Nas Untitled CD Review

This is the most anticipated CD release since Lil Wayne. And the most controversial I've heard in years. Originally, this CD was to be called N.I.G.G.E.R, but the parent company fought against it. As did many citizens and black folks. The CD was pushed back as a result. Finally, as a compromise, Nas dropped the previous title, but not the subject matter. (and he still stayed true to his original vision by releasing a mixtape that upheld the controversial title that he wanted.)

This CD is complex. It's deep and thought provoking. It's inspirational. It's historical. And it's proliferated with the dreaded n-word.

1. Queens Get The Money - Intro to set the tone of all to come. A melodic piano loop to lure you into the rabbit hole that is his new Untitled CD.

"I'm Huey P. and Louis V. at the eulogy throwing molotovs for Emmitt"

2. You Can't Stop Us Now (feat. Eban Thomas of The Stylistics & The Last Poets) This song resonates. The mere presence of The Last Poets lends credibility to the message. And Eban Thomas is positively, pure, soul. His crooning is complimented by a '70s style horn section. This is a standout track you can cruise to. This is the track that even your dad can cruise to.

3. Breathe - The production sounds very radio friendly; easily digestible and smooth. The lyrics seem a setback to me. The n-word is tossed around as if this was a track for another album. But in all fairness, it's a "street anthem." I'm certainly not "street" so this song wasn't really made for me. Let's move on.

4. Make the World Go Round (feat. Chris Brown & The Game). It's essentially a song that celebrates black unity. Brilliant! From a marketing standpoint, the inclusion of The Game gives it coastal solidarity. Chris Brown singing the infectious hook guarantees a built in audience. And... the song sounds great.

5. Hero(feat. Keri Hilson). It's produced by Polow Da Don, which explains this out of the gate smash hit. It's that song that everyone hears and loves instantly.

"Can't leave it
The games needs him
Plus the people need someone to believe in
So in God's Son we trust
'Cause they know I'm gonna give 'em what they want
They looking for... a hero
I guess that makes me... a hero"

6. America - One of the best tracks on the album. Arguably, because every song is exceptional. It's like The Message by Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five. It's portrait of America. Both past and present. He dredges up the hypocrisy and tarnish that goes overlooked. Nas gets really clever in the third verse, and pays homage to John Lennon. We always think of Imagine when we think of Lennon, but how many know he did a song call Woman Is The Nigger of The World?

Woman Is The Nigger Of The World by John Lennon

"We insult her every day on TV

And wonder why she has no guts or confidence

When she's young we kill her will to be free

While telling her not to be so smart we put her down for being so dumb"

Then, Nas secrets an homage on his song America

"Y'all don't treat women fair

She read about herself in the bible

Believing she the reason sin is here

You played her, with an apron

Like bring me my dinner, dear

She the nigger here"

7. Sly Fox - If you hadn't noticed, the CD is consistent in it's excellence. Sly Fox is the controversial song that takes Fox News to task for being a right wing propaganda engine. It's amazing. Nas probably made this song months before the Michelle Obama baby mama comment, before the terrorist fist bump fiasco, before Fox allowed a female guest to jokingly refer to his assassination, yet somehow this song still packs a punch. This is powerful. It exhibits the potential that rappers possess for political figures. This song is what I always thought Tupac would become had he lived. (Oh, and a friend pointed out to me that the music for this song sounds like the theme for Real Time with Bill Maher.)

"Watch what you watchin'
Fox keeps feeding us toxins
Stop sleeping
Start thinking
Outside of the box and
Unplug from The Matrix doctrine
But watch what you say Fox 5 is watchin' "

8. Testify -This is a laid back and soulful with a pimp groove. Not as much a song as an interlude, or cognitive mood. Much more of a stream of consciousness delivery.

9. N.I.*.*.E.R. (The Slave and the Master) - OMG, another favorite. Blatantly states facts while simultaneously describing a condition. I doubt you'll hear this on the radio. But this is the title track, before it became an untitled album. This song lives up to the hype.

"They say we N - I - Double G - E - R
We - are - much more,
But still we choose to ignore,
The obvious.
We are the slave and the master,
What you looking for?
You the question and the answer."

10. Untitled - This is about the life of revolutionaries. They don't die of old age. Nas assumes the position of past revolutionaries. Nas emotes that his own life is now a target as he has stepped up as a speaker and leader. (We've heard Tupac and Biggie discuss their own mortality- it never ends well.)

11. Fried Chicken - This will be a family reunion classic. Nas and Busta Rhymes personify soul food. They adore it like sexy, exotic women. Clever to say the least.

"Driving in your bucket seats
From Kentucky
To f**k with me
Look what you done to me
Was number one to me!
After you shower
You and your gold medal flour
Then you rub on with hot oil for half an hour
You in your hot tub, I'm looking at you salivating
Dry you off, I got your paper towel waiting"

12. Project Roach - Again Nas teams up with the Last Poets. They open with the reminder not to place importance on exterminating the n-word, but instead place your energy on elevating Brothers and Sisters. This is also short, really just an interlude.

13. Y'all My Ni**as - This is a forum about the N Word. Nas takes a stance, and he opts to keep the word. I won't explain his position, because I don't yet fully understand it. But debate this one among yourself.

14. We're Not Alone ponders the concept of intelligent life outside of Earth. Nas says he saw an Alien Spacecraft in 1999 in LA. This song is his personal testimony of an event, as well as a very eco friendly green song. Not at all what I expected to find on a hip hop cd.

15. Black President - pretty straight forward. It's speaking something into existence. The hook juxtaposes a Tupac sample against a mantra made famous by Obama and Will I Am.

"And though it seems heaven sent,
we ain't ready to see a black President
And though it seems heaven sent,
we ain't ready to see a black President
Yes We Can ... Change the World (Change the World )"

Classic work. Consistent and full of depth. This is the CD that defines an era.