by Aaron Salas
Daily Lobo
The rapper Nas has grown up.
On his eighth solo release, gone is the young and wild thug with street stories about gun battles and partying all night. He's become a man, husband and father.
Nas has blessed the world with street poetry for more than a decade. His newest release, Streets Disciple, once again fills our heads with political consciousness.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
The old school that Nas visits so many times on his new album shows his appreciation for hip-hop forefathers, as well as a new direction for artists to follow. From the intro, Streets Disciple brings the listener into the complex world of Nasir Jones.
The first track, "A Message to the Feds, Sincerely, We the People," shows listeners that in a time when club hits reign supreme, Nas still kicks the knowledge. He has something serious to say, whether we like it or not.
Like previous Nas albums, he sticks to several themes throughout the CD. He hits listeners with his political views on songs such as "American Way" and "These are Our Heroes."
The Queensbridge MC lets listeners know who influenced him on "U.B.R. (Unauthorized Biography of Rakim)." It tells the story of rapper Rakim, one of the greatest MCs in the game. "Virgo," a track that features Ludacris, is a throwback to the late '80s hit, "The Show/La Di Da Di," by Slick Rick and his beat box partner Doug E. Fresh.
Nas also gets personal as he tackles issues such as marriage, children and his mother, who passed away a short time ago. "Just a Moment" asks listeners to give a moment of silence and pour out a little liquor for those who have been lost in the struggle.
"Getting Married" delves into the relationship Nas has with wife Kelis, who sings on several of his tracks. He also introduces listeners to his musical roots on the lead single, "Bridging the Gap," which features his blues-singing father. "Me and You" is dedicated to his daughter Destiny, as he spills his heart about the importance of his firstborn.
Like the millions of fans who fell hard for Illmatic in '94, Nas has become a man with grown up responsibilities and more to think about than hanging on the street corner.
His album stays with the same formula, using more of the same choppy beats and street poetry that takes months to fully understand. It is a throwback to when dancing to hip-hop meant bobbing your head to the beat as you chilled at the block party or listening to your headphones while walking to school.
Hip-hop has changed, but Nas refuses to change with it. While the Dirty South gets crunk, Nas brings us back to the East Coast and a time when conscious rap ruled the world.
Streets Disciple
Nas
Columbia
Grade: B+
