NAS deserves big props. These days, you don’t see the same quality from big names as you did back in the day. To me, what separates NAS from everyone else is his approach. Sure, he has an immense amount of talent but he approaches rap as an art. You look at the Nelly’s, the Ja’s, even Eminem to an extent, and rappers like that want to make hip hop into such a business. NAS seems like he knows, for the most part, how to separate the business aspect from the artistry of it all.
He relied on his skills for this album and it payed off. Any emcee can copycat and pickup on what’s hot at the moment, but NAS knows what it is to be a true artist. That’s why he has just separated himself from most of the emcees out there. Big ups!
This is my review of “Streets Disciple” after a few listens.
Disc 1
Intro: Nas talking over a piano. Very dark and moody. 5/5
Message To The Feds: Same piano as the intro but now with a pounding beat and Nas finally starts to rap. Nas raps fairly slow for him and after about a minute the beat changes and Nas raps faster. This song is classic and just as good start to the album as on God’s son and Stillmatic. 5/5
Nazareth Savage: This is the new ‘Made You Look’ and is really hard sounding. Nas is dissing Jay-z. 5/5
American Way: Great song with Kelis on the hook. Some people have moaned about Kelis being on this but I think she sounds real good. Great beat as well. 5/5
These Are Our Heros: Nas talking about his heros. Nas gets at Kobe pretty serious. Talks about how he tried to imitate MJ to his rape case to getting at Shaq. He talks about him failing as a role model and how he let ‘them’ use him. I know Kobe will get mad/hurt about this though as I remember him saying his favorite MC’s are Biggie, Jay-Z, and Nas. And that he knows all the verses they’ve spit. Nas dissing my hero. 4/5
Disciple: The beat has been changed for this a little bit and sounds even better. The lyrics and flow by Nas on this are amazing. 5/5
Sekou Story: There are two parts to this song and the first part sounds a little bit like ‘Get Down.’ The second part sounds like a female rapper but aparentaly it is Nas and they just changed the pitch in his voice. 4/5
Live Now: There are also two parts to this song and I just wished the first part was longer because it has a great piano beat and hook. Good lyrics by Nas. 5/5
Rest Of My Life: Amerie is singing on the chorus to this song and sounds great. Nas raps slow on this and it has a slow hard beat. 5/5
Just A Moment: This song has the same beat as a Freeway song. A great singing chorus and Nas raps only one verse. There are lyrics about how everyone is missing 2 Pac, Biggie and Aaliyah and lyrics about war. 5/5
Reason: Another good singing chorus and Nas raps three great verses. Not a bad beat. 5/5
You Know My Style: Don’t really like this. 1/5
Disc 2
Suicide Bounce: Wow, This song is one of my favs and Busta Ryhmes sounds amazing on the hook. Very dramatic. 5/5
Streets Disciple: This is the new What Goes Around and has great soaring violins. Nas comes hard on this and features his dad on the hook. 5/5
UBR: Not feeling this at the moment because I find the beat kinda dull. Nas tells the Rakim story. 3/5
Virgo: This song features Ludacris. It has an old sounding beat. The beat is bouncy and the song is ment for the clubs. 3/5
Remember The Times: This has Kelis on the intro. On this song Nas is telling Kelis about his past partners, and it has a real soulful sounding beat like ‘Poppa Was A Playa.’ This song is rude and very funny. 5/5
The Makings Of A Perfect Bitch: Nas is trying to sound like Tupac on this song. Need to hear this more. 3/5
Getting Married: Going by the name you would think this song was soft but it is not. Nas raps really fast and hard and I think it samples the Mary J Blige song ‘I love You’ on the chorus. 5/5
No One Else In The Room: This song sounds different to the rest of the album and is a little bit commercial. I need to hear this song more. 3/5
Bridging The Gap: Nas with his dad on the mic. Everyone has heard this song, good single. 4/5
War: This song is one of the best on this disc and has great soulful singing chorus. Nas is great on here. 5/5
Me & You: Nas is only singing on this song about his daughter. Did not like this at first but is now growing on me. 3/5
Thiefs Theme: Most people have heard this. Amazing beat and the lyrics by Nas really stand out, Classic. 5/5
Streets Disciple is a classic. So refreshing to hear a GREAT album like this now that there is so much crap in the rap game.
Eh? That was Stiilmatic. And that was a straight classic. Probably my fav Nas album after Illmatic. He released Gods Son after that though.
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This is Nasdaq dough, in my Nascar with this Nas flow. Flip the beat back, now it's all reppin'. Hit the record sto', never let me go, get my whole collection, yo.
— Nas, "Got Ur Self A... "
Yeah from Stillmatic I liked One Mic, and this song up here, but not that much more........
Who's Brother Ali, I never heard of him?
I like Immortal Technique 4 sure, also Kanye Wests new CD Collage Dropout is hot. Thru the Wire and Family Business are solid tracks.
This is Nasdaq dough, in my Nascar with this Nas flow. Flip the beat back, now it's all reppin'. Hit the record sto', never let me go, get my whole collection, yo.
— Nas, "Got Ur Self A... "
Yeah from Stillmatic I liked One Mic, and this song up here, but not that much more........
Who's Brother Ali, I never heard of him?
I like Immortal Technique 4 sure, also Kanye Wests new CD Collage Dropout is hot. Thru the Wire and Family Business are solid tracks.
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You telling me you didn't like Ether?
Trust me download some stuff from Brother Ali. Good tracks;
Forest Whitaker (beautifully chilled out beat), Soul Whisper, Picket Fence, Pay Them Back.
He's also a convert to Islam so it gives you a different kind of perspective.
I bought the album just to support him, been a fan of nas from way before...I dont dig this album as much as his other albums from the past...When you make an album, u dont release it till you have atlesat one or two club songs, or a song that will bumpin on every radio station.
My fav tracks of his albums are...
Message to the feds
Just a moment
The making of perfect *****
Its not the lyrics that dont dig me, i mean nas, his lyrics and flow is amazing and realist then any of these lil rapper kids who brag about dumb stuff like cars and money only... Its just that nas could do a better job with his music also.
NAS is seriously one of the best MC's out there right now who has been very consistent artist over the years with his amazing lyrics.
I liked what Em brought in 2000. But then he turned his attention to high school kids. Jay-Z, who's latest collaboration with Linkin Park, who outsell NAS(considering that LP fans base), still NAS is and will always be better than Jay-Z despite sales. Streets Disciple is also probably one of NAS' less commercial albums in a long while. A great album for sure, but it doesn't have the commercial appeal and a single along the lines of "I Can", "Got Yourself A...", "You Owe Me", etc...
Anyhow, the latest I have heard that NAS said on the radio that his next album will be out in the summer of 2005. Yep, as early as that. He said that he has the whole album planned out and now just needs to get in the studio and lay it down.
He also said that Lost Tapes 2 is ready for release with some old material on it but mostly songs that did not make Streets Disciple. Hopefully, a quality non-DJ version of "Serious." Maybe they could add another verse or something. Also, "Good Morning" will likely be on there.
I once made a thread with some hip-hop songs but they were piss-takes. I don't know if you've heard of that 50-pence English dude but he is hilarious.
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Yeah, I heard that the other day, friggin hilarious. Rapping with the english accent sounds cool.
Yeah, I heard that the other day, friggin hilarious. Rapping with the english accent sounds cool.
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Got another two underground classic tracks for you to download. You might have heard them but Saga Remix (not original) by Cormega and Reality Check by Binary Star are brilliant.
pac is the greatest of all time but nas is the man also, the boys lyrics are amazing, listen to that song my country from stillmatic album, i feel us Pakistanis know what real hip hop and real music is about cuz nas, pac, big they are real story tellers unliek other new rappers who just are commercial!!
Got another two underground classic tracks for you to download. You might have heard them but Saga Remix (not original) by Cormega and Reality Check by Binary Star are brilliant.
Definitely worth the hassle.
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I'll check those tracks out man,, I have'nt heard of either guy..........
My personal favourite rapper is Pac 4 sure
tracks like Rearview Mirror, God Bless the Dead, Gangsta Team are unmatched. All Eyes On Me Disc 1 and 2 are the best Hip Hop set ever. Only stuff I've ever heard in that class is Immortal Technique maybe Dance with the Devil or You Never Know.
BIG's Life After Death is also a classic no doubt
Immortal Technique's lyrics are very passionate, especially his numerous political tracks. Revolutionary Vol 2. was a classic album.
If you like "The 4th Branch", check out "The Cause of Death", "Peruvian Cocaine", "Harlem Streets", "The Point of No Return", "Leaving the Past", "Freedom of Speech"...Pretty much all of Revolutionary Vol. 2.
"Dance with the Devil" and "You Never Know" are two of the most depressing songs out there.
If the Grammy's star selecting the best music of the year rather than the best mainstream music of the year, Kanye West wouldn't get more than 2-3 nominations.
"The College Dropout" was good, but Kanye should stick to producing. He isn't a bad rapper, he just isn't as good as he is hyped up to be. It would also help if he didn't have guest on his albums as they always end up outshining him (College Dropout). As a producer, Kanye is great.
Talks about how he tried to imitate MJ to his rape case to getting at Shaq. He talks about him failing as a role model and how he let ‘them’ use him. I know Kobe will get mad/hurt about this though as I remember him saying his favorite MC’s are Biggie, Jay-Z, and Nas. And that he knows all the verses they’ve spit. Nas dissing my hero. 4/5 