Street's Disciple

by

Nas

Edit

Two years after the exceptional "God's Son", Nas comes back with the highly anticipated double-disc eighth album "Street's Disciple". Many assume that an artist, ten years into their career wouldn't be able to release a high-quality album, let alone a two-disc album. But evidently, Nasir Jones defies any predetermined accusations. "Street's Disciple" finds Nas experimenting with new sounds as well as diving into a deeper, more poignant realm of lyricism, mixing old with some new. Highlights include the social conscious "American Way", the sentimental "Just a Moment", the introspective "Live Now", the instantly intriguing "Street's Disciple", the in-depth "Unauthorized Biography of Rakim", the Doug E. Fresh inspired "Virgo", the rapidly delivered "Suicide Bounce", the reminiscent "Getting Married", the first single "Bridging The Gap", the "In A Gadda Da Vida"-sampled "Thief's Theme", and the best track, the melancholy "A Message To The Feds, Sincerely, We The People". The only thing that really falters this album is the production; while most of the experimentation works well, some just seem out of place, sounding "awkward" rather than "innovative". But what double disc album doesn't have its flaws? Driven by substantial lyrics and charismatic flow, it easily overshadows any minor flaw. Ultimately, "Street's Disciple" might not be the perfect double-disc album, but it comes close.

I deleted my first review for this album because I realized later it was unfair.

I'm trying to turn a new leaf. I want to express my opinions, but to express them with a little less venom and a little more respect.

I think Nas is a great rapper, and contrary to what Jay-Z says, Nas is probably the greatest rapper alive. However, I do take issue with some things he harps on in his music. I applaud the love Nas seems to have for black women (that is when he's not calling us bitches, but I guess it depends on how you want to take it); but he seems to have a problem with blacks who don't fit his design on what blackness should be. And this is what I have a problem with; especially with his lyrics on the Street's Disciple cd. What does he mean by the "cooning" and "UPN and WB" thing? Is he insulting the black actors on those networks because of their comedy? My definition of "cooning" is degrading or embarrassing yourself for the sole purpose of appealing to a particular group. You could look at anything blacks do today as "cooning": especially blacks who are falsely acting like thugs or tramps to appeal to the buying public which is predominately white.

What about his comments about Condi Rice? Is she not a real black woman just because she's a Republican? Is she an Uncle Tom? Well, my definition of an Uncle Tom is a black person who sells out their own for the advantage of another. Can't black men and women selling drugs to their own and subsequently having a role in the destruction of their neighborhoods be an example of Uncle Tom behavior? Doesn't that mean 90% of today's rappers, including Nas, apply?

Our skin color makes us black, not our attitudes, behavior, or even political views. He doesn't seem to understand that. He tries to define blackness. Now what if white people tried to define blackness for us? Would we tolerate that? So why do we have a right to define it for others?

I'm not against interracial dating, but as a black woman I certainly understand the frustration with the "trend" of black men disproportionately choosing other races for companionship than other men of other races. But there is a difference between solely dating a certain race because you find disfavor with your own, and just happening to find a person of another race attractive. Does Nas discern the difference or is he against dating whites altogether? Well you see, I don't know what he feels, only what he says in his music. That's the only source I have to judge his mentality. And his mentality seems to need a little work with its open-mindedness, or lack thereof.