Nas - Magic 2 (Discussion thread)

[Ziggiy]

That's another song where he just starts off the verse ready to go: "Pop a bottle in my Nautica/Bill Russell jersey, solid and sturdy, Stevie's harmonica."

Listening to KD3 again before Magic 2 came out made me realize how much I underrated "Ghetto Reporter." I always liked the song, but I was questioning how strong it was as the opening track. Now, I love it. One of Nas' most memorable lines in this era is "They argue KD1, KD2, or Magic was harder when...../KD3 go harder than all of them." Letting you know at the start that him and Hit-Boy topped themselves for a third time.

Same thing for me regarding Ghetto Reporter. Its a great song in a vacuum but standing against Kings Disease, The Pressure, and Speechless boyyyyyy thats a hard lineup of intros to crack.

But I understand its more of a tone setter than a statement. And Nas really tells us a lot about who he is as an ARTIST in that song and what his mission is. You can tell he doesn’t give a fukk about Streams and really I don’t think he respects how streaming has taken over the music industry whatsoever. He disses streaming on the first TWO songs on the album.

 

[Ziggiy]

Magic 2 over Magic???? Wow.

KD2 is my #1 too, it’s just loaded musically, perfect marriage between traditional Nas and late 40s Nas

I like experimental Nas i’ve said it before. When he pulls off a concept he pulls it off WELL. I like how the production on the first few songs sounds like Hit Boy sampled the soundtracks from black & white Houdini films. I like how Nas and Hit when in a more modern sounding direction. Nas flow is effortless. The lyrics are always going to be top notch but I like how he addressed stuff like the I Am leak.

The only points I take off Magic 2 is the intro and 50’s verse, but I DID like 50’s shyt talking and being a hype man. I also like how One Gun One Mic fits into the album and actually FEELS like it belongs there instead of just a add on. That lets me know that Nas and Hit Boy put real thought into this body of work.

 

[I'm Blackman]

Always loved that verse on "All Bad" too

"been on bad ones since junior high"

you gotta relate to that one lol


edit, full bars:

Not one of these just got money, not knowin' how to act
New to these bad ones, I was on fly chicks since junior high
Beautiful fly girls caught my eye
But I got no time for juveniles throwing tantrums
Texting me that they hate my one-word answers
Here's two, call me, this is you stalling
Guess you through, you ignore me, days go by
Missing you be the worst, play the game, who gon' hit who first
Checking my Yachtmaster, Pac blaster
Wonder why they call you bytch, empty shot glasses
Scrolling back on the thread, the nice things you once said
Look at us now, it's all bad

I love this song. KD 1 had some dope songs man.

 

[nyknick]

Listened to Magic again, crazy how good it is 9 songs, 29 minutes, no misses

Good to see that album finally getting the credit it deserves, even though it's given props in order to shyt on Magic 2 I look forward to Magic 2 getting its due in two albums time when it's used to shyt on Nas' newest release

 

[Ball]

Had to repeat 2nd verse of Earvin Magic Johnson 100x in a row


This dude killing it in any flow

 

[Ball]

Nah but it’s a really good album. That’s the one that got the Grammy and it seemed like everyone, celebs and all, were saying it’s a “classic” and all that on IG…it’s just weird that that’s the most successful one by all metrics of success but I never see anyone on here say it’s the best, like ever, . Musically it’s arguable, imo.

Love that album. The Firm reunion, Blue Benz - classic in the gas catalog, Car 85, 27 Summers, The Cure - one of the best outros imo. Spicy was hard too

 

[kes929]

Lil' Wayne

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Again, random commentary isn't what I'd consider media. Maybe you have a point with radio, but on average Nas gets slightly better reviews than quite a few rappers (only K.Dot is doing better in reviews currently).

Had to repeat 2nd verse of Earvin Magic Johnson 100x in a row


This dude killing it in any flow

The entire Magic 2 is fire straight through. Nas has ungodly expectations every release. But he is the goat though so I get it.

 

[Danie84]

Shakes like Faces Of Death Tapes when that Lady got Hit on the Tracks

...Slow It Down / Pistols On Your Album Cover / Abracadabra / Bokeem Woodbine / Motion / What This All Real Mean

FLABBY Cent FUKKERY and the tepid mode made this sound like Magic outtakes, tho

 

[Dre Space Age]

Nas said KD3 is 3 of 5 during one of the songs on KD3. So does Magic 2 count as 4 of 5 or is he planning 2 more KD albums?

 

[kes929]

Shakes like Faces Of Death Tapes when that Lady got Hit on the Tracks

...Slow It Down / Pistols On Your Album Cover / Abracadabra / Bokeem Woodbine / Motion / What This All Real Mean

FLABBY Cent FUKKERY and the tepid mode made this sound like Magic outtakes, tho

You are sleeping on black magic

 

[Ziggiy]

Nas said KD3 is 3 of 5 during one of the songs on KD3. So does Magic 2 count as 4 of 5 or is he planning 2 more KD albums?

Probably 2 more KD albums because if he counted Magic then wouldn’t KD3 be 4 of 5?

 

[Danie84]

be careful listening to Motion while driving. You will speed.

Any Era rivIeRas is my backdrop HaCienDa interchangeable mad spots rollin Dice shirts like Miami Vice

 

[Ball]

Acrobatics with the alphabets

 

[kes929]

People really don’t like abracadabra? Man. That song bangs. Nas doesn’t sound out of place on modern production at all.

 

[Prolific_1011]

People really don’t like abracadabra? Man. That song bangs. Nas doesn’t sound out of place on modern production at all.

Dudes were overreacting and exaggerating with regards to his "modern/today" flow on this track. He sounds perfectly fine on it.