nas: Life Is Good – Music Review |publisher=No Ripcord |access-date=August 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825212536/http://www.noripcord.com/reviews/music/nas/life-good |archive-date=August 25, 2012 |url-status=live }} "Cherry Wine" features vocals by Amy Winehouse and a narrative between ill-fated lovers. The song was titled after Winehouse's guitar, which she called "cherry". Jesal Padania of RapReviews cites it as "quite possibly the best 'ladies number' that Nas has ever delivered, though it is infinitely classier than that label."{{cite web|last=Padania |first=Jesal |date=July 17, 2012 |url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2012_07F_lifeisgood.html |title=RapReviews.com Feature for July 17, 2012 – Nas' Life Is Good |website=RapReviews |access-date=August 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110230056/http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2012_07F_lifeisgood.html |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |url-status=live }} On "Bye Baby", Nas' lyrics address his ex-wife and recount their marriage in a narrative that follows the wedding, counseling sessions, marriage counseling, and the legal process of their divorce.

File:Nas Life is Good release party.jpg

The album was promoted by Nas' concert performances and television appearances on The Colbert Report, Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and 106 & Park. He headlined the Rock the Bells music festival and embarked on a three-week European tour during June and July 2012. With singer Lauryn Hill, the rapper co-headlined the "Life Is Good/Black Rage" tour from October 29 to December 31.{{cite magazine|last=Anderson |first=Kyle |date=September 19, 2012 |url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/09/19/nas-lauryn-hill-tour-life-is-good-black-rage/ |title=Nas and Lauryn Hill announce 'Life Is Good/Black Rage' team-up tour |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |location=New York |access-date=October 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019141901/http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/09/19/nas-lauryn-hill-tour-life-is-good-black-rage/ |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |url-status=dead }} The tour finale was an exclusive show at Radio City Music Hall in New York City with Elle Varner as the supporting act.{{cite web |url=http://www.islanddefjam.com/artist/news_single.aspx?nid=11889&artistID=7312 |title=Nas Announces Exclusive Show at Radio City Music Hall on New Years Eve |date=September 10, 2012 |publisher=Island Def Jam |access-date=September 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825142529/http://www.islanddefjam.com/artist/news_single.aspx?nid=11889&artistID=7312 |archive-date=August 25, 2015 |url-status=live }}

Three singles were also released in promotion of the album—"Nasty" on August 9, 2011, "The Don" on April 3, 2012, and "Daughters" on July 17.{{cite web|url=http://www.islanddefjam.com/artist/discography.aspx?artistID=7312 |title=Nas |publisher=Island Def Jam |access-date=July 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123234148/http://www.islanddefjam.com/artist/discography.aspx?artistID=7312 |archive-date=January 23, 2013 |url-status=dead }} A music video for "Nasty" was filmed by director Jason Goldwatch in Queensbridge, Nas' hometown in New York,{{cite web|last=Williams |first=Brennan |date=October 12, 2011 |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/12/nas-life-is-good-nasty-video_n_1006653.html |title=Nas Debuts New 'Life Is Good' Video, 'Nasty' (VIDEO) |work=HuffPost |access-date=August 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905033414/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/12/nas-life-is-good-nasty-video_n_1006653.html |archive-date=September 5, 2012 |url-status=live }} and released virally on October 11, 2011.{{cite web|last=Markman |first=Rob |date=October 11, 2011 |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1672336/nas-nasty-video-premiere.jhtml |title=Nas Goes Back to the Projects For 'Nasty' Video |publisher=MTV News |access-date=August 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422083430/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1672336/nas-nasty-video-premiere.jhtml |archive-date=April 22, 2012 |url-status=dead }} A video for "Daughters" was directed by Chris Robinson and premiered May 27 on MTV Jams.{{cite web|last=Markman |first=Rob |date=May 25, 2012 |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1685919/nas-daughters-video.jhtml |title=Nas' New Video Is Through His Daughter's Eyes |publisher=MTV News |access-date=August 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629202225/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1685919/nas-daughters-video.jhtml |archive-date=June 29, 2012 |url-status=dead }} Its storyline chronicles the relationship between Nas and his daughter through her point of view. On April 27, Nas released the Aristotle-directed video for "The Don", which featured lavish images of Nas' lifestyle.{{cite web|last=Blanco |first=Alvin Aqua |date=April 27, 2012 |url=http://hiphopwired.com/2012/04/27/nas-the-don-video/ |title=Nas – "The Don" |website=Hip-Hop Wired |access-date=August 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615183503/http://hiphopwired.com/2012/04/27/nas-the-don-video/ |archive-date=June 15, 2012 |url-status=live }} A video promoting "Bye Baby" was released on August 20, 2012, featuring scenes of Nas in an empty home, at his divorce proceedings, and in a setting that revisits the cover image of Life Is Good.{{cite web|last=Markman |first=Rob |date=August 30, 2012 |url=http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/08/30/nas-toasts-to-the-good-life-in-bye-baby-video/ |title=Nas Toasts to the Good Life In 'Bye Baby' Video |publisher=MTV News |access-date=September 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010090230/http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/08/30/nas-toasts-to-the-good-life-in-bye-baby-video |archive-date=October 10, 2012 |url-status=dead }} It also featured singer Aaron Hall of Guy, whose 1988 song "Goodbye Love" is sampled on "Bye Baby". A video for "Cherry Wine" was also released on October 2. The video was dedicated to guest vocalist Amy Winehouse,{{cite web|last=Scott|first=Tahsan|title=Nas ft. Amy Winehouse – "Cherry Wine"|url=http://groundsounds.com/2012/10/05/nas-ft-amy-winehouse-cherry-wine/|publisher=GroundSounds|access-date=November 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229094419/http://groundsounds.com/2012/10/05/nas-ft-amy-winehouse-cherry-wine/|archive-date=December 29, 2012|url-status=live}} who is featured as a projection on a wall in the video's scenes.{{cite journal|date=October 2, 2012 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/amy-winehouse/66424 |title=Nas releases 'Cherry Wine' video featuring Amy Winehouse – watch |journal=NME |location=London |access-date=October 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015173148/http://www.nme.com/news/amy-winehouse/66424 |archive-date=October 15, 2012 |url-status=live }} On September 19, "Cherry Wine" was sent to radio in the United Kingdom.{{cite journal|url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/radio-playlist-update-radio-1-9/051859|title=Radio playlist update: Radio 1|journal=Music Week|location=London|date=September 26, 2012|access-date=March 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304172547/http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/radio-playlist-update-radio-1-9/051859|archive-date=March 4, 2018|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}}

Life Is Good was released by Def Jam Recordings,{{cite news|last=Price |first=Simon |date=July 15, 2012 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-nas-life-is-good-def-jam-7944239.html |title=Album: Nas, Life is Good (Def Jam) |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717015250/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-nas-life-is-good-def-jam-7944239.html |archive-date=July 17, 2012 |url-status=dead }} first on July 13, 2012, in Germany, where it reached number 24 on the Media Control Charts. In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number eight on the Official Albums Chart, the album also debuted at number two in Canada and sold 5,000 copies in its first week there.{{cite web|last=Dowling |first=Marianna |date=July 25, 2012 |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/F/FloRida/2012/07/25/20026051.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208202657/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/F/FloRida/2012/07/25/20026051.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=December 8, 2012 |title=Flo Rida climbs back to No. 1 |publisher=Jam! |access-date=July 26, 2012 }} In the United States, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold 149,000 copies in its first week. It was his sixth number-one album in the United States.{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=July 25, 2012 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/480816/nas-bows-at-no-1-with-life-is-good |title=Nas Bows at No. 1 with 'Life is Good' |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526070154/https://www.webcitation.org/6B1ojMGQZ?url=http://m.billboard.com/entry/view/id/46232%3FKSID=f782e29d1e91aee94f33b17c9df12c8f&ints_viewed=1 |archive-date=May 26, 2024 |url-status=live }} In its second week on the Billboard 200, the album sold 45,000 copies.{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=August 1, 2012 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/480674/zac-brown-band-reclaims-top-spot-on-billboard-200 |title=Zac Brown Band Reclaims Top Spot on Billboard 200 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526070236/https://www.webcitation.org/6B1oofxBa?url=http://m.billboard.com/v/News/ZacBrownBandReclaims/%3Fp=0&KSID=737998e1e4e76a2728b3290c36b58682&ints_viewed=1 |archive-date=May 26, 2024 |url-status=live }} By February 10, 2013, the album had sold 354,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.{{cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |date=February 13, 2013 |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22906/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-2-10-2013 |title=Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 2/10/2013 |website=HipHopDX |access-date=April 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507030106/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22906/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-2-10-2013 |archive-date=May 7, 2013 |url-status=dead }} The album charted for 15 weeks on the Billboard 200. On April 21, 2020, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipping at least 500,000 units to retailers in the US.

{{Music ratings

| title = Life Is Good ratings

| ADM = 7.8/10{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/4725/Nas-Life-is-Good.aspx|title=Life Is Good by Nas reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=November 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109112143/http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/4725/Nas-Life-is-Good.aspx|archive-date=November 9, 2018|url-status=live}}

| MC = 81/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/life-is-good/nas|title=Reviews for Life Is Good by Nas|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=July 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720013119/http://www.metacritic.com/music/life-is-good/nas|archive-date=July 20, 2012|url-status=live}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2Score = A−

| rev3 = Financial Times

| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Hunter-Tilney|first=Ludovic|date=July 20, 2012|url=https://www.ft.com/content/2e154e80-d09e-11e1-8957-00144feabdc0|title=Nas: Life Is Good|newspaper=Financial Times|location=London|access-date=November 9, 2018|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109112218/https://www.ft.com/content/2e154e80-d09e-11e1-8957-00144feabdc0|archive-date=November 9, 2018|url-status=live}}

| rev4 = The Independent

| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev5 = NME

| rev5Score = 8/10

| rev6 = The Observer

| rev6Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7Score = 8.3/10

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| rev9 = Spin

| rev9Score = 7/10

| rev10 = USA Today

| rev10Score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Steve|date=July 16, 2012|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/story/2012-07-16/listen-up-rapper-nas/56260204/1|title=Nas toasts maturity on 'Life is Good'|work=USA Today|location=McLean|access-date=November 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129022927/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/story/2012-07-16/listen-up-rapper-nas/56260204/1|archive-date=November 29, 2016|url-status=live}}

}}

Life is Good was met with 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 81, based on 30 reviews. Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave the album 7.8 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.

Reviewing the album in NME, Kevin EG Perry called it "a grimy, back-to-basics return to form",{{cite journal|last=Perry |first=Kevin EG |date=July 15, 2012 |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/nas/13451 |title=Nas – 'Life Is Good' |journal=NME |location=London |access-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023154257/http://www.nme.com/reviews/nas/13451 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |url-status=dead }} while Pitchfork{{'}}s Jayson Greene said Nas had "settled gracefully into strengths".{{cite web|last=Greene |first=Jayson |title=Nas: Life Is Good |url=https://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16832-life-is-good/ |work=Pitchfork |date=July 20, 2012 |access-date=July 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923130538/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16832-life-is-good/ |archive-date=September 23, 2012 |url-status=live }} Evan Rytlewski of The A.V. Club deemed Nas' lyrics "beautifully expressed" and the music just "as thoughtful", while Slant Magazine{{'}}s Manan Desai believed the rapper sounded "inspired" and praised the album's "narrative unity" as "a wide-angle look of the artist as a grown man."{{cite web|last=Desai|first=Manan|date=July 18, 2012|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/nas-life-is-good/2817|title=Nas: Life Is Good|work=Slant Magazine|access-date=July 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723012906/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/nas-life-is-good/2817|archive-date=July 23, 2012|url-status=live}} Ludovic Hunter-Tilney, arts critic for the Financial Times, said Nas draws on his "insider-outsider perspective" as a successful rapper to create "a richly varied album that goes from old-fashioned East Coast bangers to boldly worked orchestral and jazz samples, all held together by Nas's fluent rap technique." In the opinion of Randall Roberts from the Los Angeles Times, the "thoughtful, fierce, honest and – most important – heavy-duty work" showed "Nas has gotten better at rolling with the punches – and you can hear it in every verse".{{cite news|last=Roberts|first=Randall|date=July 17, 2012|title=Pop album review: In 'Life Is Good,' Nas rolls with the punches|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|location=Los Angeles}} Carl Chery from XXL hailed it as "arguably Nas' best LP since Stillmatic" and proof that "at this juncture—21 years and 10 solo albums in—no other MC has ever rhymed at such a high level this deep into their career."{{cite journal|last=Chery |first=Carl |date=July 18, 2012 |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/reviews/2012/07/nas-life-is-good/ |title=Nas, Life Is Good |journal=XXL |access-date=July 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918160453/http://www.xxlmag.com/reviews/2012/07/nas-life-is-good/ |archive-date=September 18, 2012 |url-status=live }}

Some reviewers were less enthusiastic. Robert Christgau gave Life Is Good a three-star honorable mention ({{Rating-Christgau|hm3}}) in his "Consumer Guide" column for MSN Music, citing "Daughters" and "Accident Murderers" as highlights while deeming the record "reflections of a bigshot who, as he mentions several times, is damn big".{{cite web|last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=August 31, 2012 |url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=5bf93921-f2c6-44d1-a13c-58ac7b03f266 |title=Odds and Ends 015 |website=MSN Music |access-date=September 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912062414/http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=5bf93921-f2c6-44d1-a13c-58ac7b03f266 |archive-date=September 12, 2012 |url-status=dead }} AllMusic's David Jeffries regarded the album as an inevitably "puff-chested bitch session", "acting as a clearing house for all venom and bile, plus some gloss that doesn't fit but needed to go as well."{{cite web|last=Jeffries |first=David |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/life-is-good-mw0002382213 |title=Life Is Good – Nas |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707095330/http://www.allmusic.com/album/life-is-good-mw0002382213 |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |url-status=live }} According to New York Times critic Jon Caramanica, the narratives were "sometimes distractingly fanciful" and Nas' lyrics occasionally "overstuffed", even though the record possessed "a simulacrum of the sound that made him legendary".{{cite news|last=Caramanica |first=Jon |date=July 19, 2012 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/19/arts/music/new-nas-welcomes-the-nas-of-old.html |title=New Nas Welcomes The Nas of Old |page=C1 |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York |access-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402184222/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/19/arts/music/new-nas-welcomes-the-nas-of-old.html?_r=0 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |url-status=live }} Matthew Fiander from PopMatters was more critical, finding the production "uneven" and calculated "as product", with "half-done ideas".{{cite web|last=Fiander |first=Matthew |date=July 12, 2012 |url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/161018-nas-life-is-good/ |title=Nas: Life Is Good (take one) |website=PopMatters |access-date=July 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919094807/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/161018-nas-life-is-good/ |archive-date=September 19, 2012 |url-status=live }}

At the end of 2012, Life Is Good appeared on several critics' top album lists. It was named the best album of 2012 by The Source and Okayplayer. The album was also ranked number 18 by Rolling Stone,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2012-20121205/nas-life-is-good-19691231 |title=50 Best Albums of 2012: Nas, 'Life Is Good' |magazine=Rolling Stone |location=New York |access-date=December 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208010709/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2012-20121205/nas-life-is-good-19691231 |archive-date=December 8, 2012 |url-status=live }} number 12 by Complex,{{cite journal|title=12. Nas, Life Is Good – The 50 Best Albums of 2012|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/12/2012-year-in-review-the-50-best-albums-of-2012/nas-life-is-good|journal=Complex|access-date=December 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221013756/http://www.complex.com/music/2012/12/2012-year-in-review-the-50-best-albums-of-2012/nas-life-is-good|archive-date=December 21, 2012|url-status=live}} number 16 by James Montgomery of MTV,{{cite web|last=Montgomery|first=James|date=December 13, 2012|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1698825/best-albums-2012.jhtml|title=Best Albums of 2012|publisher=MTV|access-date=December 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207175520/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1698825/best-albums-2012.jhtml|archive-date=December 7, 2013|url-status=dead}} number six by Martin Caballero of The Boston Globe, and number seven by Jon Caramanica of The New York Times.{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/feature/top-ten-lists-best-albums-of-2012|title=Music Critic Top 10 Lists - Best of 2012|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=December 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112205543/http://www.metacritic.com/feature/top-ten-lists-best-albums-of-2012|archive-date=January 12, 2013|url-status=live}} Life Is Good received a Grammy Award nomination in the category of Best Rap Album for the 2013 Grammy Awards.{{cite news |date=December 5, 2012 |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/grammys/la-en-grammys-2013-nominees-complete-list,0,7075586.htmlstory |title=Grammys 2013: Complete list of nominees |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=December 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206143220/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/grammys/la-en-grammys-2013-nominees-complete-list,0,7075586.htmlstory |archive-date=December 6, 2012 |url-status=live }} It was also nominated for Album of the Year at the 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards, while "Daughters" won the Impact Track award at the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/08/bet-award-2013-nominees|title=Here Are The BET Award Nominees|author=Alex Russell|work=Complex|access-date=August 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517131031/http://www.complex.com/music/2013/08/bet-award-2013-nominees|archive-date=May 17, 2016|url-status=live}}

Information is taken from the album credits.{{cite web |url=http://hiphop-n-more.com/2012/07/nas-life-is-good-booklet-production-credits/ |title=Nas – Life Is Good (Booklet & Production Credits) |date=July 13, 2012 |publisher=HipHop-N-More |access-date=June 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522111058/http://hiphop-n-more.com/2012/07/nas-life-is-good-booklet-production-credits/ |archive-date=May 22, 2016 |url-status=live }}

{{Track listing

| headline = Life Is Good standard edition

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 58:12

| title1 = No Introduction

| writer1 = {{hlist|Nasir Jones|Erik Ortiz|Kevin Crowe|Kenny Bartolomei}}

| extra1 = J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League

| length1 = 4:15

| title2 = Loco-Motive

| note2 = featuring Large Professor

| writer2 = {{hlist|Jones|Ernest Wilson}}

| extra2 = No I.D.

| length2 = 3:40

| title3 = A Queens Story

| writer3 = {{hlist|Jones|Salaam Remi|Joseph Simmons|Darryl McDaniels}}

| extra3 = Remi

| length3 = 4:35

| title4 = Accident Murderers

| note4 = featuring Rick Ross

| writer4 = {{hlist|Jones|Wilson|William Roberts|Norman Solomon||Chris DeGarmo|Marlon Williams}}

| extra4 = No I.D.

| length4 = 4:37

| title5 = Daughters

| writer5 = {{hlist|Jones|Wilson|Patrick Adams|Gary DeCarlo|Dale Frashuer|Paul Leka}}

| extra5 = No I.D.

| length5 = 3:20

| title6 = Reach Out

| note6 = featuring Mary J. Blige

| writer6 = {{hlist|Jones|Dante Franklin|Remi|Rodney Jerkins|Isaac Hayes|Freddie Perren|Christine Perren|Richard Wyatt}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Remi|Darkchild|DJ Hot Day}}

| length6 = 3:46

| title7 = World's an Addiction

| note7 = featuring Anthony Hamilton

| writer7 = {{hlist|Jones|Remi|Anthony Hamilton}}

| extra7 = Remi

| length7 = 5:01

| title8 = Summer on Smash

| note8 = featuring Miguel and Swizz Beatz

| writer8 = {{hlist|Jones|Kasseem Dean}}

| extra8 = Swizz Beatz

| length8 = 4:19

| title9 = You Wouldn't Understand

| note9 = featuring Victoria Monét

| writer9 = {{hlist|Jones|Anthony Best|Michael Claxton|Eric Barrier|William Griffin|Tommy Brown|Victoria McCants}}

| extra9 = Buckwild

| length9 = 4:35

| title10 = Back When

| writer10 = {{hlist|Jones|Wilson|Barry Forgie|Shawn Moltke|Williams|DeGarmo}}

| extra10 = No I.D.

| length10 = 3:22

| title11 = The Don

| writer11 = {{hlist|Jones|Dwight Myers|Remi|Marcos Palacios|Earnest Clark|William Maragh|Nkrumah Thomas}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Heavy D|Remi|Da Internz}}

| length11 = 3:02

| title12 = Stay

| writer12 = {{hlist|Jones|Wilson|Lester Abrams}}

| extra12 = No I.D.

| length12 = 3:45

| title13 = Cherry Wine

| note13 = featuring Amy Winehouse

| writer13 = {{hlist|Jones|Remi|Amy Winehouse}}

| extra13 = Remi

| length13 = 5:56

| title14 = Bye Baby

| writer14 = {{hlist|Jones|Remi|Noah Shebib|Tim Gatling|Gene Griffin|Aaron Hall|Teddy Riley}}

| extra14 = {{hlist|Remi|40}}

| length14 = 3:59

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 71:37

| title15 = Nasty

| writer15 = {{hlist|Jones|Remi}}

| extra15 = Remi

| length15 = 3:04

| title16 = The Black Bond

| writer16 = {{hlist|Jones|Remi}}

| extra16 = Remi

| length16 = 2:22

| title17 = Roses

| writer17 = {{hlist|Jones|Alexander Shuckburgh|Dan Wilson|Sean Fenton|Nikki Flores}}

| extra17 = {{hlist|Al Shux|Dan Wilson}}

| length17 = 3:31

| title18 = Where's the Love

| note18 = featuring Cocaine 80s

| writer18 = {{hlist|Jones|Wilson|James Fauntleroy II|Michael Berrin|Peter Nash|Paul Huston}}

| extra18 = No I.D.

| length18 = 4:28

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = iTunes bonus track

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title19 = Trust

| writer19 = {{hlist|Jones|Matthew Samuels|Matthew Burnett|Jordan Evans|Jamal Sublett}}

| extra19 = {{hlist|Boi-1da|Burnett{{ref|a|[a]}}|Evans{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length19 = 4:34

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japan bonus track

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title20 = The Don

| note20 = Don Dada Remix

| writer20 = Jones

| extra20 = {{hlist|Salaam Remi|Heavy D}}

| length20 = 4:09

}}

• "A Queens Story" contains samples of "Peter Piper" by Run-DMC and "Queen's Story" by Salaam Remi.
• "Accident Murderers" contains samples of "They Said It Couldn't Be Done" by Norman Feels and "The Bridge" by MC Shan.
• "Daughters" contains samples of "Dust to Dust" by Cloud One and "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" by Wayne McGhie and the Sounds of Joy.
• "Reach Out" contains samples of "Ike's Mood" by Isaac Hayes and an interpolation of "Once in a Lifetime Groove" by New Edition.
• "World's an Addiction" contains a sample of "The World" by Salaam Remi.
• "You Wouldn't Understand" contains samples of "Let's Start Love Over Again" by Miles Jaye and "Eric B. Is President" by Eric B. & Rakim.
• "Back When" contains samples of "Double Agent Jones" by Barry Moore Combo, "Live Routine" by MC Shan, and "The Bridge" by MC Shan.
• "The Don" contains elements of "Dance inna New York" by Super Cat.
• "Stay" contains samples of "Seven Steps to Nowhere" by L.A. Carnival.
• "Bye Baby" contains samples of "Goodbye Love" by Guy.
• "The Black Bond" contains samples of "Praguenosis" by Salaam Remi.
• "Where's the Love" contains samples of "Brooklyn-Queens" by 3rd Bass.

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.

{{Div col}}

• John Adams – Fender Rhodes
• Richard Adlam – drums
• Angel Onhel Aponte – engineer
• Mary J. Blige – featured artist
• Del Bowers – mixing assistant
• Buckwild – producer
• Brandon N. Caddell – assistant engineer
• Matt Champlin – engineer
• Da Internz – arranger, producer
• Tim Davies – string arrangements
• Gleyder "Gee" Disla – engineer, mixing
• DJ Hot Day – scratching
• Chloe Flower – piano
• Kaye Fox – vocals
• Chris Galland – mixing assistant
• Chris Gehringer – mastering
• Alex Haldi – art direction, design
• Anthony Hamilton – featured artist
• Maestro Harrell – keyboards
• Heavy D – arranger, producer
• Vincent Henry – alto saxophone, clarinet, flute, tenor saxophone
• Jaycen Joshua – mixing
• J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League – producer
• Rich Keller – mixing
• Rob Kinelski – engineer, mixing
• Large Professor – featured artist
• Sam Lewis – assistant engineer
• Tai Linzie – photo coordination
• Omar Loya – assistant engineer
• Kim Lumpkin – production coordination
• Deborah Mannis-Gardner – sample clearance
• Manny Marroquin – mixing
• Miguel – featured artist
• Victoria Monet – featured artist
• Greg Morgan – sound design
• Vernon Mungo – engineer
• Nas – primary artist, executive producer
• No I.D. – producer
• Gary Noble – engineer, mixing
• Keith Parry – assistant engineer
• James Poyser – keyboards
• Kevin Randolph – keyboards
• Red Alert – vocals
• Salaam Remi – arranger, bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, producer, scratching
• Hal Ritson – drums
• Rick Ross – featured artist
• Matthew Salacuse – photography
• Anthony Saleh – executive producer
• Noah "40" Shebib – arranger, drums, keyboards, mixing, producer
• Hannah Sidibe – vocals
• Brian Sumner – engineer
• Swizz Beatz – featured artist, producer
• Meredith Truax – photo coordination
• Anna Ugarte – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
• Cara Walker – package production
• Stuart White – engineer
• Amy Winehouse – featured artist, guitar
• Steve Wyreman – bass, guitar
• Tyler Yamashita – assistant engineer
• Andrew Zaeh – photography
• Gabriel Zardes – assistant engineer

{{Div end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Life Is Good}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Nas|title=Life Is Good|award=Gold|relyear=2012|certyear=2020|refname="RIAA"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true | nosales=true | noshipments=true}}

• List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2012
• List of Billboard number-one R&B albums of 2012

{{Reflist|group=nb}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website|http://www.nasirjones.com/}}
• {{Discogs master|456220|Life Is Good|type=album}}
• {{MusicBrainz release group|id=96c48116-9c7d-4bb0-a58d-75ec9a858c3e|name=Life Is Good}}

{{Nas}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2012 albums

Category:Albums produced by Al Shux

Category:Albums produced by Boi-1da

Category:Albums produced by Buckwild

Category:Albums produced by Da Internz

Category:Albums produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League

Category:Albums produced by No I.D.

Category:Albums produced by Noah "40" Shebib

Category:Albums produced by Rodney Jerkins

Category:Albums produced by Salaam Remi

Category:Albums produced by Swizz Beatz

Category:Def Jam Recordings albums

Category:Nas albums

Category:Albums recorded at EastWest Studios