Yeah. They didn't put out anything below average.

Kwelis album was dopeee. stillmatic is more of a party thing too. DMX haha man I haven't listened to DMX in awhile

Stillmatic >>>>>>>>>>>>> Illmatic.

Come at me.

lets hear your argument for stillmatic. I loved both albums but what makes it better than illmatic?

Yeah, I'm actually interested in your argument too if that's what you believe Goofle.

I like Stillmatic but I don't think all of the production complimented Nas like Illmatic's did. Add that to the fact that he's got weaker songs on Stillmatic and it adds up to an album that's good, but doesn't meet the quality of Nas's debut imo

Goofle, did you get the version of Stillmatic with "Braveheart Party"? A lot of the later pressings took it off.

That's so fucking lame, I had no idea that it was taken off. I wonder why?


My copy has it.

Illmatic blows everything else he did out of the water, as clichéd a view as that is.
No other album combined the raw lyrical feeling, storytelling, expert production and youthful aggression like Illmatic.

Back on Illmatic, Nas was a much more focused artist. It was all about making the best record possible, which he did.
Fast forward 7 years and Nas wasn't so much about trying to make quality records as he was trying to create a more crossover sound in the hopes of catching up with Jigga's popularity or just taking shots at him.

If he'd kept the same focus and integrity he had when he was 19, imagine what he could have created. Instead he got involved in tit-for-tat with Jay-Z and his uncertainty with which direction he wanted to go in and what he wanted to do as an artist lead to his inconsistent discography.

There was no need for him to release two albums in 99 for example. And the quality of Nastradamus shows he had lost direction as an artist. It looked like he wanted to cross over into the mainstream like a lot of other artists at the time(bling bling era) had, but he never fully committed to running with that direction, so just got lost in the shuffle.
Stillmatic was certainly a return to form of sorts, but it can't stand up to Illmatic in a million years. The point of the album, in my view was to prove he was the same artist who dropped Illmatic. The clue's in the title. But he's never been able to replicate his earlier success. It Was Written's his second best record in my opinion.

I think Stillmatic is more interesting overall. The production is a little so-so at times - something I can't fault Illmatic for - but I am engaged by the tracks more on the whole. It's his lyrical peak for sure and I think the tracks have better concepts, as opposed to just stories about hood shit.

Ether, Got Yourself A..., One Mic, You're Da Man and 2nd Childhood are all great songs.

I'll be honest, the song sucks hard. I think Nas realized this and he took it off as an artistic decision, so as to better the album's quality.

Good argument for Illmatic, Manky. Goofle, I understand what you mean about the more conceptual-song side of Stillmatic but do you really think he was a better lyricist on Stillmatic than on Illmatic? I'm not sure I agree, but he was really good on both, He just didn't stretch his imagination with something like "Rewind" on Illmatic.

Mine doesn't. Mine was purchased in 2011 though so obviously won't have it.

Stillmatic is good and contains some of his best work but there's just too much filler. All the tracks Goofle mentioned are great, but the CD has 14 (or 15 depending on what copy you have) tracks on it whereas every track on Illmatic is flawless. The concepts are good on those Stillmatic tracks, but what about One Love from Illmatic? That hadn't been done before had it? And It Ain't Hard to Tell is one of the greatest bragging tracks there is imo. That point basically applies to the CD in general, loads of people may have tried to do the street poet thing but how many did it better than Nas did on that album?

The content is fine, it's just self expression, a lot of it is stuff you will have felt at some point yourself, I know I have. He doesn't have to do over-clever concepts to make the music better, it does what it's meant to do, the CD is very sincere and you almost feel like you're actually in Queensbridge at that time because his storytelling is just that good. The production is first class as well, when I think of the quintessential 90's New York sound, I think of that album and the sound on that more than any other album. He did a fantastic job encapsulating what he wanted to encapsulate from that time, I get a similar feeling when I listen to BIDC, I feel like I'm in the tower blocks in East London just listening to it. Stillmatic isn't close to it.

@Manky I agree IWW is his 2nd best, it is let down by Nas is Coming and If I Ruled the World but the rest of the tracks are all very good. 12/14 very good tracks from any other artist and you'd have people calling it a classic but cos it was post-Illmatic it's just "average". The Lost Tapes is great too. The thing with Nastradamus... didn't his label want two albums from him instead of one so he had to rush it out? I'm sure I read something similar.

Illmatic in my opinion is perfect, I love a lot of albums but there is always something you'd change about them but with this you'd leave it as it is. It's funny that we weren't actually supposed to get Illmatic as it is, they rushed it out because of leaks.

I think Illmatic is good, just doesn't do much for me these days.

Scientifically it probably is better than Stillmatic, but its not my favourite.

What's wrong with "If I Ruled the World"?

In terms of Nas best albums after Illmatic, I'd rank them:

1. God's Son
2. Lost Tapes
3. Stillmatic

With Nastradamus and I Am..., there weren't supposed to be both of them. Originally, "I Am..." was going to be a double-album, but they scratched that idea after all of the leaks. After seeing DMX being successful with two albums in one year, the label decided that Nas could do the same thing, and that's how we got "I Am..." and "Nastradamus"

Personally, I think "I Am..." is actually really underrated and only has a few missteps. Even "Nastradamus" has a couple REAL good tracks.

I like I Am... also. It was the first Nas album I owned so I don't know if that's for nostalgic purposes or whatnot, but the prevailant xylophone inspired beats and the nice guest spots I.E. Scarface on favour for a favour and Puffy on Hate Me Now are cool.
It's got the second part of NY State of Mind and some real stand out tracks. Okay, some of it is just confusing and at times ridiculous but as a whole I don't understand the flack it gets. Solid 7-8/10 for me.

Rofl. It was a bit out of place but I ****ing loved that song. I hear that Mary J. Blige wanted it removed so it was taken off. Some say it was because of the whole Jay feud from Ether but idk how true that rumor is.

Lyrically and just viewing from songs stand point. Illmatic is way up the top. My favorite album from Nas tho is God's Son mainly because that was the first album I bought from him.
judging from his other albums tho. I would say his next best would be

1.Gods Son
2.Stillmatic
3.Lost tapes
4.I Am

I Am imo was an amazing album. minus all the leaks and such from it which took the shine away from it at the time. I never knew about the whole double album thing tho.. thats very interesting.

Been listening a lot to the Chronic recently.

The production is 5*, album is not perfect but definitely a classic.

Kendrick has really great technique in terms of delivery, so his words stick out more. GZA is pretty flat in terms of delivery, he's got a unique voice and all but he doesn't switch it up very much; however, his words are vivid and just need a little extra attention. I guess it's like SoundgardenRocks said, it's a mood piece in the sense that it kind of requires the listener to be in the mood to really listen to what he's saying. I think the production gives his lyrics a well suited atmosphere of intensity and depth.

Still like Public Enemy .. and How You Sell wasn't bad at all after all the years

187he wrote- Spice 1

Dare iz a darkside- Redman

All Day Everyday- South Central Cartel

BACDAFUCUP- Onyx

Legal Drug Money- Lost Boyz

ATLiens- Outkast

Good call on these ones, definite masterpieces. "Legal Drug Money" would've been close had they cut a few tracks.

What songs don't you like? I could see "Is this da part" Tim dog sucks

Any links to this anywhere on Earth?

There's no songs I don't like, just a few average ones. Track 10-14 are all kind of average to me.

How about DELTRON 3030

Can't forget about, Aquimini by Outkast.

I don't know, because you have no credibility.

Have to go with Black Moon "Enta Da Stage". The epitomy of 90's Hip Hop...Boom bap beats, Jazz Samples, and Dope lyrics!

The Eminem Show.

Not even the best BCC debut to me. Nocturnal and Da Shinin are better.

I'd never call myself a hip hop fan, but I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed "the Heist" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, especially with the civil rights references in Same Love. 10/10

Easily a masterpiece.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...hiscertain.jpg

I haven't listened to it, but he's exactly the kind of Hip Hop artist I generally stray away from. Very few "spittas" interest me any more.

I'm tellin ya Goofle, dont sleep on it! It's straight FIYA! :)

i had never really listened to royce in the past, but i listened to Bad Meets Evil and i was like damn dawg this guy is nice, so im gonna have to listen to that album of his.

^Yes! It's amazing! One of 2000s masterpieces! Better than any Em album easily.

Anytime you end up beefing with Em, he destroys you and you end up being tossed aside and forgotten.

I remember Oojay trying to tell me that Canibus is actually decent but he was so wack when she was feuding with EM and Em just silenced him so hard.

I do agree that Royce is mad underrated though. He's the best one from Slaughterhouse.

Who has Eminem really gotten into it with, though?

No one really significant as far as I can tell.

Eminem is just abysmal. If he ever feuded with someone with an ounce of talent or lyricism he'd get destroyed. Em's just a cry baby bitch who's either wailing about his mother,his ex-girlfriend or how he wants to keep his daughter out of the limelight by name dropping her every second bar. Most overrated rapper or all time. His voice grates me and his flow is horribly messy.

I think Eminem picks on really easy targets a bit too much, I know the ICP deserve every bit of abuse they get but honestly -



"They ain't never played in an arena this big..." I'm pretty sure if they're so pathetic, it shows a lot of insecurity having to defend yourself in such an immature way. I wouldn't have minded if it was funny, but that was just sad.

Wow i cant believe what i just read. ive though his hooks have been weak at times but as far as lyricism and rhyme scheme he's one of the best of all time. ive hear dpeople say they dont like eminem but to say he has no talent?? i cant even believe you are serious right now.