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Nas & DJ Premier are Light Years in the future
Two names. Two sounds. Two shocks that changed my life.
It's like I'm 14 again. Do you remember the first time you heard Nas ? The first time that Gang Starr hit you right in the chest?
Two names. Two sounds. Two shocks that changed my life.
From Live at the Barbecue, we knew that, Nas was special.
As we knew that Gang Starr wasn't just any rap group, they were a compass, a direction.
Nas spoke for us. The little hoodrats. Those who saw too much and grew up too fast but still hoped... Those who jumped the gate to catch that last subway. A marker in their pocket, headphones on their ears and hoodie up. Nas and Preemo they've always been that way.
One voice. One truth. One culture.
And Light Years, is exactly that : a return, but above all a continuity.
Album review
1. My Life Is Real
A solid album opener. Slow, heavy, sincere.
A well-cut sample, a relaxed atmosphere. Nas takes the time to greet those with whom he built.
A serious introduction.
«I'm a man, I'll die about it / Feel the pain but I'm not gonna cry about it»
2. Git Ready
Need cowbell? Absolutely.
Funky bassline, light vibe, unapologetic swag.
A Nas who has fun without ever losing control.
«Jesus, the king out of Queensbridge / at ease us with your lyrical thesis»
3. NY State of Mind Pt. 3
The third part of his iconic song, NY State of Mind off ofIllmatic, son premier album.
A sample of Billy Joel pour ouvrir, puis le chaos. Beat lent, pesant, inquiétant.
Nas continues his precise, sharp New York storytelling. The city still breathes through him.
« On part two, I left you with two of my friends / And now our goals is that our sons don’t end in juvenile pen’s »
4. Welcome to the Underground
A complete surprise.
Almost rock in its energy.
Nas looks back on his underground beginnings with humor and self-deprecation.
You can feel the pleasure, the smile in his voice.
«Welcome to the underground, that basement life»
5. Madman
Reality check.
The music industry, its oversights, its cycles, its injustices.
A dark, menacing beat, typically DJ Premier.
«You know that Metro Boomin' or Future, we still don't trust ya’
6. Pause Tape
A pure tribute.
In the intro, Havoc talks about sampling in the era of tape decks.
Play. Pause. Rewind.
A lost art.
A celebration of boomboxes, cassettes, and lovingly crafted hip-hop.
«Re-record, loop, re-re-record, loop»
7. Writers
Oh la la. Guaranteed chills.
Drum roll, heavy bassline, Preemo at its peak.
If you've ever spray-painted a wall, a train, a subway door, this track is for you.
Nas and Preemo draw parallels between a pen and a marker. Between writing rhymes and writing one's name. They cite graffiti artists from all over the world. Pure culture.
«Sometimes at night, I walked with a pen, with a marker and even some chalk»
8. Sons (Young Kings)
Nas at its best.
A magnificent soul sample.
A letter to sons, fathers, and mothers.
Conscious, tender, intelligent rap. It makes you smile… and sometimes bring a tear to your eye.
«To my brothers with sons, let him run / To my brothers with sons, so fun / I pray y'all both share the most powerful bond / A little different from him and his mom»
9. It's Time (feat. Steve Miller Band)
Instead of sampling, they invite the original band. And that changes everything.
Chorus scratched by Preemo, with a nod to Beastie Boys.
Nas talks about the passage of time. A track that makes you think and dance.
«I use every second as a weapon, every minute keeps on slippin’ / Time is a construct of your limits»
10. Nasty Esco Nasir
Back to alter egos. Nas vs Escobar.
An internal conversation. A confrontation.
It almost feels like Nas puts an end to Escobar. Strong concept. Trademark of Nas.
«Birth certificate says Nasir / Origin not clear, but what a great name to bear / My name is not as common as Muhammed or as popular / Or as praiseworthy, so I adopted a moniker»
11. My Story, Your Story (feat. AZ)
Seul vrai featuring de l’album. Et quel featuring.
Nas and AZ, two brothers in arms.
It a pass the mic type song.
Preemo delivers a classic, timeless soul beat.
«My Story, your story / Weed high, war stories / Get fly, raw stories / I could cry more stories»
12. Bouquet (To the Ladies)
A tribute to women.
Jazz, deep bass, elegance.
Nas salutes strong women and great female figures in hip-hop. From yesterday to today.
«What would the world be without beautiful, powerful women? / The Meemaws, the grandparents, the nation buildin' / Who educates is, challenges, teaches, love and support us ’
13. Junkie
A sample of classical music, a rare occurrence for Preemo.
Nas describes himself as a hip-hop junkie. A rap aholic.
He talks about detoxing… but admits that it's impossible to quit.
Metaphor or confession? Probably both.
«Hi, I'm a rap-aholic, only been sober since my last installment / Need music with substance, so it's abuse the call it»
14. Shine Together
Smooth beat, bright soul sample.
Nas and Preemo shine together.
This collaborative project is just another chapter in their shared history. This song is a reflection of it.
«Like a baby baffled, first time seeing his shadow / People react the same to what Preem and Nas will unravel»
15. 3rd Childhood
Heavy Funk Sample
Nas compares his youth to that of today.
He speaks with detachment, without judgment.
«Hear me out, I've been your age and you haven't been mine»
Conclusion
Light Years is an excellent album.
A mature album. A sincere album. A necessary album. A classic.
Le jeune homme que j’étais aurait aimé. L’homme que je suis aujourd’hui, adore.
THANKS Nas.
THANKS DJ Premier.
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