Nas and I have something in common: We both miss the 1990s. I miss it because that was the decade when I graduated from high school and went to college. Everything felt so important back then -- especially music. Nas presumably misses it because his music was among the most important of the decade. Illmatic, released in April 1994, was a dispatch from the Queensbridge projects that immediately established Nas as one of the premier rappers of his generation. I'm sure it's because we were biased New Yorkers, but nobody I knew listened to Tupac until he died. Our "Who's No. 1?" debates all centered on Biggie and Nas.

None of which is to suggest that Nas (born Nasir Jones) hasn't enjoyed his share of success in the new millennium. He's released five successful solo albums since 2001; one went double platinum, two went platinum, and the last two hit No. 1. And he's...