Nas

The Lost Tapes

Lost & Found--For the Better

Review Score:

(10/10)
Whoever said Nas was finished (will the real Shawn Carter please stand up) is obviously not a rap historian. Everyone knows that after Nas has his downs, he definitely restores his legend. Such is the case with "The Lost Tapes."
The first cut, "Doo Rags," is an example of why Nas is such a talented lyricist; he shows how much he knows about hip-hop and puts it into a song. Next is the triumphant "My Way," where he slides a dis towards Jay-Z in one lyric, but the rest goes over his amazing career in rap. Then, of course, he had to give you a song like "Purple," which, over a jazzy beat orchestrated by Hill, Inc., is the most insightful song on the whole album (except for "Drunk By Myself"). He gives a weed-smoker's view of the world, ending each verse with, "My mind state is purple." God's son never ceases to amaze. And "Blaze a 50" and "Fetus" show the best storytelling skill that Nasir Jones has to offer.
But Nas takes us into his childhood on "Poppa Was a Playa," an ode to his father. The track lets Nas's dad know that even though he was unfaithful and sometimes an annoyance to his mother, he still loves him for staying with the family for so many years.
In short, "The Lost Tapes" is what "Nastradamus" should've been: a collection of hot beats, hotter lyrics, and a helluva lotta God's son.

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