NEWS
EVENTS
Nas - Life is Good review
RnB/Hip Hop | Friday 13th July 2012 | Osh
Nas fans need to stop expecting the next Illmatic. While Nas's debut is of course one of the greatest and most influential records of all time, each subsequent release has been unfavourably compared to it. Life is Good is, of course, no exception. Nas himself again finds strengths in looking back; one of the album's highlights, the No ID produced "Locomotive" dedicates itself to those "trapped in the 90s", while much of the record is peppered with references to his drug-dealing past, while "Back When" looks at the downfall of hip-hop and the rise of those who blame their problems on "the mafia, the homosexuals, and the Jews".
Nas's romantic turmoil, shown on the album's cover with ex-wife Kelis's wedding dress, understandably leads to a fair amount of misogyny; a fair chunk of the record is devoted to his sexual conquest of "the baddest bitches", which while hardly revolutionary is always delivered with typical verve. However, the standard edition of the album's closer "Bye Baby" is a frank look at his split with Kelis. Along with this and "Daughters", the album's tracks on relationships are great. A definite high point for the album is the collaboration with the late Amy Winehouse entitled "Cherry Wine", in which Nas describes his ideal woman and Amy's gorgeous chorus bemoans her inability to find a man to match her. While this is definitely the album's most effective feature, Anthony Hamilton's hook on "World's An Addiction" is very strong, while Rick Ross is at the top of his game on "Accident Murderers" with the album's sole guest verse.
The beats Nas raps to on this are a hit-and-miss affair. While No ID's beats are generally excellent, such as on the aforementioned "Locomotive", as well as on "Daughters", some of the other producers, such as Justice League's opener "No Introduction" feel slightly overblown, as do a few of the Salaam Remi efforts (though he more than redeems himself with "Cherry Wine") while the album's Swizz Beatz produced club track "Summer on Smash" is simply a bad song in the context of an album, though could quite possibly work in a club, or a party scene in the next "Fast and the Furious". Likewise while "The Don" features some of Nas's best flow, the snare-heavy beat is a bit dull, though I highly advise you seek out the fantastic Massive Attack remix.
Despite its mis-steps this is a solid album worth your time and money when it drops on July 17th, with a few tracks up there with Nas's best. Lacking the political content of "Untitled", this collection of reminiscent street tales, braggadocios raps and relationship stories generally makes an effective package.
Simon Pease
