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

[T.H.E.GOD]

my standout tracks: my life is real, pause tapes, writers, junkie, shine together.

The beat never dropped for welcome to the underground..

 

[scorpino]

Just realized that’s Havoc talking in the beginning of pause tapes

 

[Ziggiy]

This album very much reminds me of Nas’ Street’s Disciple to Hip Hop is Dead era in the sense it’s more conceptual and more Nas doing what he wants to do artistically. Almost feels like a sequel to HHID in a way. Maybe not in terms of the sound but the subject matters, the concepts and the production not being what’s on trend.

And that 2005 to 2008 era is probably Nas’ most polarising in terms of people’s view of his music. So in some ways it’s not a surprise this is getting a similar reaction as it doesn’t cater to a wider audience like Stillmatic say did or the Hit Boy stuff did. This isn’t a criticism as I salute Nas for doing what he wants to do as an artist but it has parallels to the reactions of Untitled or Street’s Disciple

Funny you should say that because I absolutely LOVE that era of Nas career and Untitled has been my personal favorite Nas album since the day it dropped.

That era of heavily conceptual and experimental music is why Nas is the undisputed GOAT to me. No other rapper could make those albums or would have the courage to take those risks.

Check out my threads on the following

Nas- Untitled Appreciation Thread

Nas- Untitled- Discussion Thread. I'm going to begin this by saying that I feel that Nas's Untitled album is a classic in the terms of a true HipHop genre defining piece of work. When I say this I mean that it captures and illustrates various examples of African American experience in various...

www.thecoli.com

https://www.thecoli.com/threads/hip-hop-is-dead-how-nasirs-battle-cry-helped-save-an-artform.147088/

https://www.thecoli.com/threads/streets-disciple-evaluation-and-discussion-thread.20851/

 

[re'up]

This album very much reminds me of Nas’ Street’s Disciple to Hip Hop is Dead era in the sense it’s more conceptual and more Nas doing what he wants to do artistically. Almost feels like a sequel to HHID in a way. Maybe not in terms of the sound but the subject matters, the concepts and the production not being what’s on trend.

And that 2005 to 2008 era is probably Nas’ most polarising in terms of people’s view of his music. So in some ways it’s not a surprise this is getting a similar reaction as it doesn’t cater to a wider audience like Stillmatic say did or the Hit Boy stuff did. This isn’t a criticism as I salute Nas for doing what he wants to do as an artist but it has parallels to the reactions of Untitled or Street’s Disciple

I was too young to really get Streets Disciple. I was maybe 18. My life was just all blunts and chaos and parties, sleeping on my boys couch at college. I had no sense of peace or sense of reflection. I actually remember my homie only like You Know My Style. That was it lol

But there were still obvious standouts, to me, even back then, Just A Moment, Suicide Bounce, Nazareth Savage, Streets Disciple, A Message to The Feds, that was classic Nas. And, there's no question, a single disc would have been stronger. But Nas was gettin very creative and weird on Streets Disciple and that helped him advance each time.

There's not much on here that grabs me like that. Forces you to pay attention. The way he could do with Stillmatic Intro, or One Mic.

oh and fukking Thiefs Theme. Pure fire.

 

[dizzy4111]

It's also important to remember that we live in a time where negativity draws far more engagement than positivity. Some people are not arguing/posting in good faith fukkin 45 minutes after the album drops

 

[Ziggiy]

Only an “appetizer” he says….

 

[MikeStamina]

Btw , some of you that are so opinionated but haven't purchased a Nas album in over a decade, should feel really dirty. But you're so shameless you're oblivious.

Fk is $11? That’s lunch money on a super tight budget. You can't fork that over...but you deserve a supreme project

Nas hasn't done enough for rap music/the culture to deserve your money regardless?

Y'all entitlement truly deserves a side eye .

*bought on iTunes. Still letting it Marinate

 

[dizzy4111]

I'm running back Sun Rises for the first time in many years and yeah, there's no way Preme is ever replicating anything like this again and expecting him to is disengenuous as hell

People are funny, man

 

[re'up]

I made a chronological Jay and Nas playlist, and you can see right where they started to really mature, it's 2004/2005. Most of us were kids listening to grown men, so they were about 30 when we were still 20. And it was a little jarring in real time. The music sounds a little better now, and eventually gets better as they each progress. Nas hit a second career high around Life Is Good. I wouldn't call Blueprint 3 a career high, but compared to Kingdom Come, it feels a little more confident and self possessed.

 

[spliz]

Only an “appetizer” he says….

Oh shyt.

 

[dubsmith_nz]

Only an “appetizer” he says….

Nas / AZ album this time next year to close out the 2026 Mass Appeal run

 

[Ziggiy]

 

[MikeStamina]

Only an “appetizer” he says….

*Hint Hint

There goes Nas again. About to give the fans what they have been begging for but don't deserve.

He must really love y'all. But look at the thanks he gets. Truly Smh

 

[Ziggiy]

Oh shyt.

I think for SURE Nas is going to be on Doe or Die 3 at the least.

At the most…well…


This new album already proves dreams do come true…

 

[New Jeruzalem Journalist]

I was trying to place my finger on what Premier beat Nasty Esco Nasir reminded me of, and it comes back to Wrath Of The Math comparisons. Reminds me of a speedier version of Revenge Of The Prophet (Part 5).