Nas walks the fine line between keeping the sound he is known for and staying true to that while attempting not to sound dated and old. Life’s Good is an excellent blend of the retro and current rap sound. Left for dead after many critics panned Nastradamus, he reissued a claim on hip-hop’s throne with Stillmatic, and Life’s Good should have a similar effect in placing Nas back on top of the game. Throughout a storied career that has featured many ups and downs, Nas always managed to rise to the top. Nas is one of the most respected rap artists in hip-hop and has been since his classic debut album, Illmatic (which dropped in 1994). And finally, their shared love for their hometown and the role it plays in their art goes without saying.Nas is obviously no longer feeling as though “life’s a bitch, then you die.” He has gotten out of an unhappy marriage and he is even friends with his longtime nemesis Jay-Z, so it’s no wonder his latest album is titled Life’s Good. Celebrity, To Rome With Love, Deconstructing Harry.) With this record Nas employs a retro-chic style that freshens classic nostalgia without lamenting the past, just as Allen does so in Midnight in Paris. Allen, who seemingly rejects any public attention, especially following the whole Soon-Yi scandal, manages to render the cult of celebrity, central to many, if not all of his recent films (e.g. They both endure internal struggles with the concept of celebrity as noted, Nas makes multiple references to courtside NBA games, famous friends, and the limelight, yet can't seem to ever feel truly comfortable. ![]() The two share a history of prolific output (in rap terms Nas' 10+ albums qualifies), though relative to the volume of output, there are only a handful of true classics that stand the test of time. If you asked Nas who his spirit director was, he'd undoubtedly reply Scorsese, but in reality his art is far more akin to the work of Woody Allen. #NAS LIFE IS GOOD LYRICS SKIN#They skillfully rebooted the 90's grimy New York sound, preserving the bleakness, while Nas takes the opportunity to add a visceral element to the world with Proust-like detail in lines like " At night, New York, eat a slice too hot/Use my tongue to tear the skin hangin' from the roof of my mouth." But it's in the third verse, when he addresses the listener do we get a truly personal insight into Nas' inner devils "I know you think my life is good cause my diamond piece/But my life been good since I started finding peace/I shouldn't even be smilin', I should be angry and depressed/I been rich longer than I been broke, I confess." The combo is a win with the track's potent dark piano licks and NYC train car effects compliment Nas' vengeful cadence. Nas sends a bold and clear signal at the top of the album by featuring Large Pro, an MC/Producer whose influence on hip hop's golden era and Nas' career more specifically, significantly trumps his relevance in popular music today. ![]() He's not trying to be cryptic about it, evidenced by his track ending declaration "this is for my trapped in the '90s n*ggas" on the neck snapping "Loco-Motive," the second track on the record that features Large Professor. ![]() Not that it was made exclusively for the Heeb nation, because it wasn't, but it's certainly a subset of those who feel that Nas let us down. When I say that Nas made this album for "me" I'm speaking on behalf of "what happened to the good ol' days" 30-something hip hop fans who lament the tragic rise and fall of the Nas we all came to adore.
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February 2023
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