In this new age of hip hop, one of the biggest complaints made by fans, as well as people against the genre, is that rappers dont say anything. Their lyrics are pointless and because of that, the artform has turned into a 9-5. Instead of making revolutionary songs like "Fight the power" or attacking the issue of teenage pregnancy with songs like "Brenda's got a baby", artist are telling fans to walk it out, and boasting about how hot they are. But then something happened. Through the depths of the recording studio, and the politics of record execs, Nas decided that he would not only step out of the simplistic category that hip hop has been placed in, he would dive out and leave a bomb of controversy that would have a lasting effect on everyone within reason. He decided to name his next album "Nigger". After much public criticism from neo conservatives and civil rights activist alike, the rapper decided to change the name of the album to "untitled", but although the titled changed the message has stayed the same.
Lyrics 9.5- This is a line that honestly really shouldn't even apply for Nas anymore. He has been consistently one of the best technical rappers for a long time. The lyrical quality rarely changes if ever. He's long ago mastered his flow and delivery on rhymes, despite being out for so many years he still manages to bring a different feel to every track, so as the listener you will never feel like your listening to the same song over and over again. Wordplay and metaphors are present, but it will take more than a modest ear to catch the best lines on this album, so for those who like clever lines and creative concepts be ready because this album is one big conceptual metaphorical art piece. Expansive vocabulary is something that Nas uses in this album as well, but it is not overbearing nor is it bragadocious, as he uses words that are out of normal conversational procedures, but does not batter the brain or cause you to skim through your dictionary for a clearer description.
Production 7 - Nas has never had what one would call the most creative beat selections for his albums. For the casual listeners his music can get to be a little tedious as his beats tend to realm on the low temp, and mellow sphere. But the production on here isnt horrible. If you really listen to every song, the mood and the production go together very well. Songs like "Black President" and "Hero" offer an up-tempo change of pace for what ends up being a pretty mellow introspective production offering from this album. Songs like "You Cant Stop Us Now" cast a jazzy and soulful spell that will bring you back to New Orleans when Jazz and the Blues were the only art forms that mattered. While "Fried Chicken" will hypnotize you into the lyrics that Nas and Busta have spewed over the tracks. The production selection for this album was not made for head nodding, so dont expect to hear a "Project Roach" at the club.
Songs/Content 9.5- Everyone knew what the original name of this album was supposed to be, and despite all of the criticism, name changes, mixtapes, and comments, Nas really did put out an album that can be looked at as very above average, informative, and yet still in a sense disappointing. To rate this album, one, who was listening for the purpose in which Nas made the album for, can come out very satisfied. Its not a gimmick. He stays on topic way more so than he did on Hip Hop Is Dead and despite some of his latest comments, he stays relevant and intelligent on every track. Songs like "Fried Chicken", use metaphors, creative lyrics and emotion to speak about three of the black man's biggest weaknesses. Fried Chicken, Pork, and Women. He then takes a stand against media calling out what many have called for years one of the biggest liars in media, "Fox News" with his song "Sly Fox". He takes chances on this album, and he isn't afraid to call people out, or say what needs to be said. He does have a couple of slip ups though, for one, most of the songs are no longer than two verses. "Make the world go round" featuring Game and Chris brown comes off as annoying and seems more like a failed excuse for a single and "Project Roach" will have listeners begging for more as it is only about a minute and a half long. So instead of over stuffing us with the music he seems to pull back some.
Conclusion 9- For all that he went through to get this album out, Nas should be very proud with what he will give the listeners when this officially releases on the 15th. "Untitled" will offer what not many mainstream albums have offered, it will bring forth knowledge and tackle issues that are still prevalent but swept under the rug. It tackles current issues such as the wrong doings of "Fox News", the possibility of having the next President of the United States be black, and even has a song dedicated to Louis Farrakhan. He comes full circle with this album and real fans of hip hop should definitely appreciate it as it is more than just ryder music or something you can rock out to in the clubs. For everything that this album offers, there is so much more that Nas could have brought up in this conversation, and for whatever reason he did not. A couple of the songs could or should have been longer but they were not. But at the end of the day, he really has brought back the art in art form when it comes to hip hop. This was not an album, it was more so a plain canvas that Nas turned into a depiction of his feelings and the mood of what he thought his people felt, through his music. The "Ni****" or "untitled" album is a great album that any listener can get something from, but as the beat fades out and the lyrics are long gone, you cant help but feel like there should have been so much more said. Maybe what this album is saying is that, we are the ones that have to push the limits.
COMMENTS
Nice brief overview of the Album, i'll be out there Thursday to get this, and thanks for mentioning the latest comment incident which in whatever ways you look at it contradicts his work and it was offensive!
good stuff!
Nas a legend. hes saving hip hop from this Crank Dat Batman and Pro Nails bullshit.
Prop if you believe in REAL HIP HOP, not this SNAP SHIT.
I heard the whole album back to back (just for measures) and it is a Classic folks. Nas just added another gem to his catalog.
PS: Def Sounds got to be the stingiest reviewers out there. Yall just can't put a 10 after an album can you? Don't be like The Source mag and come back 10 years later and make a mag about the mistakes yall made like not making Reasonable Doubt and Me Against the World classics the first time, then coming back and saying they were.
theres not many albums in existence that deserve a 10. period. Good job Show.
EASILY, one of the greatest albums, period, I've ever heard in my life. That's all I'm saying; don't feel like talkin y'all to death about this.
GO COP IT.
NAS UNTITLED ALBUM “WIZVIEW”
Disclaimer: Written BEFORE reading DefSounds’ official review… to keep my thoughts and or opinion unbiased or influenced!
Ok… let me admit that before I heard the album and snatched it up… I figured it just be something over-hyped do to what I first believed to be a publicity stunt by NAS to generate interest in his album.
I figured there would be maybe 4 or 5 decent tracks and the rest “fillers”… like most artists do now a days.
BOY WAS I FUCKIN’ WRONG!
In fact the only time I’ve ever been more wrong than I was in PRE-judging this cd was the time when I got this girl pregnant, and assumed she’d want to be a decent mother and not money hungry… but that’s another fuckin’ story!!!!
Every fuckin’ song on this cd had a purpose…a point…a message…something he wanted to get across or off of his chest. And he did it. I felt what he was saying.
I normally go into full detail, track by track…. But this time I really don’t have to…
Nas has made it extremely easy with this one…extremely.
So I’ll do it the DefSounds way:
PRODUCTION/BEATZ: For the most part…Mature…Jazzy…Hov-ish with the “band” sound. LOVIN’ IT!
FLOW/SONG CONTENT: 95% of the lyrics are DEEP and will easily go over the average RADIO LOVER’S head…easily! I LOVE EM!
HOOKS: Simple for the most part but that’s not a bad thing here. They matched perfectly with the tracks. He smashed all of his verses…so he didn’t need any over-done hooks.
This is definitely NOT a cd made for the radio! This shit was made for lyric lovers, and fans of content!
My only problem (yes I have a fuckin’ problem…what’s new bitches? Lol) is:
The tracks weren’t long enough! I WANTED MORE!
Overall… 9/10 !!!!
~Be Eazy!
Now after reading the DefSounds' review...
I must say:
Lyrical Thought:
Great Fuckin' Review!
You said everything I felt, but didn't feel like saying!
Good shit!
~Be Eazy!
Lyrical Thought,
I must COMMEND you on this review. And, as big a Nas fan as I am, I HAVE to agree with you about production. Whether or not I think the # should be higher is irrelevant, the point is, you hit the nail on the head when you said, "Nas has never had what one would call the most creative beat selections for his albums."
And that's when THE beef, of which I choose not to mention - we'll just refer to it as THE beef, was on, people were saying the other cat was hotter, simply because his BEATS were better and his albums were a little more... ummm, we'll say "exciting". Then came Stillmatic, lol!!!
Anyhow, Lyrical Thought, good review! It was well thought out and written.
Da God,
Ironically, I actually HAVE THAT SOURCE ISSUE RIGHT HERE @ MY LAP.. I SHOULD TAKE A PIC AND POST IT, LOL...
You CAN'T knock The Source for making that retraction issue... Some albums become "great" over time.. like artists; their paintings appreciate in value after they die, i.e. Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Picasso, Da Vinci, etc.
If you recall, NOBODY was feeling Vol. I when it dropped... REAL TALK. Illmatic got 5 mics, but was overlooked by the masses. Even, Lil' Kim's 2005, The Naked Truth, which got 5 mics, but no real mainstream prestige (probably cause she got locked up), but to this day, I STILL tell everyone, that album IS FIRE.
BUT I CONCUR, UNTITLED IS CLASSIC! I COPPED TWO COPIES! (I copped 4 of HHID but it only went gold and that pissed me off.)
ONE MORE THING: I'm WAITING for someone to log on and say, "I copped Untitled, and it was STRAIGHT AYASSSSSS.... Nas is wack and irrelevant." I'm waiting for that... I will continue monitoring the site, repeatedly, because IF I see that, I think I will think about:
JUMPING OFF A ROOF.
Matic, The Source 150th issue right? lol. I got that some where back in my place too. And I agree some albums do become recognized classics as time goes by that's why the Source messed up many, many times.
Matter fact I don't even think they gave Ready To Die a 5 mic classic the first time. I think it was a 4 or 4 1/2. I don't know fam, going back and fixing your shit makes you lose your credibly a little bit to me. Know what I mean?
Yea I Feel U On The Couple Songs That Shoulda Been Longer...I Was Hopin "Breathe" And "Project Roach" Was About 2 Hours Longer Lol But Its Cool. The Album The Truth
Da God,
Well, The Source is obsolete now, lol, so what does that tell us!!?
QUESTION FOR ANYONE:
Is it true that ITunes purchases don't count towards SoundScan??
Question #2, whom else but Nas could do a track about a project roach!??
Anyone else notice the production change on the "N.I.G.G.E.R" compared to the one on the The Nigger Mixtape. This album is the shit, and "Breathe" is my favorite joint. I feel that the reason some tracks were short were because it would just be filler.
who the fuck is WIZ and why are we so blessed with his dumbass "wizview" (which is just him re-typing everything that we just read above..)
Yea basically, the album is very nice and i havent heard a full album from Nas that I liked as much as this one since Stillmatic
Nice review
sthamogul...
It's funny u say that because I swear I just said the same thing to Matic!
See how NAS brings us all together!?! Lol
~Be Eazy!
what about his boring flow and lack of rythym
man i bought this on lunch at work.....man this classic... i kno that gets tossed around alot but this album is so strong.
some hiphop is stil alive........finding forever,graduation, american gangster, the cool, now Nigger
Classic
whole review in one word right there man^
co-sign.
nice review, every fucking word, ive pre-ordered the album but havent got it yet,
BUT CANT WAIT TO GET IT AFTER SEEING THIS REVIEW!
this album gon be straight fire. everybody should buy this shit, period.
dis was a great album perod....if yu dont got dis shit get up get out and go cop....great review also
nice review, this shit is a classic!!!
10 nigga
This is a great review. I would give the album a 9 also. Definately a classic IMO.
Nas came thru on this one...controversial, poetic, and has a message (unlike lot of shit out there today)...My only gripe is that i wish he had mayb like two more solid headbangers on the cd
there is no limit to the gods son's mind power and creativity. He will rule hip-hop with his lyrics for many years to come. His beats arent as strong as his other areas, but i believe a song is about its content in lyrics and meaning. However who dosent love a fly beat? haha
Mr. Jones you've done it again!
...and no one is surprized!
Great review, I tend to agree. My favorite cut off the album would have to be "Sly Fox." The songs content is amazing.
This album is straight fire, the review was pretty fair too. He gotta connect with Wale and remix The Kramer
As soon as i woke up tuesday i went str8 2 fye 2 cop dis album dis beats tha carter 3 t.o.s. david baNNERs album & plies album dis album is krazy from song #1 all da way 2 song #15 next album im waitin 4 is my nigga Stack Bundles album R.I.P. QUEENS IN THA BUILDIN!
NICE Album NAS HAS
Props on the review lyricalthought, i thought it was on point.
I gotta say even though i loved HHID (most people didn't) id say this is the best shit Nas has dropped since the lost tapes, maybe even Gods Son.
Alot of y'all are throwing around the label 'classic' for this album like it means nothing, but for an album to be 'classic' it has to be timeless, shit that you can listen to 10-15 years from now and enjoy as much as you did the day it came out, like Illmatic, Reasonable Doubt, Me Against the World etc. I love Untitled/Nigger, but i think its wayyyy too early to be calling it a classic, shit niggas on here were calling it classic even before it dropped/leaked.
Damn...After listening to this album a few more times id say it might even be better than gods son and lost tapes, AND I FUCKING LOVE GODS SON & THE LOST TAPES, this shit might be up there with stillmatic and it was written
Great Review. I think this gonna be a classic 2 me.
I probably rank my 3rd or 4th favorite album of Nas
classic artist droppin classic hits. gotta hear it
i got da album! super classic. this ain't even an issue 2 y i believe nas is da g.o.a.t. this is neck & neck wit illmatic. yea i said it. best song is breathe, money goes round, hero, america, & n.i.g.g.e.r. but den again i like every damn song on dere. best album by far for 2008. this kills c3 7 it's a no contest 2 t.o.s. hip hop is back & nas is king. 1000000000000000000000000 out of 10! crazy as fuck am i jus like this album!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I respect this review, its def a 9. It the lyrics and everything and better than hiphop is dead to me. The only thing wrong was the beats, but thats what Nas tried to make us do, listen to what he's actually saying over the beats. I won't call it a classic yet though, but hopefully throughout time this will be praise as one of his classics.
Great review and go cop the album today, its worth the money.
its def not a 9 its like a 8
i BOUGHT this album day it came out. review is right on point. this album aint neck and neck wit illmatic it aint even been out a week it cant be called no classic yet. illmatic wasnt considered classic til late 90s it came out 94. also wit all the controversy over the album name does anyone remember what he was originally gonna call it wen he first sed hes doin another album, The Eulogy, he shouldve kept that and never sed nuttin bout namin it NIGGER.
this album is fire tho nas got good message and best of all he bringin hip hop out the grave after he sed its dead. LAX and dre and eminems new album(if they drop it) bringin it back.
people need to BUY this album with MONEY and get off limewire support real hip hop download soulja n wayne
This album is the definition of hip hop, it has a point behind every word and preaches important things to the people..Also Nas is one of the few MC's left that actually has themes behind albums and their titles (even though its called untitled people know what its called) nice review, nice album, Props to NaS!
co-sign^....its hard to explain but nas just gets it..he gets humanity like no other rapper...absolute classic there should be no question in anyones mind...it reminded me why ive loved hip hop so much for so long. It also made me believe that a nas album ten years from now will still be an exceptional peice of art...cool review id give it 10's across the board though, i was suprised to see the production get rated so low..unquestionably one of the best soundscapes nas has ever had a chance to bless.
best hip hop album since the year 2000?
nope, hip hop hasnt been slacking that hard man
fan or not, you gotta respect what Nas is doin.
Just another classic.
keep it real.
love this album. Welcome back REAL hip hop!
fuck yeah book of rhymes^^..and nice review thought
nas drops knowledge and elevates the games..fuck rappers not saying anything at all..because nas says everything..he could take on the bullshit snap movement all by himself..and fuckin win
classic album. and by classic i mean up there with Illmatic and Reasonable Doubt.
Way above Carter III
Nas won.
naw...this aighnt a classic album...but its good...really good...but not wat i expected fom the o.g nas...i expected more...dont get me rong doe it has a meanig but i still like tha carter III more....
oh ya...nigga gotta get hotter beats...get some just blaze...or swizz beatz they would give him crazy beats....
i love beats 2 but nas album is way betta den c3. nas beats r hot but his lyrics and message is wut wins over lil wayne. n once again im from da south so im not hatin on lil wayne but nas is da greatest rapper alive aka eva in my opition. dat won't change espcally after this album. lil wayne is holding now da south doe
I thought this was a classic somewhat, but I felt the mood was kinda mellow and the content was too deep. But the album is crazy...classic work. Learn it.
ReDef.
Nas' content has ALWAYS BEEN "TOO DEEP" playboy! That's why he's the greatest of all time.
In fact, Nas said, on the intro, "I'm over they heads like a bolemic on a seesaw!"
thats a cute pose charismatic...you trying to impress all the dudes on this site playboy?
the only songs that really stood out to me on this album are breathe, make the world go round, fried chicken, and sly fox, wouldnt consider it a 9 in my opinion
Getta life you like jig rap period just admit it
Getta life you like jig rap period just admit it
I bought the album the day it came out. That shit was incrredible. every track was great. it was one of his best and probly yhe best this year untill king mathers comes out. everyone should get it. if u think its wack or anything but great, ur probly a plies fan or something stupid like that.lol
this album is a classic, 9 at the worst. i copped the first day and im so impressed by all of it and the concept as a whole. every track brings rawness and realness. nas def. came through on this one providing yet another classic to his arsenal. in no way am i dissappointed by this album.
go cop. when the year is over, it will be up in the top 2 or 3 of 08
my nigga nas!
"They say we N-I-GG-ER
We are, much more, still we choose to ignore
the obvious, man this history dont acknowledge us
we were scholars long before colleges
we are the slave and the master
who you lookin for? you the question & the answer!"
Who rhymes like that BUT Nas? This brother is DEEP...
he studies his lessons no doubt! Here are a couple of JEWELS from the track 'Slave & The Master'....
"Anytime we mention our condition, history, or existance
they callin it reverse racism"
"On the road to riches and diamond rings
in the land of the blind the man with one eye is the King"
Nasty Nas IS the Illest.
I think this is probably one of the first reviews where there hasnt been any bad talk whatsoever about the album, or being let down or blah blah blah!
Damn....how often does that happen???
~Be Eazy!
Nas has finally established himself as the G.O.A.T. considerin his consistency & to remain relevant n this current state of HipHop,since he entered the Game an underground dude made Mainstream,always stayed n his own lane, that same vein that Rakim created b4 he vacated the game! Im proud of him 4 what he did wit this album & accomplished ova the years!Rite now its Lyrical Exercise! Verbal Assaination!!! Nas is back attackin the mic, flow is relentless, got the young boys out here showin major respect... "TRUE LIFE/ONE LOVE" U GOTTA LOVE IT!!!!!! www.truelife492.com myspace.com/truelife492
"Hip Hop Is Dead" was a typical rap album (the way it was set up). It didn't flow, and every song had a different theme. "Untitled" was a lyrical movie.... it flowed so nice... this album is perfect for 2008. "Testify" is an amazing song.
NO doubht the album is a classic my only beaf is that some tracks could of been longer "tesify" Is my favorite track and I feel like he shoulda went more on it but album is a ten. I cant call it an album its more like an awareness book Nas is the truth.
What Bothers me about a lot of albums that come out today is that they really dont have a flow to it, the songs have no connection and no meaning and it takes away from the album as an art form, im not saying every album should be conceptual or even introspective, but if your album is named "Growth Of A Legend" For examples sake, I should have an Idea of why you named the album that titled by the time I have finished listening to it. These day's almost everything sounds like a Mixtape, and thats what I think separates "Untitled" From a lot of the other albums out right now.
i'd give the album a 6.5 outta 10. its a classic tho.
6.5/10 isnt a classic, secondly considering your avatar says Vote McCain i can tell why you gave it a 6.5 you probably didn't understand the message, the same way you probably gave 5-7 to hhd last year.
and the cali soulja dude, if you want to listen to beats go to a club or listen to techno, this is hip hop.
That album was pretty solid I thought. And as far as production goes, Nas proved that he doesn't need these big name producers to make good music. He took not very well known producers like stic man and Jay Electronica and made great music. Top 3 rapper category of all time
half of yall haven't heard it..yall knew what yall was gonna say about it a month ago
Great album...damn shame it will go over majority of the youth and adults heads. Most people that talk to me about it say they like the songs but once you start talking to them about songs you realize they have no idea what the message is behind them.
being from north philly the murder capitol right now i truely belive that this is a classic ablum on what nas is talking about alot of my friends feel he be flip floping they like the old nas or they got two be in the mood 2 listen saying because sometime he come hard and next he talking someother shit but thats what makes him better than everybody he can spit about any topic jay-z can't beans can't ti cant lupe can't kanye cant just 2 name a few. thats how lifes is sometime i feel this way sometimes i feel this way this ablum is being compare 2 other classic for the verses and meaning behide it look who is leader rap sales right now lil wanye lol please he had 2 ghost write gilly and the bul currensy on cater 1 and cater 2 now he sound a fuck mess getting kill on his own tracks by busta jay fab julez hip-hop needs this
Damn. The review said EVERYTHING I was thinking. Nothing more I can say.
Peace!
Classic album. I bought it 1st day.
NaS always been one of my favorites emcees. Truth is...most brothas and sistas don't check for his music enough or put it in the context that it needs to be placed in. The "Nigger" LP is classic, but most of his albums are, lets face it...he reads studies the art and excels. I think these cats Those Chosen are poised to make a mark like NaS because you can tell that they actually care about making solid hip-hop music! Peep'em out!