Customer Reviews

Stillmatic

5 star:		(325)
4 star:		(71)
3 star:		(24)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Why compare "Stillmatic" to "Illmatic"? They're different albums from different years, and each deserves to be experienced on its own terms. I listened to "Still" before I bought "Ill", so I was able to enjoy it fully without having to compare it to its illustrious predecessor. And I loved it...

Nas is an amazingly talented rapper. His lyrics are the meat and his beats are the bones of his music. It's fun (and pretty rare) to listen to a catchy rap that actually says something besides merely celebrating ho's, dope, and guns. Blazing tracks like "One Mic", "My Country", and "What Goes Around" testify to that. "Rewind" is one of the most cleverly structured raps I've ever heard (a musical "Memento"?), and Nas slings some dirt on Jay-Z, Prodigy, and others on "Ether" and "Destroy and Rebuild", which would be a tiring conceit if it didn't sound so damn good.

Get this album. Nas has made some missteps ("Nastradamus" anyone?), but he's stepped back on his throne with this one.

After a disappointing album loaded with watered down commercialized tracks, Nas has set out to prove he still has what it takes to be crowned the King of New York. And with Stillmatic, he proves it beyond a shadow of a doubt.
The album kicks off with a hot intro, laced with a nice beat and solid flow. From there, we find ourselves listening to Nas verbally tear apart Jay-Z on the viscious "Ether," which features enough hot punches to make Ali cringe.
The album's first single, "Got Ur Self A...." is another banger that you cant help but nod your head to. Far from "Nastradamus," the title track and lead single off his last album, "Got Ur Self A..." maintains a feel that's radio-friendly yet still raw.
The hits never let up after that: bangers like "You're Da Man," the ridiculously original "Rewind," and "Destroy & Rebuild," (which throws lyrical darts at Prodigy, Cormega, and Nature), never lose an ounce of replay value.
"Rule" is reminiscent of "If I Ruled The World," another very nice track. And dont think for a second that Nas has sacrificed any street credibility on this album. Vivid tracks like "2nd Childhood," "My Country," and "Every Ghetto" among others will no doubt resurrect memories of the street poet we grew to love in 1994.
But the albums highlight is the beautifully-constructed "One Mic," which showcases a Nas we havent heard before. On each verse, he flawlessly flows gradually from a silky smooth tempo to a fierce, emotionally charged lyrical onslaught. An incredible track.
The album's only slight slip-up comes on the lackluster "Braveheart Party," which features a less than enthusiastic appearance by Mary J. Blige as well as a typical beat made for the clubs and watered-down lyrics. But this is literally the only mishap on the album, so it can be easily overlooked.
Overall, Stillmatic is the hands down Hip-Hop album of the year. Great production and masterful lyrics make this an album that not only reaffirms Nas's spot among hip-hop's elite, but also brings a breath of fresh air from some of the garbage thats been released in the genre lately. Every true HIP-HOP fan should own this album.

Sorry, folks. But whoever compares ANY rap CD to Illmatic would be in for some major disappointment. I'm tired of hearing people say, "He'll never be as good as he was on Illmatic." Newsflash, people. Illmatic is a classic. Nas is no longer hungry. But he's one of the few remaining rappers who can still deliver quality albums (at least when he deems it necessary. Nastradamus was garbage).

I'm suprised at rap purists who don't like this CD. Aren't you all tired of hearing the same bling-bling crap over and over again? Are you aware of how rare it is for a mainstream rapper to try somthing experimental? Take one listen to "Rewind" or "One Mic" and tell me that Nas still doesn't have what it takes to be remembered as one of the best. Whoever doesn't think this is at the very least a DECENT album fall into one of the three following groups -

1. People who don't like rap
2. TRL lovers who think Ja Rule is the epitome of good hip-hop
3. Morons

So with all the praise I've given this album so far, why didn't I give it a five star rating? Two words: Braveheart Party. This is such a terrible song and it ruins the flow of the album as a whole. Of course, for all you TRL worshippers out there, this may strike you as the best song on the album.

Every other song is extremely listenable. Aside from "One Mic" and "Rewind," I'd recommend paying close attention to the lyrics in "Rule." This is a very positive song with a controversial topic and a great beat. Another good one is "Ether," which I'm sure you've heard before. I just love dis tracks. They're a lot of fun to listen to and I think Nas destroys Jay-Z on this one. But have no fear, people. ...It's all about who's the better emcee. Nas wins.

I've heard rumors that Nas plans to retire from the rap game after about three more albums. If he stays focused and keeps up with what he did on "Stillmatic," rap lovers will be BEGGING him to come back. Who knows? He may even out-do himself on his next effort. And if his future CD's become red hot sellers, maybe other so-called rappers will finally get the clue and realize that hip-hop isn't all about cars, women and money. Maybe Nas has the potential to change the face of rap music as we know it.

"All my words to enemies
it is poison
Rappers that only talk about Ki's
it is poison
how could you call yourself MC's
you aint poison
look at all the kids you mislead
it is poison"

What? If you heard the song in it's entirety, you can feel it's power. This album only has one track thats obviously not up to par and thats "BraveHeart Party" But that one song doesn't take anything away from this album. There's too many memorable moments on this album to not call it a classic.

"REWIND" It's classic. Telling a story from end to beginning. What ? This man is on another level. Raising the standards in this decade like he did in the last.

Remember that line in TAKEOVER? "Change up your flow, your Sh** is garbage, what you trying to kick knowlede". What? On this album Nas makes Jay-Z look retarded for saying such foolishness. On Stillmatic, not only Nas Changes flo's, he changes moods, topics, Voice pitch, and in one case he changes his accent. What? While on Blueprint Jay-Z pretty much stays with his monotonous tone and doesn't take his content outside his rap superstar/hustler/pimp lifestyle.

There's so much to say about this album I don't want to get arthritis by typing anymore. I just simply give it five stars, 5 mics ETC...............Whatever. The Point is, this is Hip Hops best album of 2001 going into the beginning of 2002. I doubt if there any artist outside of RAKIM thats capable of making an album of this level.

This is by far my favorite Nas album to date. Yeah, Illmatic is certified as a "classic" and I believe it is too. and It Was Written is definitly one of the best follow-up albums in all of hip-hop. But I think that Stillmatic outshines the 4 previous solo cuts by Nasty Nas.

This CD was mainly produced as a diss album in response to Jay-Z's Blueprint. As you may recall, Jay-Z (or in Nas's words, Gay-Z) dissed Mobb Deep and Nas in "Takeover". However, "Ether" is Nas's response, and it is a much better song and really left Jay-Z speechless. (You would know this if you heard "Superugly".)

Jay-Z isn't Nas's only target. Cormega is another main focus of one of the greatest lyricists/poets of all-time. In "Destroy & Rebuild", Nas talks about how he needs to get tha weak cats out of QB. He names Prodigy, Cormega & Nature in this song. Prodigy has no beef wit Nas, but Nature and Cormega have responded.

Stillmatic is a hot album altogether. The other tracks have nothing to do with disses, but that makes this album more diverse.

You probably have heard two of the better songs Got Ur Self A... & One Mic. One Mic is one of the best songs ever made, explaining how Nas needs one mic to survive. This can be appreciated by true hip-hop heads. You know Nas ain't in this for the money.

Rewind is a hot song with a new style. Nas literally "spits a story backwards, it starts at the ending." I have never heard a song like this one in my lifetime.

The Flyest is a classic Nas & AZ collabo. It's probably my favorite track on the album. Braveheart Party is a party/club song that I personally like, but many dont.

Here is my track rating (1-5):
1. Stillmatic (The Intro) - 3
2. Ether - 5++
3. Got Ur Self A... - 5++
4. Smokin' - 5
5. You're Da Man - 4
6. Rewind - 5++
7. One Mic - 5++
8. 2nd Childhood - 4.5
9. Destroy & Rebuild - 5
10. The Flyest - 5++
11. Rule - 5
12. My Country - 5+
13. What Goes Around - 4.5
14. Every Ghetto - 4.5

I thought I would never say this because of his last 2 albums (I Am, Nastradamus), but Nas probably created the most complete album he has ever made. Yes, there are some commercial songs, but most of the songs in this album sound more like material from his first two albums. Nas has grown up in his musical tastes, and I believe he has matured into an MC that makes music that he wants while also catering to the fans.

To start it off, Nas spits fire on the "intro", music that made me reminiscence about the good old days of Illmatic. On "Ether", he comes out on top of his beef with Jay-Z (even after "Super Ugly" came out). My favorite track on the album is "2nd Childhood", where Nas just straight rips it like no one else does (except Guru) on a DJ Premier track, where both flex their strengths once again to all the doubters. A close second is "The Flyest", where the dynamic duo of Nas and AZ get back together in the lab and spit over a commercial, but tight beat. Other songs to note include "Rewind" (narrates a story backwards), "The Rule", "Your Da Man", and "One Mic", where Nas talks about needing only one mic in his life to survive and nothing else (money, girls, etc.) matters to him.

This album reaffirms Nas' status as one of the best MCs in the history of rap (among 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Rakim, KRS-One and Jay-Z), which is what I thought he was trying out to prove on this album. It may not be another Illmatic everyone had hoped for, but "Stillmatic" is the best rap album I have heard in TWO years, even surpassing Ghostface Killah's "Supreme Clientele"! Nas is back boys, don't hate on him again like how I did after his last two albums. Peace!

This is the album we always knew Nas could create. Nas fans, lets be real, nobody really wants another Illmatic. Illmatic was a classic in 1994. It is now 2002. Nas is a multi millionaire. He is no longer the project/ghetto reporter.

That being said, with just 12 days left in the year, Nas has dropped perhaps the best album to come out in 2001. I am quite aware that an album called "The Blueprint" came out on September 11, however as a Jay-Z fan, I will tell you that Stillmatic is far vastly superior, both lyrically and production-wise. You can without a doubt, listen to the first 10 tracks without even having to press the skip button. While some may not be feeling the "Braveheart Party" track, that is a minor hiccup in what is a stellar album.

In closing the definite authority on reviews, The Source gave Jay-Z's album 5 mics. If that was a hip hop classic, than we should see 7 mics next to Nas's name in the next Source magazine. After listening to this album, you wonder if Jay-Z really does have an obsession with Nas. He samples Nas's voice on his songs, he sleeps with a girl Nas slept with years ago...

This album is not Illmatic. But at his fifth album, this is the best and most conclusive piece of work Nas has made.

1 word 4 this: HOT!!....He's tried the commercial tracks-"You Owe Me" & "Oochie Wally",& He's tried the collabos with Mobb Deep,DMX,& others but he couldn't find that recipe that gave him initial success with his 1st album....Well this album is no ILLMATIC,but it's about as close as he's gotten to it in the last decade.....this album is hot & I seen shades of ILLMATIC in some of his verses.....He's hungry & you can hear the lyrical poet spit knowledge in every verse.....
1)Stillmatic intro-Tight intro....sums up the whole cd almost....he has a line like "they thought I'd make another ILLMATIC,but forward I'm movin,but listen to this,another classic....Perfect way to begin a cd.....
2)Ether-What can I say....It puts both of Jay-Z's disses-"The Takeover" & his Hot97 verse to shame....When he took a shot at Roc-a-fella CEO Dame Dash I thought that was hilarious...."What is he?? Dame-Daddy,Dame-Diddy,or Dame-Dummy?? Oh I get it,you Biggie & He's Puffy"....
3)Got Ur Self A-Aight track....Never really grew on me that much....lyrics are nice but the production could've been better...
4)Smokin-Nice relaxed chill song here....Throw it in the ride & just chill.....Beat is nice & the lyrics are hot.....
5)You're The Man-Very Nice track,only problem with it is the hook.....a lil' bit annoying....tight lyrics & beat though....
6)Rewind-1 of the more creative tracks on this album....He tells the whole story--backwards.....very creative & it doesn't sound bad at all....
7)One Mic-I'm feelin this joint right here....nice mellow track but at the hook he gets hype & lets you know what this world needs more of.....
8)2nd Childhood-1 of the overall tightest tracks on the album...hook is hot,lyrics are blazin,& the beat couldn't had been better.....
9)Destroy & Rebuild-This is a hot track.Surprised me because aside from the Nas/Jay-Z beef I didn't think Nas would make a track dissin anyone else....but He finally comes down on Cormega for makin diss records about him & he tries to school his boys "Prodigy & Nature" on some knowledge...Pleasent surprise here.....
10)The Flyest-Another ILLMATIC reminder here.....Nas & AZ spittin over a nice beat like they used to.....Blazin track...
11)Braveheart Party-I admit,the verses given by Jungle & Whiz didn't really get me at 1st,but they're aight.....The beat & Mary J.Blige's vocals saved this one.....You gotta know any hip-hop track with Mary on it is a definate banger.....
12)Rule-A track I felt was needed on this album with the terrorist attacks on America still looming.....He talks about how proud he is to be an American & Amerie really does even more justice to the track......
13)My Country-Another nice track....I'm not sure who it is rappin with Nas on this track but it sounds like one of his young-boyz "Nashawn"....I'll have to check the credits on that one....but the beat is tight & it has some meaningful lyrics....
14)What Goes Around-Tight track....One of those joints where Nas just rips a grimy beat to shreads & he have no choice but to feel it....
15)Every Ghetto-Probably my only problem with this album....the track is nice,the beat is tight & Nas puts his thing down on it,but the cat that's on this track with him doesn't do anything for me....His voice doesn't seem to sound right on this beat & I think this would've been a track for Nas to do solo....
In comparison with Jay-Z's "The Blueprint" this cd holds it's own....but the only thing that drags it down is the poor production on a few of the tracks......"Got Yourself A" & "You're the Man" would've been best served if a female were to sing the hooks in my opinion....other than that,if "The Blueprint" were to get 5-stars.....I'd have to lean toward 5-stars for this too....This album has better lyrics,but the Blueprint has better production..which is why I think Jay-Z's album is just a little bit better than Stillmatic....Nas still gets 5-stars from me....Great comeback kid....We see you're still hungry & you're back.....

This album is a true masterpiece, mainly because Nas (aka the best rapper alive) exposes Jigga aka Jay Z aka Hova aka Mr. Wackness for being a fake bling-bling rapper who put out garbage albums from 1996-2003. The truth is that Nas ripped Jay so bad on this album that Jay Z had to retire!

GENIUS! PURE GENIUS!! JAY-Z CAN NO LONGER SLEEP COMFORTABLY. NAS HAS "RE-CLAIMED" HIS TITLE OF N.Y'S BEST. THE MOST CREATIVE LP TO EVER HIT STORES IS NO LONGER ILLMATIC. IT WAS A CLASSIC. THEN. NOW. ITS STILLMATIC. PEOPLE KEPT SAYING THAT NAS WOULD NEVER MATCH THE SKILL THAT HE DID WHEN HE MADE ILLMATIC. BUT HE DIDN'T JUST MATCH IT ON STILLMATIC. HE KICKED IT OUT THE DOOR. THIS IS THE BEST NAS CD. PERIOD. PRODUCTION IS FLAWLESS EXCEPT ON MAYBE 2 WEAK TRACKS SUCH AS "DESTROY & REBUILD" WHERE HE TELLS TALES OF THE BETRAYAL OF HIS STOMPING GROUNDS THE QB PROJECTS, AND RULE WITH AMERIE. HE TRIED TO MAKE IT A DEEP TRACK BUT SOUNDED MORE LIKE A WANNA-BE REMAKE OF THE CLASSIC TRACK OFF OF IT WAS WRITTEN, "THE MESSAGE"
HERE IS A LIST OF THE SONGS RATED OUT OF 10:
1. STILLMATIC (INTRO) 8/10
SHOWS WHATS IN STORE ON THE ALBUM
2. ETHER 9/10
BEAT COULD HAVE BEEN STRONGER BUT AN EXCELLENT WAY 2 OPEN UP THE CD. F*** JAY-Z!!!!
3. GOT UR'SELF A... 10/10
ONE OF THE BEST TRACKS OF THE ALBUM. I LIKE THE SOPRANOS ALSO.
4. SMOKIN' 7/10
A GOOD TRACK BUT NOT THE BEST.
5. YOU'RE DA MAN 8/10
NAS TELLS ABOUT THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF THE RAP GAME.
6. REWIND 10/10
I HAVE NEVER HEARD A SONG MORE THOUGHT OUT. ONE OF THE MOST IN-GENIUS TRACKS IN THIS HIP HOP GENERATION.
7. ONE MIC 11/10
YES 11 OUT OF 10. THE DEEPEST SONG NAS HAS PROBABLY EVER PERFORMED. THIS PROVES HES THE KING OF N.Y.
8. 2ND CHILDHOOD 9/10
NICE SLOW BEAT. AND OF COURSE N-A-S ARE THE LETTERS THAT SPELL.. NAS NAS NAS...
9. DESTROY & REBUILD 6/10
NOT A GREAT TRACK. POORLY PRODUCED
10. THE FLYEST 9/10
AZ IS PERFECT ON THIS TRACK AND HIS LYRICS ARE GREAT.
11. RULE 5/10
WEAK ATTEMPT OF A SONG. SHOULD HAVE LEFT IT OFF THE ALBUM.
12. MY COUNTRY 8/10
... WEAK CHORUS BUT A GOOD SONG.
13. WHAT GOES AROUND 9/10
NOT MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THIS ONE. JUST AN OVERALL GOOD TRACK.
14. EVERY GHETTO 10/10
THIS SONG IS GREAT! ANOTHER ONE OF THE BEST SONGS ON THE ALBUM. THE BEAT MATCH NAS' LYRICS PERFECTLY.