Nas - NASIR (Discussion Thread)

[Shadow]

I appreciate the underlining story of Cops Shot the Kid.

Richard Pryor (1971 stand up) talking about his childhood past (1940s- early 1950s).
Slick Rick in the background talking about his present (1988).
Nas and Kanye talking about our past and present.

Shows just how much nothing really changes. Slick Rick is used as the bridging through line from Pryor's era to now and he's constantly haunting the background with the same line. The repetitive nature reflecting the repetitiveness of the act that keeps happening year after year, decade after decade.

 

[Scientific]

At first it irked me a bit that it was only 7 tracks. After a few days, I'm glad its only that.

No fillers. The beats are not the worst, and I hated Life is Good. it takes me back to the 05/06 vibe a bit, the last high period of hip hop. Its a solid project I dont think people will appreciate for another few years. People are biased against Nas, and they're not on Kanyes side. I dont see any middle ground in the reviews. Either people are loving it, or they're bashing it.

But that's what i expect when the writers are mostly hipsters.

 

[pez]

As I said in my first reply, I wouldn't say that about Nas. But it's abundantly clear in Hip-Hop. Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Styles P, Talib Kweli... Actually a really good example is ROYCE.

Your brain has to be sharp, and active, to create a good flow. As you grow older, you become complacent with your craft, your brain begins to focus on other things in life, for some alot of drugs will fukk your flow up. These same things can also fukk up your ability to write good lyrics, just like it can affect a guitarists ability to think of cutting edge riffs, and be able to play them too.

It's directly relatable to sports, as your metabolism begins to fade from old age, your creativity in making plays fades, even your mind's ability to read plays fade.

This applies to all things in life really, because it's just what happens in life when you get old. Yes people like Nas and Kanye have managed to stay relevant and pivot after their 40s, but that's extremely rare. Just like there's those odd gems in sports that are very dedicated, or are smart enough to use the tools they have left and their experience to approach the game differently in order to be successful.

Ok. We don't have to agree. I think those artists you mentioned simply stayed stationary in their style while the world moved to new things.

I remembered your comment was about Nas and that he can't "rap like he used to" which is contrary to what you're saying now. Aight. At least you came with a well thought out reasoning. I acknowledge I dont know everything. We can talk like men and move it along.

 

[pez]

I appreciate the underlining story of Cops Shot the Kid.

Richard Pryor (1971 stand up) talking about his childhood past (1940s- early 1950s).
Slick Rick in the background talking about his present (1988).
Nas and Kanye talking about our past and present.

Shows just how much nothing really changes. Slick Rick is used as the bridging through line from Pryor's era to now and he's constantly haunting the background with the same line. The repetitive nature reflecting the repetitiveness of the act that keeps happening year after year, decade after decade.

Reviewers won't pick up on that.

 

[MillionMills]

Just ran back white label like 8 times

 

[Da King]

NASIR >>> Life is Good

 

[Gravity]

You buy whatever album you want breh.

I bought and listen to Nas. End of the story.
IDK about The Carters. I didn't even downloaded their stuff.

Why do you think I give a fukk about anything you just said? I’m talking to the nas fanboys who spam the site with their insecure bullshyt.

 

[Ziggiy]

When these muthafukkas aren’t talking about Kelis he gets good reviews.

Nas has a curse, and that curse’s name is Illmatic. Having released one of the best rap debuts of all time 24 years ago, each of his subsequent releases have been compared to it and been found wanting. With Nasir, the sample-based production sometimes brings to mind Illmatic producers DJ Premier and Pete Rock, but elements like the angry Puff Daddy ad libs on Not For Radio and the smooth R&B stylings of Tony Williams on Bonjour immediately remove the album from that introspective, boom-bap world.

Kanye West’s production continues in the minimal vein of his work on Pusha T’s Daytona, with chopped up snippets of film soundtracks, Iranian rock music and Slick Rick over punchy percussion. The latter is prominently featured on Cops Shot The Kid, the titular phrase (lifted from Children’s Story) looped around to create a fidgety, jarring groove while Nas and West opine about police brutality.

Nas’ lyrics are of a piece with other “Five Percenter” rappers from his era, in that the subject matter veers from social consciousness (“Glocks were created for murder enhancement”) to complete hearsay (“[John] Edgar Hoover was black”) in an instant.

That being said, his lyricism is as sharp as ever, especially on Adam And Eve where he muses on familial lineage over a wandering, contemplative piano line. The seven-track album is said to be loosely based around the seven deadly sins, and while some theorised links seem to be a stretch, the lines about excess and gluttony on White Label and jealousy annd envy on Simple Things do back the idea.

There are some slight missteps, like West’s tedious hook on Everything, but Nasir proves Nas’ ongoing relevance as one of New York’s biggest living rappers, with the best overall production and best quality control since Illmatic: the curse may finally be lifting.

https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/nas-nasir

 

[brownsugah]

When these muthafukkas aren’t talking about Kelis he gets good reviews.

Nas has a curse, and that curse’s name is Illmatic. Having released one of the best rap debuts of all time 24 years ago, each of his subsequent releases have been compared to it and been found wanting. With Nasir, the sample-based production sometimes brings to mind Illmatic producers DJ Premier and Pete Rock, but elements like the angry Puff Daddy ad libs on Not For Radio and the smooth R&B stylings of Tony Williams on Bonjour immediately remove the album from that introspective, boom-bap world.

Kanye West’s production continues in the minimal vein of his work on Pusha T’s Daytona, with chopped up snippets of film soundtracks, Iranian rock music and Slick Rick over punchy percussion. The latter is prominently featured on Cops Shot The Kid, the titular phrase (lifted from Children’s Story) looped around to create a fidgety, jarring groove while Nas and West opine about police brutality.

Nas’ lyrics are of a piece with other “Five Percenter” rappers from his era, in that the subject matter veers from social consciousness (“Glocks were created for murder enhancement”) to complete hearsay (“[John] Edgar Hoover was black”) in an instant.

That being said, his lyricism is as sharp as ever, especially on Adam And Eve where he muses on familial lineage over a wandering, contemplative piano line. The seven-track album is said to be loosely based around the seven deadly sins, and while some theorised links seem to be a stretch, the lines about excess and gluttony on White Label and jealousy annd envy on Simple Things do back the idea.

There are some slight missteps, like West’s tedious hook on Everything, but Nasir proves Nas’ ongoing relevance as one of New York’s biggest living rappers, with the best overall production and best quality control since Illmatic: the curse may finally be lifting.

Nas - Nasir | Albums | musicOMH

That’s good! Will this count towards metacritic score?

 

[Ziggiy]

That’s good! Will this count towards metacritic score?

Yea it should

 

[brownsugah]

Yea it should

Cool. That should help it some.

I wish people would focus on the music instead of everything else. Smh.

 

[Dylmatic]

Another negative review with that Kelis/silence narrative. Smh.
Nas 'Nasir' Review

 

[Primetime21]

NASIR >>> Life is Good

nah

 

[L. Deezy]

nah

I want this album to go away

 

[JayBaldacci]

NASIR >>> Life is Good

False...