Nas Album: “Nas [PA]”

Aside from Nas being my favorite rapper, I can honestly say that this album is a milestone for Hip-Hop and for Nas is general. Like Public Enemy and Dead Prez (among other countless groups) Nas shows us why Hip-Hop is still the black or underground CNN, where important issues can be brought up and discussed diligently. Nas artistically rhymes about the minorities especially African Americans plight and ultimate survival in a biased and sometimes over oppressing America. Nas truly shines on this album and proves that he is the closest thing that we have for a mainstream artist that has an underground message and a civil rights consciousness. Seriously what rapper do you know can call an album N***** and intelligently explain it? These rappers play it safe and talk about stuff the average person does not live, rappers are telling us about glamor that we help provide, and we suck it up each time. Nas does not, the hours he spent reading at the library paid off, becuase he has the history and personal reflection to prove it. He literally is the Malcolm X of hip hop. Tracks like, You cant stop us now, Fried Chicken, Y'all My N*****, Project Roach, all of them are good, cop this album if not for hip hop, or the revolution, for yourself. Listen up Nas is teaching!!!!

im writing this review after reading a range of reviews claiming that nas has released the most disgustingly racist anti-white anti-american album on the face of the earth, now to start with, being of mixed race (black\white if it matters to you) i was able to listen to the album without being offended at the first mention of a percieved racial slur, also not being an american i was able to listen to the album without being blinded by nationalist pride at the first mention of america not being entirely perfect, and i found the subject matter and issues adressed by the more pollitically charged tracks on the album to be quite thought provoking, and a welcome departure from the current slew of so called hip hop artists dominating mainstream music whose lyrical skills can only be described as sub par (im being as diplomatic as i possibly can and removing all the yelling\swearing that usually results when i discuss new rap) this is the type of music hip hop needs intelligent,deep and thought provoking.

When Nas released Illmatic 14 years ago it was the most anticipated album of that year. Nas has survived the test of time staying relevant to his genre. Sure he's dropped some not so great albums, all of which failing to match the impact of Illmatic. This latest offering titled... Untitled is a perfect piece for fans that have grown up with Nas. Nas has grown up. His sound is refined and his lyrics are a reflection of someone who thinks about things other than jewelry and hookery. Tracks like "N.I.*.*.*.E.R.", "Hero", and "Sly Fox" are all examples of a more mature approach to an industry where grown men run around acting like teenagers. My only complaint about this album is that the production seems to be very generic. There was no music on this album that stood out to me to be innovative or overly creative. It's decent but just doesn't stand out. No DJ Premiere? And where is that Primo/Nas album that everyone was talking about a few years ago? Either way Untitled is a good album. Those of us Hip-Hop heads 30 years and up will appreciate Nas stepping up his game and giving us something that is not embarrassing to listen to.

This Album is probably not only the best of the year...but one of Nas best albums over his 10+ years of rapping....it finally seems that he's "Found Himself".....Simply put an Intellegent Gangsta....I've been a Nas fan since the age of 16 and have brought ever Album of his some even more than once...What I've seen is an artist that has found the happy medium between the streets and the "Positive" Informative rap.....in other words the reason why he's been able to consecutively sell a decent amount of albums over his career is because young black men from the hood that are misrepresented have always found Nas to be the closest mainstream representation of them. There are other artist whom have found that if you stay true to who you are no matter what you'll always have a Fan that will spend $10+ for the latest Disc. With this Disc Nas has finally Placed himself into the realm of "Our" Musicians...These Musicians are those that will not and have not Faded over the years...Aretha Franklin (The Queen of Soul), James Brown (The King of Soul), Micheal Jackson (The King Of Pop) Mary J. Blige (The Queen of Hip Hop Soul), Prince, Bono, Madonna, BIG, 2 Pac, Run DMC, Gladys Knight, Al Green, Jay-Z.....these are all people who bring about the thought of LEGENDARY...and whether you agree or not you have to be able to say that any one of those mentioned are at least "Arguably" the best in there Genre....which is what you can say with confidence about Nas....you have those one the spectrum of intellegent rap such as Common, Talib, Lupe...just to name a few and you also have those 15 minute ringtone rappers who sign the Bad deals, make one hit song, come up with the hotest most degrading dance and get to preform it on 106 and park (think "Franchise Boys, FLO RIDA, YOUNG JOC, BOW WOW, PRETTY RICKY, SOULJA BOY, and countless other Fly by night "Artist") before only being recycled into the next 5 clowns who are just happy to be seen and if lucky heard for more then 14 months. Nas has Finally been able to help us appreciate the Fact that he's somewhere in betwen, and the way that he does this is simply being NAS. The industry has really taken a sharp turn for the worse as of lately and it seems that we've all found ourselves being told that just because a few probesent teens think that it's hot than we should be subject to hear it on the radio every 5 times. You also have these rappers who all sound the same and tell a bunch of Lies about who they are and repsresent. But "Real recoginze Real" so those that are true to themselves will be the ones who countinue to sell Consecutively. Take 5-0 for example (for the true Hip Hop HEADS LISTEN TO TRACK ONE ON THIS CD...."TAKE 27 MC'S.....HIDING BEHIND 8 MILE AND THE CHRONIC..THAT'S 50" OBVIOUS JAB AT 50 CENT WHO IS PROSUMPTIVELY HIDING BEHID EMENIEM AND DR. DRE....THIS RIGHT HERE SHOWS THAT NAS IS WAY BEYOND THE COMPETITION AND IS TRULY ONLY RAPPING TO THE ELITE) This CD is probably one of the strongest of not just this year, but of the century.

The song with the Game and Chris altered my decision. No it is not a weak song by any means. It just did not belong on this album. Kinda throws the flow of the album off just a tad bit. Other than that......Remember what it was like to go and purchase an anticipated hip hop album? Hardly could not sleep the night before it's release. You finally get it and play it over and over again while looking at the art work and the titles. Then you have other sleepless nights cause you wake up want to hear it in the middle of the night. Remember those days. This is what it this is like for me guys. How could anyone not like this album? Even if you are not into this brand of hip-hop or do not like NAS you got to admire how he lived up to the concept of this album.

Ni**ers is just so motivational and the late Easy E would have been proud. Testify is like the best conversation you ever had over a glass of the best cognac. Fried Chicken puts you in a metaphorical state. And Queens get the Money.....Ooooooooooh! ( Did you all catch how he took Rakim's taking out M.C.'s concept from 'Check out My Melody to another level). Brilliant! I like listening to this album alone with dim lights. Go and Cop this! Hey, there are a lot of good underground stuff out there.....but Hip Hop really did need this album. NAS has surpassed the legacy of Biggie and Pac. He is now his own man.