Nas - Magic (Discussion Thread)

[Ziggiy]

So if Nas put out Illmatic and It Was Written within 4 months of each other, you would be ok with that?

Nas can do whatever he wants. We got two GREAT albums in a year and you want to gripe about it?!?!


Nothing about the QUALITY of this album suggests Nas rushed it or doesn’t care. If Nas wanted to make a mixtape, he knows how to make a mixtape and has done so before. I hope we get a physical release soon and some merch would be dope, but other than that let the man drop his music when and how he wants.


People forget we went SIX YEARS with no albums from Nas. SIX LONG YEARS with nothing but a few guest appearances and false starts. Would you rather go back to that? Because I wouldn’t

 

[DaveyDave]

Yea they trolling at this point.

.

wtf? They spend all their time crying about how nothing he does is as good as Illmatic but then post shyt like this?

 

[UpAndComing]

Nas can do whatever he wants. We got two GREAT albums in a year and you want to gripe about it?!?!


Nothing about the QUALITY of this album suggests Nas rushed it or doesn’t care. If Nas wanted to make a mixtape, he knows how to make a mixtape and has done so before. I hope we get a physical release soon and some merch would be dope, but other than that let the man drop his music when and how he wants.


People forget we went SIX YEARS with no albums from Nas. SIX LONG YEARS with nothing but a few guest appearances and false starts. Would you rather go back to that? Because I wouldn’t

You're comparing 6 years hiatus to 2 albums in 1 year. Bad comparison

This isn't about Nas' quality of music. Its the lack of appreciation on putting out alot of music in a short span. Which is why I hate mixtapes. Putting too much music in a short span takes out the luster. If Nas put out Illmatic and It Was Written within 4 months of each other, the perception of both albums gets diminished. Would be better if he waited and put it out Spring of this year. Let Kings Disease 2 be for 2021, and Magic be for 2022, thats all I'm saying. Let the albums breathe and marinate

 

[ThirdAct]

You're comparing 6 years hiatus to 2 albums in 1 year. Bad comparison

This isn't about Nas' quality of music. Its the lack of appreciation on putting out alot of music in a short span. Which is why I hate mixtapes. Putting too much music in a short span takes out the luster. If Nas put out Illmatic and It Was Written within 4 months of each other, the perception of both albums gets diminished. Would be better if he waited and put it out Spring of this year. Let Kings Disease 2 be for 2021, and Magic be for 2022, thats all I'm saying. Let the albums breathe and marinate

KDIII is for 2022, this is just to feed the buzz.

 

[perfectblack999]

I feel like Hitboy gave Nas the same feel of the beat switch on “The Cure” for 9 straight songs.

With that framing, it makes perfect sense why this project was so well done.

 

[mson]

What does Nas represent?

Everything the poster I quoted described and more. He's a black artist that doesn't fit the archetype of what they want a black artist to be. Nas success was never and still isn't dependent upon their opinions. And not only do they know that, but they know he could care less.

These so called critics can't tear Nas down as much as they want because his position is solidified. They're not the reason Nas is where he is today. It probably irks them that he's been so exalted. The fans put him there. His peers put him there. That's why the best thing for him to do is to ignore them. They love getting mentioned in songs. It makes them feel important. Gives them relevance.

 

[Life is Good]

Stream MAGIC! That’s how you silence the critics. Stream MAGIC!

 

[Ziggiy]

You're comparing 6 years hiatus to 2 albums in 1 year. Bad comparison

This isn't about Nas' quality of music. Its the lack of appreciation on putting out alot of music in a short span. Which is why I hate mixtapes. Putting too much music in a short span takes out the luster. If Nas put out Illmatic and It Was Written within 4 months of each other, the perception of both albums gets diminished. Would be better if he waited and put it out Spring of this year. Let Kings Disease 2 be for 2021, and Magic be for 2022, thats all I'm saying. Let the albums breathe and marinate

So your one of those armchair A&R’s that think they know better for Nas career than Nas. Gotcha

 

[King Ming]

Yea they trolling at this point.

.

Perfect response!

 

[Ziggiy]

Hip Hop DX rates Magic 4.3/5


Lyrically, Nas remains immediate and reflective as he touches on a variety of topics. The unmistakably paranoid “Ugly,” with its slightly off-kilter vibe, is focused on the dark cloud of violence and death that has always plagued humanity. As he reiterates it’s something that even fame or money can’t protect one from—and when someone’s in a financial position like Esco, it’s bound to cause consistent unrest. Referencing names such as Marvin Gaye (shot by his father in 1984), Big L (murdered by a childhood friend in 1999), Jam Master Jay and Young Dolph, he highlights the cyclical nature of it all.

Those examples also underscore the themes of betrayal that weave themselves into numerous other tracks, whether ominously noting it’s those closest to someone who will take their success the hardest on “40-16 Building” or working to expose fraudulent facades on “Truth” and “Hollywood Gangstas.” On the latter, specifically — which he dedicates to drill rappers — he references self-professed street warriors who rap more cap than a Lids location and, as a byproduct, walk around with goons for safety.

Without coming out and saying one should move smarter, he manages to subtly infer the point. Under the fiery grit of it all, there’s a sense he’s trying to steer a new generation of artists without being overbearing as an elder statesman, at least, compared to his Hip Hop Is Dead days.


RELATED REVIEW

NAS PUTS POETRY IN MOTION ON ‘KING’S DISEASE II’ BUT DOESN’T MATCH GRAVITY OF ORIGINAL
AUGUST 11, 2021

“Wu Is For The Children” is a standout, with Nas appearing heavy-handed on artists who blame career shortcomings on others; it’s also a walk down memory lane for longtime listeners, as he ponders his missed opportunity with Notorious B.I.G. on “Gimme The Loot Remix,” touting himself, Biggie and JAY-Z as the Drake, J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar of their time.


Hit-Boy’s production is grimey and refreshingly modern, giving the project vintage Queensbridge street-hop aesthetic without sounding dated. The album isn’t far removed from the formula that’s been working for the duo thus far. But by whittling the experience down to under 30 minutes, they’ve managed to make it more impactful, allowing for Nas and Hit-Boy to make their points and get out without overstaying their welcome. The formula closely resembles what worked for Freddie Gibbs and Alchemist onAlfredo, minus the cinematic touches.

King’s Disease felt like an attempt to finally put a proper exclamation point on a career most commonly hailed for a peak reached before Nas was old enough legally to drink, but what he ultimately crafted was a project capable of becoming a new context point for listeners — who would generally have used Illmatic as their example of his greatness (a fact he alludes to on “Wu for the Children”). While King’s Disease at times feels pandering and the sequel has some obvious lulls, Magicsidesteps those pitfalls. Nas and Hit-Boy’s chemistry has only grown stronger and Magicis another milestone as the legendary MC seems invigorated by the superstar producer’s commitment to giving him beats that fit his wheelhouse but don’t bore the listener.


Nas & Hit-Boy ‘MAGIC’ Ups The Ante Following A Stellar 2-Album Run

 

[prophecypro]

Ant!

 

[Max Power]

The amount of cac "reviewers" talking shyt is now officially disturbing. It's like a sport to these creatures.

 

[prophecypro]

Mostly positive review. He gave it a 7/10 which for him is still pretty good (He gave KD 1 the same and liked it and gave KD 8/10 and was one his favorites of last year and was on his year end list)
For those who dont want a click, he said he prefers KD 1 and KD 2 as albums with themes/concepts/themes but he appreciates this as a meat and potatoes tape and says Nas actually sounds in his 20s and Hit Boy is great. Only knock he has is maybe there was one or two tracks (Wu for the Children) that were too mild compared to the rest of the album being uptempo and he kinda wished Wu for the Children was about coming up with Wu Tang (like Death Row East). Hes looking forward to KD 3 and is on his most anticpated for 2022
Proof that some CaCs dont have do too much internalizing when reviewing music

 

[Budda]

[

But apparently the posters on here will tell you we shouldn’t care, reviews doesn’t matter.

 

[Izanami]

I feel like Hitboy gave Nas the same feel of the beat switch on “The Cure” for 9 straight songs.

With that framing, it makes perfect sense why this project was so well done.

Agreed feels like it’s the blueprint to Magic. The cure would fit perfect on this album.