There are great rappers who excel with their God-given talent. And then there’s Nas. Ones who work tirelessly to perfect their craft, meticulously down to the last ad-lib. And, there’s Nas. Since etching his name into the history books with his immortal debut llmatic, his equally immortal mic presence has maintained a reserved seat in the culture’s front row, no matter how much he’s indulged in the moment or sounded smarter in theory.
Which brings us to NASIR — the latest product from the G.O.O.D. Music: Impulsive Edition assembly line, and The Chosen One’s 11th studio effort in total. After a longstanding relationship with Kanye West (2005’s inaugural “We Major” collab remains the zenith of their face-offs), the album marks the two legends’ first full-length foray together.
It’s also Nas’ most aimless endeavor in a hot minute.
Not that that’s necessarily all bad. Past quasi-concept long-players such as the-album-formerly-known-as-Nigger and Hip-Hop Is Dead didn’t hit their targeted bullseyes, but that aforementioned mic presence still made for durable listens all the same. But NASIR’s loosely constructed framework (built around The 7 Deadly Sins at that!) doesn’t completely gel, especially for an MC who always prided himself with planting lyrical diamonds in the rough.
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Album opener “Not For Radio” enlists Diddy for shotgun ad-libs in an attempt to bring back that “Hate Me Now” defiance. The thundering composition unfolds with Nas dropping ramblings such as “John Hanson was not the first Black Prez to make it/ Abe Lincoln did not free the enslaved/ Progress was made ’cause we forced the proclamation,” overcooking its intention to alienate casual listeners in doing so. Likewise, the bliss-inducing “Bonjour” doubles down on the lust spoils that success can offer but is ultimately as memorable as the week after the vacation.
As for Kanye West (who’s been finding his life’s inspiration digging for and chopping up soul samples akin to his Polo sweaters and fully healthy jawbone days), his production is noticeably lacking the sublime addictive melodic qualities that have been a constant throughout his career (see DAYTONA for the most recent example).
The album’s most energetic offering — the post-modern b-boy banger “Cops Shot the Kid” — transfixes a Slick Rick sound bite as Nas (and Yeezy) both bring the Black Lives Matter narrative to the dance floor. It’s a noble attempt to round up all audiences under one roof and is in stark contrast to the album’s literal low point, the last record “Simple Things.” The song intentionally employs a flighty kick-n-snare composition and equally wayward oration (“Never sold a record for the beat, it’s my verses they purchase/ Without production I’m worthless but I’m more than the surface/ Want me to sound like every song on the Top 40/ I’m not for you, you not for me, you bore me,” Nas spits) before the music literally says “fuck it” and halts abruptly a little after the two-minute mark. Despite God’s Son’s emceeing being an instrument in its own right, it’s he who does the boring here.
The vets’ best pairing comes on “Adam & Eve,” which excellently combines Nas’ invigorated delivery and unsung hero The-Dream’s genial crooning with Ye’s stirring piano loop placement. The track gives a glimpse of what a truly classic Nas/Kanye West project could sound like.
When you factor in all its dexterity, randomness and overall generality, it’s hard to truly believe NASIR was the album he had been cerebrally building these past six years. No, this isn’t “grown man Hip Hop” to bring balance back to whatever the younger generation of mainstream rappers are doing at the moment; nor will it ever reside in the upper echelon of the living legend’s catalog.
It is, however, imperfect fine art. A standout alternative to overly ambitious dives in the culture to alter the Hip Hop sound before it’s good and ready. And with the half-decade-old rust loosened in the aftermath of this release, it properly sets the stage for Nas to have another ’Matic moment. Maybe it’ll give him a chance to finally address those accusations of abuse from his ex-wife Kelis, too.
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WTF is the reviewer talking about Kelis allegations during a review of this album smh. Obviously a bias review.
This collabo is a major disappointment. Not sure if it was rushed, but it certainly feels incomplete. The only three songs that I’m diggin’, is White Label, Adam & Eve, and Simple Things. Nas is super-talented, Illmatic is a classic, but dude has dropped more than his share of duds.
I respect everybody’s opinion, so I respect yours. But I don’t see how anybody can even listen to White Label. The sample used in that track is one of the weirdest decisions in history. I literally can not think of a track I ever heard in my life that I like less than that from a top-notch artist. Everything and Adam and Eve are the best songs on the album to me. Everything is fire to me, besides them singing too much at the beginning before the verse.
your pito is a major disappointment.
Hmmm… Your opinion sucks.
This album is weak boring beats and stale content. I gave it a 1.5 I loved Life is Good….. the saxophone on Stay kills everything Kanye did on Nasir
your pito is boring
LISTEN you dumb fuck
Lazy album. He didn’t need to do this
This was a terrible review.. I’m not saying this was Illmatic but this album/ep was great Kanye was back to his College Dropout days with the production and every track has a clear message and aim to it.. Adam and Eve, Cops and Everything were my fav but Nas brought the thought provoking stay woke lyrics..
College Dropout days? What type of molly crack perch are you smoking???? The interludes on college Dropout had more soul than any song on this weak ass shit. Just because it’s nas doesn’t make it automatically dope STANLEY
you smoke that pito pipe, huh? i can tell. you’re a pito lover, pito lover
I love hip-hop dx, cos of what y’all bring to the culture, but this review is one of the most fucked up review I have ever read In hip-hop history, who ever wrote this review must be high on some type of drug… Just listen to the music again, cos it’s clear you don’t no what the fuck u talking bout. Peace
You guys are really up in your feelings. Big babies — all of you.
It definitely sounds rushed. The beats were on point but the way it was put together and NAS delivery seems like it was rushed..
It ain’t illmatic but it is close to it. More politically aggravating and thought provoking.
i really hope this is some side project expect his exact album he had spoken about on Nas album done. 3/5
Kanye can’t program drums or make impactful music in general as of late even to save his life. His music as of late has been muzak, easy to digest and easy to forget.
Sorry Nas stans, King HOV and Queen BEY put out a piece of art that will be appreciated for years to come and broke ass Nas put out trash for hobos to fight over. Get over it. It’s the ROC!
you ROC fellas, too?
Album was on point, and a pure classic! away with the amatuer blog writers and Bey-z Cock riders who probably don’t even have Tidal.
You’re a joke, kid.
This is a Kanye-speared NAS album, not the main event. I expect a full-length LP before the year ends. I’m glad we got new NAS, but it ain’t no Life Is Good….he needs to get back in with Salaam and No I.D., Kanye is a hype machine, not a master composer.
Officially done with this site
So what. BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like the album….doesn’t sound like Nas wrote to these beats though. His delivery sounds forced AF and I’m cool on the random facts like “Edgar Hoover was Black!” Also, it’s just so weird to hear his stance over beats from a guy that supports Trump.
Nas never “wrote” beats. Kanye “loves” Trump, never said he supports him.
All rappers and their producers have to have the exact same opinion? FOH. And he didn’t say wrote beats, comments, he said wrote to these beats.
This project was dope and Nas was dropping knowledge on it.
quite disappointing man
your dick is quite disappointing, man.
How dare he have an opinion
This review by the critic is inaccurate. We finally got some modernized pure hip-hop music with substance and meaning. Still not good enough!
lol @ all you millennial rap fans who have been brainwashed into calling Nas the goat. Dude has one of the most ordinary catalogs in Hip Hop but every time he drops a album you anticipate it like the second coming of Jesus only to be disappointed again but then proceed to blame the producer or his choice in beats lol FOH
I went out and bought (Pusha T, Kid Cudi and Nas) because I am fans of theirs don’t really care for Kanye’s bum @zz anymore. Here is my review :
Pusha T: 4/5 solid album, flow and beats were on point (too short though)
Kid Cudi: 1/5 wack album, Kanye was all over the album and you rarely heard Kid Cudi on it.
Nas: 2/5 mediocre album, overrated it has about 3 nice tracks but the beats and production seemed too old and dated, hated Nas flow on most of the beats.
Neither one of these albums are classics. It needs more songs and different producers to even consider it a classic.
Classic
Might be his worst album since nnastradamus. The production was solid, but bland lyrics makes it forgettable. Sounds like he doesn’t even want to rap. Completely ignores Kelis. He can’t be considered a goat with such a bad discography. He’s done.
who has better lyrics? who better?
JayZ, Kendrick, Black Thought, Lupe, to name a few..
Who is better all time? Or at this moment, comparing lyrics from nasir and another artists most current work?
Lyrically 3000, Lupe, Jay z, run da jewels, Kendrick, black thought. Recently cyhi, Jay rock, and Nipsey have better albums than him. Asap’s testing is better. Which is pretty sad.
Bad discography? Are you insane? Illmatic, It Was Written, Stillmatic, God’s Son, Hiphop is Dead, Distant Relatives, Life is Good. He might have the best discography.
Don’t forget the Lost T@pes.
Thanks. Forgot Lost Tapes. I Am… was also supposed to be a double album before it was bootlegged. It would have been looked at as being on the same level as All Eyez on Me and Life After Death. Nas never fell off.
Nastradamus, I am, streets disciple, hhid, nasir, untitled (nice message bad beats), the firm, all bad. Snoop dog bad. There’s is no excuse for it. He’s been getting a pass for too long now.
I don’t know what you people were looking for but this album is a classic. It’s escoabar season not Nasty Nas ?♂️ This album is 5 ?????
Great Album. Great Beat Selection. Great lyrics. Repeat value is 100%
Ive notice how the album is getting mediocre review but comments and people, radio suggest album is classic. Whom? Is it the album topics and subject matter got some hating. Maybe not his best album but definitely a hot album. I’m starting to realize people expect perfection from Nas all the time because besides Kendrick and few others No one will come close to what Nas brings to the game. Before it was his production now Kanye does the album and we complain about lyrics (who lyrics better). do y’all realize that Das been watering down his lyrics and flow for years for y’all main stream pop rap fans because it would go over people heads and fans now have a short attention spand.
I enjoy the album some of the verses were a little off beat . But other then that . I like the production and all the songs .
Wow all these negative comments just let’s me know Fuck queensbridge out here working overtime lmao how many reviews under different names y’all think he posted in btwn jacking off to Jay z posters? Lmao. Nas and Jay are the greatest to ever rap but that Carters shit was a beyonce album just happened to feature Jay on it. This album was fire. Nas always comes hard. Why the fuck does he need to address kelis on this? This aint touching illmatic or it was written but still quality rap. I could have done without dream and kanye singing but 6 of the 7 songs are fire. 5/5
It’s definitely 5/5
I disagree with the review. It’s not his greatest work, but, I still find the album infectious. The running time gives the album a great way to constantly replay and listen to songs in order to better process.
Classic!!!. A Goddamn Classic!!!
Not perfect but still my favorite album this month so far. Album would have been perfect without Ye getting so experimental at times
I was excited to hear new Nas material. When I heard though that kanye was producing the project, I thought this was going to be more of a ep/collab/project than an actual full album. I’ve had this album non stop since it dropped and Kanye’s production brings the album way down. It doesn’t even feel like the tracks are complete or mastered. Kanye’s beats seem very uninspired. The hooks on certain songs feel like they were just repeated to extend the length of the track. Breaking it down, Not for radio is a good start except for Puff who’s adlibs sound like they were added a few hrs before the release. This might be true since he was not on the initial album listening party. Copies of the album can be found online without puff’s vocals. Cops shot the kid is literally about a 50 second verse from Nas over a slick rick loop that either you love or the repetitive nature of it will annoy you. White label doesn’t even have any drums on it just horns that sound like they were chopped up and over shadow Nas’ vocals at times! Though Nas does his best with what was given to him I wonder if him and ye even worked together in the studio because the whole album seems to not have chemistry. Bonjour is a solid effort but its barely 2mins of actual Nas rapping and the rest is over a min of Tony Williams singing. Everything is the album’s longest track…too long at that, mainly due to kanye’s attempt at singing. After over 2mins of him singing Nas finally comes on. Not sure why the dream is not on the hook. Instead he’s placed at the end of the track to do a duet type with kanye for more singing…far too much singing for this beat. This finally brings us to the gem and highlight of the album. Adam and Eve gives the listener possibly the best experience of what Kanye working with Nas should or could be. The album’s most complete and perfect track gives you hope only to have it torn apart on the close out track Simple things. Simple things with it’s simple hook and simple beat sounds like an incomplete track that abruptly cuts off. If 9th Wonder, No ID, Pete Rock, Black Milk, Premo, Salaam and others produced the album we would be talking about album of the yr candidate. I’m praying with the new mass appeal distribution deal we are blessed with a proper Nas album before the yr ends.
Haha. What an ending to the review. If Kelis has a problem she should go to the police, then if they think there is anything to it, he can answer to them. Who do we think we are that these celebrities need to address everything publicly? FFS. Get over yourself. So many wannabe cops out there these days. And people are blaming Nas too much for this being nothing above decent. Kanye is far from his best here and he hasn’t given Nas 7 beats that suit him.
If the message was the most important thing this would be rated higher. The beats aren’t bad they just don’t fit. I didn’t care for the dream on either track. Nas sounded outdated. It was respectable tho. Like wizards Jordan. It’s him and he had your attention still but he’s not at his best and he can give you moments but what made him who he was is beginning to fade.
Not at all either Nas or Ye’s best. Maybe we’ll get the album that should have been as Lost Tapes 3? lol
Boring EP kanye just took other peoples beats. Nas rhymes were mostly good, but creeping on a come up by bone, was a way better ep
What the fk coez bone have to go with this? FOH
terrible review. biased. really just hatin on kanye through nas. address kelis? really? gtfoh
Yep. Too many leftist reporters on this website.
I really have problems with this album. Even with all the message it’s still kinda shallow. Honestly with the weird production it’s really a 3.5/5 but I’ll be damned if I’m not gonna round up for Nas. I really hope he’ll quickly follow this up with something more substantial cause this absolutely won’t satisfy me for the next 6 years. Also I think Jay album also a 3.5/5. I like both albums about the same. It blows my mind that hhdx gave that album a 5 FOH.
Great album 5 out of 5
5/5 all the songs are good
Really Dx rating a rapping Beyoncé higher than NAS
U LOSING ME WITH THIS REVIEW
REALLY TRIPPING NASIR IS NO LESS THAN 4/5
How in the earth do you guys think Everything is love is better then this is beyond me.
I’m a massive Nas fan…But after several plays I’m a little disappointed.
Honestly, I’m a BIG time Nas fan. But I too, am a little disappointed. Of course the verses are there, but this Kanye’s production just doesn’t fit. At times on this album the beats nor lyrics are in any type of pattern. Nas could have kept his money & did the production just as good. After a 6 to 7 year layoff, I guess I just expected a lil better. I still roll wit it doe. But it’s most definitely not near his BEST work. Now you & Jay both redeem yourselves with this collaboration album. We’ve waited long enough.
The album is not his greatest and it does leave you wanting more; but definitely above average. I think he could have definitely went in more especially on “White Label” and “Simple Things”. One does have to let it marinade (https://genius.com/albums/Nas/Nasir). Once the lyrics made more sense, for some reason it meshed well with the beat. Overall is a good album but unfortunately Kanye’s outburst and Kelis’ confession is overshadowing it
Anytime a artist puts real reality together you writers and bloggers dont like it but as long as the artist raps about bs you give it 5 stars……..Classic Album true hip hop at its best!!!!!!!!
This album is just what rap needs. Nas album is breath of fresh air to the Hip Hop community which has been bogged down with mediocrity and oversaturation of rappers who don’t seem to not mind cloning each other and each others Style.
Black Thought, Phonte, J Cole, Czarface Royce Da 59, Evidence, Griselda, Jay Rocky, Styles P and Dr. Octagon have released stellar pure hip-hop projects this year and the game does not need Nas and Blonde hair Kanye to make an album that sounds unfinished incomplete. Boo this man
It’s 2018 and none of those albums are better than this.
It’s not better than life is good but life is good is dope it’s a real good album definitely added songs to my tidal… Who wrote the review? We dont even know what their ear is like they said daytona was better than nasir?????
Daytona is a 9/10 for me, Nasir was 8/10. Opinions, man. Nasir is definitely not a classic even if it’s very good.
I didnt think it was classic myself I just was looking at the review as I already listened and they said it sounded rushed and daytona was better
Not a perfect album or instant classic as some have rushed to call it, but still a good effort.
Why you have to mention that money hungry parasite Kelis accusations at the end? Mind your business and get back to cleaning the HHDX toilets Trent
DX ya’ll on some bullshit. I agree with the 3.8 rating this is not Nas best work but the explanations given here are just borderline childish. If Big Daddy Kane can say Nas is a lyrical genius who is Trent no rhyming as to say different. My list so far then like someone posted is as follows: 1.Illmatic, 2. It was written, 3.Stillmatic, 4.God’s Son, 5.Lost Tapes, 6.Distant Relatives 7. I am, 8. Nastradamas, 9. Streets Disciple 10. Hip hop Is dead, 11. Untitled, 12. Nasir. 13. Life is Good
This review went out the door once Trent showed his TRUE “TROLLING ” colors at the end. You are worst then Victoria Hernandez! This album is a 4 to 4.5 and I hope they do it again.
This album is a sloppy, rushed, in cohesive disappointment. It should be called “Nas Album Not Done”. The hooks are absolutely terrible. The lyrics are hit and miss (spicy rigatoni…go hard! wtf?) and the beats are weak with acception of maybe 2. Lifelong Nas fan here, to me it’s easily his worst album. Even Nastradamus had more bright moments than this. 2/5 and that’s generous. What a mess. “If I could change anything I’d change everything”…. Change that corny hook and re-do this Wack EP.
I swear Trent the author of this review was on some fuck Nas shit, Im team Hov, back in the day. This review is so biast and you should educate yourself and listen to the album three more times
Trent the type of author to say Migos is a better rap group then bone thugs. Trent would argue Bad and boujee is better then 1st of the month and Crossroads even when Migos biggest hit is missing 1 of their 3 artist and feat lil uzi vert LMAO
LOL. This guy from Ohio will never do no such thing.
Why you delete my comment bro?? Truth hurts…you SUPPOSE to be a journalist and you can’t take it i called you out on your conjecture!! Stop stating your opinion as fact that is reckless!!
Everything feat. Dream is one of best tracks this year!
In the words of The Drama King Kay-Slay, “Hip-Hop ain’t dead, some of ya’lls ears is just f**ked up!!” Trent, you the one that gave Lil Xan of all heads a 3.5 on that trash azz album he put out so we already know that you are compromised homie! This is PURE HIP-HOP ladies and gents!! A pure and unadulterated gem put together by one of the top lyricist to ever do it and arguably the best beat maker of our time. If you let this joint fly over your head, it’s your own fault. 5/5 (the REAL classic album from last week….)
Hey Mr. Clark, are you sure you’re not biased and just being a hater?
There’s nothing really for Nas to address in relation to Kelis. She made it clear that had fights. Did she say Nas use to abuse her?
I love Nasir. If have any criticism it would be that it’s too short. I actually enjoy the content thoroughly. Pan-Africanism, the black struggle in America and I enjoy the beats. Soulful and different, so what’s the problem?
Biased/hater towards Nas? C’mon son. I guess all that references about his “immortal mic presence” and said presence being “an instrument in its own right” can be conveniently swept underneath the rug to meet the needs of your crusade. Cool. But as for the Kelis allegations, given the fact that he used that narrative to (effectively) sell his last album makes him liable for a counter-response in this instance. We didn’t take sides on the matter and the conspicuous timing of the abuse revelations isn’t lost on any us over here. A little acknowledgment on the immediate world around him wasn’t too much to ask, however.
So because he used some of his real life in Life Is Good he has to be an open book for the rest of his life? You holding everyone to the same standards?
Nah bro, it’s just music …
Yep, so don’t get butt hurt about other peoples opinions.
why doesnt this site let people create accounts??
anyway dont write reviews anymore, just quit! This review sucked. The album was good, the content was good, Nas had nice beats for once, i can listen to it front to back and back to front so theres nothing to complain about
This was a great take on the album until the ending and that removed all creditability. Did you throw that in there because you wanted NAS to address the allegations that bad that it ruined the album for you? If so that’s petty as fuck and shows a skewed bias in my opinion. The album by no means is perfect but to discredit the album, that could have been recorded before Kelis’ allegations became public knowledge, is pretty low.
Whoever writes these reviews is an obvious biased individual. It is sad that you would bring down such a collab. LOL this was a breath of fresh air when it comes to creativity. You just stuck in the trap zone hiphopdx. This is grown man hiphop. Youngn’s will not like or appreciate this music. Stop writing reviews LOL and get out of your BOX
Your generalizations do not fit. Try again.
Lol what does that even mean. Keep your trolling to yourself. If you don’t like the album that’s you stupid. Nas lyrics is probably too much for you …..it’s ok
Hahaha…Yeah, the lyrics are too much. You’re so smart but you evidently don’t know what ‘generalizations’ mean.
I feel this review was spot on. I think was a dope project though it did feel one of Kanye’s projects versus it being a true Nas album. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed it but I also believe this wasn’t the album Nas had been working on back when he claimed “Nas album done” back in 2016. That could be a good thing but this still felt more like a dope Nas side project like the Damian Marley collab. I’m hoping he still delivers another project before the years end. If he can get the gang together that helped him craft Life Is Good and bring Kanye onboard I think he can produce another classic. Not saying this one will be as time passes but I’ve already kinda moved on from it.
Welll said … I feel you ..
This don’t compare to Distant Relatives… production on that album is light years ahead of Kanye.
NAS IS ONE OF MY TOP 5 RAPPERS, BUT LET’S CALL A SPADE A SPADE. THIS REVIEW IS FAR FROM HATING, AND IS QUITE GENEROUS. THERE IS GREAT MATERIAL ON HERE (COPS, EVERYTHING, ADAM & EVE), BUT THE ALBUM SOUNDS UNFINISHED. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER HOW MUCH NAS WE GET WITHIN THE EP. NAS NEEDED AT LEAST ANOTHER 3 OR 4 JOINTS TO COOK.
**ADDS RATING***
Very generous. I thought it was whack.
Please Die
This album is light years ahead of Jay and Beyonce’s garbage album.
No, no it’s not.
I’m definitely not disagreeing with some of the crtitical points in this review, but you immediately alienated any NaS fan with the “and then theres Nas” comments. Puts you right in the category of hater of the bat. Album is dope, especially LYRICALLY and with regards to subject matter. You dont find that enough today. So Im confused with the criticism of it not sounding like a real project. Do you guys forget when an album had diverse content? What was lacking for me was Kaynes production. Adam & Eve was incredible but the rest is …aite. 4/5
I’m pretty sure those “then there’s nas” comments were praise but that could just be my comprehension skills
Damn…if thats the case then Ive grossly misunderstood. Read it again and see what youre saying. Its a little ambigious though…love the editor to clarify.
This review comes off confused and all over the place. The writer clearly has an issue with stating his opinion as fact! The album is dope simple things is a great song with definite replay value!!
It’s funny how every review of this album sound the same. It is as if only one person who did not like the album did the review and everyone else just stole bullet points from that review to meet their deadline. Listen to the album a few times and make your own opinion. This is reminiscent of early Nas. I was skeptical of how Kanye would work with Nas, but it comes together beautifully, let the music tell it.
Nastradamus, I am, streets disciple, hhid, nasir, untitled (nice message bad beats), the firm, all bad. Snoop Dogg/em bad. There’s is no excuse for it. He’s been getting a pass for too long now.
Nas should have addressed Kelis. He always speaks on personal matters whether it be his relationship with is dad (lost tapes), daughter (life is good), mom (god son), divorce (life is good). Nas avoiding speaking on accusations of abuse and being a absent father is cowardly.
…Soo he fails to mention Kelis as a result the album sucks, hmm, duly noted.
“U break my heart Fredo…”
Nas was my favorite rapper growing up. But I’m not biased. In my opinion bad bars. Worst since nastradamus. Uninspired. Now half of his discography is trash. No excuses.
Illmatic!
The album was fire. Simple things is a good song just seems like the beat doesn’t fit with the rest of the album but none the less a good song
everyone has the right to their own opinion. being a huge nas fan i do find some issues with the album. i feel that all the songs but everything could have been longer and we damn sure didnt need diddy on the fucking album. production was nice but not as good as kanye has been in the past. nas had moments were i felt he was bored on the album. but more then less we got what we wanted. nas came out spitting and was dropping jewels and had me even to the point where i was deciphering lyrics really trying to understand what he was saying. plus on cops shot the kid, kanye gave us a pretty hot verse as well. this could have been a classic nas album if production was a little better, songs were longer and if nas wasnt bored at times. but overall it was solid and has replay value
Respect! This is a good solid review from a fan. We can tell you listened to the album.
shocking
(Reup coz I get deleted). I agree with the 3.8 rating but the reasoning behind it is pure childish, this album was a raw soulful conscious offering that focused more on content, the production was a bit wanting true mostly on White Label. Again If Big Daddy Kane can say Nas is a lyrical genius who is Trent no rhyming ass to say otherwise. Okay here is my ranking as someone else posted 1. Illmatic, 2. It was written, 3. Stillmatic, 4.God’s Son, 5. Lost Tapes , 6. Distant Relatives 7. I am, 8. Nastradamas, 9. Streets Disciple 10. Hip hop Is dead, 11. Untitled, 12. Nasir. 13. Life is Good
1. Illmatic
2. Lost Tapes
3. It Was Written
4. Stillmatic
5. Life is Good
6. Untitled
7. Distant Relatives
8. God’s Son
9. NASIR
10. Hip Hop is Dead
11. Street’s Disciple
12. I am
13. Nastradamus
TO TRENT CLARK!!!!
Why you delete my comment bro?? Truth hurts…you SUPPOSE to be a journalist and you can’t take it i called you out on your conjecture!! Stop stating your opinion as fact that is reckless!!
I really thought having Kanye attached to this would have surely made it trash. I was pleasantly surprised. This bangs.
This album gives me life
Sorry.
This project is fire!! The man, who I could listen to his flow acapella, is in the pocket on these cuts. White Label, Adam & Eve, Bonjour & Cops Shot The Kid all bang out crazy in my opinion. The individual who wrote this review is questionable as a journalist. Nas got a nice album that’s solid.
It’s a decent album. Nothing spectacular or mind blowing. Not the best release of this year. Album felt a little rushed and slapped together.
Classic album! It’s about lyrics and beats, it always has been. Hip Hop is not R&B!
That simple
I never listened to critics and this is no disrespect to HHDX…I don’t even know why we have critics..Critics gave little brother 2nd album 4 1/2 mics …ETC!!!
I already never need to hear it again. There’s so much wrong with this overproduced/underconceptualized money-grab I don’t even know where to begin. This album is the low point of Nas’s career.
In terms of a cohesive album, it’s better than both I am and (especially) Nastradamus, I’d say.
You must be out your rabid ass mind lol
Kill Yourself
Please, stay in your mom’s basement.
What the fuck does over produced mean? Underconceptualized? Bottom line you just can’t relate. The concept is on the cover. This albums is not for people who can’t relate. Also only Nas fans will like this album. Money grab? Nas and Kanye don’t need money..
Please eat a big one
one of the few times i have agreed with a hhdx review..this was a 3.5 at most, and this is from a die hard nas fan from day 1..i found his lyrics lazy and uninspired..not memorable at all..throughout the years people always criticised his beat selection, but never hits lyrical delivery, ever..here the lyrics and fluid delivery/flow that we associate with nas is missing..we all know nas can do much better that this..
So HHDX give The Carters a 5 but this a 3??????? Don’t get me wrong, this album is flawed and for 7 tracks, flaws can’t be afforded. I like some tracks but it could’ve been better. One thing that really threw me off with the track Kanye is featured on, I like Kanye’s music but I felt he had the better verse. By no means am I saying Kanye is a better rapper than Nas which is why I find it odd that Kanye had the better verse. Given this is Nas’s album and he’s the better he should’ve had more presence on his own track
Can’t stop listening to these 7 songs. Not mad at Nas or Ye at all.
Wow, you too. I you people want that Nasty Nas than this slick one. I love the album, I listen to this one almost as God Son, and that one had more flaw tracks than this. I did purchase and listen to Life is Good and though it was good I didn’t play it back to back like this one. I do like to hear the album he did previous to this, though this album is a good appetizer.
I thought Life Is good is one of his best albums. I want to hear that album he recorded to. Hopefully the songs pop up on Lost Tapes 2 if he ever drops it. I think we will hear that album he recorded.
Great Project but We need more objectivity in Hip Hop.
Murs yo you gotta explain the reviews this site has been doing.
This cornball ass review
He already made the grown man album it’s called Life is Good the formula that Jayz copies on 444 these bais ass articles Beyoncé and jay have some kind of pull that garbage ass album
Life is Good was def slept on IMO. Easily in his top 3 albums. Front to back a classic.
22 people gave it a 5/5? So, you think this album couldnt be any better? You think it was perfect? Gtfoh…people are stupid. This EP is buns. None of you that rated it a 5 will even be listening to it by next week.
Yep. They are nothing but trolls!!
Youse a Troll.
Perfection
Obviously, you didn’t see the review for Beyonce and Jay Z new album.
Well, if that garbage fire album with Beyonce and Jay Z is a 5/5 than this is 10/10
I love this album. It’s already gotten so many spins from me. I ain’t looking for another illmatic. Good music is good music and I don’t skip a single track. Genuinely love it. As with most things in life, to each his own, but I really love this thing. Listen to it. Listen.
That’s what it’s about man. Just the music. Not listening to music to critique it or if it’s a classic. I’m like you. I draw my own judgment with music. The album is relevant to what’s going on in our culture. The production is on point and Nas is talking to the culture.
Listening to this 24X7
wow. nas dropped a mediocre album. shouldn’t be surprised, that’cs half of his discography.
Could be worst, he could have your favorite rappers disco.
Eat a dick!
not his best album but its really good
Ah man this is a great album, not sure how people dislike if Nas fans, wish there were at least 10 tracks, to wait this long for a Nas album to get 7 tracks is disappointing, if comes out with another soon that will be great.
I hope there is more coming from Nas. I doubt it takes 6 years to come up with 7 songs.
It took the LOX 13 years to come up with 4 songs (from WATS to Trinity EP) so anything is possible.
Album was solid but this is my least favorite project from Nas. It sounded rushed and unfinished.
100/5 on HHDX new rating scale.
5/5 classic
Classic right here
Warning!! This album is not 4 ur average hip hop fans coz most of d lyrics re just 2 deep?????
i usually dont agree with dx on their ratings cause they give alot of these trash ass ” rappers” to much praise but they are spot on with this one. thee worst nas project to date imo.
For where Nas is in life and in his career, this is the perfect album for him.
5/5
My favorite project so fat this summer
To me, it’s not bad at all….could’ve been better. Felt a bit rushed but still was a solid project because of NAS’ ability to preach.
Good album. should have put atleast 2 verses on track 3 and had a female singing on “Everything” instead of Kanye cuz he was annoying. Matter of fact that record should have been on Kanye’s album. Outside of that pretty solid.
man yall dont know what the hell yall be talking about with these reviews no more. you wouldnt even know it was a rush job if kanye didnt say were doing this in real time. too much dxckriding going on. you dont like kanye so everything he does is not good. all those songs are dope. the whole kanye album is dope. teyanna is dope. pusha is dope. stop hatin and just review the music correctly. this album deserves a 4 and thats it.
Thank you – agreed on all points
Nasir is Nas worst album. This is coming from somebody who was a teenager when BBQ dropped in 91, so I’m not just saying like some new school Rap purist or the casual Rap fan. The Production is awful! It’s sonically overproduced, overlayered, noisy, wack ass drums & poor sample choices. Also, Nas sounds uninspired on this project. Nas is usually Ginsu sharp, but not on here. Nasir is a Certified Weed Plate.
This is Nas’ best album. More emotional. I like how they created a New York late 90s feel. Kanye’s production was at its rawest.
Is he droppin gems? – yes
Lyrical? – clearly
Is it as good as his first 2 albums, stillmatic, life is good? – clearly not
Mumble rap fans hatin? – clearly
Is Nas for everyone’s listening? – No
Do I like this Album? -yes, but have someone else do the everything vocals besides Kanye
P.S. – Nas can’t sound like himself from the Illmatic and It Was Written days. True Nas fans would notice that and would be like “It’s the same shit from 93′ and 96′. We want our money back son.”
Painful listening experience. Adam & Eve is the only song worth hearing twice. Not the first trash either has dropped so w/e
Okay there
Can’t stop listening to this album.
NASIR a lyrical snap shot of BLACK life in 2018; back by subpar instrumentation. NAS should demand and command production excellence that matches the historic brilliance of his thoughts, creativity and lyricism. An artist of his magnitude deserves the fair opportunity to rise above the mediocre standards of today’s rap music. NAS’s music should be able to speak to the struggle without struggling to speak. One of the Greatest (ALI) just lost his title to Leon Spinks. HE’LL BE BACK, THO!!!
This album hot, Nas got multiple songs in rotation
Listened to it once the night it came out. Tried to listen to it again the next day but ended up skimming through it. Just not feeling it like I felt any of his other albums when they dropped,Nastradamus & I am included. Been a Nas fan since ’93. I’ll give it another shot here in a week or two & see if I’m feeling it then,but I wasn’t very impressed with it the first time.
My album of Summer
I’ve been bumping tracks off this album more than any other summer release.
Agree, this album is in the highest of rotation of any th other big summer hip hop release.
So what is this about, just because Nas doesnt address the Kelis accusations on his album its been considered a wayward direction, how on earth would people rate an album based on what they wish to hear? He first address most of his marital issues on his life is Good album……Are the things he is saying not relatable? No one can dictate what a person say on his songs, allow the man to share his brilliant thoughts as well.’ People fear what they dont understand’, and its a fact. Nasir is a Great album…..listen to Everything if that is not inspirational then what is it.
Great album!!!!
This is an incredible album! It deserves a second or 3rd listen to really appreciate it. It grew on me like Life is good. I still play life is good to this day. With both albums, the beats and lyrics are gonna stand the test of time. It’s for a certain age (mature type) definitely not for the youngins. I’m liking 6 of the 7 track, I can’t stand “Simple things”.
We agree 100% on everything you said. Even the liking 6 of 7. I have friends who love “Simple Things” and I just can’t get into it for some reason.
Awe cool man, I guess its just the beat selection for that song. Funny/ironic how he chose the “weakest” on the beat on the album to address what he is criticised the most about. That song is a drag, an absolute torture for my ears however the lyrics are tight.
You know what? I’m actually pleased that the album was only 7 tracks for some reason, It left less room for error and other songs for sounding like “simple things” etc for a rushed album I enjoyed a lot more than those that weren’t.
Excuse my grammar, I forgot to proofread my reply.
Great album
Still listening
Not perfect but probably nas’s best project since it was written
Sick album
I’ve read a few reviews just for fun and I’m convinced that these people who review the album are caught up in the current rap culture of hype beats with subpar verses. This album is fire. I think it’s the best Nas album since possibly Stillmatic.
I actually like this album the more I play it. Which really can’t bee said for alot of albums today.
Don’t agree with this review at all. This album has been my go to this year!
Rappers have god-given talent? How do you know it’s true that rapper’s talent come from an immaterial being?
“There are great rappers who excel with their God-given talent.”
How do you know it’s true that the talent of a rapper is something that is given by an immaterial being? (a god)
I’m listening five songs into the album right now, and so far it seems ok – but weird that it’s only seven tracks.
This album is still going strong.
Solid album
This was my summer album! Reviewer out to lunch on this one.
Bumping this album in my dorm and everybody loves it.
Still bumping this
This was at least a 4/5.