Nas Album Review

To what may be the greatest hip hop catalog ever, The N has added another classic to his collection. Nas may have said it best when he said "I'm over their heads like a bulimic on a seesaw" on the albums opening track "Queens Get The Money".

The album spearhead by the the official lead single "Hero" featuring Keri Hilson and produced by Polow Da Don, serves as one of Nas' best singles to date. The album allows those who felt that the purpose of the album wasn't properly articulated to them through interviews to view Nas' most inner thoughts on the 'N' word. "Testify" which finds Nas paying homage to black activist George and Jonathan Jackson as he opens the track with controversial lines such as "I just burnt my American flag / and sent three cracker nazi's to hell and I'm sad". Nas continues to further his claim as one of the most creative artist to date with tracks like the anti-Fox News "Sly Fox", "Project Roach" and the soon to be cult favorite "Fried Chicken" an obvious ode to dinner at any black family's house . The latter finds Nas spitting introspective bars along side Busta Rhymes discussing the appeal of chicken and its creation.

The album consist of several stellar tracks such as " We're Not Alone" featuring Mykel but the lp's crowning moments come thanks to cinematic Toomp produced"N.I.*.*.E.R. (The Slave and The Master) and Y'all My Ni**as". The former finds Esco educating the masses about the plights and vices of of being black in America with bars like "Anytime we mention our condition, history or existence/ they callin' it reverse racism" and pledging allegiance to his Bravehearted brother Jungle (My brother Jung, ill always have a seat for him/ not behind me beside me / you'll always know where to find me). " Y'all My Ni**as" finds Nas' thanking those positive and negative influneces for cementing his place in history and discussing Paul Mooney's belief that Everybody wants to be a n--ga but dont want to be a ni-ga.

This album has the chance to change an individuals outlook on life and the things that take place in it from race to politics and more. Nas continuous efforts and ability to step out of the box is what makes him one of the all time greats. This album does nothing more but further cement his legendary status in hip hop. A great listen from opening to close, this albums classic status certainly should not be overlooked or taken for granted. Nas stands alone as the epitomy of thought provoking artistry.

The Martian Vs. The Goon

Am I the only one listening or am I over analyzing what some may call lyrics? I'm not one to start beef but there seems to be a few subliminal shots being thrown. The shots are more one sided, not saying that they aren't being thrown both ways, but I just don't hear the other side. Is there a Lil Wayne and Plies beef bubbling beneath the surface?

First and foremost, let me explain why I say that I hear only one side: While I feel that Weezy F. Baby is overrated and over saturated, I'd prefer to listen to him over Plies any day! Sometimes I find Plies very hard on my ears. Anyway does anyone remember a Plies line where he said something to the fact that he doesn't do Phantoms because 28's don't fit? Then on DJ Khaled's "I'm So Hood Remix" Wayne said "Every since I heard Plies I brought the Phantom back". I had come to realize that this line could be taken more than one way (because Wayne continues to say that he just brought a Maybach, which happens to be the Phantom's chief rival), but for the sake of argument I was just playing devils advocate. That was until the thoughts of subliminal beef were revived in my head after listening to " A Millie" a few times. Maybe I'm wrong but this sounds like a shot to me: " Okay your a goon but whats a goon to a goblin/ nothing nothing you ain't saying nothing."

If there is a war of words brewing, I would have to side with BM JR. While some find it easy to relate to Plies, I've never heard anything remotely close to lyrical come out of his mouth. While Wayne really isn't battle tested (remember he sent Trina to take care of Gillie) he has more than enough ability to take out the self proclaimed Goon. Plies allegedly has street cred (according to my Lil' cousin) but I find it hard to trust artist these days. If that is true though, I still find it hard to believe that his notoriety in the streets is bigger than Mr. Carter's.

Street Cred- Draw (just for the sake of argument)
Swag- Lil Wayne
Consistency- Lil Wayne
Lyrics- Lil Wayne
World Play- Lil Wayne
Anything else- Lil Wayne
...........................This isn't a fair fight. Advantage: Lil Wayne

The N...

As broken down by Mr. Shakur (R.I.P)



Never

Ignorant

Getting

Goals

Accomplished



After creating enough drama to make Curtis Jackson proud with the announced name of his 9th studio album, Nas recently announced that the album would no longer be titled "Nigger". Guess he can't win for losing, huh? When the albums title was originally announced Nas was the recipient of scathing criticism from many, ranging from Al "Light A Match and Burn his Perm" Sharpton (1), to 50 Cent, to "fake" fans who claimed they would no longer support Nas because of the albums title. Called socially unaware and unconscious, even stupid, Nas seemed to weather the storm, highlighted by he and Mrs. Jones arriving at the Grammys rocking shirts bearing the albums title. Subsequently he lost more fans for scraping the albums title.



One of many questions that I have is: How many album titles actually coincide with the albums content? To answer my own question, not many. I was actually looking forward to seeing the look on some out of the loop sales associate face at Target or F.Y.E. when someone, including myself, went to purchase the album. Do I wish Nas never changed the albums title? Yes, especially after he stood by it for so long; with that said I'm still anxiously awaiting the album because the direction of the album remains the same. The music that has been recorded for the LP has a chance to create as much controversy than the title being "NIGGER". Let the music speak for itself, by doing so Nasir's intentions will be clearly visible.



Since "The N" has decided to drop the albums title, many have jumped to the conclusion that he has taken a "L". After seeing the albums cover and hearing the music on the album, I find it extremely hard to say that he took a "L". The cover alone has more of a message than naming the album the dreaded "N" word. But for those who believe that he just lost one, I look at it as sacrificing a battle to win the war. The same Jews or T.I.'s that he called his "niggers" over at Def Jam more than likely (more than likely, it happened, ok?) pulled him the office to have a little talk with him. The conversation was probably more along the lines of change the albums title or it will not be released. Understanding that getting his message or point out was greater than the need to name his album "NIGGER", he complied. To those not in the know, a record company's number one priority is sell records, they could care less about artist integrity or anything else. Product placement and marketing is essential in today's climate and the IDJ execs probably felt that the album wouldn't make it to the shelves of many retailers such as Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, Wal Mart, etc. (and not to forget Jesse Jackson probably kept calling!). There are a select few of individuals who don't have a boss to answer to, so why hate Esco for dropping the albums title? He did what a real N.I.G.G.A. would do and that's choose to get his goals accomplished.



P.S. This was inspired by the good people over at 91.1 morning show. Nas is wack to y'all and y'all aren't feeling him because he changed the album title. Cool. But, y'all went in on him when your afraid to say the albums title on the radio. You were saying "Nuh", right? Now that's wack. Nas corny for changing the his album title, that also makes you wack for not saying it. At the end of the day he changed the album title for the same reason that you were afraid to say it on air, you all have someone to answer to, plus the FCC is waiting. Lames!

Check out the third verse from "Hero" ft. Keri Hilson

This universal apartheid/I'm hog-tied, the corporate side/Blocking y'all from going to stores and buying it/First L.A. and Doug Morris was riding wit it/But Newsweek article startled big wigs/They said, Nas, why is he trying it?/My lawyers only see the Billboard charts as winning/Forgetting - Nas the only true rebel since the beginning/Still in musical prison, in jail for the flow/Try telling Bob Dylan, Bruce, or Billy Joel/They can't sing what's in their soul/So untitled it is I never change nothin'/But people remember this/If Nas can't say it, think about these talented kids/With new ideas being told what they can and can't spit/I can't sit and watch it/So, shit, I'ma drop it/Like it or not/You ain't gotta cop it/I'm a hustler in the studio/Cups of Don Julio/No matter what the CD called/I'm unbeatable, y'all ... Lets go!


(1) David Banner- So Special (Al Sharpton, light a match and burn his perm)