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

[((ReFleXioN)) EteRNaL]

I agree Kendrick is a genius songwriting wise, but we have already seen it before with Mos Def and Andre 3 stacks, Kendrick is just a more focused modern day West Coast Mos Def.

I love mos def and always said he was probably the most talented hip hop artist ever. BOBS could very well be my favorite album of all time. But because he fell off so quickly I can't put him on Kendricks level. And Andre still never had a legit solo album. Kendricks longevity and the fact that he seems to only be getting better songwriting wise after 15 years is crazy.

Those are great comparisons though. Kendrick essentially took from all the greatest before him and figured out how to master all of their individual talents and morph them into his own unique style. But to even have the mental capacity to do it in itself is special. And I don't think people realize that.

 

[Illmagic]

Now Nas stans are gonna pretend he was a better songwriter than Kendrick Lamar. Jesus christ


Songwriting was never nas's strong suit. He was a great lyricist. Great storyteller. Great wordplay. But most of his attempts to cross over and reach the masses fell flat. He didn't have that song writing gene like Kendrick. Or Pac. Or Jay. Or Big. He attempted many times to make hits but could never really figure it out. That shyt is god given. There's a reason his biggest hit was with Lauryn.

If your definition of great songwriting is cross over hits then I agree with you. And Will I am is better then both. I was thinking about a different kind of song writing.

 

[Budda]

I love mos def and always said he was probably the most talented hip hop artist ever. BOBS could very well be my favorite album of all time. But because he fell off so quickly I can't put him on Kendricks level. And Andre still never had a legit solo album. Kendricks longevity and the fact that he seems to only be getting better songwriting wise after 15 years is crazy.

Those are great comparisons though. Kendrick essentially took from all the greatest before him and figured out how to master all of their individual talents and morph them into his own unique style. But to even have the mental capacity to do it in itself is special. And I don't think people realize that.

I always say Mos is probably the most talented rap artist, it’s a shame he didn’t have the focus and will to make the most of his promise even though he’s still had a good career, similar to Andre these types always seem to have some personal issues one way or the other, Kendrick has managed to make the most of his talent because he doesn’t seem to have the same internal issues mentally or at least he does well to block them out and focus on the music.

 

[Tommy Gibbs]

If your definition of great songwriting is cross over hits then I agree with you. And Will I am is better then both. I was thinking about a different kind of song writing.

I honestly don't give a fuk what white folks or non hip hop fans are listening to. If anyone's definition of being great means white people and the "others" listen to your music, then we don't even need to be having a conversation about some hip hop shyt.

 

[Tetris v2.0]

Now Nas stans are gonna pretend he was a better songwriter than Kendrick Lamar. Jesus christ


Songwriting was never nas's strong suit. He was a great lyricist. Great storyteller. Great wordplay. But most of his attempts to cross over and reach the masses fell flat. He didn't have that song writing gene like Kendrick. Or Pac. Or Jay. Or Big. He attempted many times to make hits but could never really figure it out. That shyt is god given. There's a reason his biggest hit was with Lauryn.

I'm confused, are you saying good songwriting is inherently commercial? Is that the precedent within rap, that well written songs chart and crossover? Lol

 

[Illmagic]

After 2nd listen the 2nd half of the album is much better than the first half. Starting at
“Sons” it definitely gets better. A lot of it is Nas rapping is strong enough to overcome some of the production. I’m not saying all the beats are lacking I do think “Bouquet” “Junkie” ( Best song) are pretty dope. NYSOM 3 grew on me on second listen. Still don’t think it’s great but it’s cool.

 

[Tetris v2.0]

Still playing this non-stop and whittled it down to 10-11 tracks that I will not skip, from 15. I'm happy with that

 

[ItWasWritten]

Thread has now entered the twilight zone

I just read that you need to be a chart selling and Grammy winning producer to be able to critique DJ Premiere beats

Ohhhh but wait a minute, I guess if you like every beat on here … that doesn’t apply does it … no no no because you understand “the essence of hip hop” … GET THE FUKK OUTTA HERE

The reason Preem is held in high regard is because he made classic beats that nikkaz loved - and I can guarantee everybody who loved them doesn’t own an MPC

How dare us as grown men have an opinion … the fukk ? nikkas know what they like and they don’t

Do I need to be a Michelin star chef to know if I like how food taste at a restaurant ?

Maybe I need to be a barber to know if my barber lined me up correctly …

Maybe I need to be a fashion designer to know how to put together a fit ….

Y’all nikkaz sound stupid - thread turning into a dusty nikka invitational

 

[Ziggiy]

Facts.

But this is what happens when the casuals and new Nas "fans" feel too comfortable in the conversation. Even mentioning HB's name in the same sentence as Premier, is just wild disrespectful. We're talking two different levels of talent and production. Hit Boy could produce for another 25 years, and still wouldn't be as dope as Preem on his wackest day.

Premier is Top 2, all-time. HB ain't even Top 25, in the past 25 years. We gotta stop overrating average producers just because they worked with MC's we revere. Sh*t is beyond corny.

Your Hit Boy disrespect is absolutely revolting

 

[Knucklehead]

I'm confused, are you saying good songwriting is inherently commercial? Is that the precedent within rap, that well written songs chart and crossover? Lol

It’s at least an aspect of good songwriting. Ask any songwriter what the hardest thing to do is and almost every one will agree that it’s to craft a hit. These are commercially released albums not SoundCloud uploads.
Let’s not pretend Nas is Prince here either releasing album after album of wildly experimental songs that don’t even have a potential radio song. He has collabs with an extremely long list of commercially viable singers, rappers and producers where he is clearly trying to make a hit.

 

[Tommy Gibbs]

I'm confused, are you saying good songwriting is inherently commercial? Is that the precedent within rap, that well written songs chart and crossover? Lol

that's EXACTLY what he's saying. He's just like the rest of these new hip hop fans that brag about 1st weeks numbers and none of them own a UPC for a record label.

 

[Knucklehead]

Your Hit Boy disrespect is absolutely revolting

You don’t understand. The only people who can judge a Nas album are people born north of 108th street between 1973 and 1979 who can tell you the best jerk spot in Queens.

 

[Tommy Gibbs]

Thread has now entered the twilight zone

I just read that you need to be a chart selling and Grammy winning producer to be able to critique DJ Premiere beats

Ohhhh but wait a minute, I guess if you like every beat on here … that doesn’t apply does it … no no no because you understand “the essence of hip hop” … GET THE FUKK OUTTA HERE

The reason Preem is held in high regard is because he made classic beats that nikkaz loved - and I can guarantee everybody who loved them doesn’t own an MPC

How dare us as grown men have an opinion … the fukk ? nikkas know what they like and they don’t

Do I need to be a Michelin star chef to know if I like how food taste at a restaurant ?

Maybe I need to be a barber to know if my barber lined me up correctly …

Maybe I need to be a fashion designer to know how to put together a fit ….

Y’all nikkaz sound stupid - thread turning into a dusty nikka invitational

that's not it. the crazy thing is that someone's beats are azz and they are basically saying on their youtube channel that Primo didn't perform to THEIR standard . That's the shyt that had me tripping and laughing. And I don't even want to post the channels or names of these guys, but if your shyt is sounding like some PlayStation beat making demo, you don't need to be talking about Primo performing to your standard. Especially when their beats sound like they are trying to imitate Primo and they are failing at it.

 

[Tetris v2.0]

It’s at least an aspect of good songwriting. Ask any songwriter what the hardest thing to do is and almost every one will agree that it’s to craft a hit. These are commercially released albums not SoundCloud uploads.
Let’s not pretend Nas is Prince here either releasing album after album of wildly experimental songs that don’t even have a potential radio song. He has collabs with an extremely long list of commercially viable singers, rappers and producers where he is clearly trying to make a hit.

I can appreciate how a great song can connect and cross boundaries

It's definitely the goal of any songwriter

I think the way that it's applying to Nas here is extremely uncharitable

He does not have chart topping hits, agreed. He's tried and failed a few times. He does however, have timeless records that stand the test of time, and are usually framed as the standard for conceptual music in the genre (One Live, Gave You Power etc)

I don't think Kendrick has a better chick record than Cherry Wine for example, don't know or care how it charted....Kendrick music is more anxious and cerebral, he can't tap into that kind of subject matter effortlessly like Nas did there

I don't think Kendrick can make a record like Rewind and hold your attention, he doesn't approach his raps the same way at all

Despite that, Kendrick is incredible and a great writer regardless

I really don't get how Nas songwriting is under the microscope after 30 years, I think I need to leave this thread for a bit lol

 

[Tetris v2.0]

that's EXACTLY what he's saying. He's just like the rest of these new hip hop fans that brag about 1st weeks numbers and none of them own a UPC for a record label.

Yeah I think we officially jumped the shark in here

Going to go back to enjoying most of this album and focusing my energy on the positive...