Nas - NASIR (Discussion Thread)

[Ishedamediddy]

 

[scuba]

its pretty good... some of the beats dont really work with nas... not because they arent 'boom bap' or whatever they just dont sound that good. Case in point the White Label, actually a pretty decent beat on its own, but completely cuts into the same frequencies as nas's voice so to me at least kinda annoying to listen to. A rapper where you dont need to play that close attention to their words probably would sound good on this beat... or even a rapper who words you need to focus on but who used a spaced out delivery/flow to avoid the clashing part of the samples could have worked...

Some songs were also similar to me like cop shot the kid... the vocal sample is completely in the range with nas's vocal so makes it hard for me to listen to...

Then you got Not for radio which almost works except for the fact it is such a complete rehash of hate me now with less emotion...

But overall not a bad project, just not great...

As for illmatic and its influence, it was super influential in a particular sphere of hip hop... BUT it wasnt influential across the board of all genre's of hip hop... and certainly not influential across all music the way Chronic, Doggfather, or those kinda joints were. The fact its even discussed what 25 years after its release is a testament to its influence... at the same time a influential album like chronic was completely different because just about all hip hop that wasnt nyc based immediately flipped to cloning what dre was doing... i mean it took a long time YEARS for any hip hop from the west, midwest or south to let go of the gfunk template...

 

[Nigerianwonder]

Big nas fan but this aint it. Might be his worst album. The beats and production are mediocre and sound like kanye put it together in a week. No excuse when you only got 7 tracks. Not for radio and adam and eve are the standouts imo. "everything" is typical over produced kanye half singing trash. not sure what yall see in that track. Nas vocals dont even start until 2 minutes into it and the beat does nothing. I wanna like cops shot the kid but they didnt flip the sample well cause its too short of a loop. Slick ricks vocals repeating through the whole track was a terrible decision cause its distracting. Should have just been the hook.

 

[CourtesyFlush]

I don't get how anyone can wanna hear a beat that has talking on it. Cops shot gets old so quick because of that reptitive ass shyt and not to mention it ruin Nas's lyrics when he's trying to rap over someone else's voice.

 

[areohbee824]

Doesn’t “Not For Radio” beat give you “Hate Me Now” vibes but not just because of Puff and “Simple Things” beat remind you of “2nd Childhood” in a way?

 

[TEH]

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.

 

[up in here]

Doesn’t “Not For Radio” beat give you “Hate Me Now” vibes but not just because of Puff and “Simple Things” beat remind you of “2nd Childhood” in a way?

I dont get why people are saying "Not for radio" has "hate me now" vibes. To me it sounds way more similar to "n.i.g.g.e.r. (the slave and the master)", almost like part 2 of that song.

 

[ItWasWritten]

I dont get why people are saying "Not for radio" has "hate me now" vibes. To me it sounds way more similar to "n.i.g.g.e.r. (the slave and the master)", almost like part 2 of that song.

It's because of the dramatic choir sample

 

[ItWasWritten]

This album is fire.

Fukk outta here

 

[mson]

 

[TNOT]

C'mon Son

 

[Piff Perkins]

2010...

 

[mson]

Just for his opinion?

C'mon Son

What?

 

[MustafaSTL]

I think I’ve listened to this album 53 times already :brutuswow:

 

[TNOT]

Just for his opinion?



What?

I thought it was a photoshop, but its not.

This is where you choose to do a concert for your long awaited album?
A album where you collaborated with Ye?

And nikkas saying he's on the same level as Jay.