observations, reviews and ramblings about Hip-Hop culture, sports, politics and the industry and life in general.

Friday, December 15, 2006

From Nasty to Nas to Esco's Trash...back to Nas

Got a chance to listen to the Nas album this morning. Quality stuff. The word from this office is that it may be his best since Illmatic. Ever since that span where he dropped like 3 albums in two years I can’t really keep track of what song was on what album so I can’t say. Regardless, on first listen I was impressed.

I don’t anticipate a ‘Kingdom Come’ backlash. Hip Hop Is Dead should satisfy the intelligentsia. Nas should succeed where Hov failed in that respect.

The joint with Snoop is crazy
Still Dreaming with the LV Don
Hope (Acapella) shows how nice of a writer Nas is. Something we must never forget
Where are They Now is my sh*t with that classic break. And any record that starts with Redhead Kingpin has got to be a hit

If Jay and Nas are drawing the line in the sand. After listening to Hip-Hop Is Dead I stand firmly with Nasir. As if there was any doubt

Album cover is a little weak though

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5 Comments:

Blogger Joey said...

With you, Wes.

December 16, 2006 7:43 PM

 
Blogger ian said...

> And any record that starts with Redhead Kingpin has got to be a hit

Er... what?!!

December 18, 2006 11:50 AM

 
Blogger Wes said...

they don't teach sarcasm at Harvard?

December 18, 2006 12:07 PM

 
Blogger ian said...

Wes, with some of the comments you've made about respecting your elders, who can tell when you're joking :)

The Nas album is pretty good, Jay's album is still weak. But both are old men in a young man's game and no-one under the age of 25 really gives a f-ck what they have to say about where hip hop is going.

Hip hop is gonna go where it's gonna go and the reality is, with a few exceptions, young people will always determine where that is. That's as true today as it was when Nas and Jay came in the game with Wu, Mobb, Biggie etc. and upended the reign of Rakim, Kane, KRS, EPMD, G-Rap, Marley n them.

December 19, 2006 3:13 PM

 
Blogger Wes said...

That is where we disagree.

As Hip-Hop gets older the older people must grow in power. All of us are not gonna go your route and ride with the youth. And we have buying power.

The industry is quite different and quite larger ($) now than when Nas dropped Illmatic.

I am sure rock and roll went through with this when baby boomers moved from teenage consumers to enconomy drivers.

We'll see. Only time will tell.

I guess we can watch the sales of all these guys. We'll see if the old farts come out and support Nas and Jay in greater numbers than the youth supports the Capo and Jeezy.

I think this debate is forcing that choice. Old farts (like me) are coming out of the woodwork to support one side. Honestly without all this talk I wouldn't have listened this closely to Nas or Jay.

December 19, 2006 3:31 PM

 

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