Nas "I Am..." Is underrated

[Poetical Poltergeist]

life we chose
last words

are 2 songs on nastradamus that are classic songs

I wouldn't call em classics but dope tracks.

 

[Rapmastermind]

I loved the album cover even though NaS played out the whole "Super imposed Projects in the back" photo after "ILLmatic". I think "I am" cover was dope. Here's how I rate each song from the album:

N.Y. State Of Mind Pt. II (5 Mics, Classic sequel, not better than Part 1 but still very very good)

Hate Me Now (5 Mics, Love this song, Puff talking sh!t like it was a biggie record and NaS spitting 3 amazing verses. The Beat was very epic also)

Small World (5 Mics, This was the 1st song on my bootleg in college. Amazing storytelling and the Beat was done by the Hitmen from bad boy cause it had that Life After Death storytelling sound/vibe. Love it)

Favor For A Favor (4 MICS, Soild, love Face and NaS coming together. But face used "Motherf*cka way to many times on this, lol)

We Will Survive (5 MICS, One of the most under-rated tributes to Biggie and Pac in Hip Hop History. The 3rd verse he really kicked knowledge too)

Ghetto Prisoners (4 MICS, Dope track, Love the message and beat)

You Won't See Me Tonight (4 MICS, Dope Timbo beat, Aaliyah is sexy on the hook. It' a commerical track but still dope. Should of been a video)

I Want to Talk To You (3 MICS, I like the message but the hook and beat were terrible)

Dr. Knockboot (3 MICS, Weak and it had that wannabe "Get Money" beat. NaS kicked some jewels but it wasn't a good song)

Life Is What You Make It (4 MICS, X was one fire during this time so he came through, NaS spit hard and the beat was sick. Love this track)

Big Things (3 MICS, Weak. Hook, Flow, Everything. Trying to spit fast after "Notorious Thugs" blew up but it just didn't work)

Nas Is Like (5 MICS, Masterpiece, Hip Hop at it's purist point. This song could of been on "ILLmatic")

K-I-SS-I-N-G (3.5 MICS, Hook was chessy but the R. Kelly sample was dope and "When a women's fed up" was huge when this dropped)

Money Is My bytch (3.5 MICS. Love the concept but it's just an OK track)

Undying Love (5 MICS, Classic Storytelling, amazing beat you can visual everything. Only mark against it was NaS Trying to sing but didn't take away from the song)


Overall it's about a 4 MIC LP so far from wack or weak as Jay tried to proclaim. But I would agree the weak songs do bring the album down. The Bootleg had a strong potential to be 4.5 MICS or a Double LP that could compete with "All Eyes On Me and Life After Death" cause "Street's Disciple" did not hit that bar.

 

[Danie84]

This was Nasir showing off his mainstream success and still spitting gems.

Nas is like.." Earth Wind & Fire, rims and tires
Bulletproof glass, inside is the realest driver
Planets in orbit, line em up with the stars
Tarot cards, you can see the pharaoh Nas
"Nas is like.." Iron Mike, messiah type
Before the Christ, after the death
The last one left, let my cash invest in stock
Came a along way from blastin, techs on blocks
Went from Seiko to Rolex, ownin acres
From the projects with no chips, to large cake dough
Dimes, givin fellatio, siete zeros
Bet my nine spit for the pesos

 

[ISO]

I loved the album cover even though NaS played out the whole "Super imposed Projects in the back" photo after "ILLmatic". I think "I am" cover was dope. Here's how I rate each song from the album:

N.Y. State Of Mind Pt. II (5 Mics, Classic sequel, not better than Part 1 but still very very good)

Hate Me Now (5 Mics, Love this song, Puff talking sh!t like it was a biggie record and NaS spitting 3 amazing verses. The Beat was very epic also)

Small World (5 Mics, This was the 1st song on my bootleg in college. Amazing storytelling and the Beat was done by the Hitmen from bad boy cause it had that Life After Death storytelling sound/vibe. Love it)

Favor For A Favor (4 MICS, Soild, love Face and NaS coming together. But face used "Motherf*cka way to many times on this, lol)

We Will Survive (5 MICS, One of the most under-rated tributes to Biggie and Pac in Hip Hop History. The 3rd verse he really kicked knowledge too)

Ghetto Prisoners (4 MICS, Dope track, Love the message and beat)

You Won't See Me Tonight (4 MICS, Dope Timbo beat, Aaliyah is sexy on the hook. It' a commerical track but still dope. Should of been a video)

I Want to Talk To You (3 MICS, I like the message but the hook and beat were terrible)

Dr. Knockboot (3 MICS, Weak and it had that wannabe "Get Money" beat. NaS kicked some jewels but it wasn't a good song)

Life Is What You Make It (4 MICS, X was one fire during this time so he came through, NaS spit hard and the beat was sick. Love this track)

Big Things (3 MICS, Weak. Hook, Flow, Everything. Trying to spit fast after "Notorious Thugs" blew up but it just didn't work)

Nas Is Like (5 MICS, Masterpiece, Hip Hop at it's purist point. This song could of been on "ILLmatic")

K-I-SS-I-N-G (3.5 MICS, Hook was chessy but the R. Kelly sample was dope and "When a women's fed up" was huge when this dropped)

Money Is My bytch (3.5 MICS. Love the concept but it's just an OK track)

Undying Love (5 MICS, Classic Storytelling, amazing beat you can visual everything. Only mark against it was NaS Trying to sing but didn't take away from the song)


Overall it's about a 4 MIC LP so far from wack or weak as Jay tried to proclaim. But I would agree the weak songs do bring the album down. The Bootleg had a strong potential to be 4.5 MICS or a Double LP that could compete with "All Eyes On Me and Life After Death" cause "Street's Disciple" did not hit that bar.

Nice breakdown. I think this would have been the GOAT double LP. Top to bottom it would be stronger than AEOM and Life After Death.

 

[infamousred]

Well said this album has classic tracks but it doesn't have the cohesion. Is The Lost Tapes really better than It Was Written? Havent heard that album in years.

lyrically? iww. everything else? lost tapes. like ive said before, nas could never...ever, make another illmatic, but columbia could release another lost tapes.

 

[Street Knowledge]

Always been a 3.5- 4 Mic album

 

[Champion]

Anything over 3 mics is pushing it.
There's gems on it. There are also songs that had no reason being on an album.
The album is all over the place and a low point of his career in my opinion.

 

[Danie84]

This album knocked Britney Spears out the no.1 spot.

 

[Mandizi]

Just revisited this album a few nights ago, still a banger imo.

"ghetto prisoners" and "small world" are my favorites

 

[smoking man]

you can see the pharaoh khauzer.... son of the failed musician olu....

what a corny fukk.....

 

[Danie84]

Hopped in the whip, popped in the disc, pressed play
To the Grand Central, from the Van Wyck Expressway

Just love the way Esco puts words together

 

[The Piff Gawd]

Another album overrated by Nas stans

for real album is basura hnåuse stans are the worst

 

[yesiambowling]

Had some of his best stuff, but an equal amount of his worst stuff as well.

It really isn't that good of an album. 1997-2000 was the low point for him in terms of releases.

 

[Tuling]

I agree.

 

[ISO]

for real album is basura hnåuse stans are the worst

Trash? Said by the guy with the "Lost, Fakket Nas" avatar.