Illmatic has consistently been held up as not only the best Nas album, but possibly the greatest album to ever grace hip-hop. That kind of success leaves large shoes to fill, and for decades Nas has struggled to keep those expectations satiated. Following a slump in the 2010s that left his career with an uncertain future, Nas found himself in the midst of a creative renaissance with producer Hit Boy. Their first three projects together garnered extensive acclaim, but it was with the third entry that the two set out to do the impossible-- top Illmatic. Did they succeed?

This is Part 2 of 3. Here, we do a deep dive into the third installment in Nas and Hit Boy's King's Disease series, discussing the lyrics, instrumentation, and themes that make up the masterpiece that is King's Disease 3.

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