Nas is following up his Grammy Award winning album King’s Disease (2020) with the all-new King’s Disease II, dropping Aug. 6 at midnight ET, via Mass Appeal.
On Thursday (July 29), the hitmaker announced the upcoming sequel album and unveiled the cover art, which is a modern self-portrait complete with an orange backdrop and yellow text. King’s Disease earned Nas his first-ever Grammy win this year, for best rap album. The original album was produced by Hit-Boy. Gabriel “G Code” Zardes was the co-executive producer behind the first King’s Disease.
Nas shared a post promoting the newly announced King’s Disease II on Instagram Thursday, writing, “We’re back in business! King’s Disease II • 8/6.” Collaborator Hit-boy commented multiple times, writing, “It’s on” in one note and “Run it back!!” in another. Fellow artist Brandy was among those to like the post.
Also exciting for Nas, 2021 marks the 25th anniversary since the 1996 release of his sophomore studio album, It Was Written. Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, has released an expanded digital edition of the project. The expanded It Was Written, which is available for streaming, features bonus tracks “Silent Murder” and “Street Dreams.”
Since the release of his 1994 debut studio album Illmatic, Nas has released 25 Billboard Hot 100 tracks, including two top 10 hits. His albums I am…, Hip-Hop Is Dead, Life Is Good and Untitled each peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Nas’ most recent album, King’s Disease, peaked at No. 5 on the list in September.