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36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"No matter what the CD called, I'm unbeatable y'all", July 15, 2008
Legendary Queensbridge rapper Nas created a sizable buzz for his ninth studio album by planning a provocative title, finally deciding to leave the project untitled mere weeks before its release. However, the agenda and content remained, and the LP is equally ambitious even without the epithet. The record focuses on blackness in America.
Nas' winding career has taken him from a humble street observer to Puffy-era hustler to apocalyptic philosopher to ghetto savior to persecuted representative (and probably a few stops in between) since his 1994 debut Illmatic, frequently regarded as hip hop's greatest album. In recent years, his detractors have pointed to an oversized ego, overambitious concepts, and corniness as flaws to his music. Yet with each passing album, Nas continues to provide exactly what made him my favorite rapper before I had even hit puberty: mind-numbingly complex rhyme schemes, ingenious references and allusions that are probably lost on all but his most attentive listeners, beautifully poetic artistry, vivid imagery, impeccable delivery and style, and the inexplicably uplifting, inspirational quality he brings to any track. His latest effort is no exception.
Nas' buddy AZ is praised for the way he has updated his successful formula throughout his career on each album since his classic debut Doe or Die. Nas albums have no formula, and no two are conceptually similar. Of his discography, "Untitled" most resembles his two most recent efforts Street's Disciple and Hip Hop Is Dead structurally. Unlike its predecessors, it remains focused and true to the concept throughout the tracklist. In a decade where terrorism has snatched America's collective attention after the race-fueled 1990s, Nas finds his subject matter timely as the country's first black president has become a real possibility. He explores the nation's perceptions of the African-American existence and how they have changed over time, dating back to slavery, and looks forward. The most effective tracks use rich metaphor and allusion as well as musical elements giving nods to the blaxploitation era to create an effect that, at its best, really sounds like the musical embodiment of blackness.
"Untitled" does not have any anthems or instant jaw-droppers as his past efforts have, but these are not without tradeoffs (this is Nas after all). Overall the album is a cohesive and effective effort. Production is tastefully polished with a mature, cutting-edge, and even majestic sound and guests are impressive. "Breathe" is a refreshing track anchored by soulful horns and punctuated by Nas' enthusiastic performance. "Make the World Go Round" with the Game and Chris Brown and "America" feel a bit too familiar, but the rich Polow da Don-produced single "Hero" and rock-tinged "Sly Fox" are strong, the latter dripping with angry paranoia and lyrical gems. Nas and Busta Rhymes rip the clever "Fried Chicken," and "We're Not Alone" is excellent, an eerily prophetic profile with smooth soul from guest singer Mykel. I like the production on "Y'all My Ns," and the closer "Black President" is a well-constructed ode to Barack Obama.
"Untitled" is not perfect, and undoubtedly his critics will fault it as they have every album since his debut because it is not Illmatic. But as Nas does not strive to recreate that album, he continues his constant creative progression with an interesting conceptual effort that sounds great. Whether or not one sympathizes or agrees with his sentiments, listening to Nas argue his plight is always a joy. As with all of his albums, I know I will continue to discover and appreciate new complexities of the piece with each listen. Nas again proves that he is among the most gifted artists in hip hop and a master of his genre.
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14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nas is Hip Hop's Hero!!!!, July 15, 2008
Aside from Nas being my favorite rapper, I can honestly say that this album is a milestone for Hip-Hop and for Nas is general. Like Public Enemy and Dead Prez (among other countless groups) Nas shows us why Hip-Hop is still the black or underground CNN, where important issues can be brought up and discussed diligently. Nas artistically rhymes about the minorities especially African Americans plight and ultimate survival in a biased and sometimes over oppressing America. Nas truly shines on this album and proves that he is the closest thing that we have for a mainstream artist that has an underground message and a civil rights consciousness. Seriously what rapper do you know can call an album N***** and intelligently explain it? These rappers play it safe and talk about stuff the average person does not live, rappers are telling us about glamor that we help provide, and we suck it up each time. Nas does not, the hours he spent reading at the library paid off, becuase he has the history and personal reflection to prove it. He literally is the Malcolm X of hip hop. Tracks like, You cant stop us now, Fried Chicken, Y'all My N*****, Project Roach, all of them are good, cop this album if not for hip hop, or the revolution, for yourself. Listen up Nas is teaching!!!!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Sickness of Hip Hop Has Finally Brought Nasty Nas Back, September 16, 2008
On his last album "Hip Hop Is Dead" Nasty Nas was challenged by other rappers on his statement. Only problem with that was he was being challenged by rappers and not true MC's like himself. This is the thing, Nas has never let fans down lyrically. He always delievers because he has something to say. When he made illmatic he had nothing but hunger, most MC's die after that cause they get paid and loose it. Nas will always have a hunger even if it isn't the same hunger he had on that classic album. For this he will always be one of the best if not the best.
The new album from Nas is major and also showed that he is starting to learn his lesson with his music. On every album except his first two, he has songs where he forgets that he is making music and not just a rap song. He utilizes every inch of the musical art in this album and makes great hip hop music. I take a half of a star because 2 or 3 tracks were not that good, like breathe, could just be me but I didn't like it that much. He also finally went out and got good, solid, and super star producers that tailor made beats that fit Nas's style perfectly. I was surprised to see the he didn't just do this on one track but had good production on almost every track.
You have no idea how surprised I was when I saw that Pollow da don actually did a track for him. Pollow put down a beat for one of the sickest nas singles in his career. The single was just perfect all around and it grabs attention. Fried Chicken is probably the illest song lyrically on this album. He does this all the time with songs like, "I gave you power", the track "Rewind" in reverse ON Stillmatic, and even this one again with "Project Roach".
This album is by far one of the best he has had in a few years. It is better than Hip Hop Is Dead so we know that Nas is progressing and not taking steps backward. My true rating is about 4 1/2 stars. There is no doubt that if you're reading this review and thinking about buying this, you need to get it, listen to it, and don't stop listening until you truly understand it all. Hip Hop Will never be dead as long as Nasty Nas is still alive.
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