Nas

The Lost Tapes

Beyond words

Review Score:

(10/10)
The Lost Tapes deserves a little background information. For the most part, this was the album that I Am... was supposed to be. However, after heavy bootlegging, I Am... was completely redone and we got an average Nas album. Looking back, if this was the album that Nas would have released instead there would be no doubt that he is the King Of New York.

You'd be hard pressed to find anything wrong with this album. The only thing that is remotely bad is that Everybody's Crazy and No Idea's Original were already released as bonus songs on special edition versions of Stillmatic. Granted, most true Nas fans have heard most of these songs, but if feels great to finally hear them in perfect quality rather than MP3.

The album starts off with the stellar Doo Rags and never lets go until the end of the final bonus track, Fetus. This is a very conceptual album, and it shows Nas's ability to make a song about anything he pleases. There are no highlights on this album, because every song is nearly perfect. If one must pick the best songs though, they would probably go with Blaze a 50, Drunk By Myself, and Poppa Was a Player. On each of these songs, Nas paints some of the most memorable images ever heard in hip hop.

Simply put, this album has to be heard to be believed. It won't appeal to the Nas "fans" who are looking for more You Owe Me, You Won't See Me Tonight, or Hate Me Now, but to any true fan of hip hop this is a must. Is this Illmatic? Not in concept, but in quality it may be just as good.

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