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

[Redwing80]

This shyt literally gave me chills when I heard it. Don’t got nothin like this either.

I can't give my thoughts on the album properly cause I've only listened to half so far. But this Magic album was fukking incredible man.

Everybody shytting on NYSOM 3 but I thought that was one of the strongest tracks on first listen

 

[Headcase]

Loved watching the Budden interview. I remember hearing that Nas wanted to do a remix of Daughters and have Eminem on it, but Em turned him down... I guess that was true.

 

[Shahcronz]

Madman sounds like a Grielsda Records beat, not a Premier beat, basically, this production doesn't “sound” like Premier, at least in terms of what we know of him, its like I and others

when i read something like this i dont inow what to say lol
this beat is 100% clearly preem

 

[FTBS]

Gotta get more listens in to see how I really feel about it. But the thing that stands out after the first 1.5 listens is how it seems like he was intent on giving folks flowers...from graffiti artists to female MCs.

 

[Piff Perkins]

They were supposed to be limited.

Day one, Premier said they wanted to take it back to the break beat era. That's why you see Preem sampling sh*t like "Pete 90" and speaking about 45 King. They spoke on the concept from the very beginning.

Problem is, they're speaking about sh*t these people didn't understand. So that's why n*ggas had other expectations. They're lost. They made an album that sounds exactly like what they said they were aiming for. But, the "outsiders" can't get with it because they weren't there for the era this is paying homage to. It's really that simple.

Break beat era when albums had beats like...Welcome To The Underground? NYSOM3? Come on man lol. This album has clear deviations from that sound. The problem is they aren't good.

 

[CHERUB]

Joe Budden interview is exactly what real ones been saying all along.

This album was purposely made the way it was.

Its for the day ones meaning the ones who really lived this hip hop shyt. 90% in this thread didn't. Yall didn't make beats in the lunch room or on your desk in class in 1992. This a true old head album

That simple hollow unmastered sound with the baseline. THAT WAS HIPHOP. This thread really showing who from the culture and who aint.

 

[prophecypro]

That’s a fact. Imma quote Eaze real quick. “nikkas gotta stop actin like all 90s boom bap was hot. Some nikkas put out trash..”

On a side note I’m surprised Eaze tough on this album given he usually gives reasonable defenses of Nas albums that were mixed (Magic 2, SD etc )

I get people feeling Preem went safe or light but people calling it trash is wild

 

[prophecypro]

The Joe Budden interview is dope just cause they talked about the process of the music. People might sleep on it cause of that but they were some gems in their on the process

 

[TheDarceKnight]

I’m guess I’m looking at it from a realistic expectation too. Like Preem ain’t produced like he did in the 90s. He’s still good but has a formula (a good one ) and this album production reflects that. It knocks in a lot of places but sure if you’re expecting a standout Nas is like, Memory Lane type joint it’s not there, didn’t think he would. He gave them standard preem beats that are still very good and he’s rapping. This album is sort of how I expected it to sound even in the mid to late 00s

I wasn’t expecting a Nas is Like. I already said I love 13 of the 17 other beats Primo made in 2025 for De La, Roc Marci, and Ransom.

Certainly I wasn't being unrealistic to expect something on the level that Primo already did 3x this year?

 

[spliz]

On a side note I’m surprised Eaze tough on this album given he usually gives reasonable defenses of Nas albums that were mixed (Magic 2, SD etc )

I get people feeling Preem went safe or light but people calling it trash is wild

Nah I knew he was gonna be hard on this album cause while Nas is clearly his fav rapper he been extra critical of Premo for a while now. This whole year damn near he been shytting on Premo production outside of De La album.

 

[spliz]

I wasn’t expecting a Nas is Like. I already said I love 13 of the 17 other beats Primo made in 2025 for De La, Roc Marci, and Ransom.

Certainly I wasn't being unrealistic to expect something on the level that Primo already did 3x this year?

I love that Roc project. lol. nikkas hated on it but I feel like that shyt was a dope listen and I still bump it. But I also think Roc style would’ve fit better over some of these Light Years beats actually.

 

[TheDarceKnight]

Critics seem to be showing love. It’s the fans that’s mad.

I haven't really seen too many people mad. No one that doesn't have an agenda or is trolling. I feel like the casual consensus is that it's a good album that underwhelmed on the beat side, but is still a good entry into Nas catalogue.

 

[FunkDoc1112]

Joe Budden interview is exactly what real ones been saying all along.

This album was purposely made the way it was.

Its for the day ones meaning the ones who really lived this hip hop shyt. 90% in this thread didn't. Yall didn't make beats in the lunch room or on your desk in class in 1992. This a true old head album

That simple hollow unmastered sound with the baseline. THAT WAS HIPHOP. This thread really showing who from the culture and who aint.

Come off this goofy shyt. Just because that was the style doesn't mean the execution was perfect. I was one of the first people pointing out how much this sounded like early 90s Gang Starr and bigging it up for that. I still found it somewhat underwhelming.


Y'all supposed to be the generation against participation trophies...(Wait, y'all are the ones that started it for your kids nvm )

 

[TheDarceKnight]

So they sampled Marco Polo for a few beats??

That tells me sample clearing was a concern....

It was 100% a concern. I feel like it sounds super obvious listening to it. The very first track on the album is such a great example of Primo's chop rearrange style but done using stock sounds or some type of sample pack.

 

[FunkDoc1112]

I haven't really seen too many people mad. No one that doesn't have an agenda or is trolling. I feel like the casual consensus is that it's a good album that underwhelmed on the beat side, but is still a good entry into Nas catalogue.

It's mostly just them Reddit psychos melting down about it lol but those are a lot of nerds who literally don't listen to much rap beyond Nas and his associates