Nas - Hiphop Is Dead

Jay Blizzay · December 10, 2006

Lets talk about this...because its an interesting topic of conversation...

Is Hiphop Dead? I dont think so.

If you listen to all the tracks on HipHop is Dead it's obvious Nas is talking about HipHop Culture being dead and not the music.

Some heads think he is referring only to the music proves his point even more.

HipHop in the sense Nas is talking about is: True MCing, B-Boying, DJing (Turntabling, not f***ing DJ Clue), Rebeliousness, Millitance, Innovation, making statements, battling, etc. is f***ing dead.

99.9% of rappers don't represent that s***.

You rebel...whatever authority you rebel against makes some concessions...as a result you get a bohemian type of lifestyle where you can enjoy some benefits from being recognized by the established order while still being able to retain a few of your previous rebellious tendencies.

This has been the formula for history and hip hop is no different. It's been accepted by American culture and as a result there really isn't much to rebel against anymore (that and crime, poverty, crack, AIDS, racism and all that s*** are nothing compared to what they were 20 years ago). Thus rappers get the commercials, the movies, the inflatable toilet seat contract deals, etc. because they're accepted by Middle America now but at the same time they get to be rebellious in a sort of superficial way. Rebellious in the way they talk, rebellious in the way they dress maybe...NEVER, EVER rebellious in a political, economic way. NEVER, EVER truly trying to push boundaries.

I feel Nas is different.

A lot of these cats treat this as nothing more than a line of work. sure, it can get you paid...but dont get offended when someone talks about how you're not an mc when you never even took it seriously in the first place.

Nas has done more for hiphop than many give him credit for. I have the following which was taken from a recent promo he did:

While Nas is awaiting the debut of his first album for Def Jam, Hip Hop Is Dead, his baby's mother, Carmen Bryan, is busy airing their dirty laundry in her new book, It's No Secret. Nas was in Chicago doing radio promotion for his new album on Power 92 with "Trey the Chocolate Jock" and was asked about various allegations that were made in his ex's tell-all book.

When Nas was asked whether or not he punched Carmen with a closed fist by co-host Kendra G., he said he wasn't going to defend himself against the book "because this is the type of person who is after only God knows what." Nas also said he had no plans to read the book and added that he doesn't speak to Carmen, even when it's concerning his daughter, because "everything goes through my assistant". He states that he never sees her, even when she comes to pick up their child from the house. Later, Bryan called the show to refute the remarks made by Nas. According to Bryan, Nas and her speak often and she spoke with him last the day before the radio show. She also made the claim that Nas not only read the book but helped her outline the characters.
Bryan also says the part about Beyonce's breath being the reason Nas refused to date her, was added to the book only on Nas' request.

Meanwhile, Nas was interviewed for the same issue of Complex magazine as Lil' Weezy' s incredible rant and says that before signing to Def Jam, he was offered the President's job at Atlantic Records, which he turned down. When reminded that he would have been Jim Jones ' boss at that point, Nas responded, "I'm still his boss[laughs]. I am above him. Who's not above Jim Jones? I don't know any of his records and I'm not even being funny. Like I know he's got a record called Ballin, I hope it sells some records, but I swear to you, I've never heard it."

Now, it''s hard to take that seriously, because you'd have to be under rocks right now to have not heard that track yet. Even Sportscenter is droppin the "We Fly High" verse, nowadays.

When he was asked why he passed on the position, Nas said, "Artists are f***ing crazy and they'd want to blame me for s***. I can't deal with that right now." He was also asked about the artists complaining about lack of support at Def Jam, answering, "The music should be enough, and sometimes things slip through the cracks. But people getting mad at Jay is corny. Especially someone like LL Cool J. He's too old of an O.G. to be mad at Jay. He's been at Def Jam since we were kids dreaming about being on Def Jam. We gotta get off this bulls*** 'cause I never remember those artists talking about any white executives. That's some slavery s***. If my record comes out and goes wood, I can't blame Jay because it's my doing."

When he was asked about other hip-hop artists success he said, "I want to see 50 own the Empire State Building and Jay own f***ing 12 basketball teams. I don't have an issue with anybody that's in a position of growth. It's only when they're cooning that I get embarrassed. Some of these niggas are buffoons. Muthaf***ing are buying You Tube and we're renting yachts that they own, talking about, 'That nigga's shining, and I'm not.' We've got to really think about the big picture, dude."

Nas is on some grown up s***...ya'll know Nas is my favourite rapper ever and im biased but whatever.

On the 'Carry on Tradition' track...he spits the following...

"We On some low level s***, we dont want niccas to ever win,

so see,

everybody got a label, everybody's a rapper, but only a few flow fatal...."

"Do anything to get in the game, mixtape you spit hate against bosses, hungry f***s are marvelous, you should be tossed in a pit full of unfortunate vocalists, niccas i could have wrote your s***, i had off time was bored with this, could've made my double LP, just by samplin different parts of nautalis, still came top five on the charts, with zero audience, the lane was open and ya'll was dropping that garbage s***, ya'll got awards for ya bricks, it got good to ya, and ya'll started telling the bigger dogs to call it quits.....what?!"

The album is cooooool... Nas actually got some decent producers to contribute beats to the project, although I'm not quite sure why Stargate, Scandinavia's pop production supremos are on there... his tracks and flow actually have life again... and seriously Will I Am been killing the production recently, the track he had on The Game's CD was wild and now he killed this.

Ultimately, it's got the same vibe as I Am... now admittedly, I Am isn't considered his best work but it's got that modern polished vibe and the interesting rhymes and schemes which beats introspective lyrics over ehhhh production any day.

The track 'Cant Forget About You' is my favourite...Nat King Cole sample at the end and beautiful production by Will-I-Am from Black Eyed Peas.

Lenny Kravitz on Guitar on the title track....same beat as thiefs theme before, but dammit Lenny makes it sound so good.

Jay-Z collab left me a lil dissapointed but its a good song.

On 'Where are they Now' he talks about some of the hiphop artists who fell from grace.

Trey Williams, Jay-Z, Kayne West, Game, Kelis...hell even I cant be mad at Snoop Dog being on the album.

Production by Dr Dre was siiiick too. As well as bangers from Scott Storch and a few others

1 "Money Over Bulls***" L.E.S. 4:16

2 "You Can't Kill Me" Salaam Remi 3:15

3 "Carry on Tradition" Scott Storch 3:49

4 "Where Are They Now?" Nas and Salaam Remi 2:44

5 "Hip Hop Is Dead" will.i.am will.i.am 3:45

6 "Who Killed It?" will.i.am 3:10

7 "Black Republican" L.E.S. Jay-Z 3:45

8 "Not Going BacK" StarGate Kelis 4:09

9 "Still Dreamin" Kanye West Kanye West 3:37

10 "Hold Down Da Block" Mark Batson 3:58

11 "Blunt Ashes" Chris Webber 4:03

12 "Let There Be Light" Kanyeezy Tré Williams 4:28

13 "Play on Playa" Scott Storch Snoop Dogg 3:33

14 "Can't Forget About U" will.i.am Chrisette Michele 4:34

15 "Hustlas" Dr. Dre The Game and Marsha of Floetry 4:06

16 "Hope" (a cappella) Chrisette Michele 3:05

+ "Shine On (Blood Diamonds)" 2:39

+ "The N..." (UK bonus track)

Note: it may look like this album is flooded with guest appreances...it aint. Some of the names mentioned next to the track are the producers or the one who sings the hook.

I maybe be able to point you in the right direction Hit me up my son.

You cant help but like this album.

Go cop that mofos. Word to ya'll.

Edited December 10, 2006 by tuseef786

Dominus Maximus · December 10, 2006