Nas - Magic 2 (Discussion thread)

[Ziggiy]

I know what you're talking about. I'll listen to Kanye's production and there's another level up that Hitboy can go. Hit's production reminds me of earlier Kanye. I actually think he decorates the track a little too much with sound trinkets if that makes any sense. It all clouds up the track and you lose that sound clarity you're talking about.

Don't get me wrong, this whole series with Nas is HISTORIC and the quality is top notch. But there's still another level above that I think Hit can reach. I kind of want to see him be more of a producer and less of a beatmaker. Or maybe work with another producer that can help polish and strip down each track.

He works extensively with Jansport (who did co-production work on Moments, No Phony Love, and WTF-SMH)

 

[Mike Wins]

at dudes complaining about Nas dropping back in the day bars and stories. Next up complaints about Pusha coke bars, Jay flexing about his wealth and Drake talking about dysfunctional relationships

 

[Ziggiy]

at dudes complaining about Nas dropping back in the day bars and stories. Next up complaints about Pusha coke bars, Jay flexing about his wealth and Drake talking about dysfunctional relationships

nikkas gonna be listening to the next Common album like “The fukk is this uplifting pro black shyt?!?!”

 

[T.he I.nformant]

I swear just for the sake of Stanning y'all cats will say anything on this site, do you realize "Stillmatic" has at least 7 all time classic Nas songs on it and you actually said KD2, 3 and Magic can definitely compete with "Stillmatic." Smfh

Stillmatic Intro
Ether
You're Da Man
Rewind
One Mic
2nd Childhood
Destroy & Rebuild

Stillmatic man…tryna tell ‘em bro. Stillmatic >>>>> IWW, . His 2nd best album. I love all the albums with Hit but none of them can compare. I could argue “Poison” is a top 30 Nas joint too , I’d exchange that for Destroy and Rebuild on your list. Every rapper should study Stillmatic, learn how to make a complete rap album, all different concepts and ideas on every record…and all done flawlessly besides like 3 joints

Smokin, My Country, and Braveheart Party are not good songs

Got Yourself A Gun, Rule, and The Flyest are just ok

Everything else is great to super classics

I think the advantage that these Hit-Boy albums have is their consistency

Maybe they don’t have the highest of the highs as Stillmatic (and honestly I think that’s arguable) but they absolutely don’t have the lows

I can play each of these Hit-Boy albums straight through and I can’t say the same for Stillmatic even though that album will always hold a special place

 

[Prolific_1011]

Off topic: Why do cats still consider "Braveheart Party" as part of the album? It was OFFICIALLY removed soon after the album's release. The track no longer appears as part of the album, anywhere.

Stillmatic is a stone-cold classic but it bugs me that a few cats bring up "Braveheart Party" when pointing out any of the album's flaws. Never understood it since that track hasn't been on the album for more than 20 years lol.

 

[waynep]

I know it’s probably not your type of music but …

I just heard Echoes ft Beyoncé from Travis album produced by HitBoy .

He murdered that…

MIXING AND MASTERING MATTERS

Every instrument is living
Every sound is pumping
The clarity
The drums knocking
The vocals cut through

Fire David Kim

Esco deserves pristine clarity

David Kim did an interview yesterday with the girl that's in Nas camp and he said he literally had 2 days to mix the whole album. Flew in from Korea Tuesday morning and worked til Wed night and Thursday it got mastered and the album came out Friday.

 

[QBN]

Magic 2 is a good album. Not every lp has to be a "5 mic" classic. I don't get the "he needs to work with another producer now" comments. Nas & Hit haven't missed yet! To me they're basically a duo now, like how Guru & DJ Premier were.

 

[Mike Wins]

Off topic: Why do cats still consider "Braveheart Party" as part of the album? It was OFFICIALLY removed soon after the album's release. The track no longer appears as part of the album, anywhere.

Stillmatic is a stone-cold classic but it bugs me that a few cats bring up "Braveheart Party" when pointing out any the album's flaws. Never understood it since that track hasn't been on the album for more than 20 years lol.

Still have the CD with it on there

I don't really see it brought up by anyone except stans of the other guy, who pretend this track from his album the same year don't exist

 

[kes929]

Off topic: Why do cats still consider "Braveheart Party" as part of the album? It was OFFICIALLY removed soon after the album's release. The track no longer appears as part of the album, anywhere.

Stillmatic is a stone-cold classic but it bugs me that a few cats bring up "Braveheart Party" when pointing out any of the album's flaws. Never understood it since that track hasn't been on the album for more than 20 years lol.

They try to add braveheart party as a way to throw shade at at stillmatic.

 

[ItWasWritten]

David Kim did an interview yesterday with the girl that's in Nas camp and he said he literally had 2 days to mix the whole album. Flew in from Korea Tuesday morning and worked til Wed night and Thursday it got mastered and the album came out Friday.

I understand he was rushed, and actually … I’m not sure why he was rushed since this was virtually a surprise release … what timeline were they trying to meet ?

But, I don’t think any of the whole 5 album run is mixed well … .. Maybe KD2.

 

[Slim Charles]

Smokin, My Country, and Braveheart Party are not good songs

Got Yourself A Gun, Rule, and The Flyest are just ok

Everything else is great to super classics

I think the advantage that these Hit-Boy albums have is their consistency

Maybe they don’t have the highest of the highs as Stillmatic (and honestly I think that’s arguable) but they absolutely don’t have the lows

I can play each of these Hit-Boy albums straight through and I can’t say the same for Stillmatic even though that album will always hold a special place

Not just Nas but back in the day so many artists would have songs on their albums that you'd think 'why the fukk did this song get on the album'. But yeh without doubt i could more easily play KD1 to Magic 2 with no skips fairly happily, while Illmatic to Nastradamus or Stillmatic to LIG. I'm gonna do a fair bit of skipping

 

[Soymuscle Mike]

Do we know if it'll land in the BB top 10?

 

[Ziggiy]

Do we know if it'll land in the BB top 10?

Probably not. Hits Daily had it outside the top 20. Looks like it’ll do almost EXACTLY what Magic 1 did back in 2021. Around 22-24K.


The overall sales will be higher because of One Gun One Mic but that won’t benefit the first week.


If we’re going by the plug chick, she heavily hinted that “more” is coming so i’m assuming thats a KD4/New album for later in the year that they’ll actually do some REAL promo for

 

[WesCrook]

It's been a week since the release......and folks can critique this album all they want. By default, I'm grateful that I get to listen to some new hip hop that i can enjoy, which is very rare these days.

I'm trying not to overplay it so it doesn't get stale too soon.

 

[Mike Wins]

If we’re going by the plug chick, she heavily hinted that “more” is coming so i’m assuming thats a KD4/New album for later in the year that they’ll actually do some REAL promo for

Would not be at all surprised if the Premier album drops August 11 to coincide with the Hip Hop 50 concert and celebration