His second best album...Still nasty after all
Review Score: 








(10/10)
When "Doo Rags" jumped off, I knew it was golden. I knew he had returned despite rumors of falling off mentally from the mountain of Hip Hop's finest. This is my favorite joint on the album, yet that fact will not detract from all the bangin' that remains. "Purple" smokes like a 3 alarm fire, making me believe in the art of this once again. This review will cover the basics in order to allow you to understand its worth: beats, flows and lasting appeal.
Beats:
Maybe these aren't as commercially sound as his other CDs, but they don't have to be, because he brings it together with his rhymes. I think the beats are dark, but they give the album its atmosphere. I figured it was the whole point, because it's just not a kick it album, dig? "No Idea's Original" should be an anthem along with "Blaze A 50".
Flows:
He is, without a doubt, one of the top 10 to hold a microphone ever. Ever since I heard him on "Verbal Intercourse", I knew he was on point. Nas is a street poet, a renaissance wonder who makes most rappers shake when he steps in the room. The man is intimidating and deep as well, and it comes through in his rhymes. "Black Zombies" shows that he has love for his people, even though we are going in the wrong direction socially. He shines on "Doo Rags" with the hook "Doo rags is back/fitted hats knockers and furs/Rikers Island bus is still packed/what's the word/the drinkers stay drinkin' and puffin' the herb/while I'm still enjoyin' life's ride, right? One of the coldest hands down.
Lasting Appeal:
Nas has created a classic with this along with Illmatic, which in my opinion, are his best albums. He can't be faded, and if you don't have this album, you're slipping. I don't think cats really know he put this album out, because I haven't heard much about it, but it's here, so pick it up. This album will still get crystallized while Nelly's next CD is forgotten along with a host of other fantasy rhyme artists. Grab God's Son and Illmatic if you don't have them.
"This is for the love of Hip Hop."-Marcelle Fields
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