I haven’t seen such a fantastic week in hip hop in so long people – that’s a hint to go check out the notable mentions for this week because every single one listed is beyond dope. But, after covering the album so much, and the high anticipation for the album, it was nearly inevitable that the great Nasty Nas‘ tenth studio album Life Is Good would land the top spot as Hip Hop Album of the Week on The Hip Hop Speakeasy. Imagine It Was Written mashed with Nas’ Untitled album… that’s Life Is Good, only better than you can imagine. Although over a decade removed from the streets, Nas still finds the power to write some of the illest and realest rhymes hip hop has ever seen. On Illmatic, it was somewhat easier for Nas to write songs, based on what he saw around him (“all the world’s ills,” if you will). What is really incredible is that Nas refuses to let down with his insane rhyming and storytelling. Not the drug life, but the real life of a grown man is a major subject on this album; from tracks like “The Don” to “Daughters,” Nas speaks on life now, which is way more appealing to a supportive hip hop audience than talking about money and women. However, for those Nas Stans who yearn for the 90s street-Nas, tracks like “A Queens Story” and “World’s An Addiction (feat. Anthony Hamilton)” reach back to his roots in hip hop as he rhymes just like he used to in the golden days. Reminiscent of his God’s Son introspective/insightful days, Nas raps very thoughtful-like on tracks like “Reach Out (feat. Mary J. Blige).” The beats on the album are dope, too, mostly featuring production from Salaam Remi and No I.D. The quality of the album is just as I expected it to be and more. Nas is not letting up anytime soon, even if this is his last album with Def Jam. Nas is and will forever be one of the greatest MCs to ever grace a microphone and Life Is Good just proves that as it is better than most albums released this decade. So, my rating…
9.5/10
Tracklisting:
1) No Introduction
2) Loco-Motive (feat. Large Professor)
3) A Queens Story
4) Accident Murderers (feat. Rick Ross)
5) Daughters
6) Reach Out (feat. Mary J. Blige)
7) World’s An Addiction (feat. Anthony Hamilton)
8) Summer On Smash (feat. Miguel & Swizz Beatz)
9) You Wouldn’t Understand (feat. Victoria Monet)
10) Back When
11) The Don
12) Stay
13) Cherry Wine (feat. Amy Winehouse)
14) Bye Baby
***Notable Mentions:
Masta Ace & MF DOOM: MA_DOOM: Son of Yvonne (physical release)
The Alchemist: Russian Roulette
Blu & Exile: Maybe One Day EP
Snowgoons: Snowgoons Dynasty
Public Enemy: Most of My Heroes Still Don’t Appear On No Stamp
