My true introduction to hip hop was when I was 13. Yes, I knew radio songs and had even developed a keenness for some artists but my introduction to the essence of hip-hop was through none other than Nas.

Through my mentor’s introduction to Nas, I was able to find what I needed in order to not only to ”like” a record but to also “feel” the record. What I needed was the art of storytelling. Nas’ Illmatic became a movie reel in my head as a listened. It was then, on that M14A MTA bus, that I realized the beautiful impact that music had on lives.

This is Nas’ Nasir.

After a 6-year album hiatus following an under-appreciated Life Is Good album and the song Nas "Album Done" (featured on DJ Khaled’s album), the tensions were high. June 2018 was a stacked month musically. And Nas delivered with his introduction to Nasir.

“Escobar season begins.” This statement, sampled choir, and Diddy’s words engulfed the ears of this listener. Nas returned with a track proclaiming his right to be a God while shooting down adversary’s who would refute his “dominance.” He shows the same respect for politicians as those people who decide to leach off of his growth.

He does this with an impeccable flow and pairing of lyrics that make you question what side of the bar you fall on. Are you a gangster or a politician? Either way, the fear remains. His knowledge of history takes shots at the character of America in this introduction and segues into topics expanded on in the album. There’s no doubt on the strength of the albums introduction.

The second song on the album, Cops Shot the Kid, immediately tackles the consistent presence of unarmed black men and women being killed or violated of their rights by police officers. Nas tells the tales of the normalcy of life on the streets and makes the claim that it is the police, or the outsiders, that do not understand these behaviors. Therefore, they do not understand those they are policing. Throw in Kanye’s thoughts on the portrayal of black lives on the media and you get something special. This song is easily digestible and straight to the point. Unlike its subject matter, there is no overlooking this song.

White Label is the cleanest cut song off the album. It’s the flex in the classiest way. In the simplest terms: not everyone could do it the way Nas has. His presence is felt where he goes, his respect can be earned, his tastes are simple yet evolved, and he’s been sleeping with your dream girls since his entry into the hip-hop scene.  He understands his position while he breaking down his lifestyle. It is a lifestyle that paved way for others to follow. His understanding of himself is humbled down to paying homage to his idols, the turn of his mindset, his family, and Kanye West.

Where as White Label is a classy flex, Bonjour is straight flex. It is what success looks like, what success feels like, and what true success is to someone who came from nothing.

The climax of this album is left to everything. Who ever had parts is this song deserves the utmost credit. Nas, Kanye, The Dream, Mike Dean, benny blanco, Cashmere Cat, and Plain Pat; they did that. 

At the album release party someone screamed, “We got another one!” The faces of Nas and Kanye were a mix of confusion and hurt. The man shouted his clarification, “Queens Bridge, we got another one!” Their facial expressions went from confusion to elation. They did have another one.

The vocals of Kanye West and The Dream present the cinematic opening to the song. They promote diversity and individualism with lines like “don’t think the same as everyone else.” As Kanye would speak on, the individualism comes at a price: greed. The presentation of the idea of “everything” is what drives this song. The notion that if everything belonged to a singular person, would they change everything? Kanye would.

Kanye’s quest for “everything” is then paired with The Dream singing of the struggles faced by black people. He sings of keeping composure in the face of the world, not fall into the complacency of society, allowing society to runs its course against you, to “speak your truth,” to give time to society to trace your grain, and to believe in only yourself because your story can’t “conclude with anyone else.”

Then Nas enters the fold. His first verse is all about the portrayal of black lives. Never mind the murders and the fallen black bodies; he tackles just the portrayal of the black lifestyle and its dissection. He speaks on the need to embarrass and to harass just for a story. The life of survival and competition is put on display for entertainment. This fabrication becomes the driving factor. The desire to be included is one created by outside entities. The same entities are the ones who make a living off of other peoples’ lives. All the while, the viewer, listener, commenter could have it all and still never have enough.

Nas’ second verse covers issues of raising children, immunization shots, calling police for being black, and protesting. He puts forth the idea that it is the parent who introduces a child to their first real encounter with pain, the shots. It is a parent looking to protect their child in the simplest way, but to the child, the parent is the bringer of pain. The verse then focuses on the idea of pain a black person could encounter just for existing. The police being called on you just for wanting to use the restroom is not out of this world. Yes, the reality is that with enough people, any business could be shut down. Something like this couldn’t happen with everyone in his or her own world.

The last verse is Nas’ personal account of “everything” and the battles he’s faced to shift society. His tactics could be seen as minuscule: a plantation bought here, a conversation there, the support to someone. Nas’ goal is to disrespect the foundations set in place before his time, all while remaining the “staircase loiterer.”

Adam and Eve is the story of complacency. Though Nas has not become complacent, his routines would make it seem so. He speaks from a place of understanding the need to progress and move forward. He expresses the difficulty of having those around you that would hinder your progression. He explains that even around him, there is always room for growth and one must continuously strive for it.

Nas closing remarks on Simple Things are truly a wonder to listen to. He understands his position in life and as an artist. He boasts that it is his words that people want to hear not the beat. His words have longevity to them. Even though he has told his stories countless times, there are still things that the world is not privy to. All in all, he is the same chop it up Nasty Nas even while looking like Nasir.  

The project Nasir is one of value. Nas’ thanked Kanye for his production and it was rightfully placed. Though his words are exquisite and meaningful, the production of Kanye West and his team elevated them to new heights. Without both masterminds behind the wheel of their specified crafts, the project falls a part.