And_So_It_Burns
New member
Nice review dog....Nas is truly in a legue of his own
My titangraph of a review
--------------------------
Wow. 20 years and 10 albums in. He's seen a lot of the game take shape, form and reform again. He's been involved in some of Hip-Hop's reformations, one of Hip-Hop biggest battles, and broke bread with some of music's biggest stars. Some folk known him as Nasty, Escobar, God's Son, and Mr. Jones. The emcee known to the world as Nas comes back for one of Hip-Hop's most anticipated albums in some time with Life Is Good.
Now, ever since the Untitled album (his last solo album) came out back in 2008, life at times wasn't all great for the Queeensbridge wordsmith. A very nasty and public divorce from his ex-wife Kelis, the issue surrounding his daughter Destiny Jones and a few pics on Instagram, as well as various legal problems with the taxman could've made the star's life very hectic. In adding to that, the widespread belief that the game had passed him by with the emergence of new artists. It seems as though, he's used all of that as fuel to set the booths back on fire with a fury we haven't heard from him since maybe his universally-respected Illmatic and It Was Written days. I don't think you need to know how correct Nas has always been known to come when it comes to the mic, but this album seems like a resurrenge back to the top of his game and back to the top of Hip-Hop current stars, as well as a stern reminder as to why he's on the Mount Rushmore of rappers.
So, what's makes this album just....smoke?: Look, if you've listened to the man before, then from his first album to the Distant Relatives offering with Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Nas has always been one of the game's lyrically, conceptually, and flow-wise overall best emcees out. Despite this, the biggest knock on his later albums were the selection of beats and production to accompany his presence. That, for the most part, doesn't exist here. From the album's blazing intro, aptly-titled "No Introduction", the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League allows Nas to pretty much do his victory lap before the album even starts, stating his case about conquering all the issues he's gone through, both past and present. But, this can't be a real Nas album without getting gritty, so the next few tracks of "Loco Motive" and "A Queens Story" (produced by No ID and long-time producer Salaah Remi, respectively) gets that hardcore feel. "Accident Murderers" features Rick Ross, and the two team up for what's probably the best track on this album, overall. (Side note: I'm getting very impressed with Rozay when he plays up to the competition. He's getting better, lyrically.)
From there, Nas takes time to address his now almost-adult daughter, Destiny on the track "Daughters", pointing out the aforementioned Intragram pic of condoms on her dresser. Not in a scolding way, but beautifully constrcted to where he understands where she's at in her young life, but now crossed with where he still has to be the main male figure in her life. To make this album more personal, he analyzes his entire marriage - and divorce - from Kelis on "Bye Baby", as he tries to make sense of it all, acknowledges that he loved and lost, prepares himself to move on, and gives that chapter of his life much-needed closure. As the album goes on, you see how his maturity as not only an artist, but a nearly 40-year-old man has changed his outlook on the world with conceptual tracks like "World's an Addiction" (f. Anthony Hamilton) "Back When" and "Stay", when still boasting his lyrical prowess on track such as "The Don" and "Reach Out" (f. Mary J. Blige). As an added treat, there also is an offering called "Cherry Wine" which features the now late Amy Winehouse, amidst the rumor that the two were involved prior to her death. What I love most about this offering from Nas is that the beats aren't trying to capitalize on younger trends, nor does he even tries to tone his style down; he just seems...free. Free to just do him.
(Personal side note: Accidental Murderers is an arranger's dream. Trust me, I WILL be writing this...there better be some HBCU band directors taking notes at that song, too.)
The eternal achillies heel Nas still faces: Now, for everyone who has followed this man's career, we all know one thing: Nas doesn't make "party cuts" very well. Ever since the diaster known as "You Owe Me", it seems as every time a track is introduced as a "club" track, it never really works out the way he foresees it. This didn't with the title track on Hip-Hop Is Dead, it didn't work with "Hero" (tho I liked that track) or "Make the World Go Round" on the Untitled Album, and if "Summer On Smash" (f. Miguel & Swizz Beatz) is that intended track on this album, that effort will fall short, too. Not that the track is bad, it just doesn't fit his style. Maybe if that was a bonus track, it would been received better. At this point of his career, it would seem better to just leave that part of the game alone and focus more on other kinds of tracks that suit him.
My scores:
Lyricism - 10/10
Production - 9.25/10
Album Cohesiveness - 9/10
Replay Value - 9.5/10
Overall - 9.25/10
Final Synopsis: There's a reason why Nas has always been at the top of my list of my most respected emcees; the guy is just masterful at his craft. However, it seems as though his found a new fire in himself, and took his game to a new level in a new era of Hip-Hop. You add to that production, that for the first time in YEARS, matches his style top-to-bottom (Side Note: Salaah Remi really stepped HIS game up too, especially on 'World's an Addiction'), and you have a man that has made his "return" a very memorable one. Honestly, I don't think he's worried about record sales, that album will sell all over the world (as of now it's charting #1 in several countries overseas) as the product speaks for itself. The biggest debate about this album I think will be where in his discography history it will stand when it's all said and done. Right now, I think this may the THE best album he's done since Illmatic, but I think some people still may put It Was Written over it. I can't see this being any lower than #3 on his personal Top 10, and I would not be surprised a bit if the "c" word - classic - starts getting thrown around with this album in due time.
Bottom Line: Nas says "Life is Good", and based on the back-to-rapid-fire flow he has for the beats laced on this album, I believe him. You will too. This thing SMOKES.
Personal Favorite Tracks: No Introduction, Accident Murderers, World's An Addiction
--------------------------
Wow. 20 years and 10 albums in. He's seen a lot of the game take shape, form and reform again. He's been involved in some of Hip-Hop's reformations, one of Hip-Hop biggest battles, and broke bread with some of music's biggest stars. Some folk known him as Nasty, Escobar, God's Son, and Mr. Jones. The emcee known to the world as Nas comes back for one of Hip-Hop's most anticipated albums in some time with Life Is Good.
Now, ever since the Untitled album (his last solo album) came out back in 2008, life at times wasn't all great for the Queeensbridge wordsmith. A very nasty and public divorce from his ex-wife Kelis, the issue surrounding his daughter Destiny Jones and a few pics on Instagram, as well as various legal problems with the taxman could've made the star's life very hectic. In adding to that, the widespread belief that the game had passed him by with the emergence of new artists. It seems as though, he's used all of that as fuel to set the booths back on fire with a fury we haven't heard from him since maybe his universally-respected Illmatic and It Was Written days. I don't think you need to know how correct Nas has always been known to come when it comes to the mic, but this album seems like a resurrenge back to the top of his game and back to the top of Hip-Hop current stars, as well as a stern reminder as to why he's on the Mount Rushmore of rappers.
So, what's makes this album just....smoke?: Look, if you've listened to the man before, then from his first album to the Distant Relatives offering with Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Nas has always been one of the game's lyrically, conceptually, and flow-wise overall best emcees out. Despite this, the biggest knock on his later albums were the selection of beats and production to accompany his presence. That, for the most part, doesn't exist here. From the album's blazing intro, aptly-titled "No Introduction", the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League allows Nas to pretty much do his victory lap before the album even starts, stating his case about conquering all the issues he's gone through, both past and present. But, this can't be a real Nas album without getting gritty, so the next few tracks of "Loco Motive" and "A Queens Story" (produced by No ID and long-time producer Salaah Remi, respectively) gets that hardcore feel. "Accident Murderers" features Rick Ross, and the two team up for what's probably the best track on this album, overall. (Side note: I'm getting very impressed with Rozay when he plays up to the competition. He's getting better, lyrically.)
From there, Nas takes time to address his now almost-adult daughter, Destiny on the track "Daughters", pointing out the aforementioned Intragram pic of condoms on her dresser. Not in a scolding way, but beautifully constrcted to where he understands where she's at in her young life, but now crossed with where he still has to be the main male figure in her life. To make this album more personal, he analyzes his entire marriage - and divorce - from Kelis on "Bye Baby", as he tries to make sense of it all, acknowledges that he loved and lost, prepares himself to move on, and gives that chapter of his life much-needed closure. As the album goes on, you see how his maturity as not only an artist, but a nearly 40-year-old man has changed his outlook on the world with conceptual tracks like "World's an Addiction" (f. Anthony Hamilton) "Back When" and "Stay", when still boasting his lyrical prowess on track such as "The Don" and "Reach Out" (f. Mary J. Blige). As an added treat, there also is an offering called "Cherry Wine" which features the now late Amy Winehouse, amidst the rumor that the two were involved prior to her death. What I love most about this offering from Nas is that the beats aren't trying to capitalize on younger trends, nor does he even tries to tone his style down; he just seems...free. Free to just do him.
(Personal side note: Accidental Murderers is an arranger's dream. Trust me, I WILL be writing this...there better be some HBCU band directors taking notes at that song, too.)
The eternal achillies heel Nas still faces: Now, for everyone who has followed this man's career, we all know one thing: Nas doesn't make "party cuts" very well. Ever since the diaster known as "You Owe Me", it seems as every time a track is introduced as a "club" track, it never really works out the way he foresees it. This didn't with the title track on Hip-Hop Is Dead, it didn't work with "Hero" (tho I liked that track) or "Make the World Go Round" on the Untitled Album, and if "Summer On Smash" (f. Miguel & Swizz Beatz) is that intended track on this album, that effort will fall short, too. Not that the track is bad, it just doesn't fit his style. Maybe if that was a bonus track, it would been received better. At this point of his career, it would seem better to just leave that part of the game alone and focus more on other kinds of tracks that suit him.
My scores:
Lyricism - 10/10
Production - 9.25/10
Album Cohesiveness - 9/10
Replay Value - 9.5/10
Overall - 9.25/10
Final Synopsis: There's a reason why Nas has always been at the top of my list of my most respected emcees; the guy is just masterful at his craft. However, it seems as though his found a new fire in himself, and took his game to a new level in a new era of Hip-Hop. You add to that production, that for the first time in YEARS, matches his style top-to-bottom (Side Note: Salaah Remi really stepped HIS game up too, especially on 'World's an Addiction'), and you have a man that has made his "return" a very memorable one. Honestly, I don't think he's worried about record sales, that album will sell all over the world (as of now it's charting #1 in several countries overseas) as the product speaks for itself. The biggest debate about this album I think will be where in his discography history it will stand when it's all said and done. Right now, I think this may the THE best album he's done since Illmatic, but I think some people still may put It Was Written over it. I can't see this being any lower than #3 on his personal Top 10, and I would not be surprised a bit if the "c" word - classic - starts getting thrown around with this album in due time.
Bottom Line: Nas says "Life is Good", and based on the back-to-rapid-fire flow he has for the beats laced on this album, I believe him. You will too. This thing SMOKES.
Personal Favorite Tracks: No Introduction, Accident Murderers, World's An Addiction
Last edited:
Sour-Cream
New member
Dope album IMO but to each its own. I've been a Nas fan since 96'.
Sour-Cream
New member
Favorites: Stay, Cherry Wine, Locomotion, Bye Baby
SleepwalkingInJapan
New member
^acc murd. is raw fool....the storytelling is GOAT
most nas stories are tho
i give the album 7.5/10
most nas stories are tho
i give the album 7.5/10
Artfull Dodger
New member
lovin this album, its jumbed into my top 5 Nas albums
top tracks
Where's tha love
Locomotive
Back When
Trust
Nasty
No Introduction
=D>
top tracks
Where's tha love
Locomotive
Back When
Trust
Nasty
No Introduction
=D>
Mdizzle9000
New member
im still bumpin it
WhoisDonG???
New member
Its a classic Life Is Good inspired me its what the game is all about. Your life your struggles but at the emd of the day Life is Good.
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