Customer Reviews

Nas - Video Anthology, Vol. 1

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This DVD is one of the better Video Anthologies I've seen. Most music video DVD limits the artist's videos in order to justify another collection. Ironically enough, even though this DVD is Vol. I, they really didn't leave anything off (even the bad videos).

The videos from Illmatic are great. "It Ain't Hard to Tell", "One Love", "Halftime", "The World Is Yours" dominate the DVD from the start (and rightfully so). Very rarely do you get to see these kinds of videos any more, and it's refreshing to see the gritty & grimy-ness match that of the album.

"If I Ruled The World" & "Street Dreams" are from It Is Written. Both videos have some pretty nice concepts and are well shot.

The controversial "Hate Me Now" & "Nas Is Like" come from I Am... While "Nas Is Like" is an incredible song and video, "Hate Me Now" starts to show the demise of Nas as he rolls into his career slump.

Both "You Owe Me" & "Nastradamus" (from the same album title) are horrible songs and videos. Although I'm glad they included them as a painful reminder of how lazy Nas got. It's really interesting to see these.

Stillmatic marks a triumphant return for Nas's career and video quality with the original "Got UR Self" & inspired "One Mic". Nas does not just return to what works, but pushes boundaries and embrases new concepts here.

Finally "Made You Look" returns Nas to his Illmatic days, while "I Can" is even better as a video than a song.

It's nice they included all these videos, instead of just giving us the "best of". People are going to enjoy different videos in different ways. It's even nice to hear on the commentary that Nas believes "Nastradamus" was a huge failure. Speaking of the commentary is pretty good. It lasts for a minuet or so into each song, and is often pretty insightful. Besides that there are really no other special features. It would be nice to have something else, but i bought this for the videos, so I'm more than satisfied.

My only real complaint is that seeing as this is an "Anthology" there's no reason why the first half of the videos are out of order. How hard is it? So it's kind of annoying, but overall does take away from the overall quality. It also would have been nice to have some of his guest spots on video, especially his earlier works.

Bottom line: This is a Nas video DVD with every video released from his albums. You get exactly what you pay for in that and they don't cut any corners. While they could have (and almost always) done more... this is an excellent DVD.

Nas is definetly one of the most important hip hop artist of this era. With the addition of his video anthology, he proves his value to the hip hop world. The difference between Nas and other artist of his stature is that Nas is imbedded in the same streets in which hip hop has risen from. It is expressed in his music and it's very apparent in his videos. Nas is so street, when he tries to crossover, it usually doesn't work. His most sucessful attempt was "You Owe Me" featuring Ginuwine. Which is included here. The "Hate Me Now" video is especially interesting with the release of the Passion of Christ. Some say it's blasphemy? I guess they didn't read the caption in the begining. Or is it because they have a problem with seeing Jesus being portrayed accurately as a Black Man. Anyway, just about every video includes some sort of social commentary expressed visually. Definetly watch and enjoy the videos, but go back and listen to Nas's commentary on each one. The Anthology is a reminder of what hip hop was...and could be. A balanced art with both party music and raw street news. This is a Gem!
The Videos:
1. It Ain't Hard to Tell
2. One Love
3. Halftime
4. Nas Is Like
5. The World Is Yours
6. If I Ruled The World
7. Hate Me Now
8. Street Dreams
9. Nastradamas
10. You Owe Me
11. Got Ur Self A Gun
12. One Mic
13. Made You Look
14. I Can

I tried really hard not to say anything...but that guy SKI...he is the one that is soooo ignorant. To give this one star based on one video which he misinterpetated because he didn't read the prelude or listen to Nas's commentary...that's a shame. Peace and Wisdom people.

It took me a minute folks, but I have it! Without stepping into a store to see it for myself...this DVD compilation is worth it's weight in gold! Practically every video in Nas' catalog is featured here. If you're like me then you have probably seen all of his videos. But some of his underground stuff squeaks by. I think the "One Love" remix directed by my man Brian "Black" Luvar is missing here. But to have the music videos for "If I Ruled The World", "One Love","Halftime", and "Nas Is Like" all in the same package is righteous- a collector's dream. Nas is Hip-Hop..."Made You Look" is classic material. Nas has been able to get the best of the best to direct most of his videos (Nas is pretty loyal to them). Benny Boom, Nick Quested, and Hype Williams serve up incredible visuals that compliment and stretch the overwise average stage presence/dramatics of Nas.
Hey if you're lucky you'll catch your's truly featured in the "Street Dreams" video. I played the 'James Woods'character opposite Kenya Moore as Sharon Stone! Also around the same time we were in Las Vegas, Tupac was murdered after the Tyson fight! Crazy huh? Surreal but true.
Nevertheless BUY THIS! BANANAS!!

This is a great collection of videos. None of the same bore you see on TV all the time. Some people say he's too street. Then they say he's too commercial. He's really versatile and creative especially when you look at his videos and compare it to most artists today with the same soft-porn crap. Good commentary on the videos too!

Nas, for many years now, has proclaimed himself as the "King of New York", and he is. This DVD release doesn't do him justice. Before we jump the gun here, the DVD is not terrible by any means, it just simply could have been better. Something along the lines of Killah Priest's "A Day in the Life" (also available here at Amazon.com), would have made the purchase more worthwhile.

If you enjoy Nas' rap videos, and that's about it, this would be an excellent addition to your hip-hop collection. If you're looking for something a little more, or if you look at yourself as a more hardcore Nas fan, don't expect this to be the best thing since sliced bread.

Nas is always good this has all the videos.huge Nas fan keep on going Nas you rule this rap game

This was a good DVD but i think there should have been an autobiography of Nas. I did enjoy the videos though. I think the only video that's not on here is Street Dreams remix w/ R. Kelly. There's also an option to listen to Nas tell the concept of each video. It's worth buying.

I'm a hardcore Nas fan and really appreciate having all of his best videos in one place. However, my biggest disappointment (which I was aware of before purchasing this DVD) is that his three Street's Disciple CD videos from 2004-05 weren't included.

They were among his all-time best ever and should be added at some point!!!

If you're a Nas fan, you'll appreciate this collection. BUT, even if you aren't I'd strongly recommend this DVD b/c for the most part music lovers will gain an appreciation for real hip hop and a time when videos were more creative, conceptual and three-dimensional instead of your cliched, booty-shakers (which have their place -- I'm not hatin', but we need more balance like all facets of life).

"It Ain't Hard to Tell," "One Love", "Halftime" and "The World Is Yours" are all videos made off of Nas' 1994 debut album "Illmatic."

Everyone knows that was Nas' best LP and an album widely regarded as a hip hop masterpiece if not the greatest hip hop album in history.

What makes these videos outstanding is that like the tracks, they reflect a rough but not hard, grimy but not violent and introspective yet relatable look at life in New York City in the 1990s.

These videos show real buildings and neighborhoods. The people wear regular black and white NY colors and are not flashy and shiny-suited up like a Puff Daddy video. They reflect the NYC as experienced by the common man that doesn't live on Park Avenue earning $150,000 a year.

Those "Illmatic" videos give way to the "It Was Written (1996) LP" collection which represented Nas kind of selling out enough to go commercial and get crossover success.

"If I Ruled the World" with Lauryn Hill and the "Casino (1995)" movie-themed video "Street Dreams" are videos where Nas is hittin' us all Puffy Daddy-ed out with champagne celebrations, bright lights, Mafioso overtones and colorful, larger than life gangsta styles.

These videos are entertaining but were a disappointing departure from Nas' beloved "Illmatic" days.

The third and fourth installment of Nas videos were pulled from his two 1999 albums "I Am" and "Nastradamus" (released in the spring and fall, respectively). All I can say about these videos are that they're diverse yet very inconsistent and uneven.

You get "Nas Is Like" which is a return to Nas' grimyness of five years earlier where he's shot (video) in Queensbridge projects, walking the streets in skull caps, jeans and tims ... a return to the realness.

The second offering from "I Am" was the controversial "Hate Me Now" video where Nas walks the streets like Jesus Christ, reinacting Christ being crucified ... very edgy, daring stuff!!! I understand he was trying to draw a comparison for warring Nas fan camps that either loved his real, grimy side and hated the commercial side or vice versa.

It's an artistic concept, so overall I approved of this video.

I like his attempt at individuality and creativity of "Hate Me Now" that much more when you consider he released the lame, status quo videos "Nastradamus" and "You Owe Me" with Destiny's Child and Ginuwine in Fall 1999.

These two videos are easily the worst of the DVD b/c they reflect Nas' lack of creativity here.

Off the chart-topping, critically acclaimed 2001 LP "Stillmatic," we get the "Got Urself ..." video where Nas reinacts the slayings of TuPac and Biggie -- a return to his affinity for pushing the envelope with controversial yet creative conceptual videos.

The second installment from "Stillmatic" was "One Mic" perhaps one of Nas' best ever: a video depicting rebellion of all forms against injustice and all the ties that bind human beings and the message that one mic, one voice, one leader can make a change.

Classic, classic stuff.

Finally, off the "Stillmatic" followup "God's Son" (2002) you get Nas videos that remain more inspirational, creative and less status quo.

"Made You Look" with its guerrilla style shots of various parts of the New York burroughs and a more real, less thugged out Nas is another favorite with its mix of color and black & white shots and the infamous pulsating bass line.

Finally, "I Can" was Nas circa-2003 offering the anti-50 Cent message to the youth that you can and should aspire to greatness -- you can be more than rappers, strippers, dancers and entertainers.

This video with its elementary school appeal really would border on corner for 99 percent of rappers, but because Nas did it, it comes off as heartfelt, sincere and inspiring.

Again, I can't imagine a rapper with a better video anthology this side of Public Enemy, Run DMC and maybe -- maybe -- TuPac.

I just wish "Thief's Theme" with its clever depiction of different kinds of thieves and hustlers walking the streets, "Bridging the Gap" with its artsy visual comparison of hip hop with the blues and jazz music, fashion and dances and the awe-inspiring life tribute video "Just A Moment" with Quan were on this DVD.

Those were three of his best ever and would've made this DVD a complete must have!

i HAD HIGHER EXPECTATIONS, SOM WHAT IM A LIL DISAPPOINTED BUT I DONT HOLD NO VEIN FEELINGS, IT'S A COOL DVD. ON THE REAL I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT I HAVE SUMTHN AUTHENTIC U KNOW WHAT I MEAN, ALSO I ACKNOWLEDGE THE MAN AS A RAPPER. i RECOMMEND YA'ALL NAS TRUE FANS OUT THR TO GO GET THE DVD.

Got this as a stocking stuffer for myself this Christmas... Played it out over the holiday weekend and can't get enough... Disk includes video's never released... A def must have for hip hop lovers...