Nas' Untitled: A Schizophrenic Mix Between Commercial, Traditional Hip Hop

The latest album from Queens, New York-based rapper has been controversial from the start. Originally the album was supposed to be named N.*.G.G.E.R. However, due to intense label and external pressure, the album has undergone many name changes. Now titled, fittingly enough Untitled, will Nas' latest album live up to the incredible hype?

The first single off of Untitled is Hero featuring Keri Hilson. The track is produced by Polow Da Don. The song is definitely not what you think of when you think of Nas. The song is more commercial especially the beat. However, Nas delivers strong lyrics over the catchy beat.

Cool & Dre and The Game co-produce Make The World Go Round. The track also features R&B singer Chris Brown. The song is not what you expect from Nas. The Game and Nas both drop strong verses and Chris Brown is a welcome change to the track.

On Black President, Nas is joined by Johnny Polygon. The Green Lantern produced song is strong lyrically and features a memorable Tupac Shakur vocal sample. The song is one of the stronger and more thought provoking songs on the album.

DJ Toomp produces N.*.G.G.E.R. (The Slave And The Slave Master). The song has a similar feel to Kanye West's Can't Tell Me Nothing. The song will definitely appeal to hardcore Nas fans.

Mark Ronson produces Fried Chicken featuring Busta Rhymes. The track has a very vintage hip hop feel. Both of the lyricists deliver strong verses as well.

Queens Get The Money is more vintage Nas. The track features a simple piano based beat and Nas just rapping in freeform.

R&B producers StarGate produce America. The song is not like anything you expect from StarGate. The song sounds like vintage hip hop reinvented for 2008.

You Can't Stop Us Now features Eban Thomas of the legendary R&B The Stylistics and The Last Poets. Lyrically the song is very strong however the song just does not stand out.

Eric Hudson shows off his production skills on Project Roach. The song once again features The Last Poets. The song is catchy and well produced. Lyrically the song is just so abstract it stands out on its own.

Untitled is a struggle between two conflicting worlds. On one portion of the album, Nas is appealing to the commercial nature of modern hip hop. On the other half of the album, Nas delivers that hardcore Nas you expect. This schizophrenia leads to confusion. Overall Untitled gets 7.5 out of 10. If you are a fan of Nas make sure you pick up Untitled.