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Subject: "It Was Written > Illmatic" Previous topic | Next topic
Anonymous
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23226 posts
Wed Sep-21-16 05:03 PM

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"It Was Written > Illmatic"


  

          

I know a few people here hold that opinion.

I'm open to hearing the reasoning.

And if you think it's blasphemous...feel free to chime in.

  

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Topic Outline
Subject Author Message Date ID
Whaaa?
Sep 21st 2016
1
RE: It Was Written > Illmatic
Sep 21st 2016
2
it's pure nonsense and revisionist
Sep 21st 2016
3
People who say this only care about lyrics.
Sep 21st 2016
4
I prefer Illmatic's lyrics too
Sep 22nd 2016
25
RE: It Was Written > Illmatic
Sep 21st 2016
5
RE: I think this is taking too big of a step:
Sep 21st 2016
18
      They really weren't that shiny
Sep 21st 2016
21
           I hadn't read any reviews by the time I bought it on release day
Sep 22nd 2016
26
           Obviously...
Sep 22nd 2016
28
           RE: I hadn't read any reviews by the time I bought it on release day
Sep 22nd 2016
32
           RE: Yes, they were.
Sep 24th 2016
80
                We'll just have to disagree
Sep 24th 2016
82
It's not even close
Sep 21st 2016
6
I do feel IWW is an underappreciated and even not recognized...
Sep 21st 2016
11
      Its not a concept album.
Sep 21st 2016
12
           It actually is
Sep 21st 2016
15
                I don't even listen to Kendrick.
Sep 22nd 2016
30
                1. I never said he was perfect
Sep 22nd 2016
37
                     That must have been awfully difficult for you.
Sep 22nd 2016
42
                     Not as difficult as you owning up to who you really are
Sep 22nd 2016
45
                     You're welcome.
Sep 22nd 2016
52
                     You never have a point
Sep 22nd 2016
57
                          The first of my many points was that IWW is not a concept album.
Sep 22nd 2016
59
                     smdh
Sep 24th 2016
85
                     I can't recall any interviews in it, but it is interesting how Nas refer...
Sep 22nd 2016
66
                     Instead of just stating that it's a concept album
Sep 22nd 2016
46
                          That's the thing though, he couldn't.
Sep 22nd 2016
53
                          Thanks for asking
Sep 22nd 2016
56
                          You poor thing.
Sep 22nd 2016
58
                               You are beyond dumb my man
Sep 22nd 2016
61
                                    I-ight, let's everyone chill out for a bit
Sep 22nd 2016
62
                                         Fine by me...
Sep 22nd 2016
64
                          RE: Instead of just stating that it's a concept album
Sep 24th 2016
81
                               I can see the angle you're going for but I still ...
Sep 25th 2016
106
                               Thank you for the normal response
Sep 25th 2016
108
                                    Ya sounds like you have a more broad definition ...
Sep 25th 2016
110
                                    I see it like this...
Sep 25th 2016
111
                                    do you think Only Built For Cuban Linx is a concept album?
Sep 25th 2016
112
                                         I think OB4CL is a concept album in theory
Sep 25th 2016
113
                                              http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=17&topic_id=8793...
Sep 25th 2016
114
                                                   Cool
Sep 25th 2016
115
                                                        I'm really not a fan of IWW.
Sep 25th 2016
120
                                                             Yeah...the I Am bootleg is ridiculous
Sep 25th 2016
121
                               Thanks
Sep 25th 2016
116
                               By his rationale, 70% of LP's are concepts.
Sep 25th 2016
117
                                    Question...
Sep 25th 2016
118
                                         RE: Concept albums are overrated.
Sep 25th 2016
119
                                              Making good songs as part of a concept album is even better...
Sep 25th 2016
122
                                                   RE: Perhaps. But concept albums are still overrated.
Sep 27th 2016
130
                                                        I agree but
Sep 27th 2016
131
                               Pablo Escoba
Sep 26th 2016
123
                                    that's what I feel the concept was
Sep 26th 2016
124
                                         Googling "Nas It Was Written concept album" turns up 0 results.
Sep 26th 2016
125
                                              Good for you
Sep 26th 2016
126
                                                   Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Sep 26th 2016
127
                                                        Glad you found the humor...
Sep 26th 2016
128
                and you have yet to tell us what Kendrick's concept is
Sep 24th 2016
84
                     Shit...if you can't follow Kendrick's theme then go back to elementary
Sep 24th 2016
91
                          So you still can't tell us. Got it
Sep 25th 2016
102
                               Ok
Sep 25th 2016
105
IWW was a rap clinic
Sep 21st 2016
7
RE: IWW was a rap clinic
Sep 21st 2016
10
      sequencing
Sep 21st 2016
13
           You're only looking at it sonically and not from the story of the album ...
Sep 21st 2016
16
                RE: I Gave You Power
Sep 22nd 2016
27
                     I hate that Nas ruined the beginning tho
Sep 22nd 2016
29
                          Agreed but there are idiots out there who think "The Hardest Man in Town...
Sep 22nd 2016
68
                          LMAO
Sep 22nd 2016
69
same people who say HOE >> the Infamous
Sep 21st 2016
8
Ive never heard this one...
Sep 21st 2016
9
I've never heard anyone argue that anything other than 36 Chambers
Sep 21st 2016
17
      Nah bro
Sep 21st 2016
19
           For me OB4CL
Sep 22nd 2016
71
That's me all day
Sep 21st 2016
14
Wu-Tang Forever is the greatest Wu album.
Sep 21st 2016
20
Please take a two week break from The Lesson
Sep 21st 2016
22
I agree with him
Sep 22nd 2016
33
Then you do the same Nick...
Sep 22nd 2016
38
I'll just say this: If you want to talk about lyrical clincs...
Sep 22nd 2016
35
      I agree
Sep 22nd 2016
39
           like literally no one hates on it. only internet dweebs
Sep 24th 2016
86
                You are going real hard right now huh bro
Sep 24th 2016
88
                     You're dogshit. Everyone in here hates you. Because you're dogshit.
Sep 25th 2016
93
                          Lol
Sep 25th 2016
95
                          Pretty much.
Sep 25th 2016
98
                               Look who joins the party
Sep 25th 2016
99
                                    At least we're not partying alone !
Sep 25th 2016
100
                                    Did you even follow the thread you were co-signing?
Sep 25th 2016
101
                                         I was just co-signing that you're dogshit.
Sep 25th 2016
107
                                              As much back and forth that we do...
Sep 25th 2016
109
                                    You were told to chill, not me. And you didn't. Because you're dogshit.
Sep 25th 2016
103
                                         Keep trying...
Sep 25th 2016
104
It is. It needs a lil trimming but by and large, absolutely
Sep 22nd 2016
44
      no CT, Noony has spoken & thus a hip hop law is in place, FOREVER
Sep 24th 2016
87
           You need to work on detecting sarcasm my man
Sep 24th 2016
90
I do think The Infamous is better
Sep 22nd 2016
70
P was at his peak on HOE
Sep 22nd 2016
73
RE: P was at his peak on HOE
Sep 22nd 2016
74
HOE is better - Prodigy killed that album
Sep 29th 2016
139
It ain't better but I listen way more to IWW
Sep 21st 2016
23
So what keeps it from being better?
Sep 21st 2016
24
      RE: So what keeps it from being better?
Sep 22nd 2016
34
      The beats honestly
Sep 22nd 2016
36
           RE: The beats honestly
Sep 22nd 2016
40
           One Time For Your Mind > Nas Is Coming
Sep 22nd 2016
49
                That's up for debate
Sep 22nd 2016
51
                RE: That's up for debate
Sep 22nd 2016
54
                Yep
Sep 23rd 2016
75
                sorry holmes, always have and still love Nas Is Coming
Sep 24th 2016
89
           I get what you're saying but my question is...
Sep 22nd 2016
41
                RE: I get what you're saying but my question is...
Sep 23rd 2016
76
Illmatic's better
Sep 22nd 2016
31
IWW was one of the most dissapointing albums ever....
Sep 22nd 2016
43
Yo homie, when we getting pt. 3 of the Best of 1996 mix?
Sep 22nd 2016
50
it's done, just have to put together an intro..
Sep 29th 2016
141
^^^^^^^^
Sep 22nd 2016
60
pretty much.
Sep 23rd 2016
77
^^this
Sep 25th 2016
94
I don't agree, but I def. wouldn't argue you about it...
Sep 22nd 2016
47
Personally I think they work well in tandem
Sep 22nd 2016
48
nah... but Take it In Blood is probably my favorite Nas track ever
Sep 22nd 2016
55
might be mine too
Sep 23rd 2016
78
Same here
Sep 24th 2016
83
I feel that Nas' lyrical skill was sharper on IWW.
Sep 22nd 2016
63
Great points
Sep 22nd 2016
65
http://imgur.com/JkCs7Gm
Sep 22nd 2016
67
I probably listen to both of them equally
Sep 22nd 2016
72
Nah (c) Rosa Parks
Sep 23rd 2016
79
lol
Sep 24th 2016
92
IWW was always my fav Nas album. He grew as a lyricist and
Sep 25th 2016
96
This is interesting...can you explain
Sep 25th 2016
97
RE: It Was Written > Illmatic
Sep 26th 2016
129
RE: It Was Written > Illmatic
Sep 27th 2016
132
?
Sep 28th 2016
133
Good question
Sep 29th 2016
137
something doesn't add up here
Sep 28th 2016
136
      RE: something doesn't add up here
Sep 29th 2016
138
           This all sounds A LOT like what I did haha.
Sep 29th 2016
143
                Man, if I could have used half of the energy into avoiding getting caugh...
Sep 29th 2016
147
                     Hahah damn ! That's great.
Sep 29th 2016
149
                          That was the album in my house.
Sep 29th 2016
155
RE: It Was Written > Illmatic
Sep 28th 2016
134
Stillmatic over It was written
Sep 28th 2016
135
Absolutely not
Sep 29th 2016
140
RE: Stillmatic is overrated
Sep 29th 2016
142
For the record, yall don't mess with Street Dreams?
Sep 29th 2016
144
Nah I always liked that song but that said ...
Sep 29th 2016
145
Yep
Sep 29th 2016
146
That's fair
Sep 29th 2016
148
      Can't go wrong with those either.
Sep 29th 2016
150
Lyrics were dope, but the hook killed it for me
Sep 29th 2016
154
      How you figure that?
Sep 29th 2016
156
           Gimme Yours is the shit!
Sep 29th 2016
158
IWW was Nas at his peak lyrically in my opinion...
Sep 29th 2016
151
Man I said the same thing about "Halftime" here...
Sep 29th 2016
152
One time 4 your mind should've been replaced
Sep 29th 2016
153
      I agree 100%
Sep 29th 2016
157

jcpoppe
Member since Sep 28th 2010
48 posts
Wed Sep-21-16 05:08 PM

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1. "Whaaa?"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

My personal taste has Illmatic as the best hip-hop album of all time, in front of Eric B. and Rakim's Paid in Full. I don't think It Was Written would be in my top 30 or 40. I'd be interested in hearing the arguments for IWW > Ill, myself.

-------------------------------------

My idea of fun at 34 is significantly different from my idea of fun at 24.

"Riggs, I'm getting too old for this shit." - Sgt. Murtaugh

  

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spidey
Charter member
13124 posts
Wed Sep-21-16 05:37 PM

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2. "RE: It Was Written > Illmatic"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

Nah, but it's greatness none the less....super slick production, and Nas is spitting, but Ilmatic is just llmatic....Illmatic is the jump off of all that Nas absorbed as a youth, and he channeled it into arguably the best Hip Hop LP of all time with unfucwitable production...

Integrity is the Cornerstone of Artistry...

  

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howardlloyd
Member since Jan 18th 2007
2729 posts
Wed Sep-21-16 05:43 PM

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3. "it's pure nonsense and revisionist"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

ny state of mind/the world is yours/one love as a maxi single is better than IWW

trackmasters just dont compare to the all time greats

.

http://howardlloyd.bandcamp.com

  

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PCProductions
Member since Oct 31st 2009
1217 posts
Wed Sep-21-16 06:20 PM

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4. "People who say this only care about lyrics."
In response to Reply # 0


          

Because the beats aren't half the quality of Illmatic's.

  

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Boogie Stimuli
Member since Sep 24th 2010
14016 posts
Thu Sep-22-16 12:11 AM

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25. "I prefer Illmatic's lyrics too"
In response to Reply # 4


          

~
~
~
~
~
Days like this I miss Sha Mecca

  

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Nick Has a Problem...Seriously
Member since Dec 25th 2010
16580 posts
Wed Sep-21-16 06:26 PM

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5. "RE: It Was Written > Illmatic"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

He was a much better rapper on this album. Didn't mind the production either. If you left some of those beats the same and put Premier's or RZA's name on them instead of Trackmasters, more people would dig them.

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

  

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Austin
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9418 posts
Wed Sep-21-16 10:40 PM

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18. "RE: I think this is taking too big of a step:"
In response to Reply # 5
Wed Sep-21-16 10:40 PM by Austin

  

          

>If you left some of those beats the same
>and put Premier's or RZA's name on them instead of
>Trackmasters, more people would dig them.

Those beats were so shiny. There's no way anyone would have confused them, let alone believed it.


"I wasn't sure if I was lost or running away again. . ."

http://austinato.bandcamp.com

http://www.discogs.com/lists/Favorites-of-2016/269401

  

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Anonymous
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23226 posts
Wed Sep-21-16 10:56 PM

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21. "They really weren't that shiny"
In response to Reply # 18


  

          

People who say that are simply reiterating what they've read in bullshit reviews.

Please tell me what's shiny about...
The Message
I Gave You Power
Take It In Blood
Silent Murder
Affirmative Action
The Set-Up
Suspect
Shootouts
Live N Rap

  

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Birdzeye
Member since Feb 29th 2008
433 posts
Thu Sep-22-16 02:33 AM

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26. "I hadn't read any reviews by the time I bought it on release day "
In response to Reply # 21


          

So it wasn't what I'd read that gave me such a feeling of crushing disappointment upon hearing it..

Whether or not the songs are 'shiny' they definitely don't sound like the album before. I'd take the production on The World Is Yours over any IWW track.

Lurk everyday.. Post once a month..

  

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Anonymous
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23226 posts
Thu Sep-22-16 05:44 AM

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28. "Obviously..."
In response to Reply # 26


  

          

> I'd take the production on The
>World Is Yours over any IWW track.

But I think what people do a lot of is saying something completely sucks because it isn't as good as something before when that is a ridiculous way to view music.

It may not be the same or as good but that doesn't mean it's terrible.

  

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Nick Has a Problem...Seriously
Member since Dec 25th 2010
16580 posts
Thu Sep-22-16 09:07 AM

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32. "RE: I hadn't read any reviews by the time I bought it on release day "
In response to Reply # 26


  

          

I'd take the world is yours over any other beat on illmatic.

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

  

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Austin
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9418 posts
Sat Sep-24-16 01:31 AM

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80. "RE: Yes, they were."
In response to Reply # 21


  

          

I bought the album the week it was released and have always felt like the beats were the weak link. Specifically because they were either really self-conscious attempts at recreating the "raw" sound of illmatic (which just turned out awkward, as the drums were way too clean-sounding) or they were very shiny (ex: 'The Message', 'Street Dreams', 'Watch Dem Niggas', 'Nas is Coming', 'Affirmative Action' and 'If I Ruled the World').

And, I know: it was a bigger budget album, Nas getting A+R'd into making a couple moves for wider appeal. I get that. I don't hold it against the album. It's a very good record. But I've always felt like it was a very glossy album.


"I wasn't sure if I was lost or running away again. . ."

http://austinato.bandcamp.com

http://www.discogs.com/lists/Favorites-of-2016/269401

  

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Anonymous
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23226 posts
Sat Sep-24-16 04:25 AM

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82. "We'll just have to disagree"
In response to Reply # 80
Sat Sep-24-16 04:26 AM by Anonymous

  

          

Yes, some of those beats were "shinier" than Illmatic but they weren't Jay-Z Sunshine shiny. They weren't Hypnotize shiny.

I bought it the day it dropped as well so I'm not sure what that has to do with this discussion.

You named a few of the beats I left off my list as shiny but my main point was that the majority, tracks I listed, were dark and the crossover attempts were far from egregious.

IWW had two Havoc joints in the midst of Havoc's darkest production period with one of the songs slated for one of the darkest albums (Hell On Earth) of the time period.

I feel like people go a little far with the "it's not Illmatic" train of thought and end up exaggerating how commercial the album is for If I Ruled The World and Street Dreams.

  

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Kosa12
Member since Jul 19th 2006
4988 posts
Wed Sep-21-16 06:53 PM

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6. "It's not even close"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

and I love IWW, but Illmatic is essentially as close to perfect gets on every element of rap music. It's the perfect length, with the perfect storm of golden age NYC based producers and although there is an argument that Nas is marginally better lyrically on IWW, the production on Illmatic is way better than IWW and his lyrical performance on Illmatic is GOAT material anyway....

----------
https://93millionmilesabove.blogspot.com/
https://rateyourmusic.com/~Kosa12

  

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Anonymous
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23226 posts
Wed Sep-21-16 08:51 PM

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11. "I do feel IWW is an underappreciated and even not recognized..."
In response to Reply # 6


  

          

...concept album.

  

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Brew
Member since Nov 23rd 2002
24419 posts
Wed Sep-21-16 09:09 PM

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12. "Its not a concept album. "
In response to Reply # 11


          

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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Anonymous
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Wed Sep-21-16 09:39 PM

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15. "It actually is"
In response to Reply # 12
Wed Sep-21-16 09:40 PM by Anonymous

  

          

I know you guys are used to Kendrick force feeding you the concept by making it easily noticeable but if you pay attention to the themes from song to song on IWW they all follow one main theme and storyline.

I swear...hip-hop fans need shit to be way too literal.

  

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Brew
Member since Nov 23rd 2002
24419 posts
Thu Sep-22-16 07:48 AM

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30. "I don't even listen to Kendrick."
In response to Reply # 15
Thu Sep-22-16 07:51 AM by Brew

          

But yea no .. it's not a concept album.

>I know you guys are used to Kendrick force feeding you the
>concept by making it easily noticeable but if you pay
>attention to the themes from song to song on IWW they all
>follow one main theme and storyline.
>
>I swear...hip-hop fans need shit to be way too literal.

Didn't Nas LITERALLY give away the metaphor behind "I Gave You Power" instead of letting us figure it out on our own, on this very album ?

Your hero isn't perfect. It's OK. It's an excellent album. It's not a concept album.

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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Anonymous
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23226 posts
Thu Sep-22-16 10:29 AM

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37. "1. I never said he was perfect"
In response to Reply # 30


  

          

2. I have stated that I hated the intro dialogue to IGYP on here before because it's giving away the concept.

3. It is a concept album.

4. No one cares what you think because you're a white buy from Boston that hangs out with other whites guys from Boston and most likely routinely drop the N bomb with each other.

  

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Brew
Member since Nov 23rd 2002
24419 posts
Thu Sep-22-16 11:11 AM

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42. "That must have been awfully difficult for you."
In response to Reply # 37
Thu Sep-22-16 11:34 AM by Brew

          

>"1. I never said he was perfect"
>
>2. I have stated that I hated the intro dialogue to IGYP on here
>before because it's giving away the concept.

I applaud your bravery.


>3. It is a concept album.

It is most definitely not a concept album. You can say it however many times you like, but that doesn't make it true. The artist didn't intend to make a concept album which, by its very definition, would mean that it is not a concept album. Nas has done a million interviews about this album since he created it and never once did he describe it as a "concept" he was fleshing out. You're like a stoner college kid convinced that Pink Floyd made Dark Side of the Moon for the explicit purpose of syncing it up with The Wizard of Oz. You're free to see it in whichever light you want, but the artist didn't intend it that way, and it isn't true.


>4. No one cares what you think because you're a white buy from Boston that hangs out with other whites guys from Boston and most likely routinely drop the N bomb with each other.

There's two options at play here:

(a) you were trying to make a funny joke. It bombed.
(b) you were being serious. In which case you are a 9 year old child.

Do better. I mean, I know you can't actually do better, you don't have it in you. But keep trying, champ.

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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Anonymous
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Thu Sep-22-16 11:51 AM

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45. "Not as difficult as you owning up to who you really are"
In response to Reply # 42


  

          

And I'm glad you know exactly what Nas was intending when creating the album.

Thanks for the insight.

  

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Brew
Member since Nov 23rd 2002
24419 posts
Thu Sep-22-16 12:57 PM

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52. "You're welcome."
In response to Reply # 45


          

Thanks for proving my points.

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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Anonymous
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Thu Sep-22-16 01:43 PM

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57. "You never have a point "
In response to Reply # 52


  

          

  

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Brew
Member since Nov 23rd 2002
24419 posts
Thu Sep-22-16 01:55 PM

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59. "The first of my many points was that IWW is not a concept album."
In response to Reply # 57
Thu Sep-22-16 01:55 PM by Brew

          

The evidence to date is on my side. You're still yet to provide any evidence to the contrary.

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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astralblak
Member since Apr 05th 2007
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Sat Sep-24-16 11:43 AM

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85. "smdh"
In response to Reply # 45
Sat Sep-24-16 12:01 PM by astralblak

  

          

.

  

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DJR
Member since Jan 01st 2005
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Thu Sep-22-16 06:16 PM

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66. "I can't recall any interviews in it, but it is interesting how Nas refer..."
In response to Reply # 42


  

          

on the God's Son album:

Illmatic I was boss, It Was Written I flossed
One of the most creative LPs to ever hit stores

  

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Kosa12
Member since Jul 19th 2006
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46. "Instead of just stating that it's a concept album"
In response to Reply # 37


  

          

you could actually explain why you think it is in detail

----------
https://93millionmilesabove.blogspot.com/
https://rateyourmusic.com/~Kosa12

  

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Brew
Member since Nov 23rd 2002
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53. "That's the thing though, he couldn't."
In response to Reply # 46


          

>you could actually explain why you think it is in detail

He's an imbecile.

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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Anonymous
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56. "Thanks for asking"
In response to Reply # 46


  

          

Let me type it up for you when I get home.

Your boy Brew replied like a jackass so I returned the favor.

  

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Brew
Member since Nov 23rd 2002
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58. "You poor thing."
In response to Reply # 56


          

>Your boy Brew replied like a jackass so I returned the favor.

It's funny that you still can't grasp the fact that it *always* works the opposite way, no matter how many times we all point it out to you. Always.

It's like your brain works backwards.

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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Anonymous
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61. "You are beyond dumb my man"
In response to Reply # 58


  

          

It's sad how you can't even follow the conversation in this very thread and have no clue why I respond to you like a piece of shit.

  

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mrhood75
Member since Dec 06th 2004
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62. "I-ight, let's everyone chill out for a bit"
In response to Reply # 61


  

          

I know there's history here, but there's also good discussion to be had. And is happening. So let's please all tone down the sniping.

Cool?

-----------------

www.albumism.com

Checkin' Our Style, Return To Zero:

https://www.mixcloud.com/returntozero/

  

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Anonymous
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64. "Fine by me..."
In response to Reply # 62


  

          

As stated above...ill reply to Kosa a little later

  

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Anonymous
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81. "RE: Instead of just stating that it's a concept album"
In response to Reply # 46


  

          

It Was Written is an album that finds Nas reaching new heights and dealing with the stress and issues that come with his new position. The story is primarily told from a street king (mafioso themes) perspective but can easily be seen as a metaphor for his spot in the rap game.

The intro finds Nas 'freeing himself' and taking control of his own life and destiny. As a start to the sophomore album he is basically saying that he doing it his way now and he's back to take over. AZ is again utilized in the intro and pops up two more times on the album as his 'partner in crime' so to speak.

The Message has Nas telling a story from his new spot as 'king' and how people are out to take him down. This is a common theme for many rappers at the time ie Mo Money Mo Problems and rappers claiming to have the crown and others trying to take it.

Street Dreams is Nas laying out what everyone is aiming for where he's from. He claims King on the first track and is now stating the ambitions of people coming up and he understand people are out to get what he has. The interlude leading into I Gave You Power documents two people killing someone and it can be assumed these two are in the streets chasing the dream that Nas is speaking of.

I Gave You Power Nas basically speaks from the gun's perspective of the senseless killings that occur as people try to reach the top. It works in the theme of the album that the person killed was someone on Nas' team which connects to The Set-Up/Suspect/Shootouts towards the end. He talks about how it's a never ending cycle and no matter how bad you wish the violence would stop, there is always goin to be someone out there to watch out for...hence

Watch Dem N...is Nas talking about how you have to not only watch outsiders gunning for your spot (maybe Pac) you also have to watch those around you (Big). Obviously I'm adding those two MCs who may not have anything g to do with the storyline but does add to the metaphor of the entire album being about his hip-hop career and both those guys have been documented as going at Nas so maybe there was more to that underlying story.

Take It Blood is Nas saying "fuck it...they can come for me all they want...I'm taking mine any way". This track is Nas basically stating again that despite tracks 3-5, he's taking his.

Nas Is Coming is exactly what the title says coming off of Take It In Blood. He King and he's coming to take everything he can get.

Affirmative Actions...not only is Nas coming...his team is introduced as well.

The Set-Up is Nas (and AZ is mentioned in this story as well) taking care of business.

Black Girl Lost is a track that breaks away from the main story to add another dimension to Nas' character as he speaks about how he wishes he could save a specific female who he is obviously interested in. Every story or movie like the one Nas told has a love interest and this is the song that speaks on that and discusses the dynamic between him and the female. Remember, Nas was and is big into movies and specifically crime/mafia movies so this song plays that role in the album.

Suspect is a track that eludes to Nas and his team still having unfinished business in the revenge for the murder after Street Dreams.

Shootouts is again pretty literally and maybe can be seen as the climax of the album.

Live N Rap is basically Nas and his team (now played by Mobb...maybe they're just introduced as more members of his team) claiming victory and stating "don't fuck with them".

If I Ruled The World is Nas basically on top of the street (rap) game and imagining how much farther he can take it. What would he do if he ruled the world...not just the streets (rap).

I feel like the story is basic and not that hard to piece together. It makes sense when considering the type of movies Nas was into and how Nas saw his position on the rap game.

And shit, maybe Brew is right that Nas didn't intentionally piece the album together like that but does that void the fact that it works thematically from on track to the next? Does that mean it's not a concept album because I would argue regardless of the intentions, it's a concept album due to the storyline.

Sgt Peppers is always praised as a concept album and the Beatles have noted that the songs were not made to go together and have no connection.

I never feel like I need to be told what a concept album is. If it follows a specific theme throughout the entire album then it's a concept to me. Ready To Die is a concept album in my opinion because that two follows Big through his struggle and ultimately fall.

  

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Brew
Member since Nov 23rd 2002
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106. "I can see the angle you're going for but I still ..."
In response to Reply # 81
Sun Sep-25-16 12:03 PM by Brew

          

think it's a hell of a reach to call it a concept album. For starters, the "being on top of the game" narrative is pretty much the epitome of hip-hop at its very essence. "I'm the best MC" etc., it's the type of competitive shit-talking that hip-hop was born from, so I don't think the fact that he spent a lot of IWW talking about that is/was anything beyond just that - shit talk. Nas is just so damn good at it/light years better than most everyone else so he was able to make the album flow better and more cohesively than his cohorts.

Further, I think if you're going to consider IWW a concept album just because he strung together a few loosely related themes (being on top, guarding his place at the top, bringing his crew to the top with him) then you'd have to be willing to consider a TON of other albums "concept albums" as well. In fact, any artist worth a damn goes into an album with *some* kind of vision as to the connected themes and subjects they'd like to touch on, but I don't consider that to be them creating "concept albums". It's just, you know, an album. One that immediately comes to mind is The Marshall Mathers LP. Thematically it was all about the ills of fame and how tired he was of dealing with his newfound popularity, etc. And while I think MMLP is one of his two best albums and definitely his most well put together thematically, I would never go as far as to say it's a "concept album". I doubt you would either. And if that's the case it'd be a little disingenuous and biased. Maybe you do consider a lot of other albums concept albums as well. I'm just taking a guess.

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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Anonymous
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108. "Thank you for the normal response"
In response to Reply # 106


  

          

I'm open to hearing other albums as concept albums as well.

You have some concept albums that stick to themes and then some that stick to themes through a story.

I feel IWW does that and has a beginning/middle/end with a climax like most stories do.

I honestly thought IWW was also fairly easy to follow in that regards which is why I always thought it was a great album.

  

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Brew
Member since Nov 23rd 2002
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110. "Ya sounds like you have a more broad definition ..."
In response to Reply # 108


          

of "concept album" than I do, which is fine. If it makes you appreciate albums more all the power to you.

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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Anonymous
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111. "I see it like this..."
In response to Reply # 110


  

          

If an artist sits down and says "I want to cover this main topic through these different themes" and then ties each track together...it's a concept album.

I don't need something like Good Kid where the concept is spoon fed and follows a specific timeline etc.

Maybe that means I have a more broad take on what a concept album is but I like to analyze albums from the artists perspective.

  

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High Society
Member since Oct 13th 2003
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Sun Sep-25-16 01:35 PM

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112. "do you think Only Built For Cuban Linx is a concept album?"
In response to Reply # 108


          

do you think IWW is more of a concept album than Only Built?

do you think IWW is better than Only Built?

-----
Cameo
Soundshape Records

  

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Anonymous
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113. "I think OB4CL is a concept album in theory"
In response to Reply # 112


  

          

but I don't think the song necessarily follow any real timeline. The skits and the production definitely keep the album cohesive.

I think that IWW follows a tighter story but Nas has always had a knack for using small details to create larger concepts.

OB4CL is the better album but I'd be lying to say I don't appreciate Nas' lyrical performance on IWW better than any aspect I appreciate on Cuban Linx.

Both are classic in my opinion but Cuban Linx is one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all-time.

  

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High Society
Member since Oct 13th 2003
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Sun Sep-25-16 07:12 PM

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114. "http://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=17&topic_id=8793..."
In response to Reply # 113


          

Shout out to Melmag...
This was his theory for Only Built being a concept album.

Striving 4 Perfection - Rae & Ghost discuss the masterplan: capture the spoils of the mafia underworld, make they names known in infamy, then retire somewhere in the islands with their families

Knuckleheadz - their first foray into the underworld. they're given a minor task to test their mettle...an accomplice is killed along the way...they chalk it up to the game, and the life they've chosen. the task is a success nonetheless, the underboss is mildly impressed.

Knowledge GOd - Rae contemplates this life he's chosen & his impending death or incarceration. no time for looking back though, he has taken the oath. the plan must be executed no matter what.
the promises of riches & fame far outweigh his conscience anyway.

Criminology - Rae & Ghost lace up they boots & delve full-blown into their first major heist. they blaze a trail never seen before. and just when you thought they were done, ALAS! they come back for leftovers & take out a major kingpin in the after-raid. authorities are baffled by this couple's expertise & adeptness. they become a sensation almost overnite. rival crews take full notice!

Incarecerated Scarfaces - the block is motherfuckin hot!!! whispers about the heist still linger. Rae & Ghost decide to separate for a while. Rae is satisfied, his ego is stroked to the fullest. he prides himself on a job well done, but realizes the battle has only just begun. he praises the soldiers that have fallen along the way, but FUCK NO, this isnt Rae's fate: he will conquer at all cost!!

Rainy Dayz - Rae & Ghost reunite in a undisclosed location to discuss their masterplan...they're both still focused, proud yet humbled, their ultimate dreams & ambitions is still intact. life might look bleak at the moment but the future holds infinite happiness.

Guillotines - Rival crews are put on blast. It's discovered that this already notorious couple is part of a even larger family. A silent assasin from this family is revealed as none other than Deck who singlehandedly wipes out a frontline of messengers. INCREDIBLE!

Can it be so simple (rmx) - Paranoia ultimately sets in. A mere screwface from a random cat sets off a bullet. again, they contemplate an easier, more peaceful existence. how long will they live like this???

Shark Niggaz: Rae & Ghost learn about a copycat heist. they
criticize the perpetrators and advise them on being original. Copy cats never prosper.

Ice Water - Rae & Ghost meet up with an old accomplice, Capadonna, fresh out the bin. they reminisce about past adventures as youngsters, boast about recent conquests, sexual exploits, etc..

Glaciers of Ice - Back to Business! Rae & Ghost pull off yet another
heist, this one arguably more daring than the previous one. their legend is at a climax. RZA's ominous & chaotic piano loops leave a murderous trail in its path. the full impact of this particular heist may never be recognized. Rae & Ghost are now officially kingpins themselves, fuck the petty thuggery.

Verbal Intercourse - Escobar, an old, respected, rival hears about the couple's recent heists. A kingpin himself, he cant help but be mystified at the couple's brilliance. At a chance
meeting & ovecome with comraderie, he lays down an epic ode which later becomes a scripture.

Wisdom Body - GFK longs for a woman's warmth.. a lady's man at heart, he must satify his carnal lust immediately. He proceeds to proposition a woman the only way he knows how: spit the meanest game

Spot Rushers - While GFK is away on his rendevous, Rae completes a quick & opportune wipeout of his last rival. He has come tooo far to be taken out by a mere messenger. The messenger is outdone & taken hostage, his boss gleefully shows up to witness Rae's hanging and is astounded to see his messenger gagged & bound behind the door. In a fit of utter shock, he turns to run, and is met with 2 bullets to the head from Rae's ruger. MISSION COMPLETE!

Ice Cream - Word of this notorious family spread. They celebrate
a job well done. They toast lavishly at the impending good life. Tons of female of all shapes,sizes & ethnicites are invited, a massive orgy commences.

Wu-Gambinos - The dream is finally realized. The epic saga is now at the end of its infamous run. Rae & GFK having spearheaded this expedition are at a loss for words. from petty thugs to deified kingpins, they will now live in infamy. The Wu-Gambinos are now the elite family in the crime underworld. Jealousy & Envy linger, but nobody dares challenge...they ride off in the sunset, legends for eons.

Heaven or Hell - A while later Rae & Ghost, finally having a chance to reflect, reminisce about all the individuals that shaped their lives in one form or another, the highs & pitfalls, and especially the soldiers that died along the way. they are saddened of the loss but ultimately optimistic of their souls in a better place.


No one in that post even tried to come up with a theory for IWW
as a concept album, and there are some flimsy theories in that post.
I personally don't think IWW is a concept album.
Some songs you could potentially point to
and try real hard to build a case for it, sure.
Though most of your examples were:
"this is Nas talking about being on top, this is Nas talking about staying on top."

I'll take Only Built as the better album as well.
And the much stronger concept LP.

peace.

-----
Cameo
Soundshape Records

  

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Anonymous
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115. "Cool"
In response to Reply # 114


  

          

I'll take that as a concept album.

I feel by nature Wu has always been more abstract and that's part of what makes them great.

I don't think the storyline is that much more in depth than IWW nor do I care no one mentioned IWW in that post.

I think both albums touch on a similar theme with a as obviously giving a better performance on the mic.

The one area I agree with people is that the beats could've been better. I just don't think they hinder the album from greatness because they're still dope to me

The main reason I take Cuban alms over IWW is because it has more iconic type of songs. That album is something else and will forever be in my top 10 of all-time.

Props to dude that wrote out his thoughts on the album as well. He obviously went much more in depth than I did.

Good shit.

  

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High Society
Member since Oct 13th 2003
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120. "I'm really not a fan of IWW."
In response to Reply # 115


          

I will listen to it because of the fine work done by Nas.
But I really don't like Trackmasters beats.
The Dre beat was eh to me. Would've liked to hear Nas on XXplosive.

The Message is one of my favorite Nas songs along with I Gave You Power.

Honestly I like what he was doing on I Am more.
It's a shame that the lp was bootlegged to shit
and we didn't get to hear it as intended.

But due to itunes, mp3s and Lost Tapes we can sort of recreate it.

-----
Cameo
Soundshape Records

  

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Anonymous
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121. "Yeah...the I Am bootleg is ridiculous "
In response to Reply # 120


  

          

  

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Kosa12
Member since Jul 19th 2006
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116. "Thanks"
In response to Reply # 81


  

          

That was a good explanation and I get where you are coming from. I fall more on Brew's side with this though, your explanation of "concept album" does seem a bit too broad for my liking.

----------
https://93millionmilesabove.blogspot.com/
https://rateyourmusic.com/~Kosa12

  

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LeroyBumpkin
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117. "By his rationale, 70% of LP's are concepts."
In response to Reply # 116


  

          

I too think it's a bit broad.
I think albums can be cohesive and follow a theme without being a concept.

https://digife.com

  

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Anonymous
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118. "Question..."
In response to Reply # 117


  

          

If an artist's follow one theme and strings songs together, then why would you not consider it a concept album?

I feel like you're discrediting the artist if you do that.

So an album has to be spoon fed to you like GKMC for it to be a concept album?

  

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Austin
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119. "RE: Concept albums are overrated."
In response to Reply # 118


  

          

Get over yourselves. Make good songs and be done with it.


"I wasn't sure if I was lost or running away again. . ."

http://austinato.bandcamp.com

http://www.discogs.com/lists/Favorites-of-2016/269401

  

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Anonymous
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122. "Making good songs as part of a concept album is even better..."
In response to Reply # 119


  

          

  

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Austin
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130. "RE: Perhaps. But concept albums are still overrated."
In response to Reply # 122


  

          



"I wasn't sure if I was lost or running away again. . ."

http://austinato.bandcamp.com

http://www.discogs.com/lists/Favorites-of-2016/269401

  

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Anonymous
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131. "I agree but "
In response to Reply # 130


  

          

I think they're overrated because most artist struggle to do them right.

  

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MILF_DOOM
Member since Oct 18th 2004
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Mon Sep-26-16 09:20 AM

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123. "Pablo Escoba"
In response to Reply # 81


  

          

Its quite interesting that the themes are kind of similar to that of the story of Escobar (which was Nas's persona) from the Netflix series Narcos such as rising to the top, gun violence, the struggles to stay on top and dreams of a better world.

ALL CAPS WHEN U SPELL THE NAME

  

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Anonymous
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124. "that's what I feel the concept was"
In response to Reply # 123


  

          

And I just made the connection to his spot in the rap game.

I honestly didn't know people didn't see the album like that.

People are responding to my write up of the concept like "well it's basic to talk about being on top of the rap game...everyone does that"

But not in the same way. He basically used the entire Rap Game/Crack Game concept for the entire story of the album and I think it's extremely well done.

  

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Brew
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Mon Sep-26-16 10:19 AM

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125. "Googling "Nas It Was Written concept album" turns up 0 results."
In response to Reply # 124


          

Haha I'm not trying to be overly critical ... I just find it kind of humorous that you are quite literally the first person in the history of the internet to refer to it as such.

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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Anonymous
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126. "Good for you"
In response to Reply # 125


  

          

Doesn't mean I'm wrong.

Hopefully you don't limit your gain of knowledge to Google.

  

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Brew
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127. "Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha."
In response to Reply # 126
Mon Sep-26-16 11:36 AM by Brew

          

That was fucking *PERFECT*.

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"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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Anonymous
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Mon Sep-26-16 12:01 PM

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128. "Glad you found the humor..."
In response to Reply # 127


  

          

  

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astralblak
Member since Apr 05th 2007
20029 posts
Sat Sep-24-16 11:39 AM

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84. "and you have yet to tell us what Kendrick's concept is"
In response to Reply # 15


  

          

still, we waiting. tell us

  

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Anonymous
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91. "Shit...if you can't follow Kendrick's theme then go back to elementary "
In response to Reply # 84


  

          

  

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astralblak
Member since Apr 05th 2007
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102. "So you still can't tell us. Got it"
In response to Reply # 91


  

          

.

  

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Anonymous
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105. "Ok"
In response to Reply # 102


  

          

  

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Garhart Poppwell
Member since Nov 28th 2008
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7. "IWW was a rap clinic"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

and he was a much better emcee on that album. But as an album it's lacking in the sequencing aspect, which is probably the most overlooked part of album making and the one that takes a good album to great.

But man there isn't a wasted syllable on the whole thing. The way Nas constructed his verses were definitely an upgrade in the technical aspect of rapping. When I put it on now that's what keeps my attention more than anything else about it.

__________________________________________
CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!!
------------------------------------
Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell
Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this

  

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Anonymous
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10. "RE: IWW was a rap clinic"
In response to Reply # 7


  

          

I agree with the lyricism on IWW. May be the best album from top to bottom.

Nas killed that shit.

I also 100% agree with the sequencing comment but I A) don't feel that IWW was that poorly sequenced at all and B) don't look at Illmatic for its sequencing...granted its only 10 tracks.

  

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Theodore_
Member since Jan 12th 2011
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13. "sequencing"
In response to Reply # 10


          

Funny you mention sequencing cause I was just thinking that "I Gave You Power" is out of place. It aesthetically fits much better with the Havoc tracks and more grimy stuff towards the end of the album. Having it as the 3rd song kind of disrupts the production vibe that the trackmasters establish in the beginning of the album. Street Dreams into Watch Dem would make more sense sonically.

  

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Anonymous
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16. "You're only looking at it sonically and not from the story of the album ..."
In response to Reply # 13


  

          

  

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Garhart Poppwell
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27. "RE: I Gave You Power"
In response to Reply # 16
Thu Sep-22-16 05:39 AM by Garhart Poppwell

  

          

is probably the most important song on the album, thematically. With what Nas decided to do and Primo's movie-like music and the bounce hebadded to it, it pretty much sets in motion the way the album would feel across the board. It's probably the one piece that the album couldn't do without. After the opening and Street Dreams, having him bring it back home that way moves the album story along without it feeling forced.

As an aside, I think IGYP is one of Premier's finest moments that doesn't get recognized as such. We all know it's a great beat but the way it moves the story along while serving Nas' words makes for quite a listening experience. As he goes into more detail with the story, the music makes you feel like something is about to happen at all times until you get to the endwhere it just stops abruptly. You take that record off and the album starts to fall apart from a narrative and feel standpoint.

__________________________________________
CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!!
------------------------------------
Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell
Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this

  

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j.
Member since Feb 24th 2009
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29. "I hate that Nas ruined the beginning tho"
In response to Reply # 27


  

          

He couldn't trust the audience to figure out that he was rapping from the perspective of the gun? he had to spoon feed the shit?
it was so wack, to ruin a great song with "it's like...like...I'm a gun" FOH

  

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DJR
Member since Jan 01st 2005
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68. "Agreed but there are idiots out there who think "The Hardest Man in Town..."
In response to Reply # 29


  

          

by Nate Dogg is about Tupac.

  

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Kosa12
Member since Jul 19th 2006
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69. "LMAO"
In response to Reply # 29


  

          

this has always annoyed me about that song too

----------
https://93millionmilesabove.blogspot.com/
https://rateyourmusic.com/~Kosa12

  

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melmag
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8. "same people who say HOE >> the Infamous"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          


or WuTang Forever >> 36 Chambers

  

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Anonymous
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9. "Ive never heard this one..."
In response to Reply # 8


  

          

>
>or WuTang Forever >> 36 Chambers
>
>

Cuban Linx and Liquid Swords are >>> 36 though

  

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obsidianchrysalis
Member since Jan 29th 2003
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17. "I've never heard anyone argue that anything other than 36 Chambers "
In response to Reply # 9


  

          

... is the best Wu Tang album.

What are your reasons for thinking so?

Maybe it's nostalgia, but I can't agree that either Cuban Linx or Liquid Swords are better than 36 Chambers.

Linx and Swords are great albums in their own way, but 36 Chambers was an island onto itself, if only for its originality relative to everything out at that time.

<--- Me when my head hits the pillow

  

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Anonymous
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19. "Nah bro"
In response to Reply # 17


  

          

I get people say 36 is one of the best albums ever because it came out of nowhere and was something entirely new...

But the production, lyrics, and cohesiveness only got better with OB4CL and LS. Shit, I may even add in Ironman.

  

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Kosa12
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71. "For me OB4CL"
In response to Reply # 19


  

          

is the best Wu project, that said, my favorite Wu MCs are Rae and Ghost and I think RZA's production, like you said, probably reached it's peak with that album and Liquid Swordz, though I have to say - the raw, lo-fi vibe of Wu's debut record, that dark, grimy sound seems nearly impossible to imitate, definitely my second favorite Wu project.

----------
https://93millionmilesabove.blogspot.com/
https://rateyourmusic.com/~Kosa12

  

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Nick Has a Problem...Seriously
Member since Dec 25th 2010
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14. "That's me all day"
In response to Reply # 8


  

          

Hav mastered his production on that album and P was killin' it. Top 5 emcee that year. I love both albums. Just slightly favor HOE.

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

  

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Jon
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20. "Wu-Tang Forever is the greatest Wu album."
In response to Reply # 8


          

  

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Anonymous
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22. "Please take a two week break from The Lesson"
In response to Reply # 20


  

          

Come back after that and check your inbox to see if I've extended your punishment

  

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Nick Has a Problem...Seriously
Member since Dec 25th 2010
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33. "I agree with him"
In response to Reply # 22


  

          

Now if we're counting solo's, ob4cl and liquid swords are better than WTF

******************************************
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Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

  

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Anonymous
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38. "Then you do the same Nick..."
In response to Reply # 33


  

          

Lol

  

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mrhood75
Member since Dec 06th 2004
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35. "I'll just say this: If you want to talk about lyrical clincs..."
In response to Reply # 22


  

          

Wu-Tang Forever was the got-damn rap Olympics.

Deck, RZA, GZA, and Raekwon all put on performances for the ages. Meth, Ghost, U-God, and Masta Killa were all sharp as fuck too.

36 Chambers was a better album, if for no other reason than WTF had way too many extended skits and interludes. And the beats were better on 36th. But I'll take Ghost and RZA on WTF over Ghost and RZA on 36th.

-----------------

www.albumism.com

Checkin' Our Style, Return To Zero:

https://www.mixcloud.com/returntozero/

  

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Anonymous
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39. "I agree"
In response to Reply # 35


  

          

I was just fucking with him.

Forever gets unfairly hated on.

  

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astralblak
Member since Apr 05th 2007
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Sat Sep-24-16 12:00 PM

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86. "like literally no one hates on it. only internet dweebs"
In response to Reply # 39


  

          

most folk love it. the most thing folks critique are the lengths

but look at you in here AGAIN telling ppl their opinions are incorrect

insufferable, you are

  

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Anonymous
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88. "You are going real hard right now huh bro"
In response to Reply # 86


  

          

I gives no fuck about any of your replies.

Talk to someone who does.

  

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Cold Truth
Member since Jan 28th 2004
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93. "You're dogshit. Everyone in here hates you. Because you're dogshit. "
In response to Reply # 88


  

          

>I gives no fuck about any of your replies.
>
>Talk to someone who does.

No, you dumb piece shit. No. Just... No.

There's plenty of good musical conversation to be had, but you act like a child whenever someone has a different opinion.

Because you're dogshit. Trash. Troll.

You're a complete blight to pretty much every musical discussion ta every turn, bceuase you can't handle different opinions without this outdated, idiotic and downright pretentious Jack Black from High Fidelity gimmick.

Because, again, you're trash. Not because of your opinions but the way you act in the face of other opinions and the actual, verifiable and inarguable proof of this is abundant.

So try to be human and just shut the fuck up for once.

  

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Anonymous
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95. "Lol"
In response to Reply # 93


  

          

the irony is off the charts.

  

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Brew
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98. "Pretty much. "
In response to Reply # 93


          

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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Anonymous
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99. "Look who joins the party"
In response to Reply # 98
Sun Sep-25-16 07:58 AM by Anonymous

  

          

...bunch of winners right there.

Y'all just can't resist after being told to chill huh?

Lol

  

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Brew
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100. "At least we're not partying alone !"
In response to Reply # 99
Sun Sep-25-16 08:24 AM by Brew

          

.

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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Anonymous
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101. "Did you even follow the thread you were co-signing?"
In response to Reply # 100


  

          

You realize you, Cold Truth and Astral are so pressed to talk shit that your responses don't even make sense in the context of the discussion they were attempting to be a part of right?

I swear, you can't even make this shit up.

But hey, what do I know?

I'm dogshit for telling people their opinion is wrong because I praised Forever stating that it get unfairly hated on IN AGREEMENT to people praising Forever over 36.

  

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Brew
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107. "I was just co-signing that you're dogshit."
In response to Reply # 101


          

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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Anonymous
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109. "As much back and forth that we do..."
In response to Reply # 107


  

          

You're better than that...to be following those two clowns.

And for the record, I'm not dogshit.

Lol

  

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Cold Truth
Member since Jan 28th 2004
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103. "You were told to chill, not me. And you didn't. Because you're dogshit. "
In response to Reply # 99


  

          

  

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Anonymous
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104. "Keep trying..."
In response to Reply # 103
Sun Sep-25-16 11:42 AM by Anonymous

  

          

You're still not following the conversation accurately.

  

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Cold Truth
Member since Jan 28th 2004
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44. "It is. It needs a lil trimming but by and large, absolutely"
In response to Reply # 20


  

          

I don't even think it's arguable based on the material itself.

People can talk about the immediate impact of 36C and how it altered the landscape, but that makes it a *greater* album....but not a *better* album.

  

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astralblak
Member since Apr 05th 2007
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Sat Sep-24-16 12:15 PM

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87. "no CT, Noony has spoken & thus a hip hop law is in place, FOREVER"
In response to Reply # 44


  

          

.

  

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Anonymous
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90. "You need to work on detecting sarcasm my man"
In response to Reply # 87


  

          

  

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Kosa12
Member since Jul 19th 2006
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70. "I do think The Infamous is better"
In response to Reply # 8


  

          

but to be fair, I'd say the gap between HOE and Infamous isn't as big as the gap between Illmatic and IWW, and it isn't even close to as big between the quality gap between those two Wu albums

----------
https://93millionmilesabove.blogspot.com/
https://rateyourmusic.com/~Kosa12

  

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Innocent Criminal
Member since May 03rd 2003
14586 posts
Thu Sep-22-16 09:46 PM

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73. "P was at his peak on HOE"
In response to Reply # 8


  

          

GOD Pt III
Still Shining
Hell on Earth
Apostle's Warning (greatest P verse ever)

HOE > Infamous.

________________________________
There are dozens of us! Dozens!

  

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spidey
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74. "RE: P was at his peak on HOE"
In response to Reply # 73


  

          

Both great LP's...but I would counter with....

Shook Ones Pt. II
Eye For A Eye
Drink Away The Pain
Survival of The Fittest

....the overall mood, just that grimyness/rawness puts "The Infamous" out front by a nose....

Integrity is the Cornerstone of Artistry...

  

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stattic
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139. "HOE is better - Prodigy killed that album"
In response to Reply # 8


  

          

  

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13Rose
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23. "It ain't better but I listen way more to IWW"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

If I can only take one album with me I'm taking It Was Written not Illmatic.

This post was paid for by the following.

www.twitter.com/13Rose
www.debunkthemyth.org
http://dashaunworld.wordpress.com/
www.mothergreen.com

Remember MJ The Great!
PSN: ThirteenRose

  

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Anonymous
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24. "So what keeps it from being better?"
In response to Reply # 23


  

          

  

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Nick Has a Problem...Seriously
Member since Dec 25th 2010
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34. "RE: So what keeps it from being better?"
In response to Reply # 24


  

          

More songs so it had more opportunity for misses and there were a couple on IWW.

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

  

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13Rose
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36. "The beats honestly"
In response to Reply # 24


  

          

They aren't bad at all but almost every beat on Illmatic ranges from great to amazing. And IWW loses points because I remember how we felt when it dropped. Everybody felt a LITTLE disappointed because while Nas was putting on a clinic the grime was gone. So where you can give Illmatic a 5 out of 5 I would give IWW 4 out of 5 which is still high as hell.

This post was paid for by the following.

www.twitter.com/13Rose
www.debunkthemyth.org
http://dashaunworld.wordpress.com/
www.mothergreen.com

Remember MJ The Great!
PSN: ThirteenRose

  

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Nick Has a Problem...Seriously
Member since Dec 25th 2010
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40. "RE: The beats honestly"
In response to Reply # 36


  

          

One time 4 your mind is far from great and we gotta stop saying everyone was disappointed with IWW. It's not true because everybody wasn't rocking with Nas to begin with.

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

  

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j.
Member since Feb 24th 2009
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49. "One Time For Your Mind > Nas Is Coming"
In response to Reply # 40


  

          

the worst song on Illmatic is still light years better than that dre produced throwaway

I get Dre was in his "been there, done that" phase but he didn't have to phone it in. See: Phone Tap for a proper Nas over Dre production.

  

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Anonymous
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51. "That's up for debate"
In response to Reply # 49


  

          

The thing that sucks about Nas Is Coming is the hook...and the intro obviously.

The track is well produced and Nas killed that joint.

One Time 4 Your Mind probably wins because there nothing on it as bad as the hook to Nas Is Coming though.

Side note is...that Nas Is Coming hook was dope as hell on the commercial for the album though!

  

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Nick Has a Problem...Seriously
Member since Dec 25th 2010
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54. "RE: That's up for debate"
In response to Reply # 51


  

          

Exactly! Cats acting like the actual beat was trash. Just the intro and hook was ass.

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

  

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cloak323
Member since Sep 14th 2007
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75. "Yep"
In response to Reply # 51


  

          

The beat was tough and Nas rode the fuck outta that joint.

  

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astralblak
Member since Apr 05th 2007
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Sat Sep-24-16 12:33 PM

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89. "sorry holmes, always have and still love Nas Is Coming"
In response to Reply # 49


  

          

that beat has layers and layers of sound that makes it so good IMO

the warble of the keys, the mix on the live drums that give them a smokey lounge vibe, all as the synth cuts like a laser in and around them and Nas' lyrics, and then the bass kicks in. so dope. never understood the hate for that song

  

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Anonymous
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41. "I get what you're saying but my question is..."
In response to Reply # 36


  

          

Is you listen to IWW more and given the option to choose, you would pick IWW...it doesn't quite add up that Illmatic is better in your opinion.

Do you simply like IWW more and the hip-hop authoritarians won't allow you to admit IWW being better than Illmatic?

Do you feel if you say IWW is better, it discredits your hip-hop opinion a little?

  

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13Rose
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76. "RE: I get what you're saying but my question is..."
In response to Reply # 41


  

          

For me, illmatic had a ridiculous impact on me musically. The World Is Yours is still my favorite Nas song and one of my favorite songs period. I discovered one of my favorite pianists Ahmad Jamal because of that song. There is nothing on IWW that compares to that song. There is nothing on IWW that compares to New York State of Mind. I view One Time 4 Ya Mind as the only misstep on the album and I can even enjoy that at times. Just because I enjoy IWW more these days than illmatic doesn't make it better in my eyes. It just works better for me at this point in my life. For a long time that was not the case.

And I agree with you about Nas Is Coming, but that beat is sooooo damn busy that the first time I heard it I barely heard what Nas was saying. If someone says they think IWW is better I wouldn't argue because you can make that point. To me I don't think it's better, maybe just a bit more enjoyable since there's more great lyrics to love.

I don't worry about losing my hip hop cred on this point because I never felt IWW is better. I got it. On impact illmatic was special and I still feel that way. I never felt IWW was special, it's just a dope ass album. You could say great even. But special...nah.

This post was paid for by the following.

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Remember MJ The Great!
PSN: ThirteenRose

  

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Mack
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31. "Illmatic's better"
In response to Reply # 0


          

The Infamous is better than Hell On Earth but I also fall into the category of more routinely listening to IWW and HOE than their predecessors. For me, I think it boils down to mood music. Illmatic and The Infamous are straight up classics that you could listen to at any time but IWW and HOE stand out more in my mind because they are go to albums when I'm feeling a certain way.

"Dressed up like an evil villain dressed up like a soccer dad"

  

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My_SP1200_Broken_Again
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43. "IWW was one of the most dissapointing albums ever...."
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

....until "i am" took the crown





< Live Mixshow - Thurs 11PM/EST >
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----Mixtape Archives-----
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mrhood75
Member since Dec 06th 2004
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50. "Yo homie, when we getting pt. 3 of the Best of 1996 mix?"
In response to Reply # 43


  

          

You said "end of the summer." Fall is here. Winter is coming. Get on that, mang.

-----------------

www.albumism.com

Checkin' Our Style, Return To Zero:

https://www.mixcloud.com/returntozero/

  

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My_SP1200_Broken_Again
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141. "it's done, just have to put together an intro.. "
In response to Reply # 50


  

          

..been busy, i'll knock it out soon tho ..thanks for reminding me haha


< Live Mixshow - Thurs 11PM/EST >
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----Mixtape Archives-----
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howardlloyd
Member since Jan 18th 2007
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60. "^^^^^^^^"
In response to Reply # 43


  

          

http://howardlloyd.bandcamp.com

  

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SP1200
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77. "pretty much."
In response to Reply # 43


  

          

http://i54.tinypic.com/2j51hj4.jpg

  

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liveguy
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94. "^^this"
In response to Reply # 43


  

          

We see through all that boo boo like it's ghost shit... (c) Quelle Chris

| http://liveguy.bandcamp.com |
| www.soundcloud.com/liveguy |
| www.twitter.com/liveguy |
| www.instagram.com/theREALliveguy |
| XBOX ONE GT: theREALliveguy |

  

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Dstl1
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47. "I don't agree, but I def. wouldn't argue you about it..."
In response to Reply # 0


          

IWW is a good ass album. NY State of Mind, Halftime and my favorite Nas song, It Ain't Hard to Tell put Illmatic on top, for me.

...I'm from the era when A.I. was the answer, now they think ai is the answer - Marlon Craft

  

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Cold Truth
Member since Jan 28th 2004
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48. "Personally I think they work well in tandem"
In response to Reply # 47


  

          

They're so different that I play them at different times for different reasons. Illmatic is more of a raw expression of hip hop at a core level, whereas IWW has higher highs (I Gave You Power) as it aims for a more commercial pop structure sonically speaking.

  

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Amritsar
Member since Jan 18th 2008
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55. "nah... but Take it In Blood is probably my favorite Nas track ever"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

the one I go back and play more than anything else

  

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makaveli
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78. "might be mine too"
In response to Reply # 55


  

          

“So back we go to these questions — friendship, character… ethics.”

  

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Jon
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83. "Same here"
In response to Reply # 55


          

  

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The Wordsmith
Member since Aug 13th 2002
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Thu Sep-22-16 03:42 PM

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63. "I feel that Nas' lyrical skill was sharper on IWW."
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

He was already dope on Illmatic but he had advanced even more on IWW. I'll take his technical skill on IWW over Illmatic in a heartbeat. The thing that Illmatic has over it is that IWW loses that 'dude from around the way' feel. Nas came off like one of us on Illmatic whereas on IWW, he was in the start of that mafia don image that wasn't as relatable.

There's a certain level of warmth and peace you got from hip hop as a whole before and during the Illmatic era when rappers had no problem talking about struggling or about subject matter that a lot of hip hop fans were going through. Once that mafia don era hit, it became less relatable and IWW definitely shows a lack of the warmth and comfort that Illmatic had.



Since 1976

  

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Anonymous
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65. "Great points"
In response to Reply # 63


  

          

  

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NoDrawls McGraw
Member since Jun 24th 2007
12122 posts
Thu Sep-22-16 06:19 PM

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67. "http://imgur.com/JkCs7Gm"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://imgur.com/JkCs7Gm




https://chriswind.bandcamp.com/track/massage

"You can take an African out of Africa, but you can't take Africa out of the African"
Afro-Americana/Afro-Caribbana/Afro-Latino unite. We are ALL Black!

  

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DJR
Member since Jan 01st 2005
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Thu Sep-22-16 07:15 PM

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72. "I probably listen to both of them equally"
In response to Reply # 0
Thu Sep-22-16 07:16 PM by DJR

  

          

Illmatic has fewer flaws. Maybe no real flaws to speak of, compared to other albums. Arguably the best rap album ever, and close to perfect.

IWW is a different album. At its best, it's on the same level. And for much of the album, it is on that same level. But it's got some flaws. A couple big ones. Still a great, great album. Nas was killing it. Just a clinic on rapping.

  

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spenzalii
Member since Jan 02nd 2004
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Fri Sep-23-16 08:20 PM

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79. "Nah (c) Rosa Parks"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

I will say, I was not a fan of IWW when it came out (bought it the same day as Stakes is High, if memory serves). After some time and further review, it definitely is a MUCH better album than originally thought. But better than Illmatic? No. A bit bloated, too many shiny songs compared to Illmatic's none. You could see the compromises Nas was trying to make to hit mass appeal and crossover success (which you can't really fault him for), whereas there was none of that on Illmatic. Plus, you have Extra P, Tip, Pete and Primo on the same album? No way to match that

<-- Dave Thomas knows what's up...
__________________________

Jay: Look here homie, any nigga can get a hit record. This here is about respect.
Game: Like Gladys Knight.
Jay: Aretha Franklin.
Game: Word, I like her too.
Jay: Nigga...

  

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SP1200
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92. "lol"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

http://i54.tinypic.com/2j51hj4.jpg

  

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Jon
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96. "IWW was always my fav Nas album. He grew as a lyricist and"
In response to Reply # 0
Sun Sep-25-16 04:51 AM by Jon

          

the beats, while maybe not as legendary as Illmatic's production, were still really good and fit Nas perfectly

Illmatic is like THE quintessential mid 90s east coast raw hip-hop album. It set a standard that informed a lot of rappers and beat-makers going forward. Nas' swing and cadence on that project influences a lot of emcees.

So Illmatic was the more influential album, more important to hip-hop.

But I personally feel like Nas REALLY hit his stride on It Was Written. Thats where his lyrics begin to really blossom and the beats don't just sound like A-grade boom bap that anyone could sound dope on, they sound like Nas beats for Nas.

Illmatic represents an era of hip-hop finding itself. IWW just feels like that's where Nas really found himself.

  

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Anonymous
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Sun Sep-25-16 07:09 AM

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97. "This is interesting...can you explain"
In response to Reply # 96


  

          

>the beats, while maybe not as legendary as Illmatic's
>production, were still really good and fit Nas perfectly
>
>the beats don't just sound like A-grade boom bap that anyone
>could sound dope on, they sound like Nas beats for Nas.

a lot of people say Nas is the worst MC as selecting beats. And while I agree that some of his production. Throughout the course of his career maybe could've been better, I also know Nas is someone that writes in studio to the beat.

So the beats he is selecting are the beats bringing out his lyrics that has him at an undeniable top 3, if not 1, lyricist in hip-hop of all-time.

Is that what you were getting at?

  

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GQ
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Mon Sep-26-16 03:59 PM

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129. "RE: It Was Written > Illmatic"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

Nah, b........

"You don't like climbing trees?......You're missin' out." - Michael Jackson

"But Michael, you're a 44-year-old man now, what do you get out of
this?" - Martin Bashir

"Prince Michael II but we call him Blanket......because it's an expression I use

  

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obsidianchrysalis
Member since Jan 29th 2003
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Tue Sep-27-16 10:13 PM

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132. "RE: It Was Written > Illmatic"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

When Illmatic came out, I thought of it as an album that catered to NYC fans over the tastes of the rest of the country.

I grew up in St. Louis and outside of watching the videos on BET, Illmatic didn't get a lot of airplay over the radio. Also, the boom-bap style of the production didn't fit with my personal tastes which tended to enjoy funk-based or jazz-influenced acts like Tribe, Dre, Ice Cube, and MC Hammer.

Because my parents didn't allow music with cursing in the house, I never got a chance to listen to Nas outside of the singles when Illmatic dropped. So from what I heard his flow seemed off-kilter, compared to the really smooth and rhythmic flow of Snoop and the fierce intensity of Cube. Nas seemed like he was cut from the mold of Rakim and while Nas was a newer, updated, and in some ways more impressive version of Rakim, I didn't warm up to Nas because, to me, Snoop's and Cube's styles were more original.

When It Was Written came out, the thing that stood out was the production. Nas did make a step to include beats that were more rhythmic and commercial but didn't pander or compromise his image.

The singles were hit and miss to me. Street Dreams was just okay, but If I Ruled the World is a classic and was commercial and showed off Nas' introspection while showing off his lyricism.

I didn't hear both albums until college, like in '97, after It Was Written came out, but I remember thinking that Nas' talent matured, but now he had the production to match.

If someone at the time thought that Illmatic was the better album, I never argued because despite my personal feelings, Nas' debut was a landmark in NYC hip-hop and turned the page that fans of hip-hop paid attention to, to Nas and the other new MC's of his time like Biggie and Jay.

Illmatic is the Classic and is an artistic statement like nothing else in hip-hop, but to me It Was Written is the better album because it's more versatile and showed Nas could branch out beyond his image of a hardcore MC to someone who could reach audiences which he couldn't reach before.

<--- Me when my head hits the pillow

  

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Jakob Hellberg
Member since Apr 18th 2005
9766 posts
Wed Sep-28-16 02:39 AM

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133. "?"
In response to Reply # 132


          


>
>When It Was Written came out, the thing that stood out was the
>production. Nas did make a step to include beats that were
>more rhythmic

Do you mean more "danceable" or something? I don't know but I found the beats on "Illmatic" much more rhythmic with the drumpatterns and percussiveness even in non-drum sounds. By comparison, the beats on "It was written" struck me as more melodic and "atmospheric"; lacking in percusiveness comparatively to be viewed as rhythmic. Overall, I think there was a general trend in Hip-Hop beats then to get *less* rhythmic...

I guess the term "rhythmic" is highly subjective, not even sure a proper definition exist...

  

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obsidianchrysalis
Member since Jan 29th 2003
8749 posts
Thu Sep-29-16 05:48 AM

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137. "Good question"
In response to Reply # 133


  

          

By rhythmic I mean simple yet funky (like late-70's, early 80's funk) and smooth arrangements of bass and percussion, at least as compared to the hard and staccato use of bass and drums on most NYC albums around that time.

St. Louis is in the MidWest but a lot of the music which was popular in the early and mid 90's tended to originate from Cali and parts of the South. East Coast artists tended to only get attention for their danceable and crossover songs.

Tribe was my gateway to NYC because of Bonita Applebum which is danceable and De la because of Me, Myself, and I which obviously uses the Parliament sample.

<--- Me when my head hits the pillow

  

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My_SP1200_Broken_Again
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136. "something doesn't add up here"
In response to Reply # 132


  

          

there was a strict "no cursing" music rule in your house... so you couldn't listen to Nasty Nas??? ...but Dr Dre & Snoop you DID listen to?? ...their albums were pretty dirty if i recall correctly ..Did you have radio versions of these naughty records?



>I grew up in St. Louis and outside of watching the videos on
>BET, Illmatic didn't get a lot of airplay over the radio.

>Also, the boom-bap style of the production didn't fit with my
>personal tastes which tended to enjoy funk-based or
>jazz-influenced acts like Tribe, Dre, Ice Cube, and MC Hammer.

>Because my parents didn't allow music with cursing in the
>house, I never got a chance to listen to Nas outside of the
>singles when Illmatic dropped. So from what I heard his flow
>seemed off-kilter, compared to the really smooth and rhythmic
>flow of Snoop and the fierce intensity of Cube. Nas seemed
>like he was cut from the mold of Rakim and while Nas was a
>newer, updated, and in some ways more impressive version of
>Rakim, I didn't warm up to Nas because, to me, Snoop's and
>Cube's styles were more original.
>
>When It Was Written came out, the thing that stood out was the
>production. Nas did make a step to include beats that were
>more rhythmic and commercial but didn't pander or compromise
>his image.
>
>The singles were hit and miss to me. Street Dreams was just
>okay, but If I Ruled the World is a classic and was commercial
>and showed off Nas' introspection while showing off his
>lyricism.
>
>I didn't hear both albums until college, like in '97, after It
>Was Written came out, but I remember thinking that Nas' talent
>matured, but now he had the production to match.
>
>If someone at the time thought that Illmatic was the better
>album, I never argued because despite my personal feelings,
>Nas' debut was a landmark in NYC hip-hop and turned the page
>that fans of hip-hop paid attention to, to Nas and the other
>new MC's of his time like Biggie and Jay.
>
>Illmatic is the Classic and is an artistic statement like
>nothing else in hip-hop, but to me It Was Written is the
>better album because it's more versatile and showed Nas could
>branch out beyond his image of a hardcore MC to someone who
>could reach audiences which he couldn't reach before.

< Live Mixshow - Thurs 11PM/EST >
https://twitch.tv/djchiefone

----Mixtape Archives-----
https://soundcloud.com/djchiefone

  

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obsidianchrysalis
Member since Jan 29th 2003
8749 posts
Thu Sep-29-16 05:56 AM

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138. "RE: something doesn't add up here"
In response to Reply # 136


  

          

>there was a strict "no cursing" music rule in your house...
>so you couldn't listen to Nasty Nas??? ...but Dr Dre & Snoop
>you DID listen to?? ...their albums were pretty dirty if i
>recall correctly ..Did you have radio versions of these
>naughty records?

For the most part, I would listen to the videos of Dre and Snoop, and also Nas on BET and MTV which didn't have cursing obviously. So, I was at least exposed to those MC's when they came out even if I didn't have a copy of their albums when they were released.

Around '93, '94, I was getting dubs of albums with cursing like The Chronic and Doggystyle and playing them in my Walkman to avoid getting caught. Also, my older brother, who supplied some of my dubbed tapes, would let me listen to the 'naughty' (LOL) albums when I was at his place or in his car.

If I knew someone who was into Nas and had Illmatic, I might have asked to get a dubbed copy when it dropped, but no one I knew was into East Coast hip-hop like that, so it wasn't until, like '96 (is that the time when It Was Written came out??) when I was away at college that I took the time to listen to both albums, cursing and all.

<--- Me when my head hits the pillow

  

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Brew
Member since Nov 23rd 2002
24419 posts
Thu Sep-29-16 08:36 AM

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143. "This all sounds A LOT like what I did haha."
In response to Reply # 138


          

Like, literally with the exact same albums too. I would label the tapes, like, "Ace of Base" or "Pearl Jam" then play them on a walkman to avoid getting caught.

What a world.

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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obsidianchrysalis
Member since Jan 29th 2003
8749 posts
Thu Sep-29-16 10:24 AM

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147. "Man, if I could have used half of the energy into avoiding getting caugh..."
In response to Reply # 143


  

          

Into doing something productive... Yeah, I would take the labels off of the tapes so that my parents wouldn't know which album was which just by looking.

I'd hide tapes with cursing in album cases which were for clean albums.

Funny story about the tapes.

My younger brother and his friend were into Raekwon and had the Purple Tape. Now, this was the actual Purple Tape, which was, purple, and so because of that it stood out from a normal dub tape.

I bought the album for my brother because he wanted it and he shared it with his friend who I was also friends with.

Now my brother and his friend were passing the tape back and forth between both houses. Somehow, my brother's friends's mom found the tape. She asked him, "What's with this tape?" Then she looks at the titles of the songs.... THen she told her husband... the preacher.

Later that week, on Sunday, the mom tells my father about the tape. So my dad sits my brother down and proceeds to drop about thirty years worth of biblical knowledge on my brother as a message urging him to not listen to songs with lyrics like that in his house.

Later that day, I get a call in my dorm room from my dad saying that he wants to talk with me the next time I was home.

I'm shook. I'm thinking, did Dad figure out I was watching the scrambled porn? Did he find my journal at home? Like what's going on.

After my dad gets off of the phone, he calls my brother to the phone and we start talking and he says, "Yeah, Dad caught me with the Purple Tape."

He breaks down what happened and we were half-upset at our friend because he tattled on my brother.

But by the time I came home next week, the issue had blown over and all my dad told me was to not leave music with explicit lyrics in his house. He respected the little independence I had, so I respect his wishes...for the most part. LOL I still would buy tapes and CD's for my brother and listen to them on my Discman, but we never lent tapes to our friend again.

<--- Me when my head hits the pillow

  

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Brew
Member since Nov 23rd 2002
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Thu Sep-29-16 10:44 AM

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149. "Hahah damn ! That's great."
In response to Reply # 147


          

I had a somewhat similar story. One of my first tapes was Onyx's "Baccdafuccup" and that album, as you'd imagine/possibly remember, had TONS of interesting track titles. So one day at our family's shared lake house my mom happened to just scoop up the tape while I was in the water and checked out the track titles. Her face dropped when she saw "Blacc Vagina Finda". She showed it to my Uncle. He laughed. She snatched it back from him and I never saw that tape again. Haha. Wasn't allowed any "Parental Advisory" albums again til I was 12. This happened when I was 9. So from 9-12 is when I was doing what you were doing, dubbing tapes, mislabeling them, etc.

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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13Rose
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Thu Sep-29-16 12:29 PM

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155. "That was the album in my house. "
In response to Reply # 149


  

          

My little brother asked my father to buy the Onyx album. One day my pops comes in his room and (insert any Onyx song) is playing. That causes my father to look at the track listing. After that my pops took the tape and said it could only come out when I was around because I was a teenager. The ironic thing was that album had too much cursing even for me. It was just too gratuitous.

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go mack
Member since May 02nd 2008
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Wed Sep-28-16 12:36 PM

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134. "RE: It Was Written > Illmatic"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

I don't really enjoy Street Dreams or If I ruled the world any more, prob my least fav songs on the album. I like the Street Dreams remix tho.

Illmatic is the greatest rap album ever to me. It Was Written altho I really love, might not make my top 10.

  

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andacagar
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Wed Sep-28-16 01:36 PM

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135. "Stillmatic over It was written"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

Illmatic is a masterpiece.

  

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stattic
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Thu Sep-29-16 07:15 AM

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140. "Absolutely not"
In response to Reply # 135


  

          

  

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Nick Has a Problem...Seriously
Member since Dec 25th 2010
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Thu Sep-29-16 08:15 AM

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142. "RE: Stillmatic is overrated"
In response to Reply # 135


  

          

As is Ether but it served its purpose because we got to hear Jay crying on Hot97

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

  

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13Rose
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144. "For the record, yall don't mess with Street Dreams?"
In response to Reply # 0


  

          

That song goes hard man. Every verse is dope but that third verse is especially killer. His flow was a thing a beauty on that beat. Am I the only one who feels this way?

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Brew
Member since Nov 23rd 2002
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Thu Sep-29-16 09:39 AM

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145. "Nah I always liked that song but that said ..."
In response to Reply # 144


          

... being that they were released around the same time, I don't often listen to it because I like "All Eyez on Me" WAY better overall. So when "Street Dreams" comes on I always kinda wish I was listening to Pac's take on the sample instead. Haha.

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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Nick Has a Problem...Seriously
Member since Dec 25th 2010
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Thu Sep-29-16 09:40 AM

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146. "Yep"
In response to Reply # 145


  

          

>... being that they were released around the same time, I
>don't often listen to it because I like "All Eyez on Me" WAY
>better overall. So when "Street Dreams" comes on I always
>kinda wish I was listening to Pac's take on the sample
>instead. Haha.

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

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13Rose
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Thu Sep-29-16 10:38 AM

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148. "That's fair"
In response to Reply # 145


  

          

I never liked All Eyes on Me more than Street Dreams. But it's close. I'm more of a Picture Me Rolling, Heaven Aint Hard To Find kinda guy. Man do I love those songs.

This post was paid for by the following.

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Brew
Member since Nov 23rd 2002
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Thu Sep-29-16 10:45 AM

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150. "Can't go wrong with those either."
In response to Reply # 148


          

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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mrhood75
Member since Dec 06th 2004
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Thu Sep-29-16 12:27 PM

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154. "Lyrics were dope, but the hook killed it for me"
In response to Reply # 144


  

          

I tended to hate "reinterpretations" of '80s pop songs that was on the rise at the time. Just came across as Nas trying to be like Biggie.

-----------------

www.albumism.com

Checkin' Our Style, Return To Zero:

https://www.mixcloud.com/returntozero/

  

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13Rose
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Thu Sep-29-16 12:31 PM

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156. "How you figure that?"
In response to Reply # 154


  

          

Didn't Nas do that first on AZ's first album? Gimme Yours?

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Anonymous
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Thu Sep-29-16 12:53 PM

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158. "Gimme Yours is the shit!"
In response to Reply # 156


  

          

  

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kwez
Member since Aug 10th 2003
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Thu Sep-29-16 11:42 AM

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151. "IWW was Nas at his peak lyrically in my opinion..."
In response to Reply # 0
Thu Sep-29-16 11:47 AM by kwez

  

          

That album was really the first and the last time that Nas actually genuinely experimented with his flow (for a whole album) and he pulled it off to perfection.

That album has his most vicious rhyming, he was so completely in the pocket and not a single bar was wasted.

Of course I like Illmatic but for me it had two songs that I consider duds. "Halftime" and "One Time For You Mind". These songs for me just sap all the energy out of that album.

IWW was Nas showing off and saying, "yeah, I can do that shit too"

It's all opinions though, but cats get mad when this topic comes up and you don't pray at the altar of Illmatic.

************************

  

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Brew
Member since Nov 23rd 2002
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Thu Sep-29-16 12:07 PM

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152. "Man I said the same thing about "Halftime" here..."
In response to Reply # 151


          

...a while back and got eviscerated. I like "One Time for Your Mind" but understand where you're coming from re: the pace of the song bringing down the rest of the tone of the album. But "Halftime" to me is just super meh.


>Of course I like Illmatic but for me it had two songs that I
>consider duds. "Halftime" and "One Time For You Mind". These
>songs for me just sap all the energy out of that album.

----------------------------------------

"Fuck aliens." © WarriorPoet415

  

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Nick Has a Problem...Seriously
Member since Dec 25th 2010
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Thu Sep-29-16 12:23 PM

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153. "One time 4 your mind should've been replaced "
In response to Reply # 151


  

          

I know Large Pro had to have better shit available. The Halftime beat is nothing special but Nas ripped it lyrically.

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13Rose
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Thu Sep-29-16 12:33 PM

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157. "I agree 100%"
In response to Reply # 153


  

          

Halftime is a good song among great songs. But the lyrics are great. I wouldn't change Halftime actually but One Time def could have got replaced. As is it's a decent song.

This post was paid for by the following.

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Remember MJ The Great!
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