richaveli83
Veteran
Album is in my top 3 Nas albums. Definitely underrated.
The Importance Of Nas’ “Untitled” And How It Was Way Ahead Of Its Time
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Album had gems. It's a great social political themed album and I agree with sentiments of it being ahead of its time. "Sly Fox" is the perfect diss record to the right media propaganda. "Hero" and You can't stop me now" are inspirational. "Breathe", "Queens Get The Money" and "Make a The World Go Round" are bangers. (Slave and The Master) too. It was nice to hear Nas over a Toomp beat.
My only gripe with the album is the production misses towards the end. Y'all my nikkas and project roach fall short.
My only gripe with the album is the production misses towards the end. Y'all my nikkas and project roach fall short.
cat's thought nas was too preachy/complaining back in 2008, considering the optimism of having the first black president at that time so the album went under appreciated. nas was being political when it wasn't trendy...all these other people who became recently "woke" are following the militant wave because it's easy now with the modern climate. people will look back at this album and be like
People were on that Black Eyed Peas nonsense, with being the "new black" that didn't see racism at all. In 2008, people were too concerned about the recession and gas prices to worry about that, and too worried about the Rock star Era fashion.
prophecypro
Hollywood North
Definitely think if the album dropped now it's the soundtrack for woke social media maybe even more than TPAB because Nas is way more direct lyrically than even Kendrick was on his album
But I can understand some of the complaints. I always think his production criticism is an unfair one for Nas, but I think what happens is in an attempt to please his different audiences, he has different types of songs with different production and that can come across like he's not sure what direction he wants an album to be. I used to argue thats him being diverse though, because it wasn't like anyone was doing the same unless they had Kanye/Just and I dont think Nas wanted to rely on them for budget and comparison reasons (lbr Kanye makes a Nas album in the 2000s and its Kanye who gets the credit not Nas. You could debate Common still doesn't get credit for his mid 00s albums for that reason and he's just another guy who is behind a producer. Same deal with Game back then)
Post-Streets Disciple with his first 2 albums on Def Jam, I think Nas felt a bit conflicted in terms of making a creative record on his own terms and dong a modern record for Def Jam. I think the reception from fans to Street's Disciple fukked his head a little because he pretty much followed the same formula as God Son and Stillmatic but people weren't feeling it. So he wasn't sure what his fans wanted and everyone at the time of the Def Jam signing had their own A&R standpoint of what he needed to be Nas but sell records again.
This is why you have a Hero or Make the World Go Around to just throw something out to please the label for singles and then he'll do his records like "Fried Chicken" "Roach" etc and then he got tracks like Breathe and America with the glossy production that dont fit the then current trend for either commercial or underground rappers and people ask what is he thinking. Plus I guess there's expectation of why is a NY dude doing Stargate or Mark Baston beats when he could have Just or Heatmarkerz and its all perception
But the album had some interesting content and things that reflected the time and I think if it comes out in 2014-2016 its probably praised slightly more but at the same time it may get the same critical heat from the CaC critics over the production and ideas not being more strong. One of the reasons why Solange and Kendrick's albums are probably praised more is because is the production is consistent throughout and the theme doesn't really feel like its diverging. Like Kendrick wouldn't feel the pressure to make a World Go Round
But you know what? Thats because its easier to do that in the 2010s when everything is digital and even pop records are more abstract. If anything if Nas made the album now it would be even better because I would argue he had figured out the production dilemma by not having any pressure to make a radio record as the current sound fits (Which is why he can release a Cherry Wine or Daughters or Don and he can make Life is Good and Nas Album Done sounds contemporary but still Nas and still dope. He doesn't have the problem if feeling like he's gotta do a Polow record because back in 2004-2008 to get on the radio you had pick some glossy awful shyt if you had too much pride for Just and Kanye). So I think if he made the record now, its probably better.
But for the very reason that he made the record back in 2008 is probably the reason why he hasn't done it again with 2010's production. I also think thats why he hasn't dropped an album in 5 years. There's mad stuff to inspire him in terms of all the political and racist fukkery thats gone down but he'll just be like "Yo I tried to tell y'all in 08 and y'all slept on the record and no one wants to hear Untitled 2 according to y'all so let Kendrick and Cole do it"
He already said with HHID he felt like in the end it should have been a younger guy talking about it instead of him. And its true, look at how Kendrick got praised compared to a billion veteran MCs like PE or Nas or Mos Def or Wu whoever who been rapping about the same shyt after the 90s but never got their props.
Its cause people wanna crown the young guy and be the journalist or fan to document it as a time instead of appreciating a vet talking about it. The younger audience themselves will only listen if its an MC of their generation.
But all that shyt aside. Its a good album and I love Nas when he raps about social stuff along with the streets. I dont mind preachy Nas because he raps about a lot of stuff not just one subject and thats why I think he's more diverse than people think. And so since Stillmatic I liked he was clued in to talking about the world and how people have to endure (Rule, Poison). Untitled gave us that and tracks like Queens get the Money, We're Not Alone, Y'all my nikkas, America the subject matter and jewels are pretty underrated and he's naming people like Baldwin and Van Sertima that dont get mentioned enough in Hip Hop and he's talking about Fox's whole media agenda and relationship and about the conflict of the use of the N word and how people feel trapped like a roach in today's society and the funny word play of how black people have so many vices (Chicken, adultery) and its pretty cleaverly observant even if people wanna fact check him hard as they do but not no one else (It still pisses me off that people think Nas was only rapping about UFOs on we're not alone and not about black identity)
So yeah the album had structural flaws but I would argue that's a product of the time and Nas' head on beats which I think has gotten more confident and yet despite all that? You listen to that album now and you look what everyone talks about and its like "Yo he was on it early" even if the things happening today have always been issues and other rappers rapped about. He did in the close proximity to those subjects being at their peak discussion in a think tank/hot take/social media/sjw world
But I can understand some of the complaints. I always think his production criticism is an unfair one for Nas, but I think what happens is in an attempt to please his different audiences, he has different types of songs with different production and that can come across like he's not sure what direction he wants an album to be. I used to argue thats him being diverse though, because it wasn't like anyone was doing the same unless they had Kanye/Just and I dont think Nas wanted to rely on them for budget and comparison reasons (lbr Kanye makes a Nas album in the 2000s and its Kanye who gets the credit not Nas. You could debate Common still doesn't get credit for his mid 00s albums for that reason and he's just another guy who is behind a producer. Same deal with Game back then)
Post-Streets Disciple with his first 2 albums on Def Jam, I think Nas felt a bit conflicted in terms of making a creative record on his own terms and dong a modern record for Def Jam. I think the reception from fans to Street's Disciple fukked his head a little because he pretty much followed the same formula as God Son and Stillmatic but people weren't feeling it. So he wasn't sure what his fans wanted and everyone at the time of the Def Jam signing had their own A&R standpoint of what he needed to be Nas but sell records again.
This is why you have a Hero or Make the World Go Around to just throw something out to please the label for singles and then he'll do his records like "Fried Chicken" "Roach" etc and then he got tracks like Breathe and America with the glossy production that dont fit the then current trend for either commercial or underground rappers and people ask what is he thinking. Plus I guess there's expectation of why is a NY dude doing Stargate or Mark Baston beats when he could have Just or Heatmarkerz and its all perception
But the album had some interesting content and things that reflected the time and I think if it comes out in 2014-2016 its probably praised slightly more but at the same time it may get the same critical heat from the CaC critics over the production and ideas not being more strong. One of the reasons why Solange and Kendrick's albums are probably praised more is because is the production is consistent throughout and the theme doesn't really feel like its diverging. Like Kendrick wouldn't feel the pressure to make a World Go Round
But you know what? Thats because its easier to do that in the 2010s when everything is digital and even pop records are more abstract. If anything if Nas made the album now it would be even better because I would argue he had figured out the production dilemma by not having any pressure to make a radio record as the current sound fits (Which is why he can release a Cherry Wine or Daughters or Don and he can make Life is Good and Nas Album Done sounds contemporary but still Nas and still dope. He doesn't have the problem if feeling like he's gotta do a Polow record because back in 2004-2008 to get on the radio you had pick some glossy awful shyt if you had too much pride for Just and Kanye). So I think if he made the record now, its probably better.
But for the very reason that he made the record back in 2008 is probably the reason why he hasn't done it again with 2010's production. I also think thats why he hasn't dropped an album in 5 years. There's mad stuff to inspire him in terms of all the political and racist fukkery thats gone down but he'll just be like "Yo I tried to tell y'all in 08 and y'all slept on the record and no one wants to hear Untitled 2 according to y'all so let Kendrick and Cole do it"
He already said with HHID he felt like in the end it should have been a younger guy talking about it instead of him. And its true, look at how Kendrick got praised compared to a billion veteran MCs like PE or Nas or Mos Def or Wu whoever who been rapping about the same shyt after the 90s but never got their props.
Its cause people wanna crown the young guy and be the journalist or fan to document it as a time instead of appreciating a vet talking about it. The younger audience themselves will only listen if its an MC of their generation.
But all that shyt aside. Its a good album and I love Nas when he raps about social stuff along with the streets. I dont mind preachy Nas because he raps about a lot of stuff not just one subject and thats why I think he's more diverse than people think. And so since Stillmatic I liked he was clued in to talking about the world and how people have to endure (Rule, Poison). Untitled gave us that and tracks like Queens get the Money, We're Not Alone, Y'all my nikkas, America the subject matter and jewels are pretty underrated and he's naming people like Baldwin and Van Sertima that dont get mentioned enough in Hip Hop and he's talking about Fox's whole media agenda and relationship and about the conflict of the use of the N word and how people feel trapped like a roach in today's society and the funny word play of how black people have so many vices (Chicken, adultery) and its pretty cleaverly observant even if people wanna fact check him hard as they do but not no one else (It still pisses me off that people think Nas was only rapping about UFOs on we're not alone and not about black identity)
So yeah the album had structural flaws but I would argue that's a product of the time and Nas' head on beats which I think has gotten more confident and yet despite all that? You listen to that album now and you look what everyone talks about and its like "Yo he was on it early" even if the things happening today have always been issues and other rappers rapped about. He did in the close proximity to those subjects being at their peak discussion in a think tank/hot take/social media/sjw world
I read everything, and you're right.
Canyouduck
Rookie
I remember pitchfork or something being so sensitive over it because it was "racist" and they gave it like a 3.8/10. Bunch of sensitive cacs over there
Canyouduck
Rookie
TPAB was lowkey influenced by this
prophecypro
Hollywood North
I remember pitchfork or something being so sensitive over it because it was "racist" and they gave it like a 3.8/10. Bunch of sensitive cacs over there
Ian Cohen is a bit extra when he reviews his rap records. He gave the nikka tape props but yeah he's pretty extra
He one of them dudes who will give RTJ or Ghost a 8.7 but eviscerate anything less. You know them cacs
IllmaticDelta
Veteran
it's not even low key and the thing is, Untitled is a more directly "woke" album than TPAB which while great, is mostly not a political/black conscious album
I must go back and listen to this album only half way listened to it my first time through 
Prolific_1011
All Star
Man... I love the beat on "ya'll my nikkas". Actually a top 3 song on the album for me. When that chorus hits...
Album is easily between a solid 4 and 4.5.
IllmaticDelta
Veteran
we know this isn't true...the rappers most known for their political/social content also happen to be on the more straight forward side lyrically (Chuck D, early solo Cube, 2pac) even though many other rappers touched on similar points in a more intricate/poetic way (Nas, Poor Righteous Teachers, Common, Mos and Talib etc..)
Black excellence album that was ahead of time:escosalute: If that album came out today
I hate when people try to nitpick at the album...the beats don't bump...he's trying to hard...I don't like the lyrics..blah blah blah. I be like:wtfnas: nikka just stfu and enjoy this much needed food for your soul:nawnikka: You know this album was successful when cacs and c00ns get uncomfortable talking about it:trillmatic:
NaS stay winning:naswon: Haters stay losing:lmaonas:
I hate when people try to nitpick at the album...the beats don't bump...he's trying to hard...I don't like the lyrics..blah blah blah. I be like:wtfnas: nikka just stfu and enjoy this much needed food for your soul:nawnikka: You know this album was successful when cacs and c00ns get uncomfortable talking about it:trillmatic:NaS stay winning:naswon: Haters stay losing:lmaonas:
IllmaticDelta
Veteran
I remember pitchfork or something being so sensitive over it because it was "racist" and they gave it like a 3.8/10. Bunch of sensitive cacs over there
there were many reviews with similar complaints
Yaddam Yussein
All Star
We're Not alone >>