Roundup PT II
This time again in Nas-related news:
- God's Son and the God MC recently sat down for MTV cameras. That right there should be cause for celebration, but that the two exchanged numbers and apparently seem determined on collabing in the future is the real excitement. ( I guess we're not counting Streets of New York.) Nas was his old distanced self in the interview, but Rakim not so much. Ra has every reason to play the bitter vet card, but he just continually exudes this positive, gracious tone. It's rather refreshing. MTV Overdrive Video / Interview Transcript
- In the spirit of all things lists, MTV has compiled a 2006 top ten of "The Greatest MCs of All Time." Nas was ranked in the five spot and co-signed by Slick Rick, "he had raw talent. He was a child when he came out; now he's a married man. He's showing the streets can grow." Nas even supplied his own couple thoughts on "the greats."
- Nas is at his most political during interviews, that is to say he manages real well to avoid giving concrete answers. Cipha Sounds found this much out in a piece from a couple weeks back on MTV. When asked about the title of his next album, he can't say. When asked about producers on his next album, "whoever got heat." When asked if he'd give the world a preview of his next album, "nah." Youtube link (Props to Nabs)
- The Large Professor It Ain't Hard To Tell remix made its way into Scratch Magazine's top 25 remixes of all-time: "recognized as the King of Disco."
- Like screaming DJs with receding hairlines? Good, because DJ Clue reportedly has the third installment of his Professional series set for sometime this spring. Reprising his role from Queensfinest and Live from the Bridge, Nas, amongst Fabolous, Game, and others, will guest.
- Reasons to psych yourself up for Christina Aguilera's next album: she's not Jennifer Lopez, DJ Premier's handling a bulk of the production, and Nas will be making an appearance. As a sequel to 2002's Dirrty, Still Dirrty is to have Nas subbing in for Redman. Premier notes that the beat has changed however, "it's more jazz-sampled with these horn blasts."
- Alleged long-time friends Scott Storch and Nas are apparently in the process of making studio magic. Please hold your hate until you at least hear the title of the song.
- From the man who brought you the two-million dollar beat rumor, comes a reading of the recent Level 7 through the lens of a philosophy known as Theosophy. (Shoutout to Stu)
- Flash, of OHHLA.com, contacted me, and, as per a previous entry, now the lyrics to the second verse from the Just A Moment (remix) have been changed.
- Traffic here has been on a generally steady climb thanks to recent referrals from Better Than Yours, Oh Word, and Souled On. Check 'em out, folks, they're good people.
I burnt the game, learnt you lames a new lessonAlicia Keys f/Nas, Rakim: Streets of New York
Your crew's soft man, y'all need some new weapons
The P's breed warriors in skullies and Timbies
Around micks, spics, niggas, and guineas
posted by Fletch at 1:17 PM
8 Comments:
Why the hate for Scott Storch?
He has been producing for years,has worked with some of the most well respected artists in the genre and continously creates excellent beats.
I'm more then glad he is working with Nas.Beats the inconsistent Remi anyday.
Thanks for the round up. I'm glad I found this site. You're not biased or anything.
But geez, Nas needs to say something about his album.
Turenne, I actually meant that comment to dissuade hate. But yeah, I know Scott Storch, and if it was three years ago, I'd even say I like his work. However, he's proven to me that he works best as a co-collaborator, alongside Dre and Timbaland, for example. With the exception of Lean Back, which got redundant real quick, a lot of his recent beats sound like the bad result of debutante pussy and ecstasy. And they get disposable real fast. The stuff he did on the last Roots album was perhaps most disappointing. Beyond that though--and I've been meaning to make a "rumored producer speculation post"--I'd be most apprehensive about he and Nas together because it doesn't seem like where Storch's sound is at now necessarily reflects the most comfortable setting for Nas to rap over. Past work with Tim, which I extend towards Scott Storch, has demonstrated that Nas is out of place over a certain style.
To your second point, I'll take a Salaam Remi beat over a Scott Storch beat any day now (see: Nazareth Savage, SD title track, War, Thief's Theme, Made you Look, Serious, What Goes Around . . .). Admittedly, God's Son had its fair share of missteps from Remi, but he's still solid IMO.
anonymous, I wouldn't say I'm unbiased, but I think I can see both sides well enough. thanks though
yo dallas bro... i respect what you're doing here... critical analysis of Nas' work is too often relegated to "Illmatic was dope, Nastradamus was wack"... you're taking it to a high level of discourse... the break down you had of nas' personal/persona progression a few posts back impressed me quite a bit... i saw it in a similar way... also how ill was it seeing Nas and Rakim together, jus goin back and forth, cracking jokes... Rakim has a sense of humor, who knew... and it seemed like Nas was star struck at first but he warmed up at the end... shit was dope
Gratitude.
NO way man, your way off. Saleem Remi is the worst producer in the game. The beat for Nazereth Savage made me puke. Storch, Dre, Timbaland, Just Blaze, and Swizz Beatz will kill Saleem Remi 10 times over. Saleem Remi has only made Nas albums adequete, and with Nas being such an awesome MC, he needs better prouduction on his part. Nas himself is a better producer then Saleem Remi. Look at 'Smokin', 'Suicide Bounce', 'One Mic', those are some of his best songs, and they are produced by Nas himself.
Saleem Remi is just keeping Nas at a level that Jay can definatly exceed with Nas.
Fletch-I know you weren't having a go at Storch,I was talking about the general hate for him nowadays,and the way his earlier stuff is ignored.Whether this trach will work I don't know,but if Scott Storch can reproduce the same kind of style he used with the Roots then I can see it being a decent track.If its another crack at a club track,then that will be disapointment but I'm not sure thats the style Nas wants to use on the new album.
Dj Bless One-Your ignoring the excellent tracks like Made You Look that Salaam has created for Nas in the past.But yeah he is insanely inconsistent,and I can think of at least a half a dozen producers that I would rather ssee work with Nas then Remi(or Storch and Dre).
Just as a a followup, a couple weeks ago that Christina Aguilera album came out, and though Nas was supposed to be featured on Still Dirrty, he was nowhere to be found. So something happened, I guess.
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