One undeniable fact in the hip-hop industry: Everyone loves the bootleggers. Who doesn't get hyped about copping a full-length album a month before it comes out? Heads everywhere eat up bootlegs like Big Macs, especially when they're from someone hot like Nasir Jones, otherwise known as Nas.
The streets got the early version of "I Am," which included songs like "Blaze a 50" and "Drunk by Myself" -- songs that were taken off the retail version to die a slow and painful death on city streets for five bucks each. There were also some joints that Nas just decided not to include on "Stillmatic." That is, until he released "The Lost Tapes," a 12-track collection of joints that didn't make the cut for albums, as well as other unreleased songs he put on mix tapes for DJs like Kayslay and Clue.
"Stillmatic," Nas' last full-length album, shook out all the haters that claimed Nasty Nas had fallen off since the average album "Nastradamus" failed to shake the streets in '99. With instant classics like "One Mic" and "What Goes Around," along with his knockout of Jay-Z on the ultimate dis-track "Ether," a new heavyweight champion had made a name for himself in NYC.
Many were asking how the God's Son would come on stronger after "Stillmatic," an album skillfully crafted in high-voltage lyricism that brought back memories of the all-time classic debut album "Illmatic." This summer, Nas dropped a remix EP, following the popular trend of making a quick buck by taking classic songs and changing it up. But what his people needed was an album with new classics, and thus "The Lost Tapes" was born.
Hardcore heads have already heard many of these songs on the popular "Death of Escobar" boots, but now they're finally available for everyone else in a high-quality, remastered format.
By far the hottest cuts are "Doo Rags," "Black Zombies" and "Purple." On "Doo Rags," Nas wonders if he's here for "the cause or because," while he calls out Sean Combs on "Purple," saying "I don't like the way P. Diddy did Shyne with different lawyers." "Black Zombies" is about awareness and taking control of your life, complete with the hot hook, "walking, talking dead, though we think we're living / we just copycats following the system."
The classic Nas flow can be found on "Blaze a 50," where he talks about meeting a girl having troubles with her man. The storytelling ability of Nas is rivaled by few in the game right now. "U Gotta Love It," like many songs on this album, will make you push the repeat button. The beat is hot, the lyrics are there and the flow is crazy. You gotta love this.
Nas is best when he's by himself. On "My Way," he talks about how he has risen up through the rap game by relying on himself while giving love to the deceased Ill Will. "Fetus," a bonus track, highlights Nas' creativity as he skillfully crafts his way as a fetus in his mother's womb, looking out through his "belly-button window."
There are no guest appearances on the album, which is an incredible plus. Nas' clique, "The Bravehearts," have the uncanny ability to ruin nice beats, and thankfully they are entirely absent from this LP. Thankfully, there are no Jay-Z dis-tracks either. Less is more here, and "Ether" already took care of business.
Some bad news concerning Nastradamus -- he recently signed a deal with Murder, Inc., the same clique that represents Ja Rule and Ashanti. He'll be releasing a new album called "God's Son," scheduled for release on the same day as Ja Rule's new LP. Let's just hope this signing doesn't take the focus off Nas' lyrics and on being a "thug" while singing alongside Ashanti.
Putting out older tracks will hopefully become a trend. Death Row did this with 2Pac's "The Rose that Grew from Concrete," which was a huge success. There are so many artists out there with unused masters. Fans would be dying for them if only they'd get put out there. Every artist could do this, which is not to say that everyone should, but maybe more will now follow the trend (of course this excludes "Lil' Bow Wow -- The Early Years").
Nas has earned the right to be called a lyricist, a title many rappers can never hold due to lack of skill and original content. As the God's Son has risen up, many haters have tried to tear him down, like Memphis Bleek, Nature and Cam'ron. Jay-Z is the only one able to trade lyrics with Nasty. "The Lost Tapes" is an album that can and should have its own place on the shelf. The songs, while older, are timeless ballads that give us a small glimpse into the complex mind of the God's Son.
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