Reader Review: Nas - Untitled (July 11, 2008)

(I sure seem to be taking my sweet time with the Nas catalog, so today Ace decided to skip the line and jump straight to his most recent album, the one which is currently Untitled but everyone knows by its earlier, much more controversial name, a topic which I will discuss in much more detail whenever I finally get to it. Let's see his take on the project.)

The catalog of Nas has always been a head-scratcher to the average hip hop fan. Many complain about his willingness to cross over, his bad ear for beats, his shock value titles as of late (such as Hip Hop Is Dead and...well, the album I'm writing about), and how most of his best songs remain officially unreleased. But that's neither here nor there. Before its release, the Untitled album had been one of the most awaited and controversial albums of his career. His DJ Green Lantern-assisted The N----r Tape left his fans salivating for the main course.

So was Nasir Jones able to deliver? Let's find out.

1. QUEENS GET THE MONEY
Untitled starts off with a simple and menacing beat by New Orleans rapper/producer(and artist bubbling under the radar) Jay Electronica. Nas seems to be as hungry as ever, with lines like "Queens get the money, n----s still screamin', paper chasin/while presidential candidates are planning wars with other nations". He even touches on his evolution as a rapper and how he won't ever be the same guy who recorded Illmatic: "Talkin' that 'Nas fell off with rhyming/ he rather floss with diamonds'/ they pray, 'please God, let him spit that Uzi in the army jacket lining'.”

2. YOU CAN'T STOP US NOW (FEAT EBAN THOMAS & THE LAST POETS)
This second track sounded familiar to many, as it samples a Whatnauts song (“Message From A Blackman”) that had already been used by the likes of MF Doom, Ill Bill, and, most recently, The RZA (on the similarly titled “You Can't Stop Me Now” from Digi Snacks). Nas uses the instrumental to discuss the power of his people, their history, and how they have been repressed. This is a pretty powerful track, featuring some spoken word poetry between the verses coming from The Last Poets.

3. BREATHE
This was a very laid back track. It's not as focused as the other tracks on Untitled, yet it still works.

4. MAKE THE WORLD GO ROUND (FEAT THE GAME & CHRIS BROWN)
This track gets way too much criticism for what it is. Sure, it's about material possessions, but its lyrics are top notch, and, dare I say it, (convicted domestic abuser) Chris Brown doesn't do a half bad job. The beat seems very commercial, but it fits the theme nicely. The Game doesn't disappoint either; he seems to really step up his game for Nas.

5. HERO (FEAT KERI HILSON)
Polow Da Don's beat creates a sound within the proportions of a street anthem, and Nas manages to fit it perfectly. The third verse is what makes this song, with bars that discuss his current situation and his view on it: "It's universal apartheid/ I'm hog tied/ the corporate side/ blockin' y'all from going to stores and buying it".

6. AMERICA
Nas vividly describes his come ups and the facade that is...America. The track sounds very R&B-ish and might lead more people to believe Nas can't choose a beat for shit, but for rappers such as Nas, the beat is only a backdrop for his story. Very controversial and a great listen. (I call bullshit on that statement, but longtime readers already knew I would: quit dismissing the beat as less important than the lyrics, folks! The two elements are equally important: nobody buys music to listen to just the words; if they did, spoken word albums would be multi-platinum best sellers.)

7. SLY FOX
Did I say that last track was controversial? Oh my, was I wrong. Of all targets (this one pretty deserving, if I say so myself), Nas goes after the Fox News Channel and all of their bullshittery. (That last word was my addition; I thought it both looked funny and described the channel's shenanigans perfectly.) If you're not a fan of Faux News, you'll already agree with all of the man's views, but that doesn't mean they're not true.

8. TESTIFY
A track where Nas asks if the fans who buy his music will actually stand for his point of views. (My guess is: no.) I wouldn't skip this one, but some will think the beat is too mellow . The lyrics are a stinger, though.

9. N.*.*.*.*.R. (THE SLAVE AND THE MASTER)
The theme of this album, conveniently rolled up into one song, with a great backdrop by DJ Toomp. Nas talks about life in the ghetto with vivid detail and how his people have been cheated and are no longer on top, as they were back in ancient times. "In the land of the blind, the man with one eye is the king". Indeed.

10. UNTITLED (A/K/A LOUIS FARRAKHAN)
Nas depicts himself as a revolutionary (big shock) and points out that many revolutionaries have been prosecuted and/or killed. A very powerful track.

11. FRIED CHICKEN (FEAT BUSTA RHYMES)
Nas and Busta Rhymes use fried chicken as a metaphor for women and how they love them, and yet, they are so bad for them. A very creative track, unless you tend to take things in a literal sense; in that case, you may get pissed that they seem to validating a stereotype. Features a banging instrumental by Mark Ronson.

12. PROJECT ROACH (FEAT THE LAST POETS)
Nas lives life as a roach and explains the similarities between the bugs and his people, with more spoken word poetry by the Last Poets. Good, but very short.

13. Y'ALL MY N----S
I was wrong about "N.*.*.*.*.R.": that was a powerful track, but this song pretty much epitomizes the album. The track discusses the stereotypes of a black person and what would "authenticate his n----rness". It also displays other uses of the word and how people view his race.

14. WE'RE NOT ALONE (FEAT MYKEL)
Features a very soulful hook sung by Mykel. The track continues the theme set by the rest of Untitled,and yet also finds time to talk about topics such as UFO's and global warming. (I made it sound stranger than it truly is: Nas just happens to touch on whatever's on his mind.) The spoken word outro by Nas is also pretty touching.

15. BLACK PRESIDENT
Not an ode to Barack Obama, but a song that analyzes his campaign,what can change with his presidency and what Obama himself must be feeling during the campaign. This is probably the most sincere song about Obama I've heard. This track actually means something, while other rappers started bragging about their “Black President” because it became a goddamn trend. "But on a positive side/ I think Obama provides/ hope/ and challenges minds of all races and colors to erase the hate/ so many political snakes/ we in need of a break." So true.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Untitled isn't in my top five or anything, but I'm gonna turn off every reader right here but saying that it is a classic disc in its own right. The album might not have as many classic beats as Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... (an album clearly not by Nas, although he appeared on it) or the intricate lyrics of Illmatic, but it is a very mature and thoughtful album that strays far from being ignorant or being controversial for the sake of album sales. This album is sincere all the way and is one of the best (released) works in the career of Nas.

BUY OR BURN?: You should really buy this album. This was the only CD I actually bought in 2008, and that says a lot.

BEST TRACKS: “Queens Get The Money”; “Hero”; “Sly Fox”; “N.*.*.*.*.R.”; “Untitled”; “Black President”

- Ace

(Be sure to leave your comments below, and if you have something to say about your favorite album, or you just want to have as many people as possible give it a listen, be sure to hit me up at the e-mail address in the top right.)