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44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Progression and Innovation (4.5 Stars), December 4, 2004
Two years after the exceptional "God's Son", Nas comes back with the highly anticipated double-disc eighth album "Street's Disciple". Many assume that an artist, ten years into their career wouldn't be able to release a high-quality album, let alone a two-disc album. But evidently, Nasir Jones defies any predetermined accusations. "Street's Disciple" finds Nas experimenting with new sounds as well as diving into a deeper, more poignant realm of lyricism, mixing old with some new. Highlights include the social conscious "American Way", the sentimental "Just a Moment", the introspective "Live Now", the instantly intriguing "Street's Disciple", the in-depth "Unauthorized Biography of Rakim", the Doug E. Fresh inspired "Virgo", the rapidly delivered "Suicide Bounce", the reminiscent "Getting Married", the first single "Bridging The Gap", the "In A Gadda Da Vida"-sampled "Thief's Theme", and the best track, the melancholy "A Message To The Feds, Sincerely, We The People". The only thing that really falters this album is the production; while most of the experimentation works well, some just seem out of place, sounding "awkward" rather than "innovative". But what double disc album doesn't have its flaws? Driven by substantial lyrics and charismatic flow, it easily overshadows any minor flaw. Ultimately, "Street's Disciple" might not be the perfect double-disc album, but it comes close.
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Double album From a Great Rapper, June 6, 2005
I Have been a Nas fan for a long time, While he's certainly one of the most prolific MCs to ever live and start rapping, he wanted to release a double album with I am.. But It was heavily bootlegged so he released it as a single album with few filler songs. With Street's Disciple he gives it his all, this is one of the Nas's most cohesive and tightly structured albums todate, however, it pales in comparison to undeniable Nas classics like Stillmatic, Illmatic, and The Lost tapes.
Disc 1
Starts with an intro about Nas telling us to stay strong and not give up and his voice is full of confidence. The Next track is "A Message to the Feds" which is one of the best Songs on the album with A great beat and a fire Fast flow from Nas on the second Verse. Right after, we have "Nazereth Savage" which is my Personal Favorite on the album, I love the beat Nas drops some of his Best lyrics on Wax to Date. "American Way" and "These are our Heros" are both political songs that Nas uses to spread a message that some big Celebrities are not doing something that lives up to their name, simply a powerful message. "Disciple" is more of a freastyle song Which is pretty tight but He could've used the other beat for it Which is alot Better. "Sekou Story" and "Live Now" are both attached to each other and both tell a story. "Rest of my life" finds Nas rapping slow on a mellow beat, this is not what I expect from Nas, the Flow is rather boring and The beat doesnt do it for me. "Just A Moment" is a great song (You Should check Out the Video if You havnt Done Already) Which Features Quan singing the chorus nicely and it's a pretty great collabo. "Reason" is another flaw, I find the beat weak and Nas's Ryhmes are not there. The Bonus track "You Know my Style" which has a Run-DMC kind-of-beat is a pretty great old school rocker, One of my favorite on this Disc.
Disc 2
Personally, this is my favorite of the 2 Discs. It Kicks off with the energetic "Suicide Bounce" which features Busta Ryhmes on the Hook and Nas delivers Nasty ryhmes over a beat he produced himself. The next Song "Street's Disciple" is hands down, one of the best Song he has done in years. He brings his Nasty Nas Flow over a classic beat with a chorus from his father, an incredible song. "U.B.R" Pays a nice tribute from the God MC of the Golden Age era, Rakim. "Virgo" and "Remember the Times" are Both sex Related Song that Nas speaks from his past Sexual Relationship with Other Women. "Making of a Perfect B***" Is a filler song which Nas Should have Thrown in the Recycle Bin. "Getting Married" is another great personal track in Where Nas talks about The Woman he's soon Marrying, pretty great. "No One Else in the Room" Has a pretty great beat with a nice chorus and It's quite Cathcy but this is not What I expect from Nas, Overall a filler. "Bridging The Gap" is a collabo with his Father, Jazz Musician Olu Dara, and it's one of my favorite Nas songs to Date. "War" and "Me & You" are both Family related Songs in which Nas Raps about the love of his daughter and How he's grown up now. The Disc Closes with the Incredible Street Anthem, "Thief's Theme" which is a great Song with a Nasty Beat.
OVERALL: While Not Flawless, It's not as good as B.I.G's "Life After Death" But it's Another Strong Effort From Nas, Recommended For Any Hip-Hop Fan.
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47 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nas continues to hold it down on "Street's Disciple", January 18, 2005
Ever since "Illmatic", Nas has proved time and time again why he is considered one of the top rappers in the rap game. I have been a Nas fan ever since I heard "It Ain't Hard To Tell". Some of my all time favorite Nas songs are "NY State Of Mind", "One Love", "Life's A B", " We Will Survive", "Blaze A 50", "Made U Look", etc. Over his rap career, Nas has made a few missteps as well such as his "Nastradamus" CD.
The first song that I heard from "Street's Disciple" was "Thief's Theme". This song sounded like earlier Nas tracks and was definitely in heavy rotation for the summer and fall of 2004. I then heard "You Know My Style" on a mixtape and then I knew that "Street's Disciple" would be right up there with Nas' greatest CDs such as "Illmatic", "Stillmatic" and "The Lost Tapes".
Disc 1
This CD starts off with "A Message To The Feds, Sincerely, We The People". The majority of the time when Nas releases a song, he has a message tied behind what he is saying and that is clearly the case on this song and on the next track, "Nazareth Savage". Nas has always been known as a "rap prophet". Nas always uses moments in his CDs to let the listener know what is on his mind by telling you his opinions on what is going on in the world today. These 2 tracks are two of my favorite tracks on Disc 1. On "Amercian Way", Nas' wife Kelis joins in on the hook to let us know about how they feel about what is going on in America today. Q Tip, from A Tribe Called Quest, who produced "One Love" from Nas' Illmatic CD, samples George Clinton's "Atomic Dog" to use for the beat of this song and that actually hepls you to pay attention to the message that Nas & Kelis are saying in this song. On "These Are Our Heroes", Nas has a special message for the Blacks who he feels aren't doing what they can in the Black community. Kobe Bryant, Taye Diggs, Cuba Gooding Jr. and others feel Nas' wrath in this song. However, Nas makes sense in what he is saying. "Disciple" sounds as if it's a tribute to Kool G Rap as the track will definitely remind you of "Road To Riches". "Sekou Story" and "Live Now" is a 2 part song featuring Scarlett. Nas tells a story about a man who came up by hustlin' and found that the price of fame would cost him his life. Scarlett plays the roll as the woman in Sekou's life. The two songs blend well together, although you will notice alot of Lil Kim & Foxy Brown influences in Scarlett's rap style. Amerie, who joined Nas on Stillmatic's "Rule" and has a banger out right now with "One Thing" joins Nas on my favorite song of Disc 1, "Rest Of My Life". If you are a Nas fan, then this is the Nas that you want to hear 100% of the time as Nas takes the slow L.E.S. and Chucky Thompson beat and tears the track to shreds. "Just A Moment" features Quan on the rap and has him singing the hook as well. When Nas was in DC, I saw him at Dream, and this song was phenominal live. If Quan comes out with the right people nehind him, he can definitely be a force to reckon with in the future.
Disc 2
As with most double CDs, the second CD always fails in comparison with Disc 1. Although, Disc 2 does have its moments, Disc 1 is clearly better. Disc 2 starts out with "Suicide Bounce" featuring Busta Rhymes on the hook. Nas produces the track and while the song is actually pretty good, it won't hold weight to anything on Disc 1. "Street's Disciple" does better justice as Nas joins his father Olu Dara, just as he does on "Bridging The Gap", "Street's Disciple's" current single. On "Bridging The Gap" Nas breaks the trend of what a single should be as there are no club references and The Neptunes, Kanye West and Timbaland aren't producing the track. I am glad that Nas likes to go against what the current trend of what hip hop is during at the current time. On "U.B.R.", Nas creates an unauthorized biography of Rakim. If you do not know who Rakim is then I consider that you seek treatment immediately. "It's been a long time, I shouldn't left you, without a dope rhyme to step to". That's a famous quote from one of the greatest rappers of all time. On "U.B.R", Nas does justice to Rakim as he speaks about how Eric B & Rakim changed hip hop and Nas tells you about Rakim's upbringing as well. On "Virgo", Nas, Ludacris & Doug E Fresh tell the ladies about how the Virgo's do things. (Each rapper's sign is Virgo). Doug E Fresh is on the beat box as Nas & Ludacris have nice rhymes on the Salaam Remmi track. On "Remember The Times", Kelis allows Nas to reminisce on the times that he had with woman before the two of them got together. The track is actaully pretty good and will remind you about Nas' famous songs about women in general like "Oochie Wally", "Black Girl Lost", and "K.I.S.S.I.N.G.".
After "Remember The Times", you will not be to happy with Nas after hearing "The Makings Of A Perfect B", "Getting Married", and "No One Else In The Room" w/Maxwell. Although, "Getting Married" is decent, the other two songs don't sound like anything that you would hear from a "Street's Disciple".
This is pretty much the problem with a double CD. If you are dealing with over 20 songs, then you'll have 15 real tight songs, maybe 4 alright songs and 5 songs that should not have even seen the light of day. However, with Nas still having 21-22 songs that I can listen to out of 25, I still will give him a 5 star review.
"Street's Disciple" is right up there with Nas' best CDs. Salaam Remmi, L.E.S., and Chucky Thompson give Nas phenominal production and Nas does the rest with tight lyrics and limited rap guest appearances on the CD. However, the track "Serious" with AZ should have been on this double disc. That song is "crazy". Overall, Nas has already solidified his standing in the rap game. If you are a Nas fan then "Street's Disciple" has to be in your collection.
James' Top 8 (Disc 1 & Disc 2)
1) Rest Of My Life w/Amerie
2) Nazareth Savage
3) Just A Moment w/Quan
4) Thief's Theme
5) Sekou Story w/Scarlett
6) Live Now w/Scarlett
7) You Know My Style
8) U.B.R. (Unauthorized Biography Of Rakim)
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