|
Nas - Streets DiscipleAlbum Review by:
brooklyniteOne
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
 I know, I know you want to know if Streets Disciple is better than Jay-Z's Black Album? Is it like Illmatic? Is it better than Gods Son?
Off top, from track one its apparent Streets Disciple is grown man music. This is an album thats bigger than an album it's a movement. With that in mind I say its better than "The Black Album." The issues addressed on the album are deep and makes releases like this important to the Hip-Hop movement.
I think Nas answers KRS-ONE's call to action on this release. Clearly Nas is doing his own thing. This album proves that hot Hip-Hop music can be sincere and most of all authentic and true to the artist. Politics, sexually transmitted diseases, role models, marriage, parenthood among other issues are touched. What are we doing, what are we saying?
We all agree that Hip-Hop is a lifestyle, but how many emcees are true to even their own lifestyle on their records. How many emcees ever even saw crack, yet are hustlers and gun busters in their rhymes? So if Hip-Hop is a lifestyle who says... hey getting married is cool, being a father is great, this is how get get off the street so you dont have to sell drugs.
Nas gets personal and explains why he's getting married. Damn it makes me want to marry my girl... Im fuckin with you. (laugh) Not yet. Maybe in 2005. But seriously the important life issues discussed by Nas make up what is so important about Hip-Hop releases like Streets Disciple.
The album's lyrical content has the in your face political shock value of Dave Chapelle's "Chapelle Show" at times. Like when Nas gets at Kobe Bryant on "Coon Picnic (these Are Our Heroes)":
"Master used to breed us to be bigger to go play, athletes of today in the NBA, make me proud, but theres something they dont say, keep getting accused for abusing white pus*y, from O.J. to Kobe' or lets call him Tobe'. First he played his life cool just like Michael, now he rock ice too just like I do. Yo, you can't do better than that...the hotel clerk who adjust the bathroom mat? Now you loose sponsorships that you thought had your back. Yeah, you beat the rap, jiggaboo, fake nigga you. You turn around then you shit on Shaq. Who would have knew? Mr. Goodie two shoes. He love a little butt crack. Got enough cash. Little kids with they bus pass who look up to you to do something for the youth, stupid spoof, but you let them use you as an example..."
People who do not like to think will not appreciate Streets Disciple for what it is. In my opinnion this is as close to a 'five mic' album as you can get without being a 'five mic' album. I think that you can easily make a 'five mic' album from 12 tracks out of the 24 tracks in the double disk set depending if you like the "Thiefs Theme" Nas, or the "If I Ruled The World" Nas. That fact right here might just make it a 'five mic' album. it can easily be divided into 12 Hip-Hop street themes and 12 more introspective tracks.
Nasty Nas is alive. Word. The track "Streets disciple" IS illmatic revisited at times.
"You was born in the eighties, pops drove a Mercedes, did a bid coming home to some grown ass kid, crack baby turn to young thug, description might fit you look around it might hit you, no joke, dont want to pistol fight with you. Shit comes around faster than you think. Blood and white chalk make pink. So whats that make you? Become a creature of habitiat. The average cat won't see where its at or where its going. The hood waits for noone. I been through it, from Ewings to Buicks, to body viewings, car chases, to court cases to fly vacations, from wanting it all, to being the object of your admiration. Imagination is what they lack. Its stops niggas from getting stacks. Feeling trapped on the block with loose cracks. Wisdom is vital for the survival of the Streets Disciple."
Theres too many highlights to get into. Is that humility on the Rakim dedication track? I swear thats Tupacs flow on "The Makings Of A Perfect Bitch. " Though I must say the inclusion of Olu Dara his father on this album is hot like on "Streets Disciple" for example.
Basically Nas lived up to my high expectations. With Streets Disciple I got street themes, jewels(knowledge), and I think he set the bar for others in Hip-Hop in terms of taking responisbilty as role models and making good music with a proper message. The beats/productions are blazing whether its straight boom bap like Dougie Fresh beatboxing on "Virgo," or more musical with Jazz overtones on "No One Else In The Room," "Bridging The Gap," and "Me & You" among others. Do yourself a favor, cop this album!
Related Links:
Streets Disciple Tracklist & Clips
 ( 9) Comments | Post a comment »
|
|
