“To rappers who never sold crack, telling other people’s lives
Never shot nobody but be shooting people in their rhymes
Never robbed nobody or re-upped with coke in they ride
I’m probably who they talking about
when they’re writing most of their lines”
Hip-hoppers, old heads, and frog walkers, the infamous Illmatic rapper is still at it. The rap game is still fairly young, but perhaps the most versatile genre out there. Simply because the same label is somehow able to corral the likes of MadeinTKO, Kid Cudi, and The Sugarhill Gang. So much has changed so quickly that too few reminisce about the knock knocks that rocked us in and out of the spaces between a hood rat’s dream, and a gangster’s paradise. There is still hope though, for even those that don’t remember such glorious days will hear and fear the legendary name NAS.
“We saw the smokers get rowdy for all the potentness
And still ain’t know how sick it was in that ocean abyss
What doesn’t come out in the wash comes out in the rinse”
The hip-hop giant has dropped a new project, The Lost Tapes II, and brought the hammer down hard and smooth like a pendulum. Swinging us back and forth with silky vibes that bounce through the air, gracefully reminding us of an archaic hip-hop era. While conceptually, The Lost Tapes I & II are projects compiled of unreleased tracks that were tossed during live recording sessions for his albums, they still flow full circle from beginning to end. The Lost Tapes II features tracks from NAS’ last four studio albums; Hip Hop Is Dead (2006), Untitled (2008), Life Is Good (2012), and Nasir (2018). Released by Def Jam, The 16 track LP begins with wise reminiscent reflection, tumbles through bounces and bops, and ends on the same reflection that it began. As standard with NAS, this album marinates in complex themes and devout lyricism. He may bleed, but he is a god amongst men (musically speaking), and we here at Daily Steeze strongly recommend a listen through of the whole project. Whether your head knocks and the world becomes a blur, or you lay back with closed eyes in motionless contemplation of the words, anyone and everyone has something to gain from The Lost Tapes II.
“I’m silk shirt, summer time sunny, sun chaser
Pretty girl tongue taster, southern girl luster
City girl love maker
The matinee watcher
The good weather on a Saturday afternoon shopper
Good gift copper
Still miss Big Poppa”
(The first, third, and fifth person to contact us with the location of the lyrics get free stickers! Just provide a name, phone number, and mailing address y’all)
