Albums Nas - The Lost Tapes 2 (Discussion Thread)
- Thread starter Arithmetic
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His delivery on Vernon family and Lost Freestyle are top notch. The slow flow on no bad energy is cool but I prefer the former
Lost Freestyle and Vernon Family are insane.
Vernon Family sounds like it was recorded in 99. Pharrell really gave Nas a gem for a beat. It fit Nas pocket perfectly.
After listening to this nonstop over the past few weeks I feel like its finally appropriate for ratings.
I figured I do something a little and rate each song on if it truly would have made the album it was intended for better. Meaning could the song have replaced a song on the corresponding album and made it a better body of work.
1). No Bad Energy- Perfect intro. Production fits Nas like a glove and lyrically he was all over this. He sounds crisp, energized, and hungry. 5/5
2). Vernon Family- Pharrell laces Nas with a DOPE beat and Nas lyrically annihilates his verse. 4.5/5
3). Al Jarreau Of Rap- Love this song and only Nas can float on this type of production. 4/5
4). Lost Freestyle- Perfect production. Perfect flow. Nas’s first verse is pristine flawless GOAT shyt. 5/5
5). Tanasia- Nas and the RZA connect. Dope storytelling joint from the God. 4.5/5
6). Royalty- This track would have benefited from less “glamorous” production. Nas brings it lyrically but the snippet of the version with Frank Ocean sounded like it fit better. 3.5/5
7). Who Are You- Cool track. But I was actually cool with it being left off Untitled. Again, Nas beings it lyrically and the final verse REALLY uplifts the track. Something about the production doesn’t quite “hit” for me. 3.5/5
8). Adult Film- Love this joint! Man the album that Nas and Swizz were working on would’ve been special. There really is something to these super producers saving their best work for Nas. 4.5/5
9). War Against Love- Now THIS should have been on Untitled. Perfect track. Songs like this really show Nas’s talent with a concept. 5/5
10). The Art Of It- Nas and Pete Rock making magic 25 years after illmatic. I love bumping this joint in the whip. 5/5
11). Highly Favored. Nas spitting that fly 5 percenter influenced street talk over a RZA beat? Peace to ALL! 5/5
12). Queens Wolf- Nas in perfect storytelling mode. Nothing else need be said. 4.5/5
13). It Never Ends- Another banger for the whip. Alchemist NEVER fails Nas. 4.5/5
14). You Mean The World To Me- Always loved this song since it leaked damn near a decade ago. Only wish it would have been a little longer and maybe had one of those “twists” that classic Nas storytelling tracks do. 4/5
15). Queensbridge Politics- RIP Prodigy. 4.5/5
16). Beautiful Life- This track should have DEFINITELY been on Life Is Good. Such a perfect fukking song man. Nas and No ID should keep working together. 5/5
In conclusion, the best thing I can say about this entry into the Lost Tapes series is that it really gets me into the mood to listen to Life Is Good. Nas was REALLY in a zone during that album and the years afterwards, as the RZA, Swizz, Pete Rock, and No ID produced tracks prove. Also I am CONVINCED that a Swizz/Nas album overseen by No ID would be album of the year easily. Swizz and No ID really know what type of production really FITS Nas and Nas of course being the God MC he is, always delivers with the pen. Great addition to the Lost Tapes mythos.
I figured I do something a little and rate each song on if it truly would have made the album it was intended for better. Meaning could the song have replaced a song on the corresponding album and made it a better body of work.
1). No Bad Energy- Perfect intro. Production fits Nas like a glove and lyrically he was all over this. He sounds crisp, energized, and hungry. 5/5
2). Vernon Family- Pharrell laces Nas with a DOPE beat and Nas lyrically annihilates his verse. 4.5/5
3). Al Jarreau Of Rap- Love this song and only Nas can float on this type of production. 4/5
4). Lost Freestyle- Perfect production. Perfect flow. Nas’s first verse is pristine flawless GOAT shyt. 5/5
5). Tanasia- Nas and the RZA connect. Dope storytelling joint from the God. 4.5/5
6). Royalty- This track would have benefited from less “glamorous” production. Nas brings it lyrically but the snippet of the version with Frank Ocean sounded like it fit better. 3.5/5
7). Who Are You- Cool track. But I was actually cool with it being left off Untitled. Again, Nas beings it lyrically and the final verse REALLY uplifts the track. Something about the production doesn’t quite “hit” for me. 3.5/5
8). Adult Film- Love this joint! Man the album that Nas and Swizz were working on would’ve been special. There really is something to these super producers saving their best work for Nas. 4.5/5
9). War Against Love- Now THIS should have been on Untitled. Perfect track. Songs like this really show Nas’s talent with a concept. 5/5
10). The Art Of It- Nas and Pete Rock making magic 25 years after illmatic. I love bumping this joint in the whip. 5/5
11). Highly Favored. Nas spitting that fly 5 percenter influenced street talk over a RZA beat? Peace to ALL! 5/5
12). Queens Wolf- Nas in perfect storytelling mode. Nothing else need be said. 4.5/5
13). It Never Ends- Another banger for the whip. Alchemist NEVER fails Nas. 4.5/5
14). You Mean The World To Me- Always loved this song since it leaked damn near a decade ago. Only wish it would have been a little longer and maybe had one of those “twists” that classic Nas storytelling tracks do. 4/5
15). Queensbridge Politics- RIP Prodigy. 4.5/5
16). Beautiful Life- This track should have DEFINITELY been on Life Is Good. Such a perfect fukking song man. Nas and No ID should keep working together. 5/5
In conclusion, the best thing I can say about this entry into the Lost Tapes series is that it really gets me into the mood to listen to Life Is Good. Nas was REALLY in a zone during that album and the years afterwards, as the RZA, Swizz, Pete Rock, and No ID produced tracks prove. Also I am CONVINCED that a Swizz/Nas album overseen by No ID would be album of the year easily. Swizz and No ID really know what type of production really FITS Nas and Nas of course being the God MC he is, always delivers with the pen. Great addition to the Lost Tapes mythos.
I agree with most of your ratings but I'd go 4.5 for Who Are You and no higher than a 4 for Highly Favored and Queens Wolf. I also agree with your rating of Vernon but would rate the other version of Vernon Family a 5.
He started the verse off strong but it
sounded a little off when he went into
the Jungle Oochie Wally stretch.
The 2nd verse he also started strong but
the silk shirt sun chaser stretch sounded a little
off to me too. Not a bad song just not one of my
favorites. I like hearing him how he sounds on
Vernon Family, Lost Freestyle, The Art of it, Beautiful Life
and when he slows the flow down Queens Wolf.
spliz
SplizThaDon
I just listened to the track again. He’s not off beat bro.
Frida Giezman
Banned
Y’all been rhyming for years and jungle had a hit oochie wally idea is one of my favorite lines on the album lol