The Real K.I.N.G.

Nas
Untitled
Def Jam Recordings/Columbia
4/5

Written By: Samir Siddiqui

‘”The game needs him,
plus the people need someone to believe in,
So in God’s Son we trust, cause they know I’ma give ‘em what they want
They lookin’ for a hero, I guess that makes me a hero”


It may have been the recent onslaught of super-hero movies that inspired the lead-single of Nas’ latest LP, but “Hero” is a good representation of Nas’ current position in hip-hop today. Nas is like a disgruntled super-hero who has been unsettled by recent conditions; disheartened by the state of the game, Nasir Jones incited applause and fury with his 2006 album Hip-Hop Is Dead. But after deciding to name his follow-up after the N-word (a title which was later scratched), Nas left heads wondering whether his provocations were just attempts at garnering attention, rather than sincere, bold statements. Now, with his controversial title removed, Nas presents arguably his boldest album to date with Untitled, an unwavering artistic statement that follows through with its ambitious intentions.

At the heart of Nas’ latest project is the aforementioned “Hero,” and it’s by far his best “pop” achievement to date- surrounded by impressive synths, courtesy of Polow Da Don, Nas weaves in an out of the grand production with rhymes worthy of the song’s title: “Nas’ the only true rebel since the beginning, still in musical prison/ still in jail for the flow, try tellin’ Bob Dylan, Bruce, or Billy Joe they can’t sing what’s in their soul!” On the opposite site of the sonic spectrum, DJ Toomp provides the lush strings-backing for “N.I.*.*.E.R.,” an inspiring track that chronicles the under-appreciation of African-Americans achievements under slave society.

Unlike on Hip-Hop Is Dead, where Nas would drift in and out of relevant subject matter, most of Untitled sees Nas’ lyrics focused and potent. Nas holds nothing back on the wordplay-heavy “Sly Fox,” a seething attack on Fox News, with lines such as, “What’s a fox characteristic? Slick shit, censored, misinformation, pimp the station, over stimulation/ reception, deception, Comcast, digital satan, the fox has a bushy tail, and Bush tells lies and fox trots, so I don’t know what’s real.” Likewise, the closing “Black President” is well-written and engaging, as Nas presents his honest inclination towards accepting Barack Obama’s calls for change and equality.

And although some off-topic, generic verses creep in through the cracks, the high-level of lyrical quality holds up for much of the album, as Nas challenges the practice of the principles that founded “America,” and later, cleverly compares the appeal of “Fried Chicken” to that of a no-good vixen (the horns provided on the latter song is a stroke of production mastery by Mark Ronson). While Untitled is an LP chalk-full of winning moments, the album isn’t void of slip-ups. “Make the World Go Round” is a flat pop tune full of empty synths and out-of-place Chris Brown vocals, and an otherwise solid track, “We’re Not Alone” is needlessly dragged into boredom due to its excess length. The album also could have benefitted from an extra punch in the form of the would be single “Be A Ni**er Too,” among other scratched tracks.

Still, Untitled features an invigorated Nasir Jones, and showcases one of hip-hop’s greatest emcees as still one of the most prolific acts in the game today. Lyrically, Nas challenges himself to be better, taking on serious subject matter and taking the time to tackle it with dense, well thought-out raps that do the music justice. Aided by a production line-up that is highlighted by lesser-known beat-makers such as stic.man of Dead Prez, DJ Green Lantern, and Jay Electronica, Untitled is another great achievement to add to Nas’ already stellar catalogue.


http://realtalkny.rawkus.com/2008/07...-nas-untitled/

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Youri

album was dope

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Myspace.com/persisproductions

Rebel INS {CF}

haha u know Samir Siddiqui is A.T.I off this site right ? it always makes me laugh when people post his reviews as offical reviews

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"Fighting Ignorance every day is gettin weary"
[name pending] --- The Gateway Drug --- Sometime Soon

xxbanksgunitxx

wow idk how this get a 4/5 didn't feel like reading but this album wasn't that good...the only good track i heard on it was Hero....and thats about it....

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"I fear no man if he could breathe he could choke!"

DretoX

^^^ So wait, u dont like the album but only heard hero? dafuck

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bran9413

i got allhiphop's review of the album

Nas-Untitled 9/10


The N****r movement has been a lonely crusade for Nasir Jones. As a younger artist, he was regularly blasted for allegedly selling out his musical integrity. Years later, a mature Nas now sees his attempts to bring relevant social issues to Hip-Hop cynically dismissed as a pseudo gimmick to gain exposure. But after all the comments and discussion, the final word will always be the quality of the music. And with the recently censored album name now christened Untitled (Def Jam), Nas seeks to validate himself after months of intense pressure from fans and media alike.



The album begins with the haunting sparse piano chords of “Queens Get the Money.” The lack of drums makes the track initially sound abrasive; as Nas weaves his rhymes on and off beat. But it is the dissonance of Jay Electronica’s production that accentuates Nas’ lyrics midway. The Queensbridge poet paraphrases elements from Rakim’s classic fourth verse on “My Melody” to take some piercing jabs at former apprentice 50 Cent.



Regular collaborator Salaam Remi delivers a bass heavy, jazz infused rendition of “Can’t Stop Us Now.” The now popular sample has seen recent renditions from MF Doom, Mos Def, and the RZA. However, Remi makes the piece unique by incorporating jazz trumpet chords, the soulful crooning of Eban Thomas of The Stylistics, and the authoritative spoken word of the Last Poets. Nas’ rhymes remain on point as he takes aim at our accepted beliefs on early American patriotism (“Besty Ross sowed the first American flag / Bet she had a n****r with her to help her old ass”).



Recent criticism against Nas’ albums has been his use of somber, demure production, which the Queens MC has made strides in addressing. On the graceful “Breathe,” the melodic rhythms blend effortlessly with his urges for us to “exhale” on the stresses of American life. The celebratory “Make The World Go Round,” by far the most commercial and radio aimed track, works mainly due to the lyrical chemistry between The Game and Nas.



However, the slick production starts to wane thin by the Stargate produced “America.” The continued bombardment of synth originated cadences (especially after the sonorous but enjoyable lead single “Hero”) starts to pull the listener out of the album. Still, Nas’ verses remain potent, especially a standout third verse criticizing the sexism and imperialism of Western society.



The LP gets back on track with the rock-tinged “Sly Fox.” Over PE reminiscent guitar riffs, Nas cleverly assaults the moral authority of Fox News on the basis of their manipulation of news and business dealings with Youtube and Myspace (“Only Fox that I love was the Redd one / Only black man the at Fox love is in jail or a dead one”). With “Testify,” Nas creatively crafts the song in the conversation flow of “Book Of Rhymes,” while questioning whether his fans are ready for social action beyond the music.



First seen on the now classic “I Gave You Power,” Nas’ expertise at personification is once again on display with “Project Roach” and “Fried Chicken.” On the former, the Last Poets appear again to ridicule the NAACP’s “funeral” for the word n****r, while Nas personifies the insect as a metaphor for the derogatory term. With the latter track, Busta Rhymes joins in as both MC’s skewer the stereotype of Black eating habits over Mark Ronson’s southern blues styled production.



The criticism is not just directed outward, as Nas questions his own materialism on the reflective and communal “Y’all My N****s.” He continues that trend on the ethereal, “We’re Not Alone,” where Nas expresses regret at previously glorifying killers like Pappy Mason over figures such as historian Ivan Van Sertima.



On Hip Hop Is Dead, Nas made the mistake of presenting that topic as a loose theme over the album and expecting listeners to pick up subliminal messages. With Untitled, he’s able to not only cohesively explain his stance on the word n****r, but detail its use throughout history on social, political, and judicial levels. And despite the dense subject matter, Nas’ varied lyrical presentations keep the opus from ever becoming preachy or condescending.



Notwithstanding minor missteps in sequencing and production, Untitled has delivered on its potential as a cogent, intellectually honest piece of art. And like its predecessor The N****r Tape, Nasir Jones has crafted not only a career highlight in his catalogue, but the most thought-provoking and challenging mainstream Hip-Hop album in a long time.



http://allhiphop.com/stories/reviews.../20264494.aspx

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Bitches that use 2 diss me they feelin me now sayin i rap the old snoop goin doggystyle-The Game

PhillyOG

thanks homie

jasmine2008

props...these album is tight

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