Album Information
| Artist | Nas |
|---|---|
| Album Type | Compilation Album |
| Released | November 6, 2007 |
| Recorded | 1992–2007 |
| Label | Columbia Records / Sony BMG |
| Genre | Hip-Hop, East Coast Hip-Hop |
| Length | 58 minutes, 53 seconds |
Greatest Hits is a compilation album by American rapper :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}, released on November 6, 2007 through :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}. The album collects key singles from Nas’s Columbia-era catalog, spanning from his debut Illmatic through Street’s Disciple, and includes two newly released tracks that helped promote the compilation.
Background
The release of Greatest Hits came after more than a decade of Nas’s work with Columbia Records. The compilation was assembled as a retrospective of his most commercially significant and critically recognized songs from that period.
The album notably excludes material released under other labels, including projects such as Hip Hop Is Dead, which was issued through Def Jam. This makes the compilation specifically focused on his Columbia output rather than a full-career overview.
In addition to classic singles, the project includes select collaborations and previously released soundtrack material, reinforcing its role as a curated highlights collection rather than a comprehensive anthology.
Music and Themes
Because the album is a compilation, its themes reflect the broader arc of Nas’s early and mid-career work. It highlights his evolution from street-level storytelling to reflective commentary and mainstream success.
Recurring themes across the selected tracks include:
- Queensbridge storytelling and street realism
- Social commentary and urban life
- Fame, success, and industry pressure
- Personal reflection and legacy building
- Collaboration and East Coast hip-hop identity
Rather than introducing new creative direction, the album functions as a summary of Nas’s Columbia-era artistic identity.
Track Listing
- Surviving the Times
- It Ain’t Hard to Tell
- Life’s a Bitch (feat. AZ & Olu Dara)
- N.Y. State of Mind
- One Love (feat. Q-Tip)
- If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (feat. Lauryn Hill)
- Street Dreams (Remix)
- Hate Me Now (feat. Puff Daddy)
- One Mic
- Got Ur Self A...
- Made You Look
- I Can
- Bridging the Gap (feat. Olu Dara)
- Less Than an Hour (Theme from “Rush Hour 3”) (feat. CeeLo Green)
Notable Songs
N.Y. State of Mind
One of Nas’s defining early tracks, showcasing dense storytelling and vivid depictions of Queensbridge life.
If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)
A crossover hit featuring Lauryn Hill, blending mainstream appeal with social imagination and aspiration.
One Mic
A dramatic, escalating performance that became one of Nas’s most acclaimed late-career singles.
Made You Look
A hard-hitting comeback-era anthem that reaffirmed Nas’s presence in early 2000s hip-hop.
Surviving the Times
A reflective closing-style track that looks back on Nas’s career progression and industry experiences.
Reception
Upon release, Greatest Hits received mixed to positive reviews. Critics generally viewed it as a label-driven compilation that successfully highlighted key moments in Nas’s Columbia catalog, though some noted omissions of important material from other periods.
Commercial performance was modest compared to his studio albums, but the compilation served as an accessible entry point for newer listeners exploring his catalog.
Legacy
Greatest Hits functions primarily as a snapshot of Nas’s Columbia Records era rather than a definitive career summary. It preserves many of his most recognizable songs from the 1990s and early 2000s in a single collection.
Over time, the album has been viewed as a transitional release that closed a major chapter in Nas’s label history before his later artistic reinventions.
Today, it remains a useful overview of his early catalog, even if it is not considered essential compared to his core studio albums.