Slave to a Page ─ The Book of Rhymes

A beautifully designed collection of lyrics, photos, and personal stories from one of hip-hop's greatest voices Nas has made his name as one of the greatest original hip-hop lyricists. In 1994, with the release of his now-classic debut album Illmatic, Nas became known for painting unforgettable portraits of his native, notoriously brutal Queensbridge Projects in Queens, New York, and vividly detailing the hardships of everyday ghetto living. His close friendships with the late great Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur--and his pivotal role in the popularization of hip-hop in the 1990s--have earned him notoriety as one of hip-hop's most influential voices. His 1996 follow-up to Illmatic, It Was Written, and subsequent 1999 album, I Am, are both multi-platinum sellers. In 2001, Nas triumphantly reemerged as hip-hop's premier songwriter with his platinum-selling Stillmatic, returning to the original gritty street poetics of his early career. Last year brought both happiness and tragedy to the rap star--Nas's celebration of Stillmatic's success was cut short when his mother succumbed to her battle with cancer. This tragedy, one of the greatest hardships of his life, informed many of the songs on his most recent album, 2002's God's Son. This latest album reached an unprecedented level of lyrical skill and personal maturity, proving that this originator of the craft of rapping will continue to rise and define excellence in the world of hip-hop. Slave to a Page collects Nas's lyrics and informs their creation with tales from his storied life and career, presenting an essential piece of cultural history to the hip-hop nation and Nas's millions of fans.