So I’m of the belief that Nas’ Illmatic is the best hip hop album ever. After a plethora of shitty albums after that (Nastrodamus - need I say more?) I actually got excited for Hip-Hop Is Dead. I don’t exactly know why, but I for some reason I felt Nas had finally gotten back to his roots and remembered what he did when he put out Illmatic.
So as I’m listening to the album - I want to think its an amazing album, but I’m just not that impressed. Theres a few good songs but nothing that really stands out. Does anybody else feel the same way or does everybody just have a hard-on for this new record?
[quote]chrismcl wrote:
So I’m of the belief that Nas’ Illmatic is the best hip hop album ever. After a plethora of shitty albums after that (Nastrodamus - need I say more?) I actually got excited for Hip-Hop Is Dead. I don’t exactly know why, but I for some reason I felt Nas had finally gotten back to his roots and remembered what he did when he put out Illmatic.
So as I’m listening to the album - I want to think its an amazing album, but I’m just not that impressed. Theres a few good songs but nothing that really stands out. Does anybody else feel the same way or does everybody just have a hard-on for this new record?[/quote]
I love the record. The song “Hip Hop is dead” is the best on the album. People are going to have their own opinions and that’s fine. I have heard that some are pissed because they believe his stance is against younger artists who seem to rehash overplayed lyrics and topics they rap about.
I personally agree with the message he was trying to get across. If anything, to me he proved that it isn’t dead. If nothing stood out to you, I would really like to know what song on whose album actually has stood out to you recently.
I agree that the title track is the best one, but the rest of the album really did nothing for me and I’ve been through most of the songs atleast 3 times by now.
I’ve only heard a few tracks from the new album, but I like what I’ve heard. Illmatic is easily one of the top five rap/hip hop albums of all-time, and It was written was a really good album also. Dj Jazzy Jeff put out a compilation album a few years back that has the song that’s playing in the background of the intro to Illmatic.
Nas was 16, and he wrecks that whole fuckin’ track [I don’t remember who the artists were.]Get it if you can.
I love the album… You didn’t specifically say this, but from your initial post I took away that you didn’t like any of the albums following Illmatic…
I have to say, the last 4 albums have been very good in my eyes (Stillmatic, The Lost Tapes, God’s Son, Street’s Disciple).
I don’t know if anyone here read the Nas interview in XXL this month but it’s a good one and I highly suggest reading it. He talks a lot about how he’s a hypocrite, etc… Very good stuff.
As far as Hip-Hop Is Dead, I absolutely love it. I could listen to it all day long if I had the time. I agree that the title track is the best track followed by “Let There Be Light.”
I’m not saying nothing stood out to me at all. I’m just saying none of the songs jumped out at me like all 9 tracks on Illmatic did. There are some good tracks: Hip-Hop is Dead, Let There Light, and Can’t Forget About You are probably my 3 favorite from the CD. However, if I were to listen to these songs on repeat, I would get sick of them. Any of the tracks off Illmatic played on repeat would just make me love them more.
I’m not saying Nas sucks - I’m just expressing how I hoped he would be able to get back to the greatness of his first record.
And ProfX, as far as new hip-hop thats really impressed me in recent years. Just thinking off the top of my head - I’d have to say Kanye’s College Dropout (not Late Registration). But like I said thats just off the top of my head and 5 minutes from now I’ll think of something more recent that I really enjoy.
Another album(s) that came out at about the same time that truly impressed me was Outkast - Speakerboxxx/Love Below.
Hip Hop is Dead is a great track. Very rarely has a rock track been properly used in hip hop, straight up. Puffy’s Come With Me was done very well. Love’em or hate’em, it was still hot. As of right now thats all I’ve listened to off of Nas’ album.
[quote]chrismcl wrote:
I’m not saying nothing stood out to me at all. I’m just saying none of the songs jumped out at me like all 9 tracks on Illmatic did. There are some good tracks: Hip-Hop is Dead, Let There Light, and Can’t Forget About You are probably my 3 favorite from the CD. However, if I were to listen to these songs on repeat, I would get sick of them. Any of the tracks off Illmatic played on repeat would just make me love them more.
I’m not saying Nas sucks - I’m just expressing how I hoped he would be able to get back to the greatness of his first record.
And ProfX, as far as new hip-hop thats really impressed me in recent years. Just thinking off the top of my head - I’d have to say Kanye’s College Dropout (not Late Registration). But like I said thats just off the top of my head and 5 minutes from now I’ll think of something more recent that I really enjoy.
Another album(s) that came out at about the same time that truly impressed me was Outkast - Speakerboxxx/Love Below.[/quote]
No argument there. I just give Nas credit for being a very consistent artist who stood out from his very first album. There are very few artists who I make an effort to own every album from and he is one of them. I respect what he was trying to get across and I respect him as a lyricist. From his first album to this one, he has shown that he is smarter than he portrays himself even in his own songs.
[quote]chrismcl wrote:
I’m not saying nothing stood out to me at all. I’m just saying none of the songs jumped out at me like all 9 tracks on Illmatic did. There are some good tracks: Hip-Hop is Dead, Let There Light, and Can’t Forget About You are probably my 3 favorite from the CD. However, if I were to listen to these songs on repeat, I would get sick of them. Any of the tracks off Illmatic played on repeat would just make me love them more.
I’m not saying Nas sucks - I’m just expressing how I hoped he would be able to get back to the greatness of his first record.
And ProfX, as far as new hip-hop thats really impressed me in recent years. Just thinking off the top of my head - I’d have to say Kanye’s College Dropout (not Late Registration). But like I said thats just off the top of my head and 5 minutes from now I’ll think of something more recent that I really enjoy.
Another album(s) that came out at about the same time that truly impressed me was Outkast - Speakerboxxx/Love Below.[/quote]
I cant stand Kanye…Dipset all the way. JR Writer, Hell Rell, Duke Da God, Camron, 40 Cal, Jim Jones.
Just got hold of it and I have to say that I’m disappointed, maybe it’s a grower so I’ll give it a little longer before I completely give up on it. The last Roots album shocked me as they’re my favourite group, hopefully Nas won’t join the list of artists that USED to drop good albums.
I’m not saying that either of these albums are bad but when all you do is make music, average just isn’t good enough.
On a related note what are your opinions on “It was written” most people seem to think it was a poor effort but I disagree? Along with “Illmatic” it’s the only Nas album I can listen to from start to finish without losing interest.