Ever since his debut, Nas has always been known as one of the premier lyricists in Hip-Hop. The public may have sometimes overlooked with “Who’s the Hottest” lists and what not, but for most, Nasir Jones has always kept a spot on a large amount of “Greatest of All Time” lists (Come on, we all have our Top 5). His last album, Hip Hop Is Dead, Nas had the whole Hip-Hop community debating on the whether the art form has met its demise or not (2 years later, we still are).  Well, not to be outdone by him self, Nas releases the originally titled Nigger (Now known as Untitled). Once again, the title (or even the thought of the title) caused a firestorm of controversy not just with the Hip-Hop community but with the national/international media and caused even more debate. Even with all of the attention, at the end of the day it’s all about the music. After changing the title supposedly so it could be sold in places like Wal-Mart, the bad thing for Nas is that the album has been leaked for almost 2 weeks now. The good thing for us is… the album has been leaked for almost 2 weeks now. What’s the verdict? Let’s find out…

1. Queens Get The Money
Produced by Jay Electronica
Even though it was once believed that Jay Electronica would contribute a verse to this album, his sole involvement was production of the intro track. Over a chopped piano sample, Nas sounds poignant while effortless as he rhymes about his hood, fatherless children, government back dealing, and even his wife  (“My queen used her milkshake to bring y’all to my slaughterhouses”). Nasir even drops a 50 Cent diss so intricate, Curtis Jackson might have a hard time catching it.

2. You Can’t Stop Us Now
Featuring Eban Brown & The Last Poets; Produced by Salaam Remi
This song could be taken as a national anthem for the Black downtrodden. On the first verse he goes over our persecution, our history, and the overlooking of such (“Betsy Ross sold the American flag/Bet she had a nigger with her to help her old ass”). King Jerm was quick to point out to me that the RZA recently used this same sample/hook on his latest album. Nas easily trumps that’s version with this when you add The Stylistics’ Eban Brown blessing the hook and the superior production from Salaam Remi (If this is the song that supposedly replaced “Be A Nigger Too”, I prefer this one).

3. Breathe
Produced by J. Myers & Dustin Moore
“In America you’ll never be free/Middle finger up, fuck the police”. Even though the hook may sound aggressive, the beat and tone is completely opposite from that. This is a lay back and smoke out song (If I actually did smoke). Nas just speaks on just being able to relax instead of worrying about being arrested, poor, or shot. Even with it’s sleepy guitar, the song works because that’s the attitude.

4. Make The World Go Round
Featuring Chris Brown & The Game; Produced by Cool & Dre/Co-Produced by The Game
Well, you can’t like everything. Other than scratching my head about the Chris Brown feature, this song has other problems. The beat provided by Cool & Dre (And I guess The Game) can get kinda annoying with the background sample. Nas sounds more like his 1996 Escobar version with all the flossing in his rhymes. The Game comes with his C game (No pun intended) and spend too many bars rapping about Tony Romo, Jessica Simpson, and Nick Lachey. This is not the revolutionary music we was promised and I pray that this won’t be a single.

5. Hero
Featuring Keri Hilson, Produced Polow Da Don
The official first single off the album. The weird paring of Polow and Nas surprisingly produces gold. Some people have complained that the hook and title of the track was kind of corny. But when you think about it, couldn’t Nas’ collaboration with Alicia Keys on “Warrior” be taken the same way? From the production stand point, Polow Da Don provides a complicated track on an album that more or less musically simple. The beautiful Keri Hilson does her thing also. I surprised with all the superhero movies coming out this summer, not one of them legitimately used this as a theme song.

6. America
Produced by Stargate
Here, Nas goes in more about the thievery and backhandedness of some American tactics. Over a Stargate produced track (Who previously has worked with mostly R&B/Pop acts), Nasir evokes some pretty powerful imagery; “Lipstick from Marilyn Monroe/Blow a death kiss to Fidel Castro”. It’s basic message is that to foreigners, America is not what you think it is.

7. Sly Fox
Produced by stic.man
Nas does what a lot of rappers are scared to do, goes straight at Bill O’Reilly’s home, Fox News and the whole Fox monopoly. Over a heavy metal riff, Nas breaks done and analyzes the longs tentacles of the Fox Corporation be it the George W. Bush favoritism, their racist and bias owned newspapers, or their heavy internet presence. It’s fitting that stic.man of dead prez produced this track since that this is exactly the kind og thing dead prez normally does.

8. Testify
Produced by Mark Batson
When the first line of a song is “I just burnt my American flag/And sent three cracker Nazi to hell and I’m sad”, you know immediately that Nas is shooting from the hip. The production here is intimate; almost like you watching Nas perform this is a sparse café or blue’s club. Nas asks the question; If you believe my music, would you really stand with me and ride what you believe in? After a few listen, it’s a prevailing song.

9. N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave & The Master)
Produced by DJ Toomp
This is perhaps my favorite track off the album is probably started my whole excitement about this album. DJ Toomp continues his frequency of collaborating with Hip-Hop greats (Jay-Z and now Nas) and totally delivers a banger. Even though Toomp is a southern producer, Nas sounds comfortable and at home here of Toomp signature sound. Spelling out the original name of the album and continuing it’s theme, Nas goes in; “They say we N-I/Double G E-R/We are much more/But still we choose to ignore the obvious/Man this history don’t acknowledge us/We was scholars way before colleges “. Without the title, I swear this song would have gotten major play on radios and television. It’s just that good.

10. Louis Farrakhan
Produced by stic.man
At first I thought this was one of Nas “biography” song like the ones he did for Rakim (from Street’s Disciple) and Mike Tyson (from The Nigger Tape). But actually, it more like homage and uses a sample of Farrakhan’s name. Nas goes in about being the tribulations of being a revolutionary. It’s crazy, but being a dead prez fan, I still surprised at the great production provided by stic.man.

11. Fried Chicken
Featuring Busta Rhymes; Produced by Mark Ronson
I have to applaud Nas for taking this approach on this subject. In an ironic but serious way, Nas and Busta verse about the stereotypically favorite meats of African Americans: Pork and Chicken. Instead of just preaching about health ricks and such, they take it and flip it giving these foods the personification of women they lust for. Busta Rhymes surprised me because lately I have started growing weary of his features. The beat takes this from average lyrical album track to banger.

12. Project Roach
Featuring The Last Poets; Produced by Eric Hudson
This could be taken as an interlude since it clocks at around a minute and a half. Just like Nas did on other classic like “I Gave You Power” (Where he takes the role of a gun), Nas rhymes here form the perspective of a project roach. Well, maybe not. This song is a double edged sword of meaning that is helped by the poetry of the legendary Last Poets. I’ll let you be the judge. Satisfying song.

13. Ya’ll My Niggas
Produced by J. Myers
Nas continues pushing the subject about the “N word” and the commercialization of Black culture as a whole. J. Myers production gives Nas room to talk about these issues; “Controversy surrounds/Who can say it and when/Some niggas is full time/Some playing pretend/So fuck that no apologies on the issue/If it offends you, it meant to/It’s that simple”. This is a easy listen but packs a punch by way of content.

14. We’re Not Alone
Featuring Mykel; Produced by stic.man
The hook here provided by Mykel, is soulful and thought out. Nas finds a way cover subjects like alien abduction, conspiracy theories, and racial unity in the same song. Nas then surprises us when he goes spoken word at the end when he explains and states that he actually has loves America and all nationalities and that a new day is approaching (This is the same thing he did with “Hope” on Hip Hop Is Dead). This would be a great way to end the album, but it opens the door for…

15. Black President
Featuring Johnny Polygon; Produced by DJ Green Lantern
This song was at first thought to be an exclusive to the DJ Green Lantern hosted The Nigger Tape mixtape. I guess this song seemed fitting to add the official album seeing the current situation with the United States. I like this song but it seems to come off clichéd when you add the Obama sound bites and the R&B hook. Don’t get me wrong, like I said, I like the song. Nas spits some heavy knowledge about the problems and pluses of a Black Commander In Chief while the 2Pac sample from “Changes” is well placed.

Bottom Line:
When I first heard this album in its entirety, I called King Jerm and put out what I called a “5 Star Watch” (I only do this when I think an album is a classic; I don’t do this very much). We here at nappyafro have never given a 5 rating to any album we have reviewed and it seems as if that streak will continue. Nas has created arguably the best album (so far) of 2008. Untitled (I still prefer to call it Nigger but what do you do) is exactly what we need in today’s Hip-Hop climate of excess and “making it rain”. It calls back to the days when Hip-Hop could make you think about your way of life and even inspire you to make it better. The album had a cohesive feel with only one slip up; without it the rating might have been higher. Even if Nas doesn’t break the bank when the album’s sale numbers are released next week, he should be proud of the art and hope Untitled has produced. Nasir Jones should also be proud that he brought up the topic of racism and inequality and made people who normally wouldn’t talk such things do just that; and at the end of the day, wasn’t that his main objective?

nappyPicks: We really need to go and support album like this. I’ll have a better chance telling which one wasn’t notable.

Download: Nas – “Like Me” (UK Bonus Track)

Damn, it’s kinda quiet on the Hip-Hop front huh? No review going up today, so I guess it’s as good as time as any to do another iPod Hustle. This is where I pick some songs off my ever present iPod and explain to you what I’m currently listening to. Sometimes it’s new stuff; sometimes it’s old stuff, but all the time its good stuff. In this edition I‘m going all Nas. Yep, in anticipation of the “official” release of Untitled/Nigger, I looking at the Nas songs on my iPod I’m currently listening to. Not saying that these are the best or even the hottest Nas songs, just a few that I currently playing (That’s not on the new album).

Download: Nas – “Nigger Hatred” (2008)

I’m sure you’ve seen this one online (It was also played in the intro of “Be A Nigger Too” music video). But since all the links seem to be taken down, why not put it here. While “Queens Get The Money” is a worthy intro, I still hope this ends up on the official album (It may be a bonus track). It’s just piano and Nas spitting some revolutionary shit; “This is the genesis/I don’t even see a worthy arch nemesis/I get loose like the Jena 6/They put a noose on Pac/Now I’m defending Vick/And free that nigga Tip”.

Download: Diddy feat. Nas & Cee-Lo – “Everything I Love” (2006)

A lot of people hate on Diddy (including me) and I admit he does some cornball ass stuff. But that last album, Press Play, wasn’t half bad. One track that was a standout was the Cee-Lo/Nas featured and Kanye produced “Everything I Love”. Of course Nas outshines Diddy; “Think fast before I blast holes/Like grassy knolls/Went from scraggly old clothes to the illest fashion/The realest rappin’”(There’s also a remix featuring Jadakiss, but this isn’t about Jada).

Download: Nas – “Where Y’all At” (2006)

I’m still mad that this song wasn’t on the original album (Best Buy bonus tracks don’t count). It was this song that that initially got me hyped for Hip Hop Is Dead. I remember even the self proclaimed “Kufi Smacker” Jim Jones even said that the song was hot and good for New York. Nas channels his former ’94 self over Salaam Remi production; “Eat with my elbows top of the table/Street etiquette with speech impediments/And still see presidents, no matter who paid/Cause you ain’t take the last dollar made/Long as they keep printing it, there’s chances of getting it/Money’s my bitch, and we stay intimate”.

Another day, another new song by Nasir Jones. Damn Nas, you might wanna put a hold on some of these leaks homie. After a while, I’ll just start assemblying the album myself for what I have (Like I wasn’t anyway or already haven’t). Well, all bullshit aside, I’m still loving what I’m hearing so far. In today’s leak, we have the Jay Electronica produced “Queens Get The Money”, the Salaam Remi produced “You Can’t Stop Us Now”, the stic.man produced “We’re Not Alone”, as well as the track “Breathe” (4 songs people!). I wasn’t gonna post this at first, but what the hell (Shouts out to Tha Carter Cartel). Enjoy.

Download: Nas – “Breathe”

Download: Nas feat. Eban Thomas – “You Can’t Stop Us Now”

Download: Nas – “Queens Get The Money”

Download: Nas feat. Mykel – “We’re Not Alone”

*Update: More songs have came out, but you know…

*Update: “Drip, drip”

If you heard any of my statements about the new Nas album, you know that I’m really excited about it. Whether it’s called Nigger or Untitled doesn’t matter to me; I just know that what I’ve heard so far is good. Well, a couple of Nas tracks “leaked” today to my much delight and it’s more of the same. The first track is the stic.man produced “Sly Fox” and as the saying goes, Nas goes in (On the Fox News Network too no doubt). The second track is “Fried Chicken” featuring Busta Rhymes and produced by Mark Ronson (This track was originally released a few weeks ago but it was the radio rip). I love shit like this! This the God’s Son version of Nas; meaningful music. People may hate me saying this, but even though Wayne may have sold a million, I think Nas will have the better album. Enjoy.

Download: Nas – “Sly Fox”

Download: Nas feat. Busta Rhymes – “Fried Chicken”

Nas & Green Lantern are preparing to drop a mixtape called The Nigger Tape. Well, the artwork for the mixtape is out. What do you think? Hell, I guess Nas figures that he’s gonna drop something with “nigger” in it. All jokes aside, it took a while for me to get excited about the actual Nigger album (Now titled just Nas), but after seeing rumored tracklists and hearing Nas in some recent interviews, I’m actually looking forward to it. Even though he may sometimes not be acknowledged, Nas is still one of the best MC’s ever to rhyme. I’ve always been a big Nas fan but at first I thought he was just trying to starts some controversy, which I think he should be above (Remember the arguments Hip Hop Is Dead caused?). What do I think? Me? I’m all for shit like this that makes you think and remember. Here’s the full shot:

My inbox was full of requests for 5 Questions, so you know I like giving the people what they want! (NH) So this time we’re talking about the absence of the female MC, Nigger, Buck’s future, LAX, and last but not least Jayonce! I know B-Easy’s still upset about the wedding. NO, not because Beyonce’s off the block but his mancrush Jay is no longer single! (NH)

Question #1: How good is LAX going to be?

After hearing the Game’s new single “Big Dreams” I wasn’t really impressed with it. But after hearing it a second time, I was hooked! The track provided by Cool & Dre, is a killer. But I don’t want to ruin it for you download the song right here! Download: The Game – “Big Dreams”

Question #2: Are you glad the whole Jay/Bey thing is over?

Okay, let’s get this out the way…Jay-Z and Beyonce are married. Well at least is what they want us to think. Well, this is our ONE & ONLY time mentioning the “Billion Dollar Couple”. But it’s been years of courtship, and they have finally tied that knot. Well congrats to the new couple. Welcome to the Husband Club Jigga!

Question #3: Can Young Buck make it without G-Unit?

Getting kicked out of the Unit isn’t a bad thing, is it? Look what happened with Game. As long as Buck doesn’t let it get ugly, he should be alright. As long as he doesn’t “jump out that window” he should weather the storm. Sha Money stated that Buck had 10 million, and 50 had to pay 500K in back taxes for Buck, so where is the 10 million? Maybe Buck does have a beef. Just don’t air it out, because Curtis will end your career! Ask Cam!

Question #4: Will Nigger ever come out?

I was excited to see Nas pull off one of the biggest stunts of all time, release an album titled Nigger. I was anxious to see how it was going to go down. I see it has been pushed back twice already! Maybe with enough pressure Nas will cave in and shelve the idea of having an album called Nigger. But I hope Nas can do it, just for the simple fact that he is getting NO help from the label with the promotion of Nigger. Well Nas, here goes some free promotion.

Question #5: Where are all the female MC’s?

All the female MC’s are doing other things besides rapping. You got some jailbirds; one-hit wonders, science projects, and the rest are either washed up, or on their way to the Laundromat. The female market is wide open now and ready for the taking. Who can step up and take the crown? Lil’ Mama is too young, Remy was on the way and ran into legal trouble, Foxy loss her hearing, and then got locked up. Kim, well you know what she’s doing! We need some real female MC’s to restore the feeling. We already went through a generation of misogyny; let’s not go through that again. We can’t leave it up to Khia to be that person, can we? (Note: Here the Top 10 Female MC’s Of All Time)