Nas- Stillmatic Review

Macq is back to drop another 4 year old album review on you dumb motherfuckers. A little history, before this album Nas was in a funk. His last two albums were some shit and Jay-z had just killed him twice, once at Summer Jam and again on the classic Blueprint track "The Takeover". People were starting to say Nas had fallen off from his historic first album "Illmatic". This was a very important record because this reaffirmed Nas as one of the greatest mc's in the game and it helped quell the notion that he was finished as an artist.

01. Intro

" A yo the brothers stillmatic/ crawled up outa the grave/ wiping the dirt/ cleaning my shirt/they thought Id make another Illmatic/ but its always forward im moving/ never backwards stupid/ heres another classic. What a way to start the album, couldnt have put it better myself. Nas and Jay-z really set the bar when it comes to intros.

02. Ether

This was Nas's response record to "The Takeover" and its obvious that he did not pull any punches on this one. He had to have called Jay-z gay in this song at least 10 times, now if them aint fightin words I dunno what is, nhjic. So far on this album Nas seems focused. Like he is on a mission.

03. Got yourself a gun

The first single off the album. You can probably tell by the title but this song is like a remix to the theme music from "The Sopranos". This is probably one of the worse songs lyrically on this album, not his words exactly but what he is talking about on the song. The thing is I dont know what hes talking about. Whatever the beat is still bangin', nh.

04. Smokin'

The first real album cut. Nas is playing gangsta' on this song like he has the propensity to do from time to time. The production is just right for this song. Its not overbearing, a soft beat to go with Nas soft, matter of fact way of rhyming on this song. Nas at his worse is alot better than many at their best

05. Your the Man

Our first Large Professor sighting on the album. This is one of my favorite songs of all time, certainly one of the best on the album. The production is simple but genius. A simple violin loop with a rusty swing sound effect. Large Prof. really outdoes himself with this beat. Again another soft song. Nas is almost whispering on this song as his paranoid ass (nh) talks about people trying to knock him from the top.

06. Rewind

Back to back Large Prof. songs. The concept for the song is not neccesarily new but Nas still manages to make it interesting. He tells a story from end to beginning. Even some of his rhymes are said backwards, I admit it took me a couple of listens to get those ones. Its a pretty good song but its less entertaining the second and third time around.

07. One Mic

The second single off the album. This song was produced by Nas. This is also one of the better rap songs I think I have ever heard. This is Nas at his best, street poet. He starts the song off in an almost whisper as the track opens soft (nh) and his voice builds as the track builds. He seems extra motivated on this track as he yells out "the time is now" at the end of each verse.

08. 2nd Childhood

Now this really sounds like oldschool Nas. Again the production is great if not spectacular. It doesnt overshadow Nas on the mic. Which is a good thing on this song because he is really talking on this one. Most of yall can relate to this, you either are a person or know a person who just cant seem to give his youth up. The shit the male and female in this song are doing now when they are 30+ is the same shit they were doing when they were 20. Yea even though I didnt do a great job of explaining it, its still a great song.

09. Destroy and Rebuild

This is Nas's version of the classic KRS record "The Bidge is Over" . I like this song but on the real......Nas is a jackass (nh). Nas disses Cormega, Nature, Prodigy and a couple of other people on this record. Why one might ask? Apparently he is saying they are fake gangstas and traitors. Now forgive if Im wrong but isnt that kinda like the pot calling the kettle black. I dont think Nas ever stood on any block and did the shit he says he did, yet he wants to call other people out for doing that. Great song, Nas is an ass tho (nh). BTW Nas tells Prodigy that he loves him (nh) at the end of this song, Nas=teh ghey?

10. The Flyest (feat. Azz Iz)

One of Nas's weed carriers Azz Iz opens the song up. Hes not too bad, however the drop off in lyrical quality from Nas to him is very apparent.

11. Braveheart Party

Im guessing they thought if the album got to three singles this would have been the third. It really isnt great. The beat is annoying but Nas saves this from being a terrible song. In other words he overcomes the overall corniness of the beat.

12. Rule (feat. Amerie)

This album is getting weaker. This song isnt terrible but it is incredibly corny. Yes i know I just used that word, but i think it describes both songs perfectly. I dont think Amerie (who is from DC) is really right for this song, or any song for that matter. This song sounds alot like If I ruled the world.

13. My Country

Apparently the plan on this album was to stack all the politically driven songs at the end. Unlike the last song Nas actually brings up valid points on his veiws of whats wrong with the system. The weed carrier on this track isnt very good. I think its official, as of right now, Nas has the worst rapping weed carriers in the game.

14. What goes around

After track 12 I was expecting this album to just fall off. However the last track and this one have been on par with the greatness of the earlier tracks on the album. Another political song. But listening to Nas talk about politics isnt like listening to another generic rapper talkin about it (Jadakiss anyone?).

15. Every Ghetto

The beat on this track is real menacing. Another weed carrier, hes alot better than the last two who appeared on the album, I think he said his name was Blitz. Nas closes out the album just as strong as he started it.

Comments: This album started out on fire but near the end I felt like it was slowing down. The last 3 tracks however saved this album from being a complete let down. Nas really stepped up his game from the his two previous albums for this one. "Nas is garbage" no not really no.

Best Songs: Your the Man,Intro, One Mic, 2nd childhood.......actually just dl the whole album