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| Nas | 
 enlarge | Artist: Nas
Label: Def Jam
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
Buy New: $8.00
You Save: $5.98 (43%)
New (53) Used (20) from $7.49
Avg. Customer Rating:  136 reviews
Sales Rank: 2733
Format: Explicit Lyrics
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
UPC: 602517752764
EAN: 0602517752764
ASIN: B001A5074S
Release Date: July 15, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new, factory sealed. Check inventory for other CDs. Order more than one and receive a shipping credit! Email for FREE gift wrapping on all orders!
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| Customer Reviews:
 Lost Soul?? July 18, 2008
10 out of 20 found this review helpful
This is the first review I've ever written, but felt compelled to do so. I have been around hip hop now for more than 20 years and have seen it evolve into something I do not recognize. I started as a DJ in high school, party's here and there, blend tapes etc.... I remember showing up at the mall @ 5 am and waiting for Sam Goody to open the day Illmatic dropped and then proceeding to wear out my tape as it went from car to walkman to stereo, the same with It was Written. Nasty Nas to Esco to Queens, now Black American Revolutionary?? My opinion probably doesn't matter in the whole scheme of things, but WTF. These celebrities have nothing to do every day but sit around and read the news and feel obligated to become a part of it. What happened to Beats! What happened to rhymes! What happened to life! Don't get me wrong, lyrically Nas is sharp, no one on your radio dial can ever come close to Nas' lyrical skills ((have you heard Lollipop? GARBAGE!!!)). But Nas, what are you preaching?? I don't get it! In two years when you drop again, what will you be??? A buddhist??? preaching Kabbalah?? Hip-Hop needs NAS, NASTY NAS...... If you want to use your platform to spit what your spitting, fine... but it's hipocritical to judge someone else for using their platform to spit their views. You are the one you despise! I will always drop my $15-$20 bucks to hear Nas, but I can't get behind this record. The Game?? Chris Brown?? whatever.... Where's KGR?? You said if we don't like it, your happy going Gold, I don't think you have to worry about that, but what's your legacy??? Black American Revolutionary??? I for one am not buying it.
 Hip-Hop music for grown ups July 15, 2008
9 out of 12 found this review helpful
When Nas released Illmatic 14 years ago it was the most anticipated album of that year. Nas has survived the test of time staying relevant to his genre. Sure he's dropped some not so great albums, all of which failing to match the impact of Illmatic. This latest offering titled... Untitled is a perfect piece for fans that have grown up with Nas. Nas has grown up. His sound is refined and his lyrics are a reflection of someone who thinks about things other than jewelry and hookery. Tracks like "N.I.*.*.*.E.R.", "Hero", and "Sly Fox" are all examples of a more mature approach to an industry where grown men run around acting like teenagers. My only complaint about this album is that the production seems to be very generic. There was no music on this album that stood out to me to be innovative or overly creative. It's decent but just doesn't stand out. No DJ Premiere? And where is that Primo/Nas album that everyone was talking about a few years ago? Either way Untitled is a good album. Those of us Hip-Hop heads 30 years and up will appreciate Nas stepping up his game and giving us something that is not embarrassing to listen to.
 Nas July 15, 2008
8 out of 12 found this review helpful
A Walk Through LifeThere is so much depth in the lyrical content of this album that at times I'm not even listening or appreciaiting the music which is a bonus when you have so many Hip Hop records talking about Shining and material stuff. Nas truly is the Resurrection of Hip Hop. This album is a classic, I thought Hip Hop is dead was disappointing but this album restores faith in hip hop music period, another classic Nas album. Tracks like fried chicken featuring Busta Rhymes takes you back to it was written where Nas used a gun in gave you power as a metaphor, Nas and Busta Rhymes do this with fried chicken the lyrics are incredible. Guest appearances feature Eban Thomas of The Stylistics & The Last Poets Chris Brown & The Game Keri Hilson Mykel Johnny Polygon and of course Busta Rhymes. If you think Hero produced by Polow Da Don is good just wait to you hear the album it's a great whole record both with the production and the content, you will be pleased with your purchase!.
D A Poole.
 MUSIC is Dead. NAS is Not. THIS record does not show it.... July 15, 2008
7 out of 15 found this review helpful
Hip hop isn't dead. Rock isn't dead. You just have to search far and wide to find it. Or better yet, go back and listen to the classics. Cause yeah everything on the radio is bad. I'm an avid Nas listener who's pushin' 30 so I've heard it all. I've had this album for over a week, ya I downloaded it then bought it this morning. So I've had time to listen to it before I praise or hate on it.
With that said, Nas brings a great deal of prolific lyric delivery(as he always does). The problem is, even if there wasn't so much hype around this record, the production is still very lackluster. I'm not comparing this record to other hip hop artists, cause then this album would deserve it's 5 stars!! But for Nas, the message isn't new he's been sayin this stuff for years, and the beats are in my opinion his worst to date!
However, this album has two tracks where Nas raps over piano with no bass or beat and those songs are sick!
A good solid album, although not quite up to the hype July 16, 2008
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
This album would be a 3.5 if Amazon would allow for that. It eeks out a 4 star rather than a 3 because true to Nas form, the lyrical content outweighs many of the album's oversights.
I've noticed that a LOT of the critics reviewing this album feel the need to compare it to Hip Hop is Dead, as if HHID was a weak effort. Hear me clearly folks, if you're expecting Untitled to be better than HHID, you'll probably be disappointed. Untitled's themes and imagery are crisp thanks to Nas' lyrical finesse and quality, but it loses the total effect it should have due to the lack of harmony between subject matter and production.
Do NOT believe the critics that suggest Nas has eliminated his problem for poorly choosing his album tracks with Untitled because he hasn't; on this album he's simply traded in the experimental yet inconsistent style of production that plagued otherwise solid efforts (Street's Disciples comes to mind) for a catchier, polished sound eerily reminiscent of his Esco days. Some of the production works, but the rest is either:
* too carbon copy (We're Not Alone, Breathe--which sounds similar to HHID's You Can't Kill Me)
* too upbeat (Hero, America)
* too commercial (Make the World Go Round)
Thus, the production fails to help support and elevate the concepts and topics Nas is spitting about on this album, once again putting those burdens on the shoulders of Nas' lyrics. As usual, the lyrics are up to the task, but the lack of harmony hinders the final product. Imagine Public Enemy spitting Shut Em Down or Fight the Power over a Trackmasters or Bad Boy track, and ask yourself if they would still be considered the energetic, classic anthems we consider them today...?
Also, there are a lot of R&B vocals on hooks. Mykel is no Quan, and Keri Hilson is no Chrisette Michelle, but Eban Thomas (from the Stylistics) makes an appearance here, which is a touching moment. As for Chris Brown's appearance? Well, not no sure about that one, though his collabo song with Nas and the Game (again Nas??)was pretty catchy. None of the collabos on Untitled can match the awe-inspiring intensity of HHID's Black Republican, but Busta Rhymes appearance on Fried Chicken is a standout track. The Last Poets appearance on two tracks ties into the themes of Untitled very well.
And it is the theme of Untitled that helps solidify the album. The racial topics covered by most of its songs are what most of us expected when Nas and Kelis paraded around on the red carpet a few months ago with the N-word glistening in glitter across their backs. Lyrically, most of the songs hit with the intensity that all of the hype and controversy surrounding this album would lead one to expect. Nas culminates the experience with the picture perfect Black President, an ode to Barack Obama as well as an answer to the age-old question that's repeated in the song's chorus via a 2Pac sample: are we ready for a black president?
With subtle reservations, Nas says yes, and closes out an album that is among his better albums even though it underachieves as much as it forcefully delivers.
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