Nas: Hip Hop Is Dead By Migs “Pullin the tech out the dresser police got me under pressure represent!!” Its been over ten years since we first heard that powerful line by Nasty Nas. “Hip Hop Is Dead” Nas’s new release actually means hip hop is alive and kicking. Nas has brought forth the realization of creativity. What a concept, something that these artists out here have been lacking for a long time. I recently saw a Ludacris show where he was wearing a t-shirt that said “Hip hop is not dead it just lives in the south” now I don’t know about you but that sounds like a clear swipe at Nas. Now that would be a good battle Nas vs. Luda, settle is once and for all!!

This album is going to be a tough one for Luda to top. Nas definitely came correct especially on the first track “Money Over Bullshit” in which he vows to to "put a barrel in the Capo mouth/Till his scalp come out." For those who don't have time to research every true school rap icon, Nas does it for you on "Where Are They Now," functioning as a search engine, briefly indexing the likes of Busy Bee, Roxanne Shante, Special Ed, and Group Home. But it's not all lovey-dovey for the old school. On "Carry on Tradition," Nas indicts grumpy graybeard rappers, "Some rap pioneers be them crackheads / When they speak you see missing teeth.../N***as your grandfather age / They pants still hanging down their legs talking 'bout they ain't paid / And they hate you cause they say you ain't paid dues."

Nas teams up with Hova on “Black Republicans” which has a weird big movie production sample over a banging drum loop but nonetheless both represent to the fullest. Both Kanye West's tracks "Still Dreaming" and "Let There Be Light" reaffirm the energy the two showed on "We Major." Snoop Dogg even gets his off on "Play on Playa," Scott Storch's production of Marvin Gaye's "After the Dance." "Hustlers" with The Game and Marsha Ambrosius rounds it out in true lyrical fashion.

Overall “Hip Hop Is Dead” is the best work Nas has done in 5 years bout time. This is the spark that hip hop needed and will push the envelope for everyone to come correct lyrically. We are truly living in dark times in case you haven’t noticed and we need to start rappin about stuff with substance and inspiration. So put the fucking bottle of champagne down cause their ain’t nothing to celebrate right now and pick up a pen and really think hard about what you are going to say I bet we will start to see much better material from artist in 2007 cause the bar has just been set!!! I give this album 5 blunts!!!

Legacymag.Net Exclusive
Reviewd by Migs for LegacyMag.Net
LEGACY Exclusivez

LegacyMag.Net Nothing But the Best!!!! That'z our WERD!!!!!