I'm just not that confident in Hit-Boy producing a whole album.
He's great as that guy who laces an album with a two or three bangers. Not sure he's sonically interesting enough to carry a whole album. His slower tracks ain't really impressing me.
People bringing up that Chauncey Hollis album and it's solid but half the beats sound like d-grade Madlib beats. Hopefully Hit Boy gives Nas his premium shyt.
Or Hit-Boy only does a few beats and they bring some other producers in.
I feel Nas really has to come correct with this one. I like Nasir and LT2 more than most but if this doesn't hit then that'll be a decade run of mixed received albums.
Hit Boy is the executive producer. So that means
A). He might not be doing all the production himself. NO I.D. Was the executive producer for Life Is Good and that album had beats by many different producers. Hit-Boy could be acting as the “soundscape guide” to make sure the album is sonically cohesive.
B). If he IS doing all the beats it would behoove Hit Boy to give Nas his best material. I’m sure Hit Boy completely understands Nas’s legacy and influence on Hip Hop. If he produces a top to bottom classic Nas album then that only furthers to rise his own stock.
At the end of the day Nas put emphasis on how proud he was of the work they did. The last time he spoke so highly of one of his own projects was Life Is Good, which was indeed an excellent body of work.
Lets trust Nas. He’s been in the game 30 damn years. He knows who to trust with his production at this point in his life.