Few hip-hop artists have mastered the tricky art of the double-album. The task of creating two CDs full of good material has thwarted many an A-list talent. However, Nas has ably stepped up to the plate with his first double-disc, “Street’s Disciple.” Fans got their first taste of the album with the hardcore anthem “Thief’s Theme.” Backed by a fierce bassline, the Queens, N.Y., MC spins one chest-thumping lyric after another. While the track is reminiscent of Nas classics like “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” and “Sweet Dreams,” the more thought-provoking cuts are where Nas really scores. On “American Way,” which features Kelis, he rails against this country’s various ills—from the Bush administration to newly politically active hip-hop artists. Other highlights include the Rakim tribute, “U.B.R. (Unauthorized Biography of Rakim)”; “Bridging the Gap”; and the controversial “Coon Picnic (These Are Our Heroes).”—RH
