Nas Album: “Street's Disciple [PA]”

I Have been a Nas fan for a long time, While he's certainly one of the most prolific MCs to ever live and start rapping, he wanted to release a double album with I am.. But It was heavily bootlegged so he released it as a single album with few filler songs. With Street's Disciple he gives it his all, this is one of the Nas's most cohesive and tightly structured albums todate, however, it pales in comparison to undeniable Nas classics like Stillmatic, Illmatic, and The Lost tapes.

Disc 1

Starts with an intro about Nas telling us to stay strong and not give up and his voice is full of confidence. The Next track is "A Message to the Feds" which is one of the best Songs on the album with A great beat and a fire Fast flow from Nas on the second Verse. Right after, we have "Nazereth Savage" which is my Personal Favorite on the album, I love the beat Nas drops some of his Best lyrics on Wax to Date. "American Way" and "These are our Heros" are both political songs that Nas uses to spread a message that some big Celebrities are not doing something that lives up to their name, simply a powerful message. "Disciple" is more of a freastyle song Which is pretty tight but He could've used the other beat for it Which is alot Better. "Sekou Story" and "Live Now" are both attached to each other and both tell a story. "Rest of my life" finds Nas rapping slow on a mellow beat, this is not what I expect from Nas, the Flow is rather boring and The beat doesnt do it for me. "Just A Moment" is a great song (You Should check Out the Video if You havnt Done Already) Which Features Quan singing the chorus nicely and it's a pretty great collabo. "Reason" is another flaw, I find the beat weak and Nas's Ryhmes are not there. The Bonus track "You Know my Style" which has a Run-DMC kind-of-beat is a pretty great old school rocker, One of my favorite on this Disc.

Disc 2

Personally, this is my favorite of the 2 Discs. It Kicks off with the energetic "Suicide Bounce" which features Busta Ryhmes on the Hook and Nas delivers Nasty ryhmes over a beat he produced himself. The next Song "Street's Disciple" is hands down, one of the best Song he has done in years. He brings his Nasty Nas Flow over a classic beat with a chorus from his father, an incredible song. "U.B.R" Pays a nice tribute from the God MC of the Golden Age era, Rakim. "Virgo" and "Remember the Times" are Both sex Related Song that Nas speaks from his past Sexual Relationship with Other Women. "Making of a Perfect B***" Is a filler song which Nas Should have Thrown in the Recycle Bin. "Getting Married" is another great personal track in Where Nas talks about The Woman he's soon Marrying, pretty great. "No One Else in the Room" Has a pretty great beat with a nice chorus and It's quite Cathcy but this is not What I expect from Nas, Overall a filler. "Bridging The Gap" is a collabo with his Father, Jazz Musician Olu Dara, and it's one of my favorite Nas songs to Date. "War" and "Me & You" are both Family related Songs in which Nas Raps about the love of his daughter and How he's grown up now. The Disc Closes with the Incredible Street Anthem, "Thief's Theme" which is a great Song with a Nasty Beat.

OVERALL: While Not Flawless, It's not as good as B.I.G's "Life After Death" But it's Another Strong Effort From Nas, Recommended For Any Hip-Hop Fan.

First of all, I'm not gonna sit here and dissect every single track on Street's Disciple, nor am I going to sit here and compare this record to every other record in Nas's discography. It just seems that in some cases (especially Nas's) that a classic status album can also be your Achilles heel, simply because everyone seems to use your classic record as your measuring stick, not necessarily applying the new music to today's times.

And with that said, we have "Street's Disciple" The 8th full length opus from Nas (if you want to include "Lost Tapes"). This album is what it is an album for the streets. The true Hip Hop Aficionado's, who can remember Hip Hop's early days, it's glory days of the Golden Era, to the dismal Ice Age era of today. Nas simply doesn't care what the masses think or what the current trends are in this case. He decided to make the music this time the way that he wanted to create it...for himself. This album is also great due to what it will do as a motivitational spark for up and coming emcee's (who don't have access to the underground) seeking inspiration.

Nas is by far one of hip hop's most brilliant/genius MC's to ever grace a mic. On track's such as "Sekou Story" and "Live Now" Nas's brilliance comes to life and will fool about 50% of its listeners. The fore mentioned tracks feature an AIDS stricken female artist by the name of Scarlet. But in actuality Scarlet is Nasty Nas in disguise due to some technical voice engineering. I can't even think of any other artist to ever successfully switch genders the way that Nas did. Sure Biggie altered his voice on "Gimmie the Loot" but come on, we all knew it was him. The only close second to this is when Del fooled his audience on a song called "Worldwide" where he morphed his voice to sound like a pre-teened youngster. Nonetheless there are so many positive points on Street's Disciple verses the low points. So I'll just give you the low points in my opinion on this album.

The track "reason" was missing some flare to the beat, If some will notice the beat for "Reason" is a muffled up De La Soul "Much More". De La's version comes across so much better overall. I still believe that Ludicris should have been left off of the "Virgo" track as well. In my opinion Luda just looks out of place on a track with Nas and Doug E. Fresh. "Serious" a banger that features AZ was cut at the last minute from the project. His tribute to his daughter is entertaining, but I seriously doubt that I'll return to listen to it again. There's a few other flaws production-wise in terms of bland beats, but not much at all.

Nas's lyricism is the true fuel that projects this album to the outer limits. This album offers the audience a broad range of ideas and subject matter. He even takes shots at the current trend of psuedo conscious rappers today on "American Way". This is definitely worth your hard earned money. Street's Disciple is arguably this year's best album thus far. Go get it and get inspired. Make way for the grown-folk rappers.

From Illmatic to Stillmatic, The True King of Hip Hop Is Back!

Move over 50, outta the way Jigga, no more Diddy. The king has reclaimed his crown. If you had any doubts about who the true king of hip hop is, look no further. NaS is back with the Streets Disciple! NaS once again has rallied his forces together and dropped yet another classic. Only for true fans of the game, Street's Disciple is a must have. NaS has kept his promise not to commercialize hip hop music. This is much needed in light of much of today's so-called "hip-hop". It's official, NaS is indeed "The last real MC alive". No dissing or call-outs on this album. Just true classics that can be bumped on your system over and over again. Nas collaborates with such stars as Kelis, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes and his father. Nas has had hip hop locked since 1991 and we hope he ain't goin' nowhere. We have seen the star evolve in his flow over the years and the best just keeps gettin' better. If you like the hardcore side of Nas, he lays down a most emphatic verse on "Disciple". I can honestly say that I haven't heard a fiery verse since "Ether" or "Got Ur Self a..." If you like the lighter side of Nas, I recommend "WAR" or "Me and You". Whatever your style, Street's Disciple has got it for you.

Also recommended: Illmatic, Stillmatic, God's Son

Nasir Bin Old Dara Jones has officially gone against the grain on this new project...the brotha has simply evolved from his earlier works such as illmatic/IWW/ stillmatic/to god son...and now our reigning chart topping debut STREET'S DISICPLE!!!! this album is the ultimate break through for the year 2004... it is THEE most diverse/creative/and daring album from GOD's SON...he's spat political arsony against the Bush administration.. to fake emcees in the game.... on down to the COON's of entertainment...Cuba,Tiger,Taye and TOBE..ooops KOBE...NAS has definitley mastered his already ridiculous lyrical content...he's penned some of the most....out of this world lyrics over the past decade....including this album.... he slices it up just the same...my solid 5 rating of this GENIUS album are as followed.... as well as a little break down for those who are without the doble disc CD.....u need to cop this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DISK 1

1.INTRO...it's dope .... NAS is building with his comrade.... and forewarning him of the evil that lurks

2.A MESSAGE to the feds (one of my favorite tracks on this album)..pleading for the FEDS to let us LIVE...BREATHE and Co-EXIST...definitley a powerful message

3.Nazareth Savage..this is for all the bubble gum rappers out there.... THIS is how you spit!

4.American Way....definitley one of the most important songs on the album...Kelis chops it up with hubby...spittin "THAT's thee american way shyyyyyyyyyt"cool duet...Nas assasinates characters such as *Condasleezer Rice*...asking does she even care about the poor conditions in our hoods/schools???

5.These are our heroes....WOOOOOOOOAH!!!!!!!!!!! what can I say this song says everything I've been thinking about the media and the propaganda that's intentionally spread throughout the lil youths to keep em stagnant...the hook is so powerful...just check it out for yourself... "let's hear it 1 for the coon's on UPN 9 and WB... who yes MASSA on t.v whatever happened to WEEZY the RED FOX'S never got EMMY's but we're real to me"....POWERFUL!!!!

6.Disciple...this is the streets anthem right here..I luv the energy NAS displays on this track... with lines like "I'm not a dictator I'm the righteous inviting you haters"

7.Sekou....once again brotha NASIR has mastered the gift of penning a supreme amount of creativity on the mic...this story had the whole NAS BBS create a google search to find out who "SEKOU" and "SCARLETT" was....NAS equals master EMCEE<<

8.Live now....this is a hearfelt...melancholy joint which features Scarlett aka NASIR who spat Je-Wels on this reminiscent track forewarning the listners of the seriousness of AIDS and the deadly virus H.I.V

9.Rest of my life featuring Amerie...very mellow joint beginning lines spit LIFE.... Amerie does a nice job on the hook as well

10.Just a moment featuring Quan...man this song is beautiful this brotha Quan not only spits... but sings the hook too...not to mention he held his ground in the booth with the God EMCEE all should appreciate this track from kids to wo/men!

11.Reason featuring Emily...man oh man this track is definitley one that makes you look at the state of the world.... and wonder why is there so much hate sprewing and no love rotating....Emily does a beautiful job at singing this hearfelt hook...easily one of my favorites on the album!

12.Bonus....hot to death...it can't get any better than a RUN DMC track...NAS even puts you in the mind of one of them old skool rappers the way he's delivering this one...HOT way to end the first cd

Disk2

1.Suicide bounce featuring Busta Rymes...dope beat...dope hook...dope lyrics!

2.Street's disciple...the title track is just plain ridiculous.... this production sounds like some ole blacks ploitation theme music for a superfly flic or something OLU DARA completes this track by stamping his approval with his soulful spill throughout the track..this has to be one of the most dopest productions on the entire album..(after thiefs theme)

3.U.B.R...this is a dope track.....Nas is paying homage to one of the forefathers of the game (RAKIM) and spitting it like he remembers and somewhat how it was told to him...definitley dig when the VETS are remember and respected and most importantly APPRECIATED!!

4.VIRGO featuring Luda and Dougie Fresh...being a 70's baby I must say this took me back..with the beatboxing....the hook.... the energy the brothers have on this track it's all fun....luv this joint...

5.Remember the times feat Kelis...this was cool Kelis asks hubby if she gave him a free pass would he take her up on it...NAS simply says NAH...and follows it up with

6.Remember the times...I luv this cause as much dirt he talks about all the bodies he bent backwards...and forwards he insists none of them could touch K...RESPECT for this track!

7.The making of a perfect B.I.T.C.H...again Nas is at his best with the lyrical content...he chopped this up dopely by describing his ultimate femme fatale...

8.Getting Married.....This is Brilliance man...NAS is professing his luv to which true luv leaves the listerner baffled...of course at the end he quickly deads any misconception as to who he's truly talking about....

9.No one else in the room featuring Maxwell....Grown folks music...nice tribute to the lady friend

10.Briding the gap featuring OLU DARA....I luv this track...because of the importance it displays to all hip hop lovers....our music has evolved from so many different forms of music....NAS collabing with his father for the 2nd time proves that he too has prepared himself to be a responsible artist...and chose to do things HIS way....not according to last years formula....

11.WAR featuring Keon Bryce...I digs this track.... especially the horns..the brother singing makes you feel like your in a time capsule it has that feel like you've heard this before but not quite like your hearing this....dope!

12.Me and You dedicated to DESTINY...this is a dedication to none other than lil Des...I respect any brother that includes the ladies of his life on his most critically acclaimed joint...LIL DES should appreciate this from her father...something that she will have whenever she needs to hear some encouraging/loving words....nicely done

13.Thief's Theme...this track it the epitome of HARD...NAS is a savage on this track and breaks down barriers for all those who constantly try to box him up and label em'...on this track NAS spits unstoppable darts...and drops jewels for the real gritty grimey nuccas out there!...dope way to end the cd

all of the above are my thoughts but please believe once you tune in...you will agree!

NaS is the true king of hip-hop. I was a little scared of a douple LP from him but now that i have listened everything has been done very well. This was cut down from 44 to 24 tracks. Nas is the only artist who can speak about social issues and not sound like a punk. His flow will leave your brain tied into a knot b/c within his stories there is also another one to be found and you may not realize it for months or even years. No one else is able to come up with new ways to do music and have so many different concepts for doing a song. People talk about painting pictures but Nas is the Van Gogh of our time. All I have to say is listen to Sekou Story. Another great thing about this album is his ability to mimc and make someone elses style his own. Disciple(Kool G Rap) Virgo(Slick Rick). He doesn't do it to jock them but to pay respect. And show people who his heroes were. Nas is the GOAT. Buy this album or you will die.