Stillmatic - Nas

****************************************************** THE QUEENSBRIDGE ALBUMS (Columbia Records): STILLMATIC The Nas Album Collection - Part I Author: Blackman_Isaac Published by Blackman_Isaac for DIJEH inc. / Works of Art ****************************************************** (Note: I originally posted this review on www.ciao.co.uk in my ID name - DJ_primo ©) INTRODUCTION Back in 1994, amidst the foul neighbourhoods of Queensbridge in New York, a 'young prince' named Nas (real name: Nasir Jones) emerged before thousands of rap listeners. As the great Nasty Nas, he ...  Read the complete review

Nas is possibly the most introspective and poetically orientated rapper on the hip-hop scene at the moment. His credentials as a poet and emcee spoke for themselves on the Illmatic LP, but ever since it's release in 1994, his proceeding albums received heavy criticism and he was viewed as a commercial rapper who had lost all his street poetry by hip hop heads all around the world. That was until today, with the release of Stillmatic, Nas has returned to his poetic, justified raw roots, relating back to the harsh weathered streets of Queensbridge, New York. The beat science on the album is absolutely exceptional. There are so many different moods from coming ...  Read the complete review

Following a great under-performance in "Nastradamus", Nas returned to his debut, "Illmatic", for inspiration in his 2001 album. The Queensbridge lyricist returns after a drop in the quality of the records which came in between this and his big break, which is regarded by many to be amongst the top albums in this genre, and in msuic as a whole. 1. "Stillmatic" (Intro) 2. "Ether" Expressed by many to be the greatest diss tracks of all-time (around the same league "Hit 'Em Up", "New York, New York" and "Dre Day", this one has Nas go all-out on the Jigga Man, Jay-Z with an ...  Read the complete review

Nas is one of those rappers who makes it ok for intelligent people to like rap music. Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of hip-hop, but some of it is undeniably stupid and kinda makes it embarrassing to listen to. Try justifying "Soulja Boy" to a crowd of non-believers, pointing out its themes and imagery and how its metaphors conjure up a vivid and poetic image of casual promiscuity. They would probably punch you in the gob. New York's legendary rap star Nasir "Nas" Jones is a craftsman of the spoken word, and although his past has had some questionable moments of musical quality, his work is generally of a high enough standard to demand ...  Read the complete review

If we're honest, expectations for Nas'fifth solo LP, are only high because of his fued with Jay-Z. On 'The Blueprint' track 'Takeover', Jay-Z makes the fair point that Nas has made only one good album in 10 years, labels him a 'fake', 'garbage', 'lame' and only falls just short of yanking on his tie, calling his mum fat and demanding his lunch money. It is true that since 1991's seminal 'Illmatic' LP, Nas has failed to match its lofty heights. Subsequent albums 'It was Written', 'I Am...The Autobiography', and 'Nastradamus' saw Queensbridge's finest move away from insightful street ...  Read the complete review