CD Review: Nas - Untitled
Wednesday July 16, 2008
Nas ignited a firestorm when he announced that his 9th album will be titled N*gger. The move prompted protests from the likes of Al Sharpton and NAACP. Sensing that the title was drawing the wrong kind of attention, Nas switched gear and decided to release his album with no title.
That said, I'm willing to bet that hip-hop fans care more about the album's quality than what Sharpton thinks of its title. Essentially, there's only one question on everyone's mind, "Does the music match the hype that preceded it?" Well, here's my unfiltered take on Untitled.
Album art © Def Jam
Comments
good review, i gotta agree with what you said. this is the definite album of the year for me
Henry, where do you think Untitled ranks among Nas’s albums?
Im a huge nas fan, but im not really feeling this album. Its got a couple good songs like hero. But the rest is trash.
Henry, where do you think Untitled ranks among Nas’s albums?
————
Definitely in his Top 5.
How can anyone say this is trash (JP) and be a huge fan of Nas, just listen to the lyrics and not just the beat and hook. The message in “Ni**er” (the song) is the most thought-provoking lyrical content I’ve heard in a while. “N” is clearly the album to beat so far in ‘08.
I’m already placing the album in Nas’ top 4. I have to give the album a few more spins, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up top 3 or even top 2.
Devastated to say that i cannot afford to buy the album just now.
Nas’ been my favorite artist since i was old enough to understand what hip hop was, for me, so far it’s like this..
1. Illmatic
2. It Was Written
3. The Lost Tapes
Based on the tracks i’ve heard on youtube i cannot see it beating Stillmatic into 4th spot either (In my oppinion)… but I’m open minded and i guess i wont know until i get it..
Message to my Bank manager if he’s reading; Please give me money!
you are not a true nas fan if you call Untitled trash, thats rediculous, Sly Fox and N**GER are two of the most honest and real songs I’ve heard ever, period. This rivals Illmatic and it may be a stretch but I believe this is the best album since The Documentary. Thank you Nas for being real and honest and breaking this politically correct barrier crap
FINALLY, A GOOD HIP HOP ALBUM THIS YEAR!!! Best album since the cool! nas is one of four rappers still bringing it… that would be kanye, lupe, jay-z, and of course the hero himself. i’ll be bumping this for a longggg time!!!!!
i taught he was gonna sell out
but looks like he didnt….fair play to NaS!!
Not bad, but if you think this is the most thought-provoking lyrical content this year please go check out 3rd World by Immortal Technique. I’d say this is probably the third best album this year after 3rd World and When Life Gives You Lemons, with II Trill following Untitled.
Hey I am a little new to hip hop. Who is this Nas guy anyways, everybody here really seems to like him but I didnt see anything that amazing about the songs on this cd, from what I heard on you tube. Could you guys recommend some more of his songs that you enjoyed. He has more complex lyrics than Eminem or Jay Z, my two favorite rappers so far, but for some reason I couldnt get into his songs the way I could with their songs.
If you have never heard of Nas before and don’t understand why he is so legendary.. listen to some of these songs.. Life’s a Bitch (feat AZ), One Love, It Ain’t Hard to Tell, Street Dreams, Take it in Blood, Represent, Nas is Coming, If I Ruled TheWorld (Lauryn Hill), Memory Lane, Nas is Like, NY State of Mind, Halftime… so many more I can’t think of… Nas is undoubtedly one of the top five lyricists of all time… absolute genius… if you don’t like Nas, you probably don’t listen to music for lyrics.
I’ve been reading a bunch of other reviews on this Album and it has a mixed reception. But a lot of the ones that didn’t like the reception focused on the Album being a huge marketing success and the beats, not focusing on what Nas is really about.
Like people criticize Hip-Hop is Dead, true this not one of my favorite albums of Nas’s, but I got the point in which he was trying to educate listeners instead of trying to make big success sales. And that is much more I can say for any other rapper at this point.
But back to Untitled, if you go into it for club music or hot beats, your wasting your time because that is not what Nas is about. And I agree with this article on many points and go further to say that this Album is genously put together. Everything has a meaning, the listener just has to take time to understand it. Even when you open the small cd cover booklet that comes inside the cd and you see a picture of a Fox, you have to take a moment and think that is not random but alludes to Fox news. And you have to appreciate the flow with the complexity of the lyrics.
And btw, I love it when he takes his crack at 50 Cent when he says, “Gets Rich and Dies Rhyming.”. Shuts everything he said down in 5 words.
This album is what real music sounds like. All that Soulja Boy, Huricane cris(ect) garbage is shouldnt even deserved to be associated with hip-hop music. Every song on this album has a message to the people of America. Give it a listin, and listin to this lyrical genius at his best. I think this album is one of the top ten album of the 2000’s not even in hip hop.
to answer jinga, the reason why you probably can’t get into nas like you get into jay-z is because jay has better beats. but if u listen closely to nas’ lyrics, it hits u like nothing else. other rappers i would recommend are kanye west and lupe fiasco, and of course my favorite hip hop duo, dj jazzy jeff and the fresh prince!!!
Any one last thing about comparing Nas’s Album to other hip-hop albums. How many other albums go under as much scrutiny and criticism as Nas’s albums? The answer to that question says it all.
This album is the 2nd best NAS album after Illmatic. I think the deep feel this album brings from the lyrics alone is enough to be in my top 10 best hip hop albums of all time.
Nas has to be one of the most lyrical of all rap artist. Ni**er will go down as a classic and who ever said Ni**ger was disappointing and claims to be a Nas fan is really not. listen to whe words JP.
Everyone talks about the album sending a message. But it really doesnt Ive listened to the album several times and theres no positive message i can take from it
It doesn’t have to be a positive message to be a message.
The beats lack, but the lyrics are some of the best I’ve ever heard, which is what Nas is all about. If you’re looking for club beats or anything like that, Nas isn’t for you. If you want something with a little deeper meaning, insight, and thought, then you should love Nas and Untitled.
Personally I’m more of a beat person, I love a song with a good beat. But when I want some fire lyrics, I pop this in immediately.
Those of you that are criticizing this album for beats are truly missing the true essence of NaS. I am a huge Jay-Z fan who gives me the club feel, when you want to grove. However, NaS has always brought hiphop back to earth with the realities that plague this nation for all. Not just black people, but people who have been hoodwinked by the system. Illmatic and It Was Written were great creations from a young mind identifying problems of being in the ghetto. Now as a man who has evolved into a vocal force, he is still showing that a black man in America, who has achieved success, still remains committed to equality for all people. Nor has he he lost touch with his principles which has always set him apart from mainstream. NaS has truly produced one of the most conscious albums in the current state of hip hop. Nuff respect!
Hip Hop NEEDED this album. When I listened to it my soul woke up. If you couldn’t get anything from it you probably have been sheltered most your life. Quite frankly its the realest thing i’ve heard in hip hop for years.
Henry, I picked up the Nas album after reading your review. I have to say I agree 100% with everything you said. Woulda been nice though to have a DJ Premier track on it. Still good overall.
good review. album was dope and interesting. i’m definitely gonna check out that Game album soon as i can