Nas & DJ Premier - Define My Name (new single out now, album releasing later this year)

[Justise M]

This beat would be terrible even in 1993.

Premier seems stuck in a time loop.

Nas come correct as expected but naaaaaah

That's the problem for me. Beat sounds like it was done it 5 mins. Hopefully the album isn't as simplistic

 

[mathematik]

Preem gotta step it up!! He doesn’t seem to be challenging himself and the basic beats show it!!

 

[nahnah]

Looking forward to the album

Nas sounding dope

Premo should have kept that beat to himself though

 

[nahnah]

Premier has given The Four Owls better beats than this. They're UK rappers who wear owl masks

 

[Mike the Executioner]

I don’t even think it's a thing with bigger names. But I spent 20+ years watching Preem give beats to dudes like Skyzoo and Royce that I would've loved to hear Nas on. Every project Alchemist drops, I'm thinking, "Damn, this is the kinda sh*t Nas should be getting." Since like '99, that's been a thing, the beats.

Nas is in my Top 5-6 MC's of all-time, but he pisses me off. I look at his catalogue, and 1/2 of it is suspect because of production. Nas ain't never had a problem with showing up, lyrically. But dude seriously does his own A&R work, so there's no one around telling him that maybe he should pick some other beats, lol. So after I Am, it became a thing where you couldn't let bro's music play without skipping because you knew he was gonna have some suspect beats on the projects.

Pete did a whole joint with Smoke DZA. Production was FIRE! He has the Common album coming up soon. Large has done a few projects since, all dope. Tip is doing the same. Those dudes from back in the day are still cooking up some sh*t! So when I hear their joints, I bug out on why Nas ain't getting back with them to do something for this era. Nas could easily reach out to them, but instead, he'll be like, "I got 5 new albums coming produced entirely by Mike & Keys". HAHA!! I don’t get it.

To me, Nas' problem was never beat selection, it was track selection. Issues with sequencing and putting together the proper tracklist. Street's Disciple could have been a grittier, more focused album, and even on that one, you have great songs that nobody talks about ("Nazareth Savage," "American Way," "Reason," "Street's Disciple," "War"). But imagine if "Talk of New York" and "Foul Breeze" made the cut. Nas obviously records a lot and in those days, was working with multiple producers, so he'll end up with tons of fire material in the vault while trying to put together the story of what the album is. That's how you end up getting "You Can't Kill Me" on HHID instead of "Where Y'all At."

One thing I noticed about the Hit-Boy era is that problem is completely gone. I'm sure there are plenty of great songs we haven't heard, but the quality control on these six albums is incredible. I'm not sitting here wondering why certain songs made the cut. I'm not questioning the sequencing and the flow of the albums is consistent. The main difference is that Nas is on Mass Appeal now, so him making so much music with Hit-Boy means it doesn't have to stay in the vault. It can just come out. I don't think it's a coincidence that the Premier album is coming out this year. It's just a matter of linking up at the right time and clearing schedules.

Maybe Nas does an album with Alchemist next. Or Large Professor or Madlib. Whatever the case, the freedom is there to do everything.

 

[diggy]

DJ Glad finna have a field day with this beat choice. Outside of the scratches and the silence, it's redundant as hell and boring. Nas rappin, but I'd demand more.

 

[TrapHouse Rock]

Nas ain't for you anymore. Time for you to move on.

Hip-Hop ain't for Nas anymore. I think its time for HIM to move on.

Doja Cat is nicer than 2024 Nas (that hurts to even say but I ain't lying)

 

[((ReFleXioN)) EteRNaL]

Beat is weak but wasn't expecting much as premo fell off at least a decade ago. I will say though. The beat itself bangs way harder than any of those hitboy beats and nas's lyrics just come through way cleaner.

That's another issue I have with hitboys beats. The mixing. They always sound so flat and the levels are all over the place. This premo beat is very mid but at least nas's voice and lyrics are popping through. Nas just feels more at home on this style of production. It's just the facts



But overall this is the reason I wasn't necessarily too hyped about them coming together. Cause premo's sample game just isn't the same anymore. They have no character. Just way too monotonous and repetitive. He shoulda gave Nas the beat he gave snoop. This shyt is WAY better.

 

[deeman]

I rather hear a nas metro/hit boy joint than premier it’s 2024 not 1992. Music has sonically changed significantly

For real, making music for old heads who don’t even stream.

Scaring the hoes ass music.

 

[ajnapoleon]

Nah this is flames it’s supposed to be a throwback


Maybe nas said let me get one of those beats that collected dust series that was never picked


Loved this

 

[Ohene]

Haven’t bumped any hitboy joints with Nas but I’ll bump this

 

[Apollo Kid]

This was more of an appetizer

 

[valet]

The best thing about this is the energy still there. Heck, they having so much fun that Primo was about rap. But again, we need Primo to dig in those crates like ALC do and find some crazy samples

 

[En Sabah Nur]

I dont be in most of no damn nas threads lol

Lies

https://www.thecoli.com/search/914022/?page=1&q=Nas&c[users]=Cladyclad&o=date

10 pages of you with Nas name in your mouth and on your mind, and that's not even within the last whole year

 

[spliz]

Hip-Hop ain't for Nas anymore. I think its time for HIM to move on.

Doja Cat is nicer than 2024 Nas (that hurts to even say but I ain't lying)

U should be hurt for saying this stupid ass shyt.