New Nas album

Orizio

Thread in anticipation of Nas' new album, whatever its called now. All discussion, news and legal MP3 links here...

Be A ****** Too - Nas (video)

A ****** Tape - Nas (mixtape)

Album due July 1st.

2-ShortDa5foot5

The supposedly epic masterpiece Streets Disciple was a heap of sh1t in my opinion so won't be picking up this.

Orizio

I didn't like Streets Disciple, but I fail to see how that album has anything to do with his new one.

Pen1987

because hes going down hill. Same way that I wont be buying the next Eminem album because the last few were a load of commercially aimed tripe.

Jay Ru

not to sure what to think bout this album tbh, will def have a listen but i don't really think it going to be that good. i thinks nas' is far from his best these day, he's done 2 colabo's with Jay Z since signing to Def Jam and Hov has murdered him both times.

Orizio

Jay-Z has released mainly ****e for this decade, and yet American Gangster was one of his best albums.

Mobb Deep released mainly ****e this decade, and yet Prodigy's last two albums were undeniably dope.

So condemning Nas newest before you've even heard it because his last two albums sucked seems rather retarded. Arguably Nas is due and the new tracks I've heard sound pretty decent.

Jay Ru

i'm not condeming the album, i'm just not the optimistic that it will be that good. i'll just have to wait and see!

phenomenon

Wow just watched the Be a Ni***r Too video and I must say its got me excited about the new album. It seems like Nas is trying to bulid himself up as a black community leader, hes talking about some deep ****. Did yas pick up on the "25th hour" reference when hes lookin in the mirror and tells his reflection to **** himself lol? Great film.

One question tho: What TV station will give the video airtime? Not only is the content a bit dodgy but its over 8 mins long!

evil_seed

The be a n-word video is epic. also from the n-word mixtape "hero" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oFigh_kQMM. its an absolute banger!

Orizio

Its never going to get air time, 'Be A ****** Too' is the street single, 'Hero' is the commercial or 'proper' first single.

DarkJager

Quite interested in hearing this, although his last 2 albums were nothing special at all. Some tracks off Streets Disciple were ok, but I think he made a bad decision to split it over 2 discs when there was less than enough quality tracks to warrant 1 disc. I can't see the vids linked (in work ). What kind of style is he going back to? Any hints of a return to form like Illmatic??

Boom_Bap

I thought the video and concept was absolute garbage, looks like there was some idiot hired to splice 3 different pieces of footage together.

As far as the song itself goes, its average, no new ground broken production-wise or lyrically. Queen Latifah done a better version of this with U.N.I.T.Y.! ..... i know its about women but i'm refering to the equality side of things

Seaneh

I quite like Hero... I'm (probably overly optomistically) looking forward to the album.

Neecod

Excited to hear this new album. As for the comment that about Jay Z, well he is average compared to Nas and he bites alot http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=RqScH2CfYTg (Biggie and Big L for example), also Nas verbally outshines him on both their collaborations and disses him in success. Streets Disciple was weak over two cds though, should've just made one album outta it. Still you have to be excited about a new Nas album. Can see that the concept will be hard to swallow for alot. Can't really compare it to Queen Latifah in fairness.

Jay Ru

Neecod wrote: »

Excited to hear this new album. As for the comment that about Jay Z, well he is average compared to Nas and he bites alot http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=RqScH2CfYTg (Biggie and Big L for example), also Nas verbally outshines him on both their collaborations and disses him in success. Streets Disciple was weak over two cds though, should've just made one album outta it. Still you have to be excited about a new Nas album. Can see that the concept will be hard to swallow for alot. Can't really compare it to Queen Latifah in fairness.

Prove it, cus with lines like "google earth, nas got flats in other continents" wasn't one of his Nas' finest line. and for and average rapper Jay Z seems to be doing very well for himself. Nas released one CLASSIC album thats it, theres been some wicked tracks over the years but none of his follow up albums never reached the succuss of Illmatic, whether it was sales or acclaim. Hov's first album was classic material, then theres Blueprint and The Black Album and although it ain't classic material yet American Gangster is as good if not better than an album Nas has released since his first opus. i think the difference between Nas and Jay is down to marketability and promotion, Nas never had any good promotion while he was on Sony and Def Jam helped push Jigga to where he is now. i mean how many Nas singles or guest appearances do u hear on regular radio stations or music tv channels? now how many times have u heard Jiggas singles or guest appearances. Nas still might be a better rapper than Jay but he's yet to prove it in my opinion. with all that said is the new album out yet?

and bout calling Jay Z a biter, theres not a rapper out there who doesn't borrow raps and flows.

Neecod

Yeah I agree that Illmatic will never be surpassed. But his other albums aren't as bad as some people make out. That album was never going to be repeated so he got backlash from that alone. Also you're right about the marketing side of things. Jay z knows who to collab with and has also been on the pulse of the radio friendly scene i.e rhianna. Even his knew single a billi which he takes from Lil wayne(or garbage as he should be known). But lyrically I prefer Nas. Just the way he spits a verse compared to Jay z. Nas has always had his own style. Jay zs has changed over the years and in fairness he has put out some good stuff especially the acoustic thing he did. I have American Gangster and for me it's the best lyrics his come with since blueprint. I still prefer Nas and I think this album will be big. Ramble over:)

Boom_Bap

Nas To Release "Untitled" New LP On July 15th

Surrounded by controversy at every stage of his long and influential career as the conscience – and often most severe critic – of hip-hop, Def Jam Recordings artist Nas has returned to the headlines, declaring that his new 9th album, arriving in stores July 15th, will be untitled. The untitled new album follows-up Nas’ Def Jam debut, the Grammy nominated Hip-Hop Is Dead, which entered the Soundscan chart at #1 in December 2006, on first week sales of more than 350,000 copies.
“It’s important to me that this album gets to the fans,” Nas said of his newest project. “It’s been a long time coming. I want my fans to know that creatively and lyrically, they can expect the same content and the same messages. It’s that important. The streets have been waiting for this for a long time. The people will always know what the real title of this album is and what to call it.”
In advance of the untitled new album, which will be issued on the Def Jam/Jones Experience imprint, the first official single will be “Hero,” produced by Polow Da Don.
Over the past few weeks, two tracks from the album have been leaked: “Black President” (produced by DJ Green Lantern) and the album’s closing track “N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave and The Master)” (produced by DJ Toomp), containing the provocative lyric, “They say we N-I-double-G-E-R/ We are, much more/ But still we choose to ignore the obvious/ Man, this history don’t acknowledge us/ We were scholars way before colleges…”
One of the albums highlights is “Fried Chicken” featuring Busta Rhymes, produced by the Grammy winner for Producer Of The Year, Mark Ronson. “Fried Chicken,” finds Nas and Busta in top form, mixing elaborate metaphors over a decidedly throwback Ronson track. “When I was young, sitting in my room hammering out beats on my MPC, Nas was one of those truly legendary artists that you daydream, ‘One day, I'll get to do a track for...,’” says Ronson. “We finally met Grammy night in LA, and he said he wanted some stuff from me for the album. I started thinking to myself, as a Nas fan, ‘What kind of beats would I love to hear him over?’ That's how the Dapkings and I came up with the track for ‘Fried Chicken’, and I reckon it sounds like a stone cold classic.”
The untitled new album will also include collaborations with producers Stic.Man from Dead Prez, Jay Electronica, Stargate, DJ Cool & Dre, and others.
Hip-Hop Is Dead, the third album by Nas to enter the charts at #1, got started with the lead title track single “Hip-Hop Is Dead,” produced and co-written by and featuring will.i.am. of Black Eyed Peas. The cut (which sampled ’60s hits “Apache” and “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”) made it inside the Top 40 on the Hot 100, Pop 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Rap Tracks, and Hot Digital Songs charts. It was followed-up with “Can’t Forget About You,” featuring fellow Def Jam artist Chrisette Michelle, a jazz inspired Top 10 Rap track also produced by will.i.am, that riffed off a sample from the classic “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole.
Time Out New York stepped out early in January 2007, and picked Hip-Hop Is Dead as “rap record of the year.” Pitchfork’s reviewer called it “the album I’ll give to people in 20 years when they ask who Nas was.” The album release set up the “One Man, One Mic, One Night” 26-city North American tour, one of the biggest ever by Nas, from March through May 2007. (Press Release)

Interesting reading

Orizio

The advance of Nas' new album has leaked.

Here is the tracklisting.

1. (00:02:16) Nas - Queens Get The Money
2. (00:03:09) Nas - You Can't Stop Us Now (Feat. Eban Thomas)
3. (00:03:38) Nas - Breathe
4. (00:03:18) Nas - Middle Finger (feat. David Banner)
5. (00:04:04) Nas - Hero
6. (00:05:16) Nas - Association (feat. stic man)
7. (00:04:03) Nas - Sly Fox
8. (00:02:50) Nas - Testify
9. (00:04:36) Nas - N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave & The Master)
10. (00:01:37) Nas - ****** Hatred
11. (00:03:16) Nas - Be A ****** Too
12. (00:02:50) Nas - Fried Chicken (Featuring Busta Rhymes)
13. (00:03:53) Nas - Esco Lets Go (Prod. By DJ Khalil)
14. (00:04:20) Nas - I'm On (feat. Cool)
15. (00:05:44) Nas - We're Not Alone
16. (00:04:54) Nas - Black President
17. (00:04:17) Nas - Smokin'
18. (00:02:27) Nas - War Is Necessary

Will give a couple of listens and post what I think.

Makaveli

Will check it out.

War Is Necessary is on the GTA IV soundtrack, I'm not a big fan of it. It's actually quite an annoying track in my opinion.

Orizio

I like the track, although its not on the album as far as I understand. What exactly is going to be on the album I'm not sure (there is a tracklisting on Wikipedia), but I doubt half of the above advance will be there.

Orizio

The finsihed version has leaked now. Final tracklist...

01. Queens Get the money
02. You Can't Stop Us Now (Feat. Eban Thomas of The Stylistics & The Last Poets)
03. Breathe
04. Make the World Go Round (Feat. Chris Brown & The Game)
05. Hero (Feat. Keri Hilson)
06. America
07. Sly Fox
08. Testify
09. N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave and the Master)
10. Louis Farrakhan
11. Fried Chicken (Feat. Busta Rhymes)
12. Project Roach (Feat. The Last Poets)
13. Ya’ll My Niggas
14. We’re Not Alone (Feat. Mykel)
15. Black President

Just listening to it now. It starts slow enough, opening three tracks aren't bad but aren't very memorable and are suprisingly laidback. 'Make The World Go Round' and 'Hero' come straight after, both sound like singles. I don't really like the beats on either, but Nas is flowing strong and the hooks are good.

nevaeh-2die-4

downloaded it last night.

its a lot better than Hip Hop is dead.(nas`s weakest album to date)

i think nas went downhill when left sony/columbia

but this album is banging.

Hero is ****n savage

Orizio

'Bangin' is definetly not the word I would use to describe the album, there isn't a banger in sight as far as I can tell. Once again, Nas' choice in beats is off, the likes of stic.man, cool n dre, Salaam Remi really aren't good enough.

It is better then HHID in that its more consistent and follows a particular theme from start to finish but the songs just aren't there. Very average album.

Makaveli

Lyrically it' pretty solid, nothing outstanding. I mean I don't think we'll ever get another Lost Tapes/Illmatic out of Nas production wise or lyrics wise.

It feels like another in a long line of meh albums from him though. Where as Stillmatic and God's Son looked like he might have gotten over his slump I think it was just a case of a last hurrah. Maybe he should just take some time off and the put some serious work into an album, give it a couple of years and get some better producers.

HHID isn't his worst album either, Nastradamus is his worst album. Nasty, nas the esco, to ecobar, now he's nastradamus. Indeed.

I like the production on Sly Fox, but the lyrics are a bit lame. Myspace and Youtube, yes very good Nas.

When you can play an album from start to finish and not have one song grabs your attention it's a poor sign. At least HHID had Black Republican, but Jay-Z stole that track with his verse.

Orizio

I think its better then HHID mainly because HHID was frustratingly inconsistent and because Untitled sticks to a lyrical theme throughout, but yes Untitled is lacking the stand out tracks HHID had in Money Over Bull**** and Black Republicans.

Beyond that, Nas' philosophy sounds confused as hell, if not regressive. He really isn't a Boots Riley or Chuck D.

Makaveli

I agree that it's better than HHID. At least this album has a decent concept to it and some continuity. HHID was a mess, but that may in part have been because Street's Disciple was a bloated mess and in trying to make an album with less filler it just ended up all over the place.

Orizio

So now that people have had time to lsiten and take in the album, what do y'all think about it? Here is my review regardless...

There seems to be a couple of unwritten rules when it comes to reviewing a new Nas album. Firstly, you can’t mention the ‘I’ word, its just not fair on the man. Secondly, you have to ignore the insane internet hype surounding any and every new Nas album or track - remember when the boring Street’s Disciple and the wildly inconsistent Hip Hop Is Dead were proclaimed as classics akin to that debut? Finally, banging on about Jay-Z fo half of the review is unoriginal and in bad taste. So I’ll keep the Jay/Nas comparison short and wothwhile - is Untitled the startling return to form that American Gangster was, a return to ferocious rhyming over consistently tight beats? Maybe more pertinently, with Untitled can Nas truly re-invent himself as an inspiring figure in a Hip-Hop scene and an America politically in turmoil and demanding change?

A little background is necessary. This album was orignally entitled ‘****‘ but amid controversy and condemnation from everyone form BIll O’Reilly to Jesse Jackson the title was changed to Untitled by Def Jam. The outcry seems odd when you consider that the word ****** has been in constant use in Hip-Hop albums and titles and yet in an America soon likely to elect its first half black president, an album thematically built around the word ****** was always likely to create a certain level of controversy. Simply enough, people were angry not because Nas was using the word but becuase he wanted to discuss it.

Cont after the link.

Rating: 3/5

Link.

FX Meister

You can't say the word niggger? Sheeeeeeeeeet. AS for Obama being the next president, dream on, it's a US election, not a worldwide election. FACT

Orizio

If you want to discuss the US election, then look up the Politics forum.

What do you think of the album?

Raoul

Not too impressed by the new album at all.

I think the review earlier sums it up perfectly. The first thing I noticed was the mixed up views on the whole white people and black people. He is sending out quite different messages in the album. I actually find it very annoying and its really hard to look past.
And how disappointing are the beats?

There is only one or two songs that are actually of reasonably good quality. Hero and I can't remember the name of the other one that I really like. The 2 bonus tracks I heard (appreciation and be a ****** too) I think are of better quality than the a few of the other songs on the album.

All in all I would give it a 3/5 and its probably cos I am biased because it is Nas after all.

DáireM

Really wasn't impressed. Lyrically it's ok, nothing outstanding but I agree with the other posters when they say that he sounds confused as to what his message actually is. That really started pissing me off after a while.

The beats were absolute garbage imo, probably the weakest point of the whole album. A huge disappointment for me, honestly thought he coulda pulled it together this album, HHID showed a lot of potential which coulda been built on after years of crap .

TheScript

Ive gotta agree with DaireM its fairly bad alright. Hero aint 2 bad, but it wont be on a playlist on my ipod.For sure

HalloweenJack

Just picked it up today.

Hope it's as good as everyone says!

Sm0ke

gonna give a listen when i get home

im glad the reviews have been bad/mixed as now the hype in my mind is pretty much gone

please be gooooddd!


i hate this, i get caught in the hype everytime without fail

Boom_Bap

Review from HipHopSite.com (5/5)

The word "******" is defined as (1) a hateful slang term for an African-American person or (2) a member of a socially disadvantaged class. Perhaps the most derogatory term in the English language, it managed to become a term of endearment, a symbol of comradory, an in a sense, instilling the feeling of social/emotional acceptance. So is it still offensive? That depends on who you ask and that is one the most significant characteristics of Nas’s groundbreaking and exceptional untitled album. The artist also know as Escobar creates an opus that touches on every aspect of the word; its usage, its meaning, but all the while leaving it up for the interpretation of the listener to develop their own opinion.
With strong lyrics, a unique concept with relevant subject matter, and beats tailor made for the artist, you are taken on a voyage through the Black Diaspora both past and present to explain why the N-word is still a relevant word, positively and negatively. Beginning with the Salaam Remi produced “You Can’t Stop Us Now” feat. Eban Thomas of the Stylistics and the Last Poets, Nas navigates the vessel via word play, “…witch doctors, good ol’ pick pockets/Sip on moonshine/So called coons, shines, and darkies/I love y’all/Pyramids to cotton fields to Wrigley Fields/Forgotten men who did get killed/Crispus Attucks/The first blasted/Peace to the rich lady purse snatcher shot in the back…” On the DJ Toomp produced “N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave and the Master),” Nas describes the lives of everyday people as he sees it, “We trust no black leaders/Use the stove to heat us/Powdered eggs and government cheeses/The calendar with Martin , JFK, and Jesus/Gotta be fresh to go to school with fly sneakers/Schools with outdated books/We are the forgotten/Summertime coolin’ off by the fire hydrant/Yeah I’m from the ghetto/Where old black women talk about their sugar level…” He magnificently paints a picture of ghetto life where miracles are made from nothing and the very magicians who made it all possible are considered to be nothing more than, quite frankly, ****.
But at the same time Nas compares “****” to roaches on “Project Roach” feat. The Last Poets, that clearly states that a word cannot be “buried,” let alone its usage and instead one should learn from it and not aspire to be one. On “Y’all My Ni**as” God Son takes on the meaning of the word head on, questioning its meaning and the treatment of the people who are called it while speaking from a personal standpoint as he rhymes, “Yo, I was thinkin’ a lil’ bit/What would it take for me to authenticate my nigganess/Ball ridiculous/26 inch rims when I call the dealership/Ah, that’s some nigga ****/We only out for our own benefit/we havin’ too many kids/We Claudines/Welfare recipients/ The infamous free clinics is the sickest ****/Make me wonder what the hell they cleaning their syringes with…”
On the lead single, the Polow da Don produced “Hero” feat. Keri Hilson, Nas addresses the controversy over naming this LP its original title stating, “…still in musical prison/And jailed for the flow/Try tellin’ Bob Dylan, Bruce, or Billy Joel they can’t sing what’s in their soul/So untitled it is/I’ll never change nothing’/For people to remember this/If Nas can’t say it, think about these talented kids/With new ideas/Being told what they can and can’t spit…,” questioning not only his own individual right, but how it effects society as a whole.
Nas also takes the time to address some of his own personal indictments. On the Stargate produced “America,” he touches on this country’s unfair practices while linking it to its some of the most degraded groups of people as he describes the some of the struggles of women, “…split her navel/Took her premature baby/Let her man see you rape her/If I could travel to the 1700s/I’d push a wheel barrel full of dynamite through your covenant/Love to sit on the senate/Tell the whole government/Y’all don’t treat women fair/She read about herself in the Bible/Believe she is the reason why sin is here/You played her with an apron like bring my dinner dear/She’s the real nigga here…” or on the Stic.man of Dead Prez produced “Sly Fox” describing the “fair and unbiased” coverage of not only the channel, but the business practices of the NewsCorp conglomerate, striking a cord with the current times like a true revolutionary.
With only a few guest appearances, this album makes the most of it with The Game and Cool and Dre co-produced “Make the World Go Round” feat. Chuck Taylor himself and Chris Brown and on the highly entertaining Mark Ronson produced “Fried Chicken” feat. Busta Rhymes extend the metaphor to venomous vixens that are so bad for you, but taste so good.... But the shining moment on the album has to be the DJ Green Lantern produced “Black President.” Maybe one of the most historic events to take place in modern history, Nas expresses his pride and reservations of Sen. Barack Obama possibly becoming leader of the free world, “…but on the positive side/I think Obama provides hope/And challenges minds of all races and colors to erase the hate/And try to love one another/So many political snakes/We are in need of a break/I’m thinkin’ we can trust this brother/But will he keep it way real/Every innocent nigga in jail gets out on appeal/When he wins, will he really care still…” It is this context that defines the album, looking at two sides of something and having to come up with a viewpoint for which to see it, often a very difficult and stressful situation.
The only flaw (if you really want to call it one) of this album is no fault of the artist. While today’s average hip hop listener is caught up in who is the latest so called up and coming king or what new trend is taking place, this LP will more than likely go over their heads due to its revolutionary content. And that is where the dilemma starts to form, should one try to conform to the appeals of the mainstream and convey their message around that premise, or should they speak from their heart even though it might not be statistically successful, offending many, and ostracizing them from the general hip hop/music audience? Honestly, that is up to the listener/buyer to make that decision. But one thing cannot be denied, lyrically and conceptually, this album is superior to any project that has came out as of late and Mr. Jones should be commended for this magnificent album, like it or not. - Ryan Harrison

Blisterman

Just got it last week, and I must say, I was quite impressed.
Much better than HHID, which was very hit and miss.

Frankie Lee

I got it at the weekend, an improvement on HHID for sure, i'd agree about hero being a classic.
I'd give the album 7/10 coming from a huge Nas fan.

HalloweenJack

I only listened to this once or twice when I bought then I hid it away for a while.

Eventually decided to give it another try and pretty glad I did. It sounds a lot better having gone back to it. Think it's easily his best since Stillmatic.

godspal

bought it finally today.
no Stillmatic, certanily no Illmatic. but definitely his 3rd best album. At least its like Nas of older days. (what 10 year between any two albums that were even remotely good?! they were Stillmatic and Illmatic, but the stuff in between is forgetable.)

Makaveli

I'd put it down as his 6th best.

Illmatic
The Lost Tapes
It Was Written
Stillmatic
God's Son