Street's Disciple

{{unreferenced section|date=September 2015}}

Most of the album's production was handled between Salaam Remi, L.E.S. and Chucky Thompson of Sean Combs' production team The Hitmen. Remi contributed production on eleven tracks, L.E.S. produced on eight and Chucky Thompson helped on six. Salaam Remi (who collaborated with Nas on his previous LPs Stillmatic and God's Son) led all with nine solo productions. L.E.S. only produced three solo outings, but one included the single "Just a Moment". Thompson, on the other hand, had one solo production credit ("Getting Married").

Other notable producers from the album include A Tribe Called Quest member Q-Tip (who had last worked with Nas on Illmatic{{'}}s "One Love" and the remix of "The World Is Yours") and D.I.T.C. producer Buckwild ("These Are Our Heroes"). Nas himself produced "Suicide Bounce" and "U.B.R. (Unauthorized Biography of Rakim)", both from the second disc. L.E.S. also brought on baggage for his productions. T. Black and Nut assisted the legendary producer on "The Makings of a Perfect Bitch" and Herb Middleton helped with the beat on "Me &You (Dedicated to Destiny)". Chucky Thompson, too, brought in extra help for "Live Now" (Barnardo "Nardo" Williams). Rapper Ill Bill made a song similar to "U.B.R. (Unauthorized Biography Of Rakim)" titled "U.B.S. (Unauthorized Biography Of Slayer)" on his album The Hour of Reprisal (2008).

{{unreferenced section|date=September 2015}}

Nas' father Olu Dara appears on the title track "Street's Disciple" and lead single "Bridging the Gap".Abramovich, Alex. [https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/05/arts/music/05abra.html?pagewanted=all&position= Hip-Hop Family Values]. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-11-24. Aside from Ludacris ("Virgo") and Quan ("Just a Moment") no other MC's actually deliver a verse on Street's Disciple. Busta Rhymes plays hypeman to "Suicide Bounce" and Doug E. Fresh beatboxes on "Virgo". Kelis (Nas' ex-wife) helps sing the chorus along with the bridge on "American Way". The album has many guest singers, including: Amerie ("Rest of My Life"), Emily ("Reason"), Maxwell ("No One Else in the Room") and Keon Bryce ("War"). Nas also uses a voice synthesizer to make his voice high-pitched for his female alter-ego Scarlett, who appears on "Sekou Story" and "Live Now".

Street's Disciple features multiple socio-conscious and political songs, such as "A Message to the Feds, Sincerely, We the People", "American Way" and "These Are Our Heroes". The latter (originally titled "Coon's Picnic") contained attacks directed toward multiple black celebrities including: O. J. Simpson and NBA superstar Kobe Bryant. Another topic addressed by Nas were important women in his life or females in general. "Getting Married" is dedicated to his then-newlywed wife Kelis Rogers-Jones, "Me & You (Dedicated to Destiny)" is, aptly titled, directed toward Nas' daughter and "Makings of a Perfect Bitch" describes most men's idea of the ideal woman. Death and appreciating life are the subject to several songs as well such as "Live Now", "Rest of My Life" and "Just a Moment".

{{Music ratings

| MC = 80/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/streets-disciple/nas|title=Street's Disciple|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=December 29, 2009}}

| rev1 =AllMusic

| rev1Score ={{Rating|3.5|5}}Birchmeier, Jason. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r712964|pure_url=yes}} Review: Street's Disciple]. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-11-24.

| rev2 = Blender

| rev2Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite journal|journal=Blender|page=438|date=December 2004|title=none}}

| rev3 =Entertainment Weekly

| rev3Score =A–Drumming, Neil. [https://ew.com/article/2004/11/29/streets-disciple/ Street's Disciple]. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2022-08-24.

| rev4 =The Guardian

| rev4Score ={{Rating|4|5}}Lynskey, Dorian. [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/reviews/story/0,11712,1364857,00.html Review: Street's Disciple]. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2009-11-24.

| rev5 =NME

| rev5Score =9/10Collins, Hattie. "[http://www.nme.com/reviews/nas/7552 Review: Street's Disciple]". NME: December 11, 2004.

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6Score =7.2/10Sylvester, Neil. [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/20304/Nas_Streets_Disciple Review: Street's Disciple] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024034427/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/20304/Nas_Streets_Disciple |date=2007-10-24 }}. Pitchfork. Retrieved on 2009-11-24.

| rev7 =Rolling Stone

| rev7Score ={{Rating|3.5|5}}Caramanica, Jon. [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/streets-disciple-20041215 Review: Street's Disciple]. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2009-11-24.

| rev8 = Stylus Magazine

| rev8Score = B{{Cite web |url=http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/nas/streets-disciple.htm |title=Stylus Magazine review |access-date=2015-09-10 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305011920/http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/nas/streets-disciple.htm |url-status=dead }}

| rev9 =USA Today

| rev9Score ={{Rating|3.5|4}}Jones, Steve. [https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2004-11-29-listen-up_x.htm Review: Street's Disciple]. USA Today. Retrieved on 2009-11-24.

| rev10 =The Village Voice

| rev10Score =A–{{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=January 18, 2005|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv105-05.php|title=Consumer Guide: Heads, Future and Past|newspaper=The Village Voice|location=New York|access-date=September 10, 2015}}

}}

Street's Disciple was released by Columbia Records on November 30, 2004, to 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 80, based on 16 reviews.[http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/nas/streetsdisciple Street's Disciple (2004): Reviews] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091210054831/http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/nas/streetsdisciple |date=2009-12-10 }}. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2009-11-24. Chicago Sun-Times writer Jeff Vrabel called it "sprawling and ambitious",Vrabel, Jeff. "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1070A1AF033E3043&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Review: Street's Disciple]". Chicago Sun-Times: 61. December 1, 2004. while Robert Christgau from The Village Voice found its double-CD length "ambitious not hubristic, imposing not indigestible", and wrote that Nas "finally seems comfortable with his (black) humanity. He's responsible, thoughtful, and compassionate, never mealymouthed". He later named it the 11th best album of 2004 in his year-end list for the Pazz & Jop critics poll.{{Cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/deans04.php|title=Robert Christgau: Pazz & Jop 2004: Dean's List|website=Robertchristgau.com|access-date=November 30, 2024}} Rolling Stone magazine's Jon Caramanica said it was "the rare instance of hip-hop old and wise enough to look backward without forgetting what it was like to look ahead with awe and wonder". Noah Callahan-Bever of Vibe was less enthusiastic, finding much of the songs "routine", suggesting Nas "needs new challenges, enlightening experiences, and careful insights to inspire him".Callahan-Bever, Noah. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=yiYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA183&dq= Review: Street's Disciple]{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}". Vibe: 183–184. October 2004.

In the first week of its release, the album debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and sold 232,000 copies in the United States.Sisario, Ben. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DE0DE1031F93AA35751C1A9629C8B63 Pop Charts: Jay-Z and Linkin Park Over U2]. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-11-24. On November 18, 2005, it was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), having shipped one million copies.[https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH Gold & Platinum: Searchable Database]. Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Retrieved on 2009-11-24. It was Nas's seventh consecutive platinum record in the US.[http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/58369/nas-declares-hip-hop-is-dead Nas Declares 'Hip Hop Is Dead']. Billboard. Retrieved on 2009-11-24. "Bridging the Gap" was the album's only single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 94.[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r712964/charts-awards/billboard-single|pure_url=yes}} Billboard Singles: Street's Disciple]. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-11-24.

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title= Street's Disciple |year= 2004 |type= booklet |publisher= Columbia}}

{{track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| headline = Disc one

| total_length = 41:34

| title1 = Intro

| writer1 =

| extra1 =

| length1 = 1:50

| title2 = A Message to the Feds, Sincerely, We the People

| writer2 = {{hlist|Nasir Jones|Salaam Gibbs|Carl Thompson|Isaac Hayes|Leshan Lewis}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Chucky Thompson|Salaam Remi|L.E.S.}}

| length2 = 2:15

| title3 = Nazareth Savage

| writer3 = {{hlist|Jones|Gibbs|Barry White}}

| extra3 = Salaam Remi

| length3 = 2:40

| title4 = American Way

| note4 = featuring Kelis

| writer4 = {{hlist|Jones|Kamaal Fareed|Kelis Rogers|George Clinton|Garry Shider|David Spradley}}

| extra4 = Q-Tip

| length4 = 4:09

| title5 = These Are Our Heroes

| writer5 = {{hlist|Jones|Anthony Best}}

| extra5 = Buckwild

| length5 = 4:22

| title6 = Disciple

| writer6 = {{hlist|Jones|Lewis}}

| extra6 = L.E.S.

| length6 = 3:00

| title7 = Sekou Story

| note7 = featuring Scarlett

| writer7 = {{hlist|Jones|Gibbs|James Brown|Kool & the Gang|Lightnin' Rod}}

| extra7 = Salaam Remi

| length7 = 2:56

| title8 = Live Now

| note8 = featuring Scarlett

| writer8 = {{hlist|Jones|Thompson|Maurice White|Verdine White|Eddie del Barrio}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Chucky Thompson|Bernardo "Nardo" Williams}}

| length8 = 4:30

| title9 = Rest of My Life

| writer9 = {{hlist|Jones|Lewis|Thompson}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|L.E.S.|Chucky Thompson|Salaam Remi (vocals)}}

| length9 = 3:50

| title10 = Just a Moment

| note10 = featuring Quan

| writer10 = {{hlist|Jones|Clifford Peacock|Lewis|Bernard Edwards|Nile Rodgers}}

| extra10 = L.E.S.

| length10 = 4:23

| title11 = Reason

| note11 = featuring Emily

| writer11 = {{hlist|Jones|Lewis|Thompson|Emily Cowing}}

| extra11 = Chucky Thompson, L.E.S.

| length11 = 4:47

| title12 = You Know My Style

| writer12 = {{hlist|Jones|Gibbs|Joseph Simmons|Darryl McDaniels|Larry Smith}}

| extra12 = Salaam Remi

| length12 = 2:52

}}

{{track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| headline = Disc two

| total_length = 45:59

| title1 = Suicide Bounce

| note1 = featuring Busta Rhymes

| writer1 = {{hlist|Jones|Gibbs|Peacock|Arthur Baker|Vincent Fuller|Donald Hawkes}}

| extra1 = Nas

| length1 = 3:57

| title2 = Street's Disciple

| note2 = featuring Olu Dara

| writer2 = {{hlist|Jones|Gibbs}}

| extra2 = Salaam Remi

| length2 = 3:57

| title3 = U.B.R. (Unauthorized Biography of Rakim)

| writer3 = Jones

| extra3 = Nas

| length3 = 3:38

| title4 = Virgo

| note4 = featuring Doug E. Fresh and Ludacris

| writer4 = {{hlist|Jones|Gibbs|Douglas Davis|Christopher Bridges}}

| extra4 = Salaam Remi

| length4 = 3:26

| title5 = Remember the Times

| note5 = Intro

| writer5 =

| extra5 =

| length5 = 0:51

| title6 = Remember the Times

| writer6 = {{hlist|Jones|Lewis|Russell Stone}}

| extra6 = L.E.S.

| length6 = 3:23

| title7 = The Makings of a Perfect Bitch

| writer7 = {{hlist|Jones|Lewis|Terry Black|Philip Howard}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|L.E.S.|T. Black|Nut}}

| length7 = 3:15

| title8 = Getting Married

| writer8 = {{hlist|Jones|Thompson|Hayes}}

| extra8 = Chucky Thompson

| length8 = 3:46

| title9 = No One Else in the Room

| note9 = featuring Maxwell

| writer9 = {{hlist|Jones|Gibbs|Thompson}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Salaam Remi|Chucky Thompson}}

| length9 = 5:08

| title10 = Bridging the Gap

| note10 = featuring Olu Dara

| writer10 = {{hlist|Jones|Olu Dara|Gibbs}}

| extra10 = Salaam Remi

| length10 = 3:56

| title11 = War

| note11 = featuring Keon Bryce

| writer11 = {{hlist|Jones|Gibbs|Keon Bryce}}

| extra11 = Salaam Remi

| length11 = 4:17

| title12 = Me & You (Dedicated to Destiny)

| writer12 = {{hlist|Jones|Lewis|Marvin Gaye|Herb Middleton}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|L.E.S.|Herb "Staff" Middleton}}

| length12 = 3:26

| title13 = Thief's Theme

| writer13 = {{hlist|Jones|Gibbs|Doug Ingle}}

| extra13 = Salaam Remi

| length13 = 2:59

}}

Sample credits

• "A Message to the Feds, Sincerely, We the People" contains samples from "Good Ole Music", written by George Clinton, performed by Funkadelic.
• "Nazareth Savage" contains excerpts from "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby", written by Barry White, performed by Jimmy Smith.
• "American Way" contains samples from "Atomic Dog", written by George Clinton, Garry Shider, and David Spradley, performed by George Clinton.
• "Sekou Story" contains excerpts from "Take Me Just As I Am", written by James Brown, performed by Lyn Collins. It also contains excerpts from "Sport", performed by Lightnin' Rod.
• "Live Now" contains interpolations of "Fantasy", written by Maurice White, Verdine White, and Eddie del Barrio.
• "Just a Moment" contains samples from "Will You Cry", written by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers, performed by Chic.
• "You Know My Style" contains samples from "Jam Master Jay", written by Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, and Larry Smith, performed by Run-DMC.
• "Suicide Bounce" contains interpolations from "Battle Cry", written by Arthur Baker, Vincent Fuller, and Donald Hawkes.
• "Remember the Times" contains excerpts from "We Do It", written by Russell Stone, performed by Carol Douglas.
• "Getting Married" contains interpolations of "Ike's Mood 1", written by Isaac Hayes.
• "Me & You (Dedicated to Destiny)" contains interpolations from "If This World Were Mine", written by Marvin Gaye.
• "Thief's Theme" contains excerpts from "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", written by Doug Ingle, performed by Michael Viner and The Incredible Bongo Band.

;Performance

• Nas – Rap Vocals (all tracks), Scarlett's Vocals performed by (tracks 1–07, 1–08), Multiple Instruments (2–03)
• John F. Adams – Fender Rhodes Piano (track 2–11), Strings (2–11)
• Amerie – Background Vocals (track 1–09)
• Kathryn Bostic – Operatic Vocals (track 2–01)
• Olu Dara – Vocals (tracks 2–02, 2–10), Harmonica (2–10), Trumpet (2–10), Lead Guitar (2–10)
• David Downing – Cello (track 2–02)
• Doug E. Fresh – Human Beatbox (track 2–04)
• Jesse "DJ No Request" Gladstone – Additional Scratches (tracks 1–04, 1–07)
• Vincent Henry – Clarinet (tracks 1–03, 2–09), Flute (1–03, 2–09), Baritone Saxophone (2–10), Tenor Saxophone (1–03, 2–09, 2–11), Alto Saxophone (1–03, 2–09, 2–11), Harmonica (2–10), Strings (2–10), Additional Guitar (2–10)
• L.E.S. – Drums (tracks 1–02, 1–09), Drum Machine (1–09), All Other Instruments (1–06, 1–10)
• Herb Middleton – Keyboards (track 2–12), Bass played by (2–12)
• Nut – Keyboards (tracks 1–06, 1–10, 2–07)
• Bruce Purse – Trumpet & Flugelhorn (tracks 1–03, 2–09, 2–11)
• Quan – Outro Background Vocals (track 2–01)
• Salaam Remi – Organ played by (track 1–02), Guitar (1–02, 1–03), Bass played by (1–02, 1–03, 2–02, 2–09, 2–10, 2–11), Fender Rhodes Piano (1–03, 2–09), Drums (1–03, 2–02, 2–10, 2–11), Piano (2–02), Strings (2–09), Synthesizer (2–09), Additional Guitar (2–10), Horns arranged by (2–09), Multiple Instruments (1–07, 1–12, 2–01, 2–06, 2–13)
• Makeba Riddick – Background Vocals (track 2–12)
• Chucky Thompson – Piano (track 1–02), Guitar (1–02, 2–09), Drums (1–02, 2–09), Bass played by (1–02, 1–09), Hi-Hat Cymbal (1–09), Percussion (2–09), Multiple Instruments (1–08, 2–08)

;Production & Technical

• Executive Producers: Nasir Jones, Salaam Remi, L.E.S.
• Recording Engineers: Kevin Crouse (tracks 1–01 to 1–12, 2–01 to 2–10, 2–12 to 2–13), Gary Noble (2–11), Carlton Lynn (Additional Music on 1–08)
• Assistant Recording Engineers: Jesse "DJ No Request" Gladstone (tracks 1–02, 1–04, 1–05, 1–08 to 1–11, 2–01, 2–03, 2–04, 2–06, 2–07), Bevin Robinson (1–02, 1–04, 1–05, 1–08 to 1–11, 2–01, 2–03, 2–04, 2–06, 2–07), Colin Miller (1–03, 2–01), Rob Marks (1–03, 1–09, 1–12, 2–02, 2–10 to 2–13), Mark Rinaldi (1–06, 1–07, 2–12), Ryan Evans (1–06, 1–07, 1–09, 2–06, 2–09, 2–12), Mimi (2–01, 2–07), Ben Kane (2–03), Alex Ndionne (2–11)
• Audio Mixing: Kevin Crouse (all tracks)
• Assistant Audio Mixing: Mark Rinaldi (track 1–12)
• Mastering: Chris Gehringer
• A&R Direction: Mike Brinkley, Timothy "Gov" Ballard, Dino Delvaille
• Album Coordination for Sony Urban Music: Nikki Martin
• Marketing: David Belgrave
• Management: Sara Newkirk
• Legal Representation: Peter Paterno ESQ, Michelle Jubelirer
• Art Direction & Design: Chris Feldmann
• Photography: Danny Clinch
• Imaging: Justin Cohen
• Graphic Artist: Patrick Cahalan
• Prop Stylist: Debora Francis
• Stylist: Tiffany Hassbourne

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Nas|title=Street's Disciple|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|id=6331-1231-2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Nas|title=Street's Disciple|award=Platinum|relyear=2004|certyear=2005|refname="riaa"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.discogs.com/Nas-Streets-Disciple/master/20311 Street's Disciple] at Discogs

{{Nas}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2004 albums

Category:Nas albums

Category:Albums produced by Buckwild

Category:Albums produced by L.E.S. (record producer)

Category:Albums produced by Salaam Remi

Category:Albums produced by Q-Tip (musician)

Category:Columbia Records albums