Yeah so I was always on Jigga's side during the beef, but if you're gonna ask me to review the new Nas album I will.
I really tried not to like Nas. You know, loyalty and shit? Alright, so Hov's the more commercial of the two, but he's still ill. That's why seeing Jones's face all over the Hot 97 spots in the New York subway was hard to take - that and the fact that Nas you a REALLY weird looking fucker and they didn't even photoshop you better. I mean, they made Elephant Man look good, and he's a pop-eyed freak.
Funnily enough though, I've been feeling Nas for a minute, without even realising. 'Made You Look' was one of our California road trip jams this summer, as was 'Thief's Theme', the last track on 'Street's Disciple'. He's worked his way into my DJ battles (holla Rickyface) and I've spoofed his rhymes in flows. When 'You Know My Style' from the LP was blowing up Hip Hop Y Mas in September, I was singing along...
'You put it on and on and on and on/everybody talkin' 'bout the new Nas song.' But yeah, I'd still like to think I was loyal. Thing is, Nas is kinda SERIOUS. Very earnest. And that can get on my tits. There's a lot of tracks on this album that go a lot deeper than anything Jigga's ever done, but so what? They ain't gonna cut it as party jams. Well, except the party jams - 'Suicide Bounce' is pretty heavy, though not amazing. It does, interestingly enough, sound a bit like an overproduced grime track, instrumentally, at least. I'd like to see the kids repping over that one on the pirates. 'Virgo' is a good laugh, Luda and Nas over Doug E. Fresh... Nas even sounds like he's having fun for once.
I ain't a hater though. 'Bridging the Gap' is sweet, in both senses. Nice to see daddy and junior kick it, even if daddy only gets to sing about how great Nas is. 'These Are Our Heroes' aka 'Coon Picnic' is a pretty incredible flow and there's some dope old school shit on the first cd...
Oh fuck it look, Nasir, bottom line is, you're ok. You're lucid and intelligent and you talk about poverty, Aids and fucking midgets, all the while keeping it real.
Hov'd still beat you in beauty contest though, rat boy.
Rick Nichols
