The Cross Roads

In April 1999, Nas released his third full-length album I Am.

After the critical success of Illmatic and the commercial success of It Was Written, Nas was at a crossroads as an artist. I Am was stylistically a combination of his first two albums, and was originally planned as a double album. Internet leaks forced Nas to record new material which ultimately became I Am and Nastradamus, the latter of which was also released in '99. Reportedly, many of the leaked songs ended up on volume one of The Lost Tapes, released in 2002.

Production on the album was handled by Trakmasters, The Hitmen, Dame Grease, Timbaland, D-Moet, Alvin West and DJ Premier and L.E.S. both of whom produced on Illmatic and It Was Written. I Am produced two singles, the Preemo produced "Nas Is Like" and "Hate Me Now" which featured Diddy with production by Trackmasters, Pretty Boy and D-Moet.

Nas Is Like

DJ Premier's production is synonymous with street credibility and "real Hip-Hop," especially when he works with an artist who has achieved commercial and/or crossover success. Nas and Premier's collaborations are highly celebrated, particularly amongst the many fans who long for another Illmatic. Unsurprisingly, many fans who comprise Nas' core audience consider "Nas is Like" one of his best works and a favorite on I Am. Sticking to his signature production style Premier chopped a string sample on top of a Boom Bap drum pattern and scratched phrases from Nas' debut single "It Ain't Hard To Tell" for the song's hook. In a genius move, Premier snatched the word "recognized" from Biz Markie's "Nobody Beats The Biz" and configured it to sound like the word "Nas." "Nas Is Like" was a perfect choice for the lead single from I Am, and was perhaps a response to those who criticized the more commercial direction that It Was Written followed.

Hate Me Now

"Hate Me Now" was the second single from I Am and featured production By D-Moet and Trakmasters. Nas told Rolling Stone in 2007 that the track was originally intended for Foxy Brown.

"It was a track D-Moet produced for Foxy Brown, and she didn't like it", he explained. "It fit with my album, so I did the track and it sounded perfect for Puff to be on so I gave it to him, went in the studio and rocked it, knocked it out." It is virtually impossible to separate "Hate Me Now" from its Hype Williams-directed video which depicts Nas as Jesus Christ of Nazareth carrying his cross on the way to crucifixion. Other scenes show Nas & Puffy dancing on top of bodega rooftops and performing in clubs dressed in furs popping bottles.

Although it wasn't as critically acclaimed as his previous albums, I Am is a solid release in the discography of one of rap music's most consistent and enduring artists.