The much anticipated and highly controversial Nas album which was originally titled “Nigger” but due to pressure from corporate and apparently governmental entities, changed to simply “Nas” is slated to release July 15th, 2008, finally. For most hip-hop fans Nas represents everything good in rap. A young black male surrounded by drugs, poverty, and violence assumes the role of a “hood reporter” of some sorts and awakens the masses to the injustices that exist in a society where the shooters of Sean Bell could walk away from trail “Scott Free” while the crack-cocaine laws remain unjust. From Illmatic to Hip Hop is Dead, Nas has remained the same guy who wouldn’t accept a Coors Light endorsement deal, because of the effect it may have had on children. The self proclaimed revolutionary takes on his biggest challenge to date in his latest release… the racial problem that is.

The album starts off with a lyrical tirade of an intro, laced with metaphors and wordplay that may leave some new rappers contemplating early retirement. From there, Nas professes his love of black culture in a track called “You Can’t Stop Us Now”. “Make the World Go Round” Feat. Game & Chris Brown (where Nas calls Chris the next Micheal Jackson) and Hero Feat. Keri Hilson are easily the most radio friendly of the 15 tracks on the album. Both songs are classic caliber material. “Sly Fox” is a Fox News diss, where Nas responds to the criticism he had faced from conservative pundits such as Bill O’Reilly. Lines like, “The only Fox I ever loved was the Red one, the only black man Fox loves is in jail or a dead one” make the track an easy listen, even to fans who don’t necessarily enjoy hip-hop/rock songs. Tracks like “N.I.G.G.E.R.”, “Fried Chicken” Feat. Busta Rhymes, and “We’re Not Alone” are all incredible songs that lead the way for the final song “Black President” which is a Barack Obama endorsement like no other. After listening to the album at least a couple times, one can’t help but to think about how well formatted it is. Besides Cool & Dre and Polow Da Don there aren’t many mainstream producers on this project yet Nas manages to deliver another great album certainly capable of grabbing the Album of the Year honors for 2008 and maybe… just maybe adding to his list of Classics.
LYRICS: A
HOOKS: A-
CONTENT: A
DELIVERY: A
PRODUCTION: B+
Written by hiphophype.