Hip Hop Is Dead

I've developed a bad habit over the last few months of reading ignorant, superficial bloggers' tirades against Nas and his new album. Most of them big up the likes of T.I. and Young Jeezy in the same sentence and think Nas's album title is a slur on the credibility of 'their' music and the artists they choose to admire.

This album however, as proclaimed by Nas himself, is not about New York Vs The South or Boombap Vs Crunk, it's about the disintegration of what was one of the most creative artforms of modern times. The decline of Hip-Hop is based around two main themes: 1) Emphasis on sales 2) Less emphasis on the art of lyricism/MCing. Nas (Nastier on this than on other post-Illmatic outings)details this in full over an album that provokes, inpires and comes at you hard.

From the opener 'Money Over Bulls**t' you realise Nas is back with increased tenacity, a harder, edgier sound that makes you sit up and take notice. The title track follows the trend and despite its similarity to Thiefs Theme, it's a classic slice of pure hip-hop. Nas sounds rejuvinated and passionate about an artform he's helped develop and aggressive and stubborn about its decline. Nas, however, proclaims it in such a way that most hip-hop purists may feel optimistic about its future after their listen.

The middle of the album generates a more soulful feel and gives the listener a more introspective Nas. Some may still yearn for the heavier beats of the first 6 tracks but enveloped in the more mellow end of the album are Kanye-crafted gems 'Still Dreamin'' and 'Let There Be Light', both perfectly executed slabs of soulful hip-hop. The only let-downs here are the lazy Scott Storch produced 'Play on Playa' and the Kelis featuring 'Not Going Back'. Why Nas would enlist the help of pop producers Stargate for an album slating hip-hop fakers is beyond me. Plus, rappers doing duets with wifey are always useless so its no surprise this strikes out.

These are minor quibbles - this is a hugely successful concept album and one that bubbles with a genuine intensity most modern day hip-hop albums are lacking. The key to this is that Nas allows all his emotions to flow generating a confident, arrogant hip-hop swagger at one level and a vulnerable charm the next. This is what makes hip-hop great.

Nas may be right when he proclaims Hip Hop Is Dead but if rappers are still producing albums like this it's still hard to believe.

First off, I have to say the people who are complaining about the beats are the one of the reasons hip hop is dead. Today people listen to the beats over the lyrics, which is not what rap is about.

This album has to be the best album of this year, if not it shares that accolade with Lupe Fiasco.

The beats perfectly compliment the subject matter NaS spits, if there is one weak track, for ME, it has to be 'Give Me Light', featuring Tre Williams, this R'n'B feel doesn't suit the album's overall feeling, and in my opinion Tre is oversinging quite a lot.

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Black Republican featuring Jay-Z has been highly anticipated by many, and in many aspects it lives up to the hype, everything is great on the track but it would have been nice if they had interchanging verses, however it maintains an epic atmosphere throughout, and NaS, despite coming in second, steals the show.

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Still Dreaming has got to be one of the best produced tracks I've heard in a long time, it's just a simple drum rhythm that fades in. Kanye is fire on this, and it feels like he's trying to steal the limelight, but I think NaS comes out on top on this with his vivid storytelling.

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Where are they now, using a James Brown (R.I.P.) sample, tells of all the rappers that have been forgotton. Spice One, Rob Base, Blacksheep, and many others get a mention.

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Not going back has his wifey Kelis on it. She sings a meloncholy hook basically NaS saying he's not going back to the hood, true I guess. Nice track slightly hampered by the intro.

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Money over Bullsh*t, opens the album with a grimy, bass-heavy beat. NaS sets the tone by warning fake rappers he isnt scared of anyone but himself.

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Hip Hop is Dead re-uses the In-Gadda-Da-Vida (sp) sample used in theif's theme from his last LP, Street's Disciple, and he clearly acknowledges this in the beginning. Great track, and NaS showcases his skills on the lead single, his flow is nice. Wasn't a fan of Will.I.Am at ALL, before I heard HHID, but he surprised me as you will find out.

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Can't Forget about you, the next single apparantly, has the new songstress Chrisette Michelle on it, and it's a great track again. Will.I.am beat it really hot, got kind of a ballroom feel to it.

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Hustlers is the Dr. Dre produced track and NaS is even so kind as to let Game on it. After painfully going through his album listening to him mentioning Dre on every single track it's nice he finally gets to spit on a dre track, albeit on someone elses album haha. Nice track but not one of the best, beat is hot and Game is good on it too. NaS opens how he was the first NYC rapper to spit on a dre beat and Game raps about choosing between Illmatic and Chronic when he was younger, instead he stole them both, good stuff..

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I'm getting kind of tired now, so ill bunch a few together before i write about my favourite track.

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You Can't Kill Me really has that mid-90s feel, really nice track with a sick flow from the N.

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Carry On Tradition is fire too, talking about rappers who think they deserve respect and how NaS feels he should carry the original tradition of reall rapping on. Hot.

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Hold Down The Block, has a nice beat by mr Batson and is also one of my favourites, has a midnight listing feel to it.

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Blunt Ashes, produced by Chris Webber, yep the basketball player, drops a surprisingly nice beat about NaS telling story while high it seems, really good track.

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Play On Playa features Snoop and has a kinda west coast feel to it. Good but nothing spectacular, Both come strong on the track but the mood is mellow.

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Hope is the final track (apart from the great 'The N...' bonus if you are from the UK) which is an accapella track which in my opinion was great as people will have to listen to his lyrics. NaS talks about Hip-Hop in general and shows off a sick flow. Great Ending with Chrisette Michelle helping to close it with a nice melodic tune. NaS really wants to save hip hop and talks of there are no divisions, and if you are asking if it is dead, you are the reason it died, true.

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Now my favourtie track has to be Who Killed it. What a cutting edge track, i truly believe this is ahead of it's time, as it's got that hate it or love it feeling to it at the moment. All the reviews on I saw on this don't even tell you what it's about, they dont understand it me thinks. Basically on a crisp Will.I.Am beat sampling Eric B and Rakim's I Aint no Joke, NaS assumes another dialect as the narrator who shows how Hip-Hop died. Hip-Hop is the femme-fatale who disappears at the end, when nas asks when she was born, '77 or '78?? she no in the slave times but she fell in love with Clive Campbell, and Nas asks who did it she says Bill Gates (read Commercialisation). You have to listen to it to appreciate it more, it's hard to write about.

Hope you enjoyed this, I'm really tired now lol.

Illmatic, It Was Written, Stillmatic, Lost Tape's, God's Son, a Street's Disciple. NaS has one of the most impressive back catougle in music, and is most certian a Hip Hop icon. This new album under Def Jam see's NaS brining top producers,Kanye West,Dr.Dre,L.E.S,Salami Remi, Just Blaze, Scott Storch,a Will.i.am(No Premo)and Collabo's with Jay-Z, Snoop, Game, Kanye, a Mrs.Nas Kelis. This is Hip Hop, not for you pop fans, this isnt about crossover, a mainstream accepteance this is about real Hip Hop for real Hip Hop fans. Standout track Can't Forget About U