Having to wait an extra month than the US for this album to be in stores was strange given the international version has no extra tracks. I'm sure there is some reason but surely this does nothing but encourages piracy... Anyway, once acquired and given a spin or two I find it to be a good album, but the production on most of his others are more my thing. Lyrically it's good as usual, content and delivery wise, but a lot of the tracks don't seem to grab me as much as Nasir's past albums which limit its lifespan. I listened to the previous 'Street's Disciple' and his other albums for ages and play them more often than this one. In saying all this, it's better than much of what's released today and it's still quality from Nas, being consistent and having some great bangers such as 'Black Republican' and 'Money Over Bullshit'.
Best Tracks: Money Over Bullshit, Black Republican, Blunt Ashes, Let There Be Light, Hold Down the Block, Can't Forget About You.
Good Songs: Carry On Tradition, Where Are They Now, Hip-Hop Is Dead, Play on Playa, Still Dreaming, Hustlers
Average Songs: Who Killed It, You Can't Kill Me (the music reminds me of an earlier song he did on an earlier LP...It's not coming to though), Not Going Back, Hope (not a big fan of acapellas - great with a beat behind it though).
"1995, eleven years from the day, I'm in the record shop with choices to make. Illmatic on the top shelf, The Chronic on the left homie Wanna cop both but only got a twenty on me So f*** it, I stole both, spent the twenty on a dub sack" - The Game on 'Hustlers'.
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