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Nas doesn’t care about you · by Sach O
that egocentric rapper who frustrates but you can’t stop listening to.
Let’s get this out of the way: Nas clearly doesn’t give a fuck about you or me and hasn’t for at least the past 5 years.
It’s hard to blame him really, after the popular and critical smash that was Illmatic (thank God the internet wasn’t around back then) the backlash he suffered through was enough to turn anyone into a cynic. It Was Written was a great work of pure fiction, one of the original templates for the kind of coke dealer fantasy that’s making millions today, but heads took Nas’ change of style as treason. The I AM and Nastradamus sessions were fruitful but sabotaged by a leak-panicked Columbia Records, ultimately diluting the records and leaving some of the best tracks to rot until The Lost Tapes album was finally released. Stillmatic managed to get the crowd behind him again but sometime around the 2002 Summer Jam censorship debacle (another story altogether) Nas clearly stopped caring about “the rap scene” entirely. Subsequent albums about his mother’s passing (God’s Son) and his thoughts on family (Street’s Disciple) showed flashes of brilliance but were bogged down by sub-par production and failed experiments. More importantly, they ignored new trends and were decidedly conservative in outlook, looking back to a time when rap was about James Brown breaks and storytelling rather than shiny studio productions and crack related boasting. Ironically, heads who once clamored for a less-gangsta Nas were now left with a neutered version of the rap icon: a shadow of his former self spitting pseudo-prophetic rhymes over played-out loops and sing-song dedications to his daughter that even Eminem wouldn’t attempt.
This brings us to his latest effort, Hip Hop is Dead. While most hoped that Nas’ move to Def Jam would force the stubbornly cryptic emcee out of his insular music-making process, this isn’t the case. Rumors of Timbaland and Just Blaze tracks turned out false, Will I AM and Scott Storch delivered “Nas-style” beats and only Kanye West and Dr Dre came with modern sounding material to lure the emcee out of his comfort zone. For better or worse, this is a Nas album overseen by the man itself. One that fits comfortably into his post-millennial catalogue. Thankfully it’s also his best effort since Jay-Z pissed him off half a decade ago.
This is in large part due to the strange position Nas is in as he enters his mid 30’s. The brightest star of rap’s second generation, Nasir Jones is easing into middle age just as his chosen art form is hitting a severe low point. Stuck halfway between nostalgia and disgust, a desire to go back and a will to go forward, he’s put out one of the year’s strangest albums. One moment he’s eulogizing rap, the next he’s resurrecting it. A few tracks later he’s claiming it’ll never die…except if it does. This kind of contradiction has been a hallmark of Nas’ career and ultimately it works in his favor this time around. The uncertainty of hip hop’s future, Nas’ place in the industry as an aging lyricist and his general insular nature give him a fair bit to write about, resulting in his best collection of verses in a long time. His musings may not be on par with those he had looking out of his project window at 17, but they’re light years ahead of most stuff out today, embarrassing so called “rappers” who chant their way through hot beats with nary an original thought.
Sadly, while Nas may well be Hip Hop’s greatest living writer, he’s also one of its least accomplished musicians. While MC Serch and Steve Stoute once ably guided Nas to critical and commercial success off of their ears for tracks, Nas’ own instincts have consistently failed him when it comes to production. HHID’s beats are mostly functional, sparse affairs with plenty of room to rap over: not terrible but far from exciting. One hates to refer to Illmatic, but in comparison these beats are tinny and digital, attempting to recreate classic boom-bap using all of the wrong ingredients. A few exceptions include Kanye’s ethereal “Still Dreaming” and Mark Baton’s piano-driven “Hold down the Block”. These organic efforts are painful reminders of how compelling Nas’ music can be when set against the right tracks. Unfortunately, more than a few failures weigh down the album: Salaam Remi’s two beats hopefully signal the end of his deteriorating musical relationship with Nas and Chris Webber has as much of a chance in beatmaking as Nas does in the NBA. That’s not even mentioning the horror that is “Who Killed it”: a track so hillariously wack that I’d rather just pretend it doesn’t exist.
But none of this matters to Nas, he’s made exactly the kind of album he wanted. To the frustrations of fans and critics alike, he’s perfectly comfortable in his bubble with his wife and daughter, crafting personal albums centering on whatever’s crossed his mind recently. No matter the label, no matter how much Jay-Z nudges him and no matter the howling of the internet, Nasir Jones will continue making his music his way. In this respect he’s rap’s Bob Dylan minus the great backing band: a great poet, an average musician and a real pain in the ass for anyone who still has expectations.
With that said, we’ll all probably keep listening because it’s a cot-damned Nas album. He raps too damn well to ignore, particularly in an era mostly devoid of substance. Let’s just hope that one day he decides to create something with others in mind rather than himself.
Comments for "Nas doesn’t care about you"
“In this respect he’s rap’s Bob Dylan minus the great backing band: a great poet, an average musician and a real pain in the ass for anyone who still has expectations.”
I hear that. I went Swayze on my lunchbreak to go buy this record…like you said, I just wasn’t able to help myself…
...and it truly is every bit of a frustrating record you make it out to be. Love some tracks, iffy on the others.
— Jacob Dec 20, 03:55 PM
You’re very right about the beat selection, but here’s the thing—while the beats aren’t nearly as good as Illmatic (unfortunately everything will be compared to that), they’re a million times better than the garbage production on albums like Stillmatic.
And with Nas, it’s all about the beats he’s spitting on. Proof of this are the dozens of amateur producers who have improved on his weaker tracks by backing them with better beats.
I don’t really have much to say about his content, because I think it’s hard to complain about it when hip hop has become so disgusting in general, and it seems like you feel the same way. Nas is still a breath of fresh air in that respect.
But I think it’s fair to ask the question: Would it be feasible—and mainstream-worthy—for an artist like Nas to put out an album that completely throws it back to those old boom bap beats? I would be ecstatic, and I know a lot of people who would be too. But in the age of Scott Storch and Kanye, would the masses buy it? That’s the question.
— DC Dec 20, 05:15 PM
DC,
In an era where the masses aren’t buying albums anyway he’d have very little to lose.
— Rafi Dec 20, 05:44 PM
Well stated Sacha…Nas really doesn’t care. I’m not going to ever again expect him to work with so and so..I just want dope music from the man.
I think he and Jay are so far removed from boom-bap style beats to use I doubt they’ll ever return to that sound or maybe in later, later times? Who knows?
— esbee Dec 20, 07:31 PM
...I completely disagree with your assesment of nas album? U gonna say ‘Who killed it’ is horror? Did u take the time to listen to the lyrics, u not gonna catch it the first time around. Although nas has had better metaphoric songs i.e rewind, book of rhymes, etc I think the Cwebber track was 1 of the best tracks on the album suprisingly. How could u say Nas doesnt care? If he didnt care y would he name the album what he did…I think the album was a great conceptual album which showed his feelings towards hip hop right now. The only 2 tracks not needed on this album were #2 and the 1 w/snoop…man i wonder what u think a great album is.
— Port_o_Prince Dec 20, 09:40 PM
You’re absolutely right, except Nas hasn’t cared at least since I Am (nobody told him that it was a bad idea to ruin the incredible “Undying Love” with that sung hook?).
The weird thing is that it’s not like he always rhymes over mediocre beats. He has had tons of white labels and mixtape cuts that have very good production, but they never make it on his albums. It’s not like a Bulletproof Wallets issue where he couldn’t clear the samples either. More than anything, it shows that Nas is absolutely clueless when it comes to crafting albums.
Primo+Nas wil never happen. I think he has a better chance of doing a whole album with L.E.S. or Salaam Remi. I would be OK with either of them. I would also love to see him get a whole album of Kanye beats. It’s just this jarring inconsistency that hurts his albums: electro swizz beats garbage on one track; throwback sampled boom bap on the next; then boring, smoothed out R and B on the next.
I don’t think it would be good for him to try to anticipate what the fans want and try to pander, but it wouldn’t hurt to find one person with good taste in rap music to oversee his projects.
— eauhellzgnaw Dec 21, 12:23 AM
“Let’s just hope that one day he decides to create something with others in mind rather than himself.”
Usually a true artist
doesn’t create to satisfy
others. But I hear what you’re saying. The biggest complaints I’ve always heard about Nas is the beat selection.
I’ve wondered if he chooses the wack ones to
avoid inflated album expenses. Beats are pricy, or does Nas even care?
— Jay B Dec 21, 03:06 AM
‘’Who killed it’ is horror? Did u take the time to listen to the lyrics, u not gonna catch it the first time around.’
‘Your conspiracy theories will not work without evidence, that’s the reason Eric B is not President’
Come on man, what? If you rate the lyrics of this track?? You must think Canibus makes sense too…
— calum Dec 21, 07:00 AM
Some great tracks though. The Dre one with the Game is especially amazing.
There is a line about ‘sipping cocks’ though. ‘Not bisexual’?
— calum Dec 21, 07:04 AM
“Usually a true artist
doesn’t create to satisfy
others.”
Interesting point that I’d like to talk about.
That’s a nice ideal on paper but more than enough incredible world changing artists in the 20th century have created with more in mind than their personal satisfaction so as to dispel the “true artist” stereotype.
To me, at the end of the day a true artist creates great art. In some cases that happens solely in the case of non interference from outside factors. In some others, it happens BECAUSE of those factors. To me, Nas is in the second category. He needs a Serch or a Stoute to help him get an outside view of things.
— Sach Dec 21, 11:02 AM
Original Internet Hip Hop critique 101:
Cliche: “Sadly, while Nas may well be Hip Hop’s greatest living writer, he’s also one of its least accomplished musicians. While MC Serch and Steve Stoute once ably guided Nas to critical and commercial success off of their ears for tracks, Nas’ own instincts have consistently failed him when it comes to production. HHID’s beats are mostly functional, sparse affairs with plenty of room to rap over: not terrible but far from exciting.”
Skimming with authority: “he’s put out one of the year’s strangest albums. One moment he’s eulogizing rap, the next he’s resurrecting it. A few tracks later he’s claiming it’ll never die…except if it does.”
Mind boggling logic:Let’s get this out of the way: “Nas clearly doesn’t give a fuck about you or me and hasn’t for at least the past 5 years.” (Or when he started making music for “us”)
Arbitrary nonsense as justification: “To me, at the end of the day a true artist creates great art.”
Internet hip hop critique is dead. The need to be hip killed it.
POP POP TRUNK WAVE JUST JUST GOT PAID!
— Bkbomber Dec 21, 02:38 PM
im not going to lie i ilke who killed it? but nas attempt to sound like a 1920s new yorker sounds more like sadat-x
— Ramon Dec 21, 02:59 PM
You had my attention until the Project Pat quote, now I have to dismiss you as a southerner and NOT as you claim, a BK bomber.
Also, I think I speak for all of us here when I say we’re far too nerdy to even try to be hip. Although I do write out of the compulsive need to be an asshole to strangers.
— Sach Dec 21, 03:03 PM
eauhellzgnaw makes a great point about the non-album beats that I hadn’t thought about yesterday (and in truth it goes all the way back to the pre-Illmatic demo in which he spit on great beats), which brings up another theory—maybe Nas is one of those guys who can’t control what he wants to spit on, just hears a beat and runs with it.
Admittedly, it’s a weak theory, because it doesn’t really explain how entire albums can have weak production unless Nas has exceptionally huge lapses of good judgment, but I think maybe it’s a halfway theory. I don’t think he chooses wack beats intentionally to keep costs down and I don’t think he’s ambivalent about what he spits on.
Heh, I guess it all goes back to the frustration brought up in the original post.
— DC Dec 21, 03:44 PM
Pop pop, or trying to establish a contrast here as Trae is an artist you’ve drooled over recently. As for being an asshole, I do it cause I care and because I hold this site up to a higher standard, Breihan can get away with a play it safe baseless dismissal, I expect a little more from anything posted on Oh Word. Maybe the problem is mine. Where have you gone RHS? (tongue & Cheek clothing brand disses dont count!)
— Bkbomber Dec 21, 03:53 PM
Here we go, more proof of the Different Nas on Different Beats Theory:
http://escobartheory.blogspot.com/
Fourteen amateur producers already remixed the hope track and the beats are stronger than most of the beats on the official album. That speaks volumes.
Nas should save himself a few hundred grand and go with a mix of amateurs and Large Professor beats for his next effort, fuck Scott Storch.
— DC Dec 21, 04:15 PM
Sometimes I truly wish idiots would not be allowed to listen to or rate (judge) what I love so much because it obviously was not made for them!
It’s not the greatest album ever but it is by far one of the best of the year and of all time.
It a thought-out, relevant classic that those that care will be talking about for a long time.
not everything should be disposable. Some art should take time and thought…..like fine wine…..better over time!
— EroCentrique Dec 21, 04:33 PM
BKBomber: you’re right, was Fat Pat on the hook of that Trae song, not Project.
But trust me; if you think this was dismissive you really don’t want to read RHS’ thoughts on Hip Hop is Dead. On the other hand I personally really hope this will incites him to post on the subject. That would be fun.
Incidentally, I just read his contributions to a forthcoming group piece which is flavor and should satisfy your desire for more in-depth analysis rather than my spur-of-the-moment thoughts. But it’s not like we can crap one of those out a week.
— Sach Dec 21, 04:53 PM
When I name check RHS I dont mean dude has to agree with me, I mean I miss well thought out critique supported by evidence, and if he truly has issues with this album Id be greatly interested to consider his insights. No offense but lot of your recent critiques have been mostly intrigued by the drum. Nas is a writer, and if you really take some time with this album youll see there are a lot of reoccurring themes that run throughout this album that lead me to believe he put a lot more thought into this then you gave him credit for. This is much more than a collection of 15 songs, its an album. Finally, the thing that Id really ask you to consider is this concept that Nas doesnt care about his critics or fan base because he made an album “for himself.” Who should he be making an album for? The few remaining middle school students in red states who still buy albums? Record companies? He promised hed be giving us a challenge with his next few albums and he delivered. With songs like UBR, Sekous story (saga) and Book of Rhymes the man has constantly expanded the definition of what a rap song is and what it can be, so what if it isnt perfect, to me its always interesting. Rap is a medium like any other and without people to push its boundaries and expand its definition it will actually die. Maybe the problem is this perception that a great album has to be accessible. There may be one thing you had right, its a good thing that the internet wasnt around when Illmatic dropped. Don’t be afraid of what I will refer to as the “you would” factor. Perhaps Nas didnt make this album for you, but dont speak for me or many other people who check this site on the regular for that matter. Because I think its incredible and a lot of heads feel the same way. Dont get defensive step your weight up.
— Bkbomber Dec 22, 03:26 AM
I fail to understand why someone’s opinion on some “amateur” producers doing beats for a Nas track is proof that Nas’ beats aren’t all that. Who cares?
I’m glad Nas doesn’t care about us. We’re better off for it. You know who REALLY REALLY CARED about you hip hop fans? Hammer. He loved your asses.
— Gandalf Mantooth Dec 22, 05:40 AM
Nas’ new album is a hot steaming pile of shit in my humble opinion. So much so in fact, that I have no plans in the near future to give it a reasonable analysis. Is that fair of me? Maybe not. Does it matter in the grand scheme of things? Emphatically no. There are albums that I find worthy of trenchant analysis and other I feel comfortable dismissing out of the box. There are albums I like that I don’t care to write about, like AZ’s latest. It’s just the way it is. People are getting bent way out of shape over Sach’s take on the album. I think he evaluated it fairly and even if he went a bit far in speculating on the man’s motives, this album is getting so badly dickridden on most other blogs that complaining about one unconventional opinion and trying to disparage the author of said opinion is a bit much, unless you’re getting paid to do it…
— R.H.S. Dec 22, 08:20 AM
Thanks RHS, case and point:
“this album is getting so badly dickridden on most other blogs”
equals:
“Nas’ new album is a hot steaming pile of shit in my humble opinion.”
That is the “you would” affect. Fear of any opinion or action that would illicit the response “you would.”
And even worse than that blatantly incindiery fuck you that is more directed at dick riders than the album is how its also responsible for: “I have no plans in the near future to give it a reasonable analysis.”
Its damn shame, and then claiming that if youre not getting paid you shouldnt give a fuck? Ill reiterate:
“Internet hip hop critique is dead. The need to be hip killed it.”
— Bkbomber Dec 22, 01:54 PM
“Internet hip hop critique is dead.”
Good riddance?
“The need to be hip killed it.”
I thought it was supply far exceeding demand.
By the way can you record/send us that last sentence as a .wav file in your best impression of a 1930s gumshoe?
— Rafi Dec 22, 03:22 PM
Well I think you’re jumping to conclusions.
First of all, it isn’t 1994 anymore. There are ten million rap albums out right now, the vast amjority of which will sell relatively poorly and be forgotten. The fact that Nas has one out isn’t exactly the event it used to be. Our site has no particular obligation to give Nas any kind of special attention at all. If I really believed that this album was hip hop’s last stand or was nearly as important as some of you seem to think, I’d review it accordingly. I happen not to think very highly of the album, and I’m not aprticularly intrigued to scrutinize it and find its deep inner secrets. In any event, virtually every other blog out there is dickriding it into the sunset and we’ve never been the type of site to follow trends like that.
The comment about getting paid was in reference to the pro bono cheerleaders of this album, i.e. people who cannot just wrap their heads around the fact that not everyone has to agree with their assessment of their precious little Nas album. If you’re championing Nas for forasking any audience expectations and just doing his thing, shouldn’t the reception culture of this album be similarly honest and daring? How can you suggest that an artist record whatever he wants with no regard for his audience in one breath and then display unrealistic intolerance for any critique that wanders off the beaten path. I was simply saying that unless you’re a paid part of Nas’ street team, this view is suspiciously extreme.
Your contention that “internet hip hop critique is dead” is a little odd – how are you seperate from internet critics? You’re here, posting critiques on this website just like us, aren’t you? Or do you constitute some holier than thou contingent of hip hop whose claim to authenticity lies in their unwavering devotion to Nas, who is by all accounts, a reclusive diva.
— R.H.S. Dec 22, 03:26 PM
Respectfully guys, all respectfully. Just hope you understand I feel the issues around this album and Sachs critique I was trying to discuss are bigger than this album alone, and my intolerance isnt for dissent but trendy laziness. And for what its worth I dont know much about the rest of the nets reaction because I dont check for Hip Hop sites other than SAH because its on the Voice website (Whose Nas review was similarly luke warm) and this one because its usually free from the trite, agenda pushing bullshit I occasionally find when I venture else where. Now if youll excuse me, Im going to a Nas concert.
— Bkbomber Dec 22, 06:21 PM
The only reason everyone is up in arms about the whole HHID thing, is skirts are being pulled up, and the so-called gangsta artists are being shown that they’re really punks. Jeezy is an informant. The Clipse never sold drugs. None of these cats have street cred. Only in their minds. And that’s what’s ruling hip hop. Lunacy, lies and deceit.
Snitch ass bitches.
— Tell 'em why you mad, son... Dec 23, 11:01 AM
D-Dot: I think you misinterpret. Visitors to a site run by hip hop nerds will probably not get “up in arms” because a wealthy, middle aged new yorker is calling out tall-tale telling southerners. The fact that we listen to Nas in the first place is evidence that we don’t really care about street cred or who sold drugs.
— David Dec 23, 05:16 PM
^^^ LOL. Seriously. Do Nas’s cheerleaders have collective amnesia? Do they not remember the significant role this man has played in popularizing the fantasy drug dealer conceit in hip hop?
— R.H.S. Dec 23, 06:41 PM
I think the main thing to focus on here is that Nas fans (or Nastans, if you will) are some of the blindest, most vicious dickriders on the face of the Earth.
— Train Dec 23, 07:25 PM
And on that note, “Who Killed It?” is one of the wackest songs I’ve heard this year. Bad will.i.am beat + horrible Edward G. Robinson impersonation = recipe for wackness.
— Train Dec 23, 07:27 PM
^^^
Yo, you just don’t get it, man. Nas is droppin real knowledge. In the song, Nas is actually referencing classic hip hop songs and artists. Criminal Minded? Cypress Hill? Do you know anything about real hip hop? Nas is just too futuristic for yall haters. That’s why hip hop is dead!
On a serious note, though, Nas fans are much like any other hardcore fans: they absolutely refuse to accept the shortcomings of their hero. I’ve actually seen Nas fans defend “Rewind” as if it’s some kind of creative masterpiece.
I can’t say I care for HHID, but I can tell that he spent some time conceiving it, even if it is confused and a number of the beats are caca. I think he did a much better job with the rebirth/resurrection/nostalgia themes on Stillmatic, and there are only 5 good songs on that album.
— eauhellzgnaw Dec 23, 08:07 PM
nas is definitely a polarizing artist, but i disgree that his fans can’t tell the difference between art and crap.
granted, there are some things that you give someone like nas the benefit of the doubt on, like “Who Killed It?”, whereas if mike jones had done this i would have berated his ass.
people miss the fact that objectivity in music selection is really arbitrary and pointless, but some people’s opinions are better than others. and i respect nas’ opinion.
in other news, mixtape messiah 2 is the shit. and i definitely think hip hop is dead is one of the best albums of the year, even with its mis-steps. his mis-steps are mediocre, which is to say its better than most artist’s best foot forward. so you gotta give credit for him making crap, but good crap.
— trp Dec 25, 02:56 PM
Hip Hop is the only genre that gets people so hung up on wanting “substance” in their music. I’m not even sure what Sacha means when he says there is a lack of substance in the music. 2007 has been a GREAT year for rap music, and the best albums all had some sort of cohesive theme. I don’t see a lack of substance in any of the year’s best records, and the whole era of uber-underground rappers rapping about rapping has (thankfully) died.
Maybe you associate political music with substance? But PE was great because they had sonically impressive beats and damn good rapping. The message was third to how good the music was and how charismatic they were; the whole neo-black power movement is definitely dead but their music still has life.
Maybe you think rap lacks substance if it fails to meet your narrow expectations of what rap music should sound like. There is definitely some sort of “universal taste” being pushed here. I don’t agree with everything the popular music websites/blogs are pushing, but I also don’t agree with everything at Oh Word either. But it doesn’t really matter because I don’t believe in a “universal taste” and every music blog can push what they want. To quote Chuck Klosterman, “the only people who believe in a universal taste are insecure, uncreative elitists who need to use somebody else’s art to validate their own limited world view.”
It just baffles me when you say that an uninspired Nas shouldn’t be ignored because his rap peers lack substance. That opinion is so silly that it’s hard to take seriously anything else you say.
— Pete Dec 25, 10:30 PM
wow. nas is in my top 5. but its true it is very frustrating when expecting alot. its like hes so good at lyrics but if only he let in some good production hed blow everyone out of the game.
— angelo Dec 26, 05:41 AM
“I fail to understand why someone’s opinion on some “amateur” producers doing beats for a Nas track is proof that Nas’ beats aren’t all that. Who cares?”
Well first of all, he wouldn’t have released the last track as an acapella if it wasn’t intended to be remixed—so this aspect of the discussion was bound to come up.
Second, it’s “proof” because to most ears, the amateur producers sound better than guys like Scott Storch coming up with the same simple melodies on synths that sound like toy instruments. These guys get paid insane amounts of money to produce for one of the most anticipated albums, and this is the best they can come up with? You have to ask why, especially when it doesn’t have to be this way.
And who cares? Most of us do when an ugly beat makes the difference between a good track and a bad one, or breaks up the groove of an album we’ve all been looking forward to.
— DC Dec 26, 11:24 AM
Maybe you associate political music with substance? But PE was great because they had sonically impressive beats and damn good rapping. The message was third to how good the music was and how charismatic they were; the whole neo-black power movement is definitely dead but their music still has life.
Why wouldn’t they? I think most people have it backwards; they associate (the mostly false) tales of thug life and slinging with “depth.”
To say that “the message was third” just shows how much you know about PE and how and why they got fame.
— Gandalf Mantooth Dec 31, 06:19 AM
^^^ LOL. Seriously. Do Nas’s cheerleaders have collective amnesia? Do they not remember the significant role this man has played in popularizing the fantasy drug dealer conceit in hip hop?
that comes from a person who has never listened to a nas album cause if you had you would heard songs like if i ruled the world but i forgot you where only here to tear down nas not point out facts
— birdmane12 Feb 11, 10:40 PM
ok birdmane
— David Feb 12, 12:57 AM