Nas Album: “Stillmatic [PA]”

Description :

Contains the bonus track "Every Ghetto," which follows "What Goes Around." Personnel includes: Nas, Mary J. Blige, Az. Producers include: Nas, Ron Browz, Large Professor, DJ Premier, Salaam Remi. Contains the bonus track "Every Ghetto," which follows "What Goes Around." Personnel includes: Nas, Mary J. Blige, Az. Producers include: Nas, Ron Browz, Large Professor, DJ Premier, Salaam Remi. In 1994, Nas dropped his debut ILLMATIC. More than just a classic, it's perhaps the definitive East Coast street hip-hop record, bereft of cliche, rife with rich, inventive rhymes. His early coronation proved both blessing and curse, as his three follow-ups, while shining next to most platinum peers, never reached the ingenious heights of his introduction. Just by the title, STILLMATIC makes obvious its yearning to recapture that feel, a ridiculously tall order if not impossible, but it comes dangerously close, which merely makes it one of the top albums of its year. At times it feels like half of STILLMATIC consists of shots at Jay-Z, ex-cohort Prodigy, and others, at times thinly veiled, other times not veiled at all (the opening two words of "Ether"). Out of the mouths of others, this game would be old and boring. What allows Nas transcendence is that he is not your average hater posturing to sell records, he's earnestly responding to a slander with his supreme, unwavering lyrical style. Nas has an insane arsenal of words and an acute sense of incongruity, best illustrated on "Destroy and Rebuild," where he reverses the guns of KRS-One's blistering attack on Nas's home Queensbridge ("The Bridge Is Over") to both glorify his beloved hood and deny the MCs he believes have fallen off. In 1994, Nas dropped his debut ILLMATIC. More than just a classic, it's perhaps the definitive East Coast street hip-hop record, bereft of cliche, rife with rich, inventive rhymes. His early coronation proved both blessing and curse, as his three follow-ups, while shining next to most platinum peers, never reached the ingenious heights of his introduction. Just by the title, STILLMATIC makes obvious its yearning to recapture that feel, a ridiculously tall order if not impossible, but it comes dangerously close, which merely makes it one of the top albums of its year. At times it feels like half of STILLMATIC consists of shots at Jay-Z, ex-cohort Prodigy, and others, at times thinly veiled, other times not veiled at all (the opening two words of "Ether"). Out of the mouths of others, this game would be old and boring. What allows Nas transcendence is that he is not your average hater posturing to sell records, he's earnestly responding to a slander with his supreme, unwavering lyrical style. Nas has an insane arsenal of words and an acute sense of incongruity, best illustrated on "Destroy and Rebuild," where he reverses the guns of KRS-One's blistering attack on Nas's home Queensbridge ("The Bridge Is Over") to both glorify his beloved hood and deny the MCs he believes have fallen off.

After a disappointing album loaded with watered down commercialized tracks, Nas has set out to prove he still has what it takes to be crowned the King of New York. And with Stillmatic, he proves it beyond a shadow of a doubt.

The album kicks off with a hot intro, laced with a nice beat and solid flow. From there, we find ourselves listening to Nas verbally tear apart Jay-Z on the viscious "Ether," which features enough hot punches to make Ali cringe.

The album's first single, "Got Ur Self A...." is another banger that you cant help but nod your head to. Far from "Nastradamus," the title track and lead single off his last album, "Got Ur Self A..." maintains a feel that's radio-friendly yet still raw.

The hits never let up after that: bangers like "You're Da Man," the ridiculously original "Rewind," and "Destroy & Rebuild," (which throws lyrical darts at Prodigy, Cormega, and Nature), never lose an ounce of replay value.

"Rule" is reminiscent of "If I Ruled The World," another very nice track. And dont think for a second that Nas has sacrificed any street credibility on this album. Vivid tracks like "2nd Childhood," "My Country," and "Every Ghetto" among others will no doubt resurrect memories of the street poet we grew to love in 1994.

But the albums highlight is the beautifully-constructed "One Mic," which showcases a Nas we havent heard before. On each verse, he flawlessly flows gradually from a silky smooth tempo to a fierce, emotionally charged lyrical onslaught. An incredible track.

The album's only slight slip-up comes on the lackluster "Braveheart Party," which features a less than enthusiastic appearance by Mary J. Blige as well as a typical beat made for the clubs and watered-down lyrics. But this is literally the only mishap on the album, so it can be easily overlooked.

Overall, Stillmatic is the hands down Hip-Hop album of the year. Great production and masterful lyrics make this an album that not only reaffirms Nas's spot among hip-hop's elite, but also brings a breath of fresh air from some of the garbage thats been released in the genre lately. Every true HIP-HOP fan should own this album.

This is by far my favorite Nas album to date. Yeah, Illmatic is certified as a "classic" and I believe it is too. and It Was Written is definitly one of the best follow-up albums in all of hip-hop. But I think that Stillmatic outshines the 4 previous solo cuts by Nasty Nas.

This CD was mainly produced as a diss album in response to Jay-Z's Blueprint. As you may recall, Jay-Z (or in Nas's words, Gay-Z) dissed Mobb Deep and Nas in "Takeover". However, "Ether" is Nas's response, and it is a much better song and really left Jay-Z speechless. (You would know this if you heard "Superugly".)

Jay-Z isn't Nas's only target. Cormega is another main focus of one of the greatest lyricists/poets of all-time. In "Destroy & Rebuild", Nas talks about how he needs to get tha weak cats out of QB. He names Prodigy, Cormega & Nature in this song. Prodigy has no beef wit Nas, but Nature and Cormega have responded.

Stillmatic is a hot album altogether. The other tracks have nothing to do with disses, but that makes this album more diverse.

You probably have heard two of the better songs Got Ur Self A... & One Mic. One Mic is one of the best songs ever made, explaining how Nas needs one mic to survive. This can be appreciated by true hip-hop heads. You know Nas ain't in this for the money.

Rewind is a hot song with a new style. Nas literally "spits a story backwards, it starts at the ending." I have never heard a song like this one in my lifetime.

The Flyest is a classic Nas & AZ collabo. It's probably my favorite track on the album. Braveheart Party is a party/club song that I personally like, but many dont.

Here is my track rating (1-5):

This is the album we always knew Nas could create. Nas fans, lets be real, nobody really wants another Illmatic. Illmatic was a classic in 1994. It is now 2002. Nas is a multi millionaire. He is no longer the project/ghetto reporter.

That being said, with just 12 days left in the year, Nas has dropped perhaps the best album to come out in 2001. I am quite aware that an album called "The Blueprint" came out on September 11, however as a Jay-Z fan, I will tell you that Stillmatic is far vastly superior, both lyrically and production-wise. You can without a doubt, listen to the first 10 tracks without even having to press the skip button. While some may not be feeling the "Braveheart Party" track, that is a minor hiccup in what is a stellar album.

In closing the definite authority on reviews, The Source gave Jay-Z's album 5 mics. If that was a hip hop classic, than we should see 7 mics next to Nas's name in the next Source magazine. After listening to this album, you wonder if Jay-Z really does have an obsession with Nas. He samples Nas's voice on his songs, he sleeps with a girl Nas slept with years ago...

This album is not Illmatic. But at his fifth album, this is the best and most conclusive piece of work Nas has made.

I always loved "Illmatic" and "it was written"....but "i am" and "nastradaumus" were not very good. east coast hip-hop has fallen off since the mid ninties, but this album is an enormous come-back for nas and New York.....First he brings back his classic illmatic ryme style on the intro....He destroys arch rival Jay-z on "Ether" finally ending the drawn out beef..."rewind" is a phenomenal track...where nas perfectly illustrates a story backwords. "One Mic" is a unique and extremly ill track where nas's flow and deep lyrics combine with an erratic yet smooth beat to make probably the best track on the album. "2nd childhood" brings back the old Jazz beat style with smooth yet "illmatic" style lyrics. he reunites with AZ for an acceptional track with "the flyest" and sends messages with "What Goes Around", "my country", "your da man","rule", and "destroy & rebuild". The beats are diversified nicley from the head bobbing "what goes around" to the tears for fears sample on "rule" to the violyn sample on "your da man" they are all perfect compliments to the lyrical supremecy of Nas. I really like this album....it is deffinetly another rap classic...Most of all nas stayed real..he didn't buy into the latest fad rap has turned into...this Album is for the true rap fan, the ppl who still pump illmatic and it was written, and even for those just browsing for a good music cd. it has somthing for everybody..deffinetly the best rap cd of the year. my only advice is BUY IT!!