After receiving mixed reviews for his two 1999 albums, I Am… and Nastradamus, as well as receiving a jab from JAY-Z on “Takeover,” Nas wanted to make a statement that he was “still illmatic” with the release of his fifth album, Stillmatic. Nas responded to “Takeover” with the soul-burning “Ether,” which has now become a verb in hip-hop circles. He also re-connected with producer Large Professor, who gave Nas his first feature on Main Source’s “Live at the Barbeque” in 1991 and produced tracks on Illmatic. Stillmatic received critical acclaim, including a 5 Mics rating from The Source. The album peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 and topped the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart on its way to double platinum status with support from the singles “Got Ur Self a Gun” and “One Mic.”