|
Nas Album: “I Am...The Autobiography”
| Album Information : |
|---|
| Title: |
I Am...The Autobiography |
|
|
|
Release Date:2001-08-20
|
|
Type:Unknown
|
|
Genre:Hip-Hop/Rap, East Coast Rap, Mainstream Rap
|
|
Label:Sony Mid-Price
|
|
Explicit Lyrics:Yes
|
|
UPC:5099748941923
|
Review - AMG :
The first best-of collection of Nas' colorful career, The Best of Nas perfectly compiles most of his biggest pre-Stillmatic hits along with several Illmatic-era remixes. The Japan-only release gathers every major hit -- "Street Dreams," "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)," "Nas Is Like," "You Owe Me," and more -- while at the same time emphasizing Nas' classic debut, Illmatic (1994). The first eight tracks all come from that ten-track album: two versions each of "Life's a Bitch," "The World Is Yours," "One Love," and "It Ain't Hard to Tell" -- the original version followed by the remix in each case. These remixes are elsewhere compiled on the From Illmatic to Stillmatic EP (2002) (as is a remix of "One Mic" that's not here) and are definitely worthwhile listening for any Nas fan, particularly those who enjoy his Illmatic era. Then come all the hits, first those from the Trackmasters-produced It Was Written (1996) followed by those from I Am and Nastradamus (both 1999). By the time you reach the end, you're hungry for more hits -- namely lesser ones like "Halftime" and subsequent ones like "One Mic" -- and also more remixes. But that's all the room there is on this solid single-disc collection, which should definitely enthrall Nas first-timers with all the hits as well as enthrall diehards with all the remixes. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music GuideReview - :
{^I Am...} is the third album and fourth stage in the evolution of Queensbridge's living legend {$Nasir Jones}, from {$Nasty Nas} to {$Nas} to {$Nas Escobar} to {$Nastradamus}, the soothsaying mega-thug poet. This third installment is an introspective work from one of hip-hop's made men. Always billed as a hip-hop messiah, {$Nas} rose through the ranks of hip-hop on the strength of powerful poetry. Contrary to the album's title, the scope of the work extends beyond the autobiography as {$Nas} takes on politics, the state of hip-hop, Y2K, race, and religion with his own unique perspective. While {^Illmatic} was {$Nas} at his rawest and {^It Was Written} was {$Nas}' attempt to reconcile his underground leanings with his newfound fame, acclaim, and wealth, the {$Nas} of {^I Am...} is honest about his elevated status yet still feels the tension of no longer being ravenous on the mic. Musically, {^I Am} is somewhat unimaginative by {$Nas}' stratospheric standards. Tried and true producers, {$the Trackmasters} stamp the album with their signature catchy grooves and samples, but some of these tracks lack the sonic depth to do justice to the prophecies of the pharaoh, {$Nas}. Superproducer {$Premier} comes to save the day on two outstanding tracks: {&"NY State of Mind, Pt. II"} and {&"Nas Is Like."} These two cuts are nothing short of {^Illmatic} perfection. {&"Nas Is Like"}'s symphonic composition is the perfect complement for an MC of {$Nas}' supreme vocal quality and precise lyrics. Despite some of the blandness on the production end, {$Nas} still shines as the old soul storyteller and crime rhyme chronicler on cuts like {&"We Will Survive,"} a dirge for fallen rappers. {$Nas} also experiments stylistically on {&"Big Things,"} sporting a Midwest cadence, and on {&"You Won't See Me Tonight,"} a {$Timbaland}-produced duet with R&B songstress {$Aaliyah}. ~ M.F. DiBella, All Music Guide
|
|
