Nas released his fifth album Stillmatic December, 18th 2001

Stillmatic is the fifth studio album by American rapper Nas, released on December 18, 2001, by Ill Will and Columbia Records. In contrast to his previous work’s gangsta rap themes, the album contains socially conscious and philosophical themes similar to his 1994 debut Illmatic. Nas’ lyrics address topics such as ghetto life, American politics, and his feud with rapper Jay-Z.

Stillmatic was a commercial and critical success and helped re-establish Nas’ career after critical disappointment with his previous album Nastradamus (released in 1999). It debuted at number 5 on the US Billboard 200 and sold over 342,600 in its first week of sales, eventually going on to sell over 2,026,000 copies in the United States. It has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
…[source: Wikipedia]