Albums Nas & DJ Premier - Light-Years (Discussion Thread)

[Cladyclad]

Y’all finna see what nikkas been talking bout wit this nikka. shyt ain’t normal. I was hoping the nikka would drop the shenanigans and atleast since he’s in the thread but nope. lol.

I gave you Nas records i like on his perceived worst album. I ain’t heard no songs from Magic or this album that are better than 6 i listed

 

[HNIC973]

@Awesome Wells told no lies about Nas on this shyt. Every fukking song nikka was going off

 

[Kuro]

I think this the third best nas album.

 

[JustCKing]

I am at work and skimmed through the first 5-6 songs. I knew "NY State of Mind Pt. 3" was not going to be as great as the previous two or even Alicia Keys' "Streets of NY" featuring Nas and Rakim. I don't like "Pt. 3" because this was flipped on a Nas mixtape decades ago and this sojnds more like a mixtape throwaway than an album cut.

That said, "My Life Is Real" and "Git Ready" are dope. "Pause Tapes" and "Git Ready" are my favorites out of the first 5-6 songs.

 

[Ironman]

Completed the first run. Nas is the best mc this yearAgreed on the minimalist approach for Preme on the boards but I'm fine with them. The production never distracted me negatively. I enjoyed the 2nd half a bit more than the first half of the album but I want to give it way more time. I want to just dive into the bars and just see where Nas takes us through his stories.

 

[Jamaro85]

I came into this expecting the more grandiose, complex sounding Primo, and I think that threw off my first spin. Enjoyed the first spin, but the second spin was exquisite. Personally loving the more sparse, skeletal production. A lot of it is dusty and old head as fukk in the greatest way possible.

As I’m typing this I’m listening to It’s Time, and good God Nas flow toward the end of that second verse

 

[spliz]

I think this the third best nas album.

Nahhh. Lol

 

[KillKenny]

Been listening to Nas for 30+ years at this point. Way longer than I wasn’t. Feel so blessed he’s still doing this for us and the love.

Haven't been listening for 30+ years but I share that feeling. Blessed I got to witness Nas mature and evolve throughout my lifetime.

 

[FunkDoc1112]

Sons gives me Deja Vu vibes. Absolutely love that one.

Now I gotta plug my remix lmao

 

[Kuro]

Writers is eric b and rakim in 92

 

[spliz]

I gave you Nas records i like on his perceived worst album. I ain’t heard no songs from none Magic or this album that are better than 6 i listed

Son u aren’t serious it’s over man. Just leave the thread. lol.

 

[Zero]

Every man is a vessel, my son is my reflection
He from the highest heaven, I try not to possess him
Allow him to be tested...

One day the words may come out the mouth of the reverend
"By the power vested in me," loud at his wedding
Gift flowers while you can smell them, I try to tell them
All the diamonds and foreigns, all the finest of garments
It's really how it ends and not how it started
Filthy rich, scuba-diving in your wealthy pockets
Louie, Prada, but health is my most valuable stocktip
Y'all bout to run things to my young kings

True grown man rap

 

[chiefdogg]

Off first listen this shyt is sequenced all wrong! Boy O Boy I'll give y'all my full review tomorrow. Just saying this I'm not playing this in the gym tomorrow morning. Btw it's chest and cardio day.

 

[Supa]

The best tracks on the album IMO:

Writers
Madman
Sons
Your Story, My Story
Nasty Esco Nasir
Shine Together
Pause Tapes
It’s Time
GiT Ready
3rd Childhood

I agree with this 100%. I prefer albums to be short so 10-12 songs max. Junkie is the only song I wasn't feeling at all. Even conceptually that song didn't feel fully fleshed out.

I don't feel like this is Nas at his best. It's not Premier at his best. That's okay because I'm wasn't expecting that at their age. If they did this album in 1998-2002 it would be far superior. I'm still happy with it and on first listen it's 4/5. I said it wouldn't surpass the De La album and it didn't. Cabin in the Sky is still album of the year to me. Pos is still lyricist of the year.

With Nas I don't feel like he has those poetic/stream of consciousness verses like It Ain't Hard to Tell, Verbal Intercourse, or Take it in Blood in him anymore. I've felt that way for years not just now which is why there's other rappers I listen to way more than Nas now. He doesn't do the detailed story telling like Shootouts. He's a lot more direct now. You can see that in New York State of Mind 3. It's nowhere near as descriptive as 1 & 2. I wish he would've pushed himself to get back to that. He kind of makes up for those flaws by leaning into concepts. That kept me engaged especially on Writers. Loved that he shouted out Sane and Smith whose tags I used to see all over my neighborhood when I was a kid.

Premier surprised me in that there aren't a lot of stereotypical sounding Premier beats on here. They sound different. It's not really a good or bad thing because the production is good there's just not that 1 beat that hits like his best stuff. There's no Full Clip or Mass Appeal. Madman was where things started to come together and the beats went on a nice run.

Only 1 listen so I may get into this more but I'm happy they finally gave us something. Should've have happened way sooner though.

If Nas makes another album I want it to be Pete Rock. His work is just more melodic than Premier while still being boom bap and I think that what Nas needs to be at his best. Next would be Q Tip followed by Alchemist.

 

[L. Deezy]

Completed the first run. Nas is the best mc this yearAgreed on the minimalist approach for Preme on the boards but I'm fine with them. The production never distracted me negatively. I enjoyed the 2nd half a bit more than the first half of the album but I want to give it way more time. I want to just dive into the bars and just see where Nas takes us through his stories.

No..2nd half def upped this album. U right.