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Name: Nas
Album: "Stillmatic"
Released: December 18th, 2001
Category: East Coast, Raw
Rating: 5/5
Reviewed By: Hellrazor on 2/11/02
In hip hop, maintaining
a solid career seems to be a difficult thing. Many rappers
don't last too long, either cuz the times change and
they fall out of style, or because they make lackluster
efforts after their first album or two. Though artists
are entitled to one bad album, doing so in hip hop could
cost you greatly, especially if you are considered at
large to be one of the best MC's ever. Though
it is possible to comeback, doing so isn't so easy.
This was exactly the scenario that Nasir Jones, the
great NY street poet, was facing. His debut album "Illmatic"
dropped in 94' and was hailed
as an instant classic, as it brought forth a new found
profoundness in lyricism and story-telling, laced over
some of the best beats hip hop has seen. The album was
so good, in fact, it became a burden on him, and all
his albums afterward, never lived up to the originality
and greatness that "Illmatic" had [even though though
they all outsold it] in the eyes of many hip hoppers
world-wide. "It Was Written" is considered to be a nice
follow-up album, but still nowhere near the classic
"Illmatic." When Nas released "I Am" two years after
"It Was Written," critics began to wonder.......the
album was very controversial, most people either really
liked it or hated it, but most agreed his first two
albums were better. When his last album, "Nastradamus"
came out, many felt that Nas was finished for good.
Between that time and now, he has had many guest appearances,
some good, some not so good. Two years after his "Nastradamus"
disaster, Nas is back again with "Stillmatic." Would
the young East coast MC [whom many labeled as the next
Rakim] be able to comeback? The pressure he faced in
making this album was probably indescribable. If he
didn't come through this time around, it would be over
for him. Well, Nas IS back! Not only did he stand
up to the pressure and silence the critics with this
album, but he HUMBLED THEM by dropping what is probably
the best hip hop album of the new millennium so far.
"Stillmatic" sounds NOTHING like "Illmatic," but as
Nas said on the intro, he only goes forward not backward.
The album has strong commercial appeal, but the beats
aren't cheesy and simple like on most commercial albums.
They are well produced and have several different sounds
to them. Lyrically, the album is PURE heat. Nas has
never really had a problem lyrically, and this album
is a testament to that. "Stillmatic" is his "redemption
album," as he addresses many issues; from the highly
publicized beef with Jay Z, his critics, problems in
the world TODAY, the streets, and people as a whole.
I think this album is near perfect, as it has all the
elements a classic rap album should have: sharp story
telling lyrics with a concept laced over some hot production,
as well as a balance between mainstream and underground
levels. I think, in time, it will be one of the most
memorable albums to drop in the 21st century, just like
"Illmatic" was in the 20th century. It should set an
example and influence other artists in hip hop to bring
back the rawness to hip hop instead of compromising
talent for money in this commercial industry. Nas truly
has gone from a hip hop "elite" to a hip hop "prophet"
with "Stillmatic."
1. Stillmatic - A hot
intro. The beat is just wicked, and its Nas just telling
us he is back and has NOT fallen off in a story telling
verse reminiscent of "Illmatic." This sets the tone
for the rest of the album......5/5.
2. Ether - His infamous
diss to Jay Z, and it STILL hasn't got old. The beat
is beautifully orchestrated, and Ron Browz drops a nice,
smooth keyboard type drum loop with a dark flute-like
instrument in the background. Lyrically, the song is
even better. "Eminem murdered you on your own shit;
How much of Biggie's lines is gonna come out your fat
lips? In 88' you was gettin chased through your
own building, callin my crib even though I never gave
you my number. Rockafella died of aids that was the
end of his chapter and that's who you named your record
label after?!" All of these lines, among others,
are just ILL. Nas RIPPED Jay on this track. One of the
best diss songs in a long time.........5/5.
3. Got Ya Self A Gun
- A heavy synthesizer beat accompanies a nice piano
loop. This is the first single, and though its radio
friendly, it has raw lyrics too. Basically a song taking
it back to the streets, classic Nas right here.............4.5/5.
4. Smokin - This is a
somewhat laid back joint, with a hypnotic feel to it.
The bass is MAAAAAD heavy, a nice song to bump in your
ride, laid back and smoke a blunt to. "Zoom from out
of space he comes/blunt in his mouth/with his hand on
his gun/bitches flappin their gums/do he be clappin
and shootin guys/afterall a movie star, rapper, revolutionary/what
is race, nation, or creed/is he Arabic, Black, Latin,
or Asian/magazines say I walked on water, talked to
the heavens" is the first line to start his first verse,
and it pretty much sums up what the song is about. Just
a song about how people perceive him, and how being
famous can be a burden. This is a dope song, slow but
heavy, with a nice rhythm to it. 4/5
5. You're Da Man - Just
a song about everything he has been through, thick and
thin, from "Illmatic" to now. Large Professor drops
a classic beat here. "45 at my waist starrin at my reflection
in the mirror/sittin' still in the chair like my conception/when
everything around me got cloudy/the chair became a kings
throne/my destiny found it was clear why the struggle
was so painful/this is what I metamorphisized to/God
I'm so thankful," is one of the many beautiful lines
in this song..........Classic song. 5/5
6. Rewind - This is an
ILL concept song, and perhaps his best one since "I
Gave You Power" Its a storytelling track told
backwards! Just listen to the lyrics. Amazing. This
is an instant classic, as most rappers havent thought
of something this original in a long time. The production
is nice too, another Large Pro banger. The song is kinda
short and left me wanting more, but its such an ill
song I HAVE to give it a perfect rating...the originality
on this song is rediculous...5/5.
7. One Mic - Oh my God,
this track is incredible. The beat is slow during the
beginning of each verse, but is speeded up as the verse
progresses! Nas's flow gets more emotional and quick
as the song speeds up. Then it slows down during the
chorus. Its a heavy bassline, with a flute in the background
and a nice piano loop. Nas shows 2Pac-like emotion in
this song. Basically, its just him about him wanting
to rap and be a better person. The chorus goes "All
I need is one mic." Nas drops three meaningful verses
with his amazing storytelling skills and street reality
knowledge. One of my fav songs on
the album. 5/5
8. 2nd Childhood - Primo
laced this track, and Nas ALWAYZ works beautifully over
a Primo beat. The song samples Peabo Brysons "Born To
Love" and uses a voice sample from his own song "Nas
Is Like" Primo's beat is deep and bassy, a typical
piano/scratching type beat. This sounds like an "Illmatic"
type song, just a story-telling classic street song
with a anyalsis of urban despair..........5/5!
9. Destroy and Rebuild
- This is a diss song to Prodigy, Cormega, and Nature.
Nas feels they have misrepped QB, and tells them he
still has love for them but they need to set their shit
straight. He is particulary harsh on Cormega [listen
to the song and see what I mean]. The song is sampled
from the BDP classic "The Bridge is Over". The beat
is good, nothing great, but Nas is on point lyrically....4.5/5
10. The Flyest - This
is definatly a radio-friendly, and even borderline commercial
song, but its still pretty dope. Basically its a "Life's
A Bitch" part II, but not quite as good. AZ is featured
on the song, as in "Lifes A Bitch." The beat is pretty
nice, with some nice strings/chords to accompy the light
piano and heavy bass. The chorus is very catchy but
kinda gets annoying after awhile. The lyrics are on
point, for the most part, but there are a couple mis-stepes.
4/5
11. Braveheart Party
- Ok, this is the first [and only] skipper on the album.
This song is just HORRIBLE! Why did he put this on the
album. This song is BEYOND commercial, and the produciton
by Swizz Beats doesnt help any. I suspect Columbia
wanted this song on the album to garner some attention
from the "Nastradamus" fans, lol. The only song I skip
on the album. Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame. 1/5
12. Rule - This is tight!
It samples "Everybody Wants to Rule The World" from
Tears For Fears. The song has a mainstream [almost commercial]
feel to it, but Nas drops some great lyrics like: "Lost
lives in the Towers and the Pentagon/why must we go
on/we must stop the killin." This song reminds
me of 2Pac's "Changes." Very radio friendly, but
still a great song nontheless...........5/5.
13. My Country--This
song has sparked some controversy as of late, cuz of
what the US is going through right now. This is a song
describing all the problems of the USA, and Nas DOES
diss the country for its flaws. This didnt go over too
well with some of the hip hop fans who heard the album
before, cuz our country is at war right now. But alot
of the shit he says in here is true, unfortuantly.
The beat has an acoustic guitar with a sharp bassline,
pretty nice. "My Country shitted on me/she wants to
get rid of me/cuz of things I've seen." The song
features one of the Braveheart members [dont know which
one]. The lyrics are somewhat controversial, but
REAL.....4.5/5.
14. What Goes Around
- This song is also called "Poison". This is an incredible
track. The production is bangin, and Nas packs all type
of knowledge in here, from warnings to girls who have
abortions, to medical experimentations, to AIDS, to
kids shooting up schools, to women getting lyphosuction,
and more. Just a song about ALL the wrong-doing in the
world. Just listen. Classic, nuff said..........5/5.
15. Every Ghetto - Another
street conscience song with a description of life in
the projects so real, you practically transported to
the scene and can wipe the blood with your shirt tail.........This
is like a "NY State Of Mind" pt. 3. The production
is nice too, but it doesnt say who produced. It sounds
like a Havoc beat, though I doubt it was him. Great
song to finnish a great album.......5/5.
Nas MORE than delivered on this album. This is an album
that will quiet the critics, no doubt. It just goes
to show that he didnt need to make an album like "Illmatic"
to show he is one of the best. All he needed to do was
lay down some great, meaninful story-telling tunes laced
over some hot beats, and he would be fine. Perfect balance
between commerical and underground. This is, quite honestly,
the best hip hop album I've heard in awhile........undisputed
classic, nuff said....... 5/5. - Hellrazor
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