Album Review - Nas' "Hip-Hop is Dead"

(4.5 out of 5) With less promotion and airplay and less NASCAR celebs in his video (0), Nas brings out an album that eclipses the latest work of Jay-Z in terms of quality. Most notably, is a track that features Jay-Z, the first hook-up between the 2 artists on a track since they reconciled their differences. Hip Hop is Dead doesn't disappoint as it shows Nas is here to stay whether hip-hop is dead or not. While Nas claimed this would be his best work since "Illmatic", it's not above "It Was Written", but on the same level as that album or "I Am". However, there are many solid tracks and well produced ideas here making it one of the more solid 2006 releases. Most puzzling is a track called "Who Killed It" in which Nas raps as if he is a gangster back in the times of prohibition or straight from a Dick Tracy movie. It has a killer beat and Nas offering inuendos from classic rap songs such as "Eric B for President" and "How I Could Just Kill a Man". It's not the average track you hear on a rap album, which gives him kudos for trying something out there, but it makes you wonder if he was a bit too high at the time of that session. The album opens with a cut on par with "New York State of Mind" (1 or 2) called "Money Over Bullshit" in which Nas lays it all out for the streets that he's no sellout but that he won't let drama ruin his paper game. The title track by Will i Am, "Hip Hop is Dead" offers a re-used "Ina-godda-davida" sample by Iron Butterfly, which is more uptempo. Nas raps on the chorus "If hip hop should die before I wake, load extended clips inside a my AK..roll up in a station and wreck a dj". Standout tracks are definitely, "Not Going Back", "Carry on Tradition" and "Can't Forget About You". "Can't Forget" is a well sampled use of Natalie Cole/Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable" with the "Can't Forget About You" hook and a swirling sampled beat from the classic song laced with smooth Nas lyrics. On "Where Are They Now?" Nas spins a classic who's who of rappers MIA but who definitely are contributors. Everyone from MC Shan to Roxanne Shante to the Rappin Duke gets a mention on this track, which has the classic Big Daddy Kane riff on the sample. One of the lesser tracks is the one produced by Chris Webber, but once again we can't fault Nas for trying different directions. The track "Black Republican" is grand in its presentation and one of the more appealing tracks as well, as Jay-Z opens up the 1st verse and Nas comes in for the killer 2nd verse. They musta had one helluva studio session going. Another standout, "Hustlers" (originally named "QB True G's") features The Game, who comes with one of the doper verses on the album talking about his choice between Illmatic and Chronic at the record store with only $10 to spend. The final track "Hope" is an acapella with some sung melodies asking hip hop to "live". Already in circulation are DJ remixes with various beats for this cut. Overall, this is definitely a better offering than a few of Nas' past efforts, such as "Street's Disciple", "God's Son" and "Nastradamus". I don't believe it outdoes "I Am" or "It Was Written" but its definitely one of the better albums of 2006, and overshadows the work put out by his un-retiring boss, the Jigga man. If you're a Nas fan, get this album. If you bought Jay-Z, you definitely should own this to see the comparisons between boss and new employee.