Nas - Untitled

[weworemasks]

Nas - Untitled
Record Label: The Jones Experience / Def Jam / Columbia
Release Date: July 11, 2008

Nasir Jones (most commonly referred to as simply Nas) has been a pivotal force in hip-hop, weaving in and out of the spotlight for over a decade now. Since 1994, Nas has made sure to challenge the pressures of conforming to a mainstream sound while maintaining intellectual and thought-provoking rhymes.

Nas has seen nothing but controversy surrounding his racially and politically-charged ninth studio album. At its conception, the album was originally titled to represent a negatively ironic racist slang term, but after much deliberation, Nas would eventually cave and simply leave the name absent when the album’s release began to hang in the balance for high-selling retail outlets such as Wal-Mart. However, Nas released a mixtape with DJ Green Lantern in early June to push his original concept, spitefully titled The N**** Tape.

On Untitled, Nas wastes no time as he begins to flow effortlessly over the hushed piano chords of “Queens Get the Money,” and reasserts himself into hip-hop as he raps, “Hip-hop was aborted / Nas breathes life into the embryo.”

Untitled follows a very loose concept of the awareness of African-Americans, heard in songs like “The Slave and the Master” and “America,” but also tackles many political issues. “Sly Fox” is a lyrical assault on the "visual cancer" tendencies of the Fox News Network. Likewise, “Black President,” a snare-heavy track complete with sample of Tupac Shakur’s “Changes” alludes to the 2008 presidential nominee Barack Obama.

Nas’ strong suit is and always will be his lyrical prowess. The veteran emcee has a way of writing songs that feel completely natural and and possess a certain gracefulness that most emcees could never amount to. Even on “Hero,” the album’s lead single, Nas finds himself rapping over the most radio-friendly beat on the album, but still manages to rise above average mainstream talent.

There are very few roadblocks standing in the way of Untitled from becoming a near-classic album. The awkwardly placed “Testify,” and the forced rhymes of “Breathe,” hinder the album’s power. “Make the World Go Round” is a little atypical of Nas, considering the fact that Chris Brown is the last person you would expect to see participate on a Nas album. However, Brown and West Coast powerhouse The Game collaborate with Nas for one of the strongest songs on the album.

Untitled is not a mainstream-friendly record by any means. Other than “Hero,” there are very few tracks that will see commercial success. However, Nas has always kept a level head, and never seems to make records for a buck. Not to mention, the support of his dedicated fanbase will always allow him to remain relevant. Nas is one of the few remaining emcees in hip-hop with a purpose and as long as he’s creating music, there is very little chance of hip-hop being dead.

social awareness, controversy, hip-hop, Nas' previous work
myspace.com/nas (http://www.myspace.com/nas)

[EchoPark]

Awesome review.

I love this album, been listening to it nearly everyday.

Nas shows Kanye West what real hip hop integrity is.

[WhoSaidThat?]

Just around what I'd give it. Nice one.

[tait]

nice review, really like this album

[Sic Transit Zeb]

Im so over the Black vs The White man bullshit. Come on, not an original concept at all. If anyone actually believes that Blacks are being held down by white people you need to get over your own spite, bias, and racism and educate yourself. I hate having to hear cuz I'm white I have an agenda and I 'owe' African-Americans. Come on now, it's so annoying. if anyone is being held back by the government it's a middle class, white male. We don't have any scholarships, affirmative action-esque, or any advantages. I've grown tired in hearing how being a white male I'm given shit. Fuck that, I earn what I get, i work, I go to school, I try not to break the law in serious ways. give me a fucking break. I heard the same shit from a black girls parents, who I use to date, all the time. Fuck that.

[Sic Transit Zeb]

other than the 'racism' overtones i really like this album and great review too!

[MusicTalks]

Awesome review.

Nas shows Kanye West what real hip hop integrity is.

kanye west is super duper garbage. he is a brilliant producer, lyricist and emcee, but he's such an asshat when it comes to everything else. he's a tantrum inducing baby that feels that somehow people owe him something for living. the shit he pulled at bonnaroo was a disgrace and while there were things that were out of his control that made him look worse, he still did his fair share of finger pointing and name calling. stick to rapping and buying argyle vests. that's what you're good at kanye.

with that said, nas is amazing. probably one of the best emcees ever.

[Sic Transit Zeb]

kanye west is super duper garbage. he is a brilliant producer, lyricist and emcee, but he's such an asshat when it comes to everything else. he's a tantrum inducing baby that feels that somehow people owe him something for living. the shit he pulled at bonnaroo was a disgrace and while there were things that were out of his control that made him look worse, he still did his fair share of finger pointing and name calling. stick to rapping and buying argyle vests. that's what you're good at kanye.

with that said, nas is amazing. probably one of the best emcees ever.

do you buy the music or the person? If you only buy the music, who gives a fuck what Kayne gets pissed over. For a site that is so concerned with 'sell outs' who aren't true to the music, so many people buy music or hate it, because of the people, not the music itself. Soooo retarded.

[weworemasks]

do you buy the music or the person? If you only buy the music, who gives a fuck what Kayne gets pissed over. For a site that is so concerned with 'sell outs' who aren't true to the music, so many people buy music or hate it, because of the people, not the music itself. Soooo retarded.

god damn. this post, along with your moving mountains avatar are two reasons why i love you.

[SmokieB.High]

Im so over the Black vs The White man bullshit. Come on, not an original concept at all. If anyone actually believes that Blacks are being held down by white people you need to get over your own spite, bias, and racism and educate yourself. I hate having to hear cuz I'm white I have an agenda and I 'owe' African-Americans. Come on now, it's so annoying. if anyone is being held back by the government it's a middle class, white male. We don't have any scholarships, affirmative action-esque, or any advantages. I've grown tired in hearing how being a white male I'm given shit. Fuck that, I earn what I get, i work, I go to school, I try not to break the law in serious ways. give me a fucking break. I heard the same shit from a black girls parents, who I use to date, all the time. Fuck that.

Chill

nice review

[Sic Transit Zeb]

god damn. this post, along with your moving mountains avatar are two reasons why i love you.

haha H-Town represent.

[Sic Transit Zeb]

Chill

nice review

yeah totally dude...420!

[xobstacleonex]

Im so over the Black vs The White man bullshit. Come on, not an original concept at all. If anyone actually believes that Blacks are being held down by white people you need to get over your own spite, bias, and racism and educate yourself. I hate having to hear cuz I'm white I have an agenda and I 'owe' African-Americans. Come on now, it's so annoying. if anyone is being held back by the government it's a middle class, white male. We don't have any scholarships, affirmative action-esque, or any advantages. I've grown tired in hearing how being a white male I'm given shit. Fuck that, I earn what I get, i work, I go to school, I try not to break the law in serious ways. give me a fucking break. I heard the same shit from a black girls parents, who I use to date, all the time. Fuck that.

if you think this is what the album is about, you're mistaken.

there's a song with a funeral for the word 'ni****'.
there's a song where he calls everyone a 'ni****'.

i think its quite the opposite of what you're thinking.

this album is easily not nas' best material, but its easily better than 95% of hip hop today.

[Sic Transit Zeb]

if you think this is what the album is about, you're mistaken.

there's a song with a funeral for the word 'ni****'.
there's a song where he calls everyone a 'ni****'.

i think its quite the opposite of what you're thinking.

this album is easily not nas' best material, but its easily better than 95% of hip hop today.

It's not the opposite at all. A lot of the songs are about that. Which I hate. I do like this album.

[liar23]

sweet review

[MusicTalks]

do you buy the music or the person? If you only buy the music, who gives a fuck what Kayne gets pissed over. For a site that is so concerned with 'sell outs' who aren't true to the music, so many people buy music or hate it, because of the people, not the music itself. Soooo retarded.


at some point people will purchase music because of the people who actually sing it. i think people like to listen to music they can identify with. on the same tip, people want to be able to identify with the band/artist(s) who actually sing/write the music they listen to.

[Sic Transit Zeb]

at some point people will purchase music because of the people who actually sing it. i think people like to listen to music they can identify with. on the same tip, people want to be able to identify with the band/artist(s) who actually sing/write the music they listen to.


That's my point really. A lot of users on this site rip people for being 'sell outs'. For selling an image and not the music, or doing it for the money not the music. It's contradictory when those same people buy music for the person and not just for the music itself.

[MusicTalks]

That's my point really. A lot of users on this site rip people for being 'sell outs'. For selling an image and not the music, or doing it for the money not the music. It's contradictory when those same people buy music for the person and not just for the music itself.

i can def agree with that, i just think that being able to enjoy/relate to an artist is part of the reason i love listening to music. ultimately, it's about the music, so as long as people buy it because the music is good, then that's the agenda. there isn't another artist out there that would disuade me from purchasing their music, other than kanye. so i think my example, really, just ends there.

[Sic Transit Zeb]

i can def agree with that, i just think that being able to enjoy/relate to an artist is part of the reason i love listening to music. ultimately, it's about the music, so as long as people buy it because the music is good, then that's the agenda. there isn't another artist out there that would disuade me from purchasing their music, other than kanye. so i think my example, really, just ends there.

why wouldn't you buy something from kanye?

[seraph1214]

Nice review, amazing album. Nas continually makes great albums. The only LP of his that disappointed me was Nastradamus. Definitely the greatest lyricist alive.

[hxchairstylist]

Lovin' this album.

[timothee]

i haven't loved anything from nas since illmatic
i hope this makes that different

[weworemasks]

i haven't loved anything from nas since illmatic
i hope this makes that different

dude i'm sorry. you're 18. you were FOUR years old when illmatic dropped. and you are fucking deaf and dumb if you think he hasn't released anything worthwhile since then. do yourself a favor and pick up it was written, i am, and stillmatic.

[DeanShaker]

this album is really good, Nas is one of the best lyricast in Hip Hip history. Lil wayne aint got nothing on Nas.

[speakhandsforme]

I have to ask: what's the ration between straight, dry gangster-rap and poppy hip-hop on this record?

I've always enjoyed Nas's straight forward rap tracks like NY State of Mind, Memory Lane, What Goes Around, Ether, You're Da Man, One Mic, and Surviving the Times.

But I tend to dislike the poppier, overproduced tracks like "I Can".

So, with that said, is this cd a good investment?

[weworemasks]

I have to ask: what's the ration between straight, dry gangster-rap and poppy hip-hop on this record?

I've always enjoyed Nas's straight forward rap tracks like NY State of Mind, Memory Lane, What Goes Around, Ether, You're Da Man, One Mic, and Surviving the Times.

But I tend to dislike the poppier, overproduced tracks like "I Can".

So, with that said, is this cd a good investment?

hero is the closest thing to "poppy" hip-hop on the album. everything else is pretty straight forward. definitely a good investment.

[speakhandsforme]

I just got the album. I must say I'm a bit disappointed with the sluggish pace.

[GiggsOho]

I just got the album. I must say I'm a bit disappointed with the sluggish pace.

Then take an adderol and sit back and enjoy and quit being so antsy. ;-)

[timothee]

dude i'm sorry. you're 18. you were FOUR years old when illmatic dropped. and you are fucking deaf and dumb if you think he hasn't released anything worthwhile since then. do yourself a favor and pick up it was written, i am, and stillmatic.
and you were 8.
i never said i didn't like anything after illmatic, because i've listened to and enjoyed every album
i said i never loved anything since illmatic, big difference
and you're an asshole

[oh...rly]

Im so over the Black vs The White man bullshit. Come on, not an original concept at all. If anyone actually believes that Blacks are being held down by white people you need to get over your own spite, bias, and racism and educate yourself. I hate having to hear cuz I'm white I have an agenda and I 'owe' African-Americans. Come on now, it's so annoying. if anyone is being held back by the government it's a middle class, white male. We don't have any scholarships, affirmative action-esque, or any advantages. I've grown tired in hearing how being a white male I'm given shit. Fuck that, I earn what I get, i work, I go to school, I try not to break the law in serious ways. give me a fucking break. I heard the same shit from a black girls parents, who I use to date, all the time. Fuck that.

I think he completely acknowledges that black people have to take it upon themselves to try to get out of the stereotype. In N.I.*.*.E.R, the song goes:

"N-I, double G, E-R, we are much more, but still we choose to ignore, the obvious, we are the slave and the master, what you looking for you're the question and the answer"

He's basically saying that unless black people take it upon themselves to change the way they act, then the "stereotype" will always be there.

[WhoSaidThat?]

There's a link for this review on the Wiki profile for the album. Has any USER gotten this before or am I not looking hard enough?

[WhoSaidThat?]

and you were 8.
i never said i didn't like anything after illmatic, because i've listened to and enjoyed every album
i said i never loved anything since illmatic, big difference
and you're an asshole
No he isn't.

[eHaMpToN]

wow nas at rock the bells was unreal

[speakhandsforme]

There's a link for this review on the Wiki profile for the album. Has any USER gotten this before or am I not looking hard enough?
I don't use Wiki, but can't anyone edit pages? If so, I'd imagine the reviewer linked it himself to get his opinion out there.

[WhoSaidThat?]

I don't use Wiki, but can't anyone edit pages? If so, I'd imagine the reviewer linked it himself to get his opinion out there.
Point taken.

[weworemasks]

I don't use Wiki, but can't anyone edit pages? If so, I'd imagine the reviewer linked it himself to get his opinion out there.

hahaha, i don't know how. i'd really like to know who did, though. i know adrian linked my review on the cool kids' wiki page for totally flossed out, though. so maybe he did it! if so, i love that man.

[WhoSaidThat?]

hahaha, i don't know how. i'd really like to know who did, though. i know adrian linked my review on the cool kids' wiki page for totally flossed out, though. so maybe he did it! if so, i love that man.
I'd be honored if I were you.

[weworemasks]

I'd be honored if I were you.

haha being on wiki > seeing the birth of your first born.

[WhoSaidThat?]

haha being on wiki > seeing the birth of your first born.
totally.