Long held in high esteem in the snootiest of hip-hop circles, Nas' rep has slipped somewhat in prestige in the last decade (partly to do with naming his 2008 album after the N word, and partly with a brief marriage to funky popstress Kelis, see above). However, with the no-frills rap and powerhouse reggae union on 'As We Enter', Mr. Jones is well on his way to reclaiming his cred.