After an eight-year run on Def Jam Records, Nas prepares his exit.
In late 2005, Nas took the stage alongside Jay Z (the label’s then-President) for a collaborative rendition of “I Declare War” and announced that he would soon join the Def Jam family.
The Queens rapper then pulled a similar move, using his latest collaboration to announce his departure from the label. On ScHoolBoy Q’s “Studio” remix, Nas spits: “Finished up my new album/Single about to be dropping/Last album on Def Jam and I got so many options.”
His options could include bolstering his imprint, Mass Appeal Records. After signing artists Boldy James, Bishop Nehru, Fashawn and Run The Jewels, Mr. Jones revealed that the label would be releasing a compilation album, Lost Tapes 2, a collection of his unreleased music, and a posthumous album of the late Pimp C.
“I’m excited to be a part of creating and supporting future careers and legacy artists, promoting love and finding new genius to help the world,” Nas said in a statement at the time. “I’m going to be as involved as I need to be, but I also want to be respectful of the art and give artists the space they need to grow and become themselves.”