Queensbridge legend outlines follow-up to 2012’s Life Is Good.

After feeling uninspired for the past couple of years, Nas has said he’s back in the studio working on a new album.

“It took me a while to jumpstart it,” he admitted in an interview on NPR (which you can still hear and read in full). After working with Timbaland following the release of Life Is Good, the rapper said he had to step back from the project. “I didn’t want to go back in the studio that quick. I felt like I needed to be inspired,” he said.

That inspiration only came in recent months with the 20th anniversary of his landmark debut Illmatic, he explained.

“It wasn’t ’til then that I really started to feel it. Cause I got a chance — and I gotta give credit to the documentary guys. Them showing me the footage and stuff really like — it really lets you know where you come from and everything, and where you at now. I salute them dudes, man — One9, Erik Parker, the whole crew over there that’s put that film together — because that’s helped me find the inspiration. I found it. So I jumpstarted the album again — the new one.”

As well as Timbaland, he’s been working with producers No I.D. and Swizz Beatz.

“Now I’m at a place where — I laid down ideas, so the ideas I lay down then, now, I’m kind of like going through ’em and I’m fixing ’em. Now I’m at a place where I could play a song for somebody and they really get it and they really understand — they really feel it. At first I didn’t, so I’m happy to say I’m at a place where it feels right.

“I talked to Swizz, and we went through joints. And No I.D. and Timbaland, you know. This the only interview I’ma talk about it. Cause I know once this comes out, people might ask me about the record and, man, I just want to finish it and get it done.”

The 20th anniversary reissue of Illmatic came out last week. Catch up with Spotify’s audio documentary about the record, featuring contributions from Nas, Pete Rock, DJ Premier and more. [via Pitchfork]