I don't have Tidal, I hope they put it on their YouTube page, would really like to hear more about the album.
Its a Tidal exclusive.
I don't have Tidal, I hope they put it on their YouTube page, would really like to hear more about the album.
Yeah he just cleared that up on his interviewI'm believing this a lot more than HHID. Nas did not sound like this on HHID IMO (flow wise). Also, from Back When from LIG, "I light a L for Vernon, for n****s who would burn in hell for Vernon, 10th Street, 12th Street." Uses a similar line on the hook of Vernon Family, "10th Street, 12th Street, Vernon Family."
I'm sorry but this is complete nonsense.
The Goat and it ain’t even closethis has probably been posted a billion times by now but HOLY fukk Nas destroys this verse!!!!!
Dust to dust, ashes to ashes, I duck quick
Seen fire flashes, the type of fire that spit out a magnum
And I'm the type who runs to the drama looking for who clapping
Nike boot, what I eat him, he like food
Pulled out the barrel
Four-fifths rip through bone marrow
Make his toes spiral the dirt
While his feet kick up rock, he's a sprinter
Police agenda, lock up nikkas for three winters
When I attack I'm faceless like a iron mask
They get away quick, traceless, lying back, liars pass
I breathe deep like Lamaze class
the production is super dope on that song. there's also some violins in there in some of the breakdowns & the endMan the storytelling on Queens Wolf is classic Nas. Piano loop sample. Man Toomp delivered.
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Those are the blocks in queens bridgeI'm believing this a lot more than HHID. Nas did not sound like this on HHID IMO (flow wise). Also, from Back When from LIG, "I light a L for Vernon, for n****s who would burn in hell for Vernon, 10th Street, 12th Street." Uses a similar line on the hook of Vernon Family, "10th Street, 12th Street, Vernon Family."
yeah but Nas phrases it similarly to the LIG song. Also there is another line in that song that I can't recall because I've been blazing while letting the album run through over and over that is either the same line from another LIG track or is similarly worded.Those are the blocks in queens bridge
40th side and 41st side of 10th street, 12th street and Vernon blvd
Good review breh, overall I pretty much agree with you except I really digged Tanasia, but I haven't really given much thought about the actual story structure that is laid out in the song, it mostly is just overall dope to me so I guess I haven't gotten down to analyzing that part yet. But yeah, totally agree with most of your criticisms. Royalty has been the only track that I want to skip when it comes on, Nas is still dope on it but that hook is just god awful, but I understand these are some unfinished raw tracks so it doesn't bother me much.Album is good but it feels like less of an album than LT1. Honestly reminds me more of Kendrick's Untitled Unmastered in the sense that you're hearing a collection of unreleased tracks, some of which are unfinished - whereas LT1 were completed songs that were simply unreleased. The (largely weak) singing on the album are obvious place holders and I fear that someone listening to this not knowing this will simply say "wow these hooks are trash" without context. And I feel like some of the rapping feels off at times. Tanasia...sounds unfocused and meh to me, like an idea that wasn't finished, or an idea a producer didn't flesh out with Nas. Beat is cool but the storytelling isn't sharp and doesn't really go anywhere. Compared to Blaze A 50 which was extremely focused/finished. Later Nas albums/songs tend to have that issue with random lyrical tangents and it pops up here on the first track (the Jungle story, which breaks up the smooth rhyming in the beginning) and the beginning of QB Politics before it becomes about Prodigy lol. Reminds me of that line on LIG where Nas said No ID told him he overthinks songs.
Beats are good overall. Both Swizz tracks are DOPE. Adult Film is not what I expected at all. Not gonna lie brehs, I turned that shyt on expecting horns, and the Paid In Full "the music just turns me onnnnn" sample with Swizz yelling "Adult Film, lets make an Adult Film, t*ts in the air haaaaaahhhnnn"
glad I was wrong. If a Nas/Swizz album gonna be like this...sign me up man.
Pete Rock joints are GREAT. Statik joint is dope...I'd love to hear Ross on a remix.
Album has a couple duds. Royalty is...not good. Beat is ok I guess but that hook is terrible, and the rest of the song is whatever. As expected Skatt Attack sounds worse on the album because the juxtaposition of that beat to everything else is jarring as fukk. Also has a couple tracks that are kinda whatever to me...not bad but just ehh. Who Are You for instance.
Overall it's a good album. My initial reaction is a 3.5. LT1 is a 4.5 or 5 for me. I didn't expect to be better, since the tracks were gonna be mined from an era where Nas wasn't as good of a rapper. 98-01 era Nas tracks were always gonna trump 04-present Nas tracks. I'm just glad to hear Nas over dope beats, working with dope producers again.
To imply that Bandana is clearly superior to Lost Tapes 2 is comical. Two dope albums. Personally, LT2 >> Bandana.
Nas' pen game and versatility >>>>>