Nas

Nastradamus

Nastradamas

Review Score:

(4/10)
The main reason that Nas's 4th release has been put down so harshly is because it was a huge diversion from the street poetry of "Illmatic". I read a review for this over at Epinions that basically gave the message that this is a sell-out album and that it was hated for good reason.

Indeed, I have to agree with these points. As opposed to the brilliant lyricism of "Illmatic", "Nastradamas" is filled with materialistic and commercialized subject matter. In 94', or even back in 91' when people heard his lyrics "Live At The Barbeque", no one could've imagined him kicking weak lyrics about ice, riches, women, money, and all that garbage. This album IS a sell-out, and even hardcore Nas fans have to agree with that. As far as i'm concerned, "Nasatradamas" is nothing but a project to get him money and nothing else (including no respect from early fans). So let me say now that subject-matter-wise, this album is his absolute worst.

Now, if you listened to some of the weaker tracks from his previous album "I Am" you'll see that Nas still had good rhymes (at times multi-syllable flow) keeping the track from being a waste. But here, Nas flows monosyllablic and clumsily. However, in this album there is one track that actually lets Nas flow to the best of his ability entitled "Project Window"*. You will notice the multi-syllable flow and creative lyrics (sample: "Black hoods, cops 'n projects/sewers flooded with foul blockage/The gutter's wild and every child watches"). Seeing that sample I gave you, you'll notice the creative rhyming of the words "projects" "Blockage" "Watches". It shows that Nas probably still had the ability to describe a scene (in this case staring out of his window as a child). If you expect this type of song throughout the album, varying the subject-matter, you're out of luck. Throughout this album, Nas's rhymes have become simple and easy. Just read this from the title-track: "I need an encore y'all, you should welcome me back/You wanna ball til you fall? I can help you with that/You want beef? I could let a slug melt in your hat*2." Ridiculously simple, and surprisingly unthreatening.

*The reason why "Project Window" may sound completely different from the other songs on this album is because it was supposed to be on "I Am". Nas was a much better writer that short time ago when he was recording "I Am". It was leaked when "I Am" came out and it was cut from the release.

*2 This sample from the title track started beef with Nas and Roc-A-Fella records. Bleek had made some song around the same time where he said, "I'ma ball till I fall." Reading this sample again, you can see how Bleek may have felt like it was an indirect diss. Nas claimed it was just lyrics, but the Roc-A-Fella camp didn't buy it. Listen to the Memphis Bleek track "My Mind Right" to hear his response to Nas.

Production-wise this album is good and bad. On one hand, Premo produces a dope beat for "Come Get Me" with his trademark scratching and orchesta-influenced sounds. On the other hand, Timbaland produces an almost disco-sounding beat for "You Owe Me". These are not the only highlights of good and bad. A few beats just sound terrible ("Some of Us Have Angels") Another bad thing is that Havoc missteps here with "Shoot Em Up". An interploitation of a christmas song with a rumbling bassline? I don't think that's gonna work with too many people.

Standouts: Although the aforementioned "Project Window" suffers from weak production and a terrible hook by Ron Isley, Nas spits very well here. The aforementioned "Come Get Me" has dull lyrics, but Nas rides the dope beat very well. "New World" is an interesting conceptual track about post-Y2K world. The beat is dull, but the main focus is the lyrics. "Shoot Em Up" only succeeds because of the original concept, turning the Christmas carol overtone into an extremely violent bloodbath. "Family" with Mobb Deep has good lyrics from Prodigy, enough said.

Overall, I can't recommend this album. It's not the difference from his previous albums that bother me. Rather, it's the rhymes, lyrics, and painfully average production (excluding "Come Get Me").

If you enjoy this album, I would also recommend Ja Rule's "Rule: 3:36" (which in my opinion is not a very good album, but is similar for those who liked "Nastradamas")

Overall 2.3 stars (rounded to 2)

More Reviews: