Hip Hop Is Dead is a 2006 album by American hip-hop artist Nas that was released on December 19, 2006. The LP is Nas' eighth album of all-original material, and his first album for Def Jam Recordings. Nas' previous label, Columbia Records, co-financed the album with Def Jam (which was once distributed by Columbia). It was Nas' third album to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling 355,880 copies in its first week. Hasty, Katie. display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003525355" target="_blank">Nas Scores Third No. 1 Album With 'Hip-Hop Is Dead' _Billboard. December 27 2006. The album was nominated for Best Rap Album for the 50th Grammy Awards.