Observations From Nas' Nasir

I started writing in 2014, 2 whole years after Nas' last studio release. Nas has been one of the artists I've wanted to tackle an album review on for quite some time now, as it's been 6 years since his last full length solo LP, Life Is Good in 2012. 6 long years going Nas-less for hip hop, though what he's been doing in those 6 years is very much left up for debate (unless you saw his Rapture episode on Netflix, dude was buying condos and hosting parties left and right). Fans might've gotten excited when he was featured on DJ Khaled's "Nas Album Done" in 2016, only to be lead on like a fat kid at a Weight Watchers buffet. 6 years in hip hop without an album is quite a feat in today's scene, considering artists are dropping albums monthly and randomly at almost any time, though Nas has never been one to follow the scene of trends. The title of Nas' 11th studio LP is his real name; Nasir. But is it a reflection of himself?  Check out my observations below to find out.


Social Activism That Gets People Talking


Nas has shown his capability and willingness to speak on social issues throughout his career, and Nasir is no different.  On the opening track, "Not For Radio", the explanation is given for the track's title in it's brutal honesty on the state of the world and police killings that have taken place over the last few years. "I think they scared of us, yeah", the hook belts out, but not before Nas drops his signature jewels like a fumbling robber (that's a bar, keeping that one). Diddy also makes a surprising appearance on the introduction of the track, doing as Diddy does best; talking shit before another rapper goes in and backs it up.  The emotional "everything" featuring Kanye West and The-Dream is another candid take on shootings in the U.S. and worldwide; "dark boy don't you cry, there's too much life left in those eyes, don't you let that face go waterfall, don't you learn to love your scars and all, dark boy don't you die, they're just human let them lie, you just know your world and speak your truth, let them come to you for your love and your heart", etc.


Too Short, Not Enough Material/Hardcore Rapping Nas

(*I do not own any of these songs, or the rights to them*)

I know Kanye and everybody was sticking to the general "7 song" theme with these album releases, and it worked well for a generally fun and vibey Kids See Ghosts project, but Nas is much more dense a rapper to only include 7 songs on a project for, especially on his first album in 6 years. Don't get me wrong, I like short albums just as much as the next guy, no filler is a great concept for albums, but as talented and as knowledgeable as Nas is, you expect to hear more stories of the hood while sipping champagne and dining in the finest restaurants... that's just the Nas way now!  Anyways, that hardcore old school emcee spittin' type of Nas that we like to see is pretty hard to come by in the 7 songs provided on Nasir, but if there's any song that he uses for his moment to talk his shit and spit bars over, it's "White Label". Over a crazy brass/deep piano sounding key (not sure what that sound is that's used honestly), Nas again effortlessly and wisely boasts his lyrical muscle over a beat that sounds tailored for him, like a Versace suit at a Hennessey party. "Cops Shot The Kid" is a different take on a party anthem, (as Nas boasts in one of the opening lines, "I don't wanna hurt nobody, we just came here to party"), using it to describe a casual night out minding your own business before police come in to stir the pot. Could this be the way to the people's minds and critical thinking?  Talk about police brutality in a absolute bop that would get nonstop plays?  Nas is thinking next level with this type of strategy.


Though it's a somewhat dense project from a legend with years worth of material both in his head and on wax, it's weird to say that you almost wish for a few fillers?  There aren't many ways you can compare Nasir to Life Is Good, but the latter did appear to have more songs that you could let loose to (or what some would refer to as "filler", though it was far from filler). Nasir is seriously mature, but almost too serious, lacking moments that make you juke and jive in a happy go lucky way, though providing thought provoking tunes on the current state of the U.S. that make you nod your head. The difference is Nas' dedication to staying true to raw honesty in hip hop, and though it's appreciated from the heads (like me), you sometimes wonder what Nasty could do over a Metro Boomin beat (as weird as that just felt to say... there's some truth to it). But as they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it; Nas delivered a solid (but frustratingly short) project that will probably take months to dissect; which is what makes him one of the greatest.            
 

         
       
















            

Rappers Michael Jackson Should Have Collaborated With

This may be a stretch, but to me it seems hip hop has become more soulful in the 2010s. While hip hop has it's flaws, its strengths are shining through stronger than ever because of its artists that refuse to compromise. Because of this, artists are making some of the most next level music of their careers, plus simply rapping over an instrumental doesn't always do the trick anymore; people want to hear melodies, and even some singing. Which is why I dedicated a post to this topic; Michael Jackson was indeed the King of Pop. If there ever was a master entertainer, and someone to have on your song just to say you HAVE THEM ON YOUR SONG, it would have probably been Michael Jackson. I mean, the guy's added soul to pretty much any song he's been a part of. There are only a few rappers who I feel I could honestly say deserve a Michael Jackson feature, so I decided to name a few here, and (tried to) include one of their more soulful jams, so you could try to picture what it'd sound like for these rappers to collaborate with MJ. Here we go!

J. Cole - Note To Self


In terms of soul, Cole showed the most on his latest album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive. On songs like "Intro", "Apparently", and especially the outro "Note To Self", Cole showed not only a decent singing voice, but a soul that would make church goers look like sinners. Cole pours his heart out in some of these songs, and Michael Jackson would only cap off this souled out track with some angelic background vocals, or maybe even a solo (who knows, it's up to you to decide!).

Kendrick Lamar - Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst


It should come as no surprise that Kendrick made this list as a "could have been" Michael Jackson collaborator, his music drips soul and his latest album To Pimp A Butterfly is the greatest example of this statement. Michael could have thrown his two cents in on many Kendrick tracks; imagine him on "These Walls", "Kush & Corinthians" off of Section.80 instead of BJ The Chicago Kid (although BJ is amazing) or even the Good Kid Maad City extra "Now Or Never" featuring Mary J. Blige. But the ever-so-perfect collaboration would have to be Michael on Kendrick's "Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst" because come on; can't you just hear it?

50 Cent - 21 Questions


So this was a tough one, but I had to include 50 Cent simply because of the (little known) fact that Michael Jackson said that he wished to collaborate with 50 Cent before his passing (it's true, look it up). It's really so tough because all of 50's songs are so tough, most include a banging beat with some hard rapping, not something you'd normally hear Michael Jackson on, so 50's classic "21 Questions" seems to be the medium. Could you imagine Michael Jackson on the hook instead of Nate Dogg (R.I.P to the true hook king as well) though?  I guess you'd never know.

Nas - Bye Baby


Nas is practically the perfect rapper for a Michael Jackson collaboration, I mean could you think of anyone more deserving?  Nas is top 5 dead or alive (debatable, although I believe he is) and quite possibly owns the longest reign at the top, with a career spanning over 20 years. Nas has got the sound for MJ too; spanning from songs like "You Wouldn't Understand", "Reach Out", and "Cherry Wine featuring the late and great Amy Winehouse (R.I.P), and those are just on his last album, Life Is Good. Nas is perfect for a Michael Jackson feature not just because he makes soulful, heartfelt jams, but because he spits the truest and most realistic stories in his rhymes; Michael Jackson would cap off the feeling of a perfect collaboration.

The idea of Michael Jackson collaborating with a rapper might sound crazy to some, but it really shouldn't, especially in 2016. The range of collaborations we've seen over the years has really skyrocketed, even if you think about strictly award show/television show performances (Grammy's or talk shows). I mean Eminem collaborated with Elton John for a performance, wouldn't that put to rest any limitations you have on other possible collaborators?  Mixing genres is a beautiful thing not just because of the great music that can come out of it, but because it shows that different kinds of people can accept each other, no matter what their tastes may be. The power of music is infinite.     



       





                     
 




         

Is there a NEW Nas Album on the way?

Nowadays (at least for rappers' sake) rappers are very, VERY quiet up until they feel the need to make the news for something. That news could be for a guest verse, a highly anticipated remix, an upcoming tour, a new perfume (hopefully not for this guys case, but do you Nicki Minaj). Or the news could be leading up to something even bigger than all of those:  a new album. And Nas felt the need to break the news to us in a new sweet remix of Schoolboy Q's popular banger "Studio". Check it out below.

                                        (*I do not own this video, song, or the rights to them*)

Now not only can I say that this song is sweet because of that crazy beat that bumps on any speaker system, I can also say (Schoolboy can too, it is his song) that a legend was in a good enough mood to bless this beat as well!  Boy, it's crazy how far skill can go matched with a little bit of luck isn't it?  (For Schoolboy's sake, not Nas.) I mean as successful a run as Schoolboy has had so far with Oxymoron and the even better success that his single "Studio" has seen (multiple rappers freestyling over it, including multiple remixes), he's probably feeling pretty good right about now going into working on his next album (Schoolboy is hoping for a 2015 release, but he says things can change).

But our focus right now is on this supposed Nas album!  In this remix Nas states that the album is already done and the single is very close to dropping (are you excited yet?), but he also states some other rather odd news that is probably safe to say nobody was expecting. The line "last album on Def Jam and I got so many options" sticks out to even the most novice Nas fan. So what does this mean?  Does Nasty Nas go to another label to release (possible) future albums or does he stay independent?  With the success rappers see staying independent today, this theory isn't too far fetched.  Although it is Nas, I mean come on, its practically his choice if he wants a new label. At this stage in his career it's hard to tell (it "ain't" really, for him) what he wants to do, although the passion in his last Life Is Good album shows that he still has a lot of stories to tell us. Stay posted for further details, more to come as this story develops!