Nas - NASIR (Discussion Thread)

ThaEruditious

ThaEruditious

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brownsugah said:
Both versions are dope. For some reason, on Redacted they don’t allow the MQA/Tidal versions of albums since they don’t perceive them as true FLAC, which I didn’t really understand. I’ll have to do some research to see why. Someone upped the 24-bit from Qobus today and it wasn’t reported. Lol. As far as I know, both the Tidal 24 Bit and Qobus 24 Bit are the same.
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Might have something to do with this (via Wiki)

Codec description
MQA encoding is lossy;[10] it hierarchically compresses the relatively little energy in the higher frequency bands into data streams that are embedded in the lower frequency bands using proprietary dithering techniques.

After a series of such manipulations, the resulting 44 kHz data, the layered data streams, and a final "touchup" stream (compressed difference between the lossy signal from unpacking all layers and the original) are provided to the playback device. Given the low amount of energy expected in higher frequencies, and using only 1 extra frequency band layer (upper 44 kHz band of 96/24 packed into dither of 48/16) and one touchup stream (compressed difference between original 96/24 and 48/16) are together distributed as a 48/24 stream, of which 48/16 bit-decimated part can be played by normal 48/16 playback equipment.

One more difference to standard formats is the sampling process. The audio stream is sampled and convolved with a triangle function, and interpolated later during playback. The techniques employed, including the sampling of signals with a finite rate of innovation, were developed by a number of researchers over the preceding decade, including Pier Luigi Dragotti and others.[11][12]

MQA-encoded content can be carried via any lossless file format such as FLAC or ALAC; hence, it can be played back on systems either with or without an MQA decoder. In the latter case, the resulting audio has easily identifiable high-frequency noise occupying 3 LSB bits, thus limiting playback on legacy devices effectively to 13bit. MQA claims that nevertheless the quality is higher than "normal" 48/16, because of the novel sampling and convolution processes.[13]

Other than the sampling and convolution methods, which were not explained by MQA in detail, the encoding process is similar to that used in XRCD, HDCD and aptX.
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By definition:

Hi/High res audio means music files recorded at 24-bit and higher than 44.1kHz sampling rates (often 48kHz, 96kHz and 192kHz).
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The sampling rate on the two files I posted were 44.1kHz, that's probably why. I need to check the sampling rate on my copy of PPSD to see if it comes out differently. Again, I'm not sure if the program I used to rip 'em are the cause for the low sampling rate. I'm bouta look more into it.
 
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JustCKing

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Cali_livin said:
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Although, I expect nothing less from The Booth, but posters actually argued to oblivion about Illmatic being the game changer in 1994. When I said that it caught on later, it was "oh no, you weren't there. You weren't a part of the culture. Everything changed when Illmatic dropped". I'm not one to up threads, but if I could up that one. I would and link that post just to see the responses.
 
brownsugah

brownsugah

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ThaEruditious said:
Might have something to do with this (via Wiki)



By definition:



The sampling rate on the two files I posted were 44.1kHz, that's probably why. I need to check the sampling rate on my copy of PPSD to see if it comes out differently. Again, I'm not sure if the program I used to rip 'em are the cause for the low sampling rate. I'm bouta look more into it.
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Normally the Master files I play from Tidal have a sample rate of arounr 96 kHz (and my DAC/Amp also turns a purple color).. but I also saw that this MQA version was at 44.1 kHz when playing it on Audirvana (and the color was still green). That could be the reason..

Lemme know what you find/research.
 
IllmaticDelta

IllmaticDelta

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JustCKing said:
Although, I expect nothing less from The Booth, but posters actually argued to oblivion about Illmatic being the game changer in 1994. When I said that it caught on later, it was "oh no, you weren't there. You weren't a part of the culture. Everything changed when Illmatic dropped". I'm not one to up threads, but if I could up that one. I would and link that post just to see the responses.
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Illmatic was a game changer for people who actually rapped/hiphop community at large (see biggie, pac, jayz etc..). Not casuals who got their ideas of hiphop from top 40 radio.
 
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After listening all weekend, I'll post some more in depth thoughts...of course the obligatory Nas is my favorite rapper, been listening since 'I Am' in 1998. I honestly didn't really want this album, Kanye is just repulsive to me now.

Not For Radio: I appreciate the effort and the lyrics, the homage to the classic, but the beat sounds like a mixtape version of Hate Me Now, and I thought the flow was off. It didn't have the intensity or epic feel of Hate Me Now, nor the stripped down grit of some of Untitled's better offering, listenable, a few times, but not something I'll return to. 3/5

Cops Shot The Kid: The message, besides Kanye's unfortunate inclusion, is needed, if not the greatest execution. The beat didn't work for me, though I can appreciate it, maybe should have only included the vocal sample in the first 30 seconds or so. I don't want to hear Kanye speak on anything when he gives voice to Candace Owens. 2.5/5

White Label The lyrics are sharp, though veering into oddly graphic sexuality, reminds me of some of the less played tracks from Streets Disciple. The focus seems off, and muddled, and the production isn't menacing enough to be dark, or lush enough to be reflective. It feels unfinished. 3/5

Bonjour: This seems the exact same as White Label to me, Nas lyrics are mostly sharp, a tacky and misplaced punchline aside, again, the production just doesn't work for me. They seem like studio session outtakes. Which, they may very well me. 3/5

Everything: I want to play this more than I will, too much Kanye singing and buildup, needs to be stripped down. That beat is so dope top me, in some spots, and when Nas kind of snarls to life on the verses, describing former homes and hauntings, to the unrepentant first verse, besides the idiotic antivacc (something Nas has long believed) the second verse mini stories and descriptions, are Nas at his best. He doesn't sound as good anywhere else on the album. 4/5

Can someone chop this up a little? Take off Ye, or edit him down, and take off the first minute or so.

Adam & Eve The production doesn't grab me, like it does others, but the lyrics and flow is on point, frustrating to hear dope bars over a beat that just doesn't move me at all. 3/5

Simple Things: This and "Everything" are the standouts to me, I don't really think the beat lives up to it's potential in the opening sample, but still it is crisp, soulful, reflective, elegant, and Nas has two really strong verses, again, feels unfinished. 4.5/5

I can't see me listening to much besides Everything and Simple Things. I understand artists don't have the same perspective as fans, Nas can do what he wants, but what is frustrating is he gets really close on a few tracks, but the production and concepts don't really allow for it. Feels like Nas and Kanye in Wyoming for about 2 weeks, and Nas came with a few acapella verses.
 
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