Nas’ ninth studio album is seethingly political, down to the provocative and ultimately censored racial slur that was its original title. With a minimalist piano beat from Jay Electronica, “Queens Get the Money” has no drums and no hook, the perfect canvas for Nas’ unpacking of thorny sociopolitical issues. “You Can’t Stop Us Now”—built around a stripped-down sample of The Whatnauts’ “Message From a Black Man”—honors black brilliance and resilience, while “Black President” is a cautiously optimistic celebration of Barack Obama’s election victory.