I Am... is the third album and the fourth stage in the evolution of the living legend of Queensbridge, Nasir Jones, from Nasty Nas to Nas Escobar or Nastradamus, the harbinger, the mega-poet, the gangster. This third part is an introspective work by one of hip-hop's stars. Nas has been proclaimed the messiah of hip-hop, and he has climbed the hip-hop career ladder thanks to his powerful poetry. Contrary to the album's title, the scope of the work goes beyond autobiography, as Nas examines politics, the state of hip-hop, Y2K, race and religion from his own distinctive perspective. Whereas Illmatic was Nas‘ most brutal work and It Was Written was Nas’ attempt to reconcile his underground passions with his newfound fame, recognition and wealth, Nas in I Am... is honest about his elevated status, but still feels the strain of no longer being greedy on the mic. Musically, I Am is not particularly imaginative by Nas' stratospheric standards. Time-tested producers Trackmasters sprinkled the album with their trademark bright grooves and samples, but some of these tracks lack the musical depth to justify the prophecies of the pharaoh, Nas. Despite the production's somewhat banal nature, Nas still shines as the old soulful storyteller and chronicler of criminal rhymes on tracks like ‘We Will Survive,’ a tribute to fallen rappers.
