Nas-Life is Good

Artist: Nas

Album: Life is Good

Label: Def Jam

Producers: Salaam Remi, NO I.D. Heavy D, Da Internz, Buckwild, others

 

Nothing beats better than a 2012 classic album. The Queensbridge wordsmith has literally dominated the hip hop scene and brought the Bridge back since MC Shan. Eighteen years ago, Nas’s debut was critically claimed the undisputed realest album in hip hop history. Now he attacks again with the new album “Life is Good” A great album throughout with old school nostalgia mixed with new school vibe.

Creatively, Nas keeps making the new inventions. Tracks like “Accident Murderers” featuring Rick Ross and Locomtive featuring Large Professor starts the album on the right foot. Nas has never lost his touch and it shows. The only problem with this album was a couple of non-fit tracks. Although “Summer on Smash” featuring Swizz Beats and Miguel is a potential summer hit, it doesn’t fit the album. “You Wouldn’t Understand” constructed a dry Miles Jaye sample that just made the track non-lifting despite his mesmerizing of words.

Although it has its minor flaws, Life is Good is definitely not a disappointment with superior lyricism and beat diversity of old school 90’s mixed with current expansive strings and organ driven instrumentals. No I.D. and Salaam Remi handle the majority of the production on the album which complements Nas’s style. This album is an in between of the classic “Illmatic”, the gem dropping “It was Written” and tightened gelled “Stillmatic”. Overall, this is the album worth checking.

Strong Tracks: “No Introduction”, “Locomotive”, “Accidental Murders”

Weak Tracks: “Summer on Smash” and “You Wouldn’t Understand”

Rating: out of