The boys don't seem to yell as much as they do on their previous albums, so this is actually bearable to listen to, although the distorted effect they seem to have over their voices on a lot of the tracks probably helps with that. The beats are quite original and experimental I guess, offering many different styles throughout the album; rock, electro and dub to name a few. In saying that though, I don't love any of this, and there are some I can't stand, but then again I'm far from a fan of these guys. Based on what I've heard from the group I think you'll get some enjoyment out of this if you are a fan, but particularly vocally, I've always been perplexed at the fanfare associated with the Beastie Boys. Best Tracks: Make Some Noise, OK, Too Many Rappers, Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament, Here's a Little Something for Ya

I've never thought a lot of this album. Eminem raps in more interesting ways on future albums, and the production becomes more interesting as well. On tracks such as 'Brain Damage' and 'If I Had' for example, I think that the production could be better and then you've got tunes like 'My Fault' and 'My Name Is' that are basically comedy rap and Em doesn't rap with a flow that is anything too special either. 'Guilty Conscience' also suffers slightly from being broken up with the narration, which a number of songs do with talking. There is a similar theme on a lot of the songs as well. The better cuts are songs like '97' Bonnie & Clyde' which is, of course, a different take on 2pac's classic song and picks it up in the production, has great storytelling and is my pick from the first half a dozen tracks. It feels a bit like 'Stan'. The following 'Role Model' is also a strong tune with the production being more to my liking as is 'Just Don't Give A' with one of the more catchy hooks. All in all, the beats aren't great, that come mainly from Mark & Jeff Bass, and the comedic/horrorcore themed lyrics from Eminem begin to get tedious. Beats: ★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★★ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: '97 Bonnie & Clyde, Role Model, Rock Bottom, Just Don't Give A, Still Don't Give A

Album Is Good 1 No Introduction ★★★★ This doesn't match some other intros such as Stillmatic, but it's a good way to open the album. Nas is rapping as well as ever as he continues to do throughout the album. 2 Loco-Motive (feat. Large Professor) ★★★★ I have a bit of a problem with the hook here, particularly the slapping sound. The verses are dope though taking it back to the 90s. 3 A Queens Story ★★★★☆ Follows the feeling of Loco-Motive with Nas rapping excellently. It's weird though that he used the same few lines in this that are in 'Accident Murderers'. It would have been better if he changed one or the other. I don't like repeated rhymes on the same album. 4 Accident Murderers (feat. Rick Ross) ★★★★☆ Nas possibly could have gotten someone else for the feature but I like this track. Probably my favourite beat from the first four tunes, and an original topic as well. 5 Daughters ★★★★☆ A definite grower from when I first heard it, where I felt that the chorus sounded incomplete. One of the better songs here. He'll have to create a song about his son on his next album though. He can't show favouritism. 6 Reach Out (feat. Mary J. Blige) ★★★ Feels really 90s, featuring an Isaac Hayes Ike's Mood sample that has been used quite a few times. Solid, but no new ground is reached. 7 World's an Addiction (feat. Anthony Hamilton) ★★★★☆ Again the rapping is brilliant here, the production kind of takes a back seat. The title sums it up, being about compulsion. 8 Summer on Smash (feat. Miguel & Swizz Beatz) ★★★ I'm guessing that this will be an upcoming single, due to it not fitting in with the rest of the album. While I don't dislike it as much as other people, I'm not sure why, like Nas should have done with 'Make the World Go Round' on Untitled, he didn't whack it on the end of the album as a bonus track or something. If he did that, then maybe people wouldn't be so critical, as it wouldn't ruin the flow of the album as much. Overall Nas' first two verses are good with the hook being okay. It really didn't need Miguel on a verse though. If Nas did three verses I wouldn't have an issue with the song. I'm not sure Nas himself likes this song though, it was about to play during a set of his and he cut it straight away. 9 You Wouldn't Understand (feat. Victoria Monet) ★★★★ This has a similar vibe to 'Reach Out', again feeling like something from a previous decade, although I enjoy this one a lil more. It's about what Nas has lived through, and that others wouldn't be able to walk a mile in his shoes. 10 Back When ★★★★ This song is about a young Nas and before hip hop. 11 The Don ★★★★☆ As with 'Daughters', this has grown on me. The change-up in the beat at the third verse is excellent. 12 Stay ★★★★ As the album closes, women, relationships and Nas' divorce with Kelis becomes more of a theme. The L.A. Carnival - Seven Steps To Nowhere laid back horns and "stay" vocal work well. 13 Cherry Wine (feat. Amy Winehouse) ★★★★☆ Of the three tracks with a female featuring on the hook. Good song that follows on thematically to the next. 14 Bye Baby ★★★★☆ Guy's Goodbye Love sample is great here, and this is one of my favourite songs on the album. This one is about the failed marriage with Kelis, mentioning the inequities of divorce settlements. However, he says that he would do it all again. 15 Nasty ★★★★☆ The first song we heard in the lead up to the album, and it wet the appetite perfectly following on from Ghetto Dreams. Just three minutes of Nas spitting hard bars. 16 The Black Bond ★★★ The title tells you what this is about. It doesn't do a lot for me. 17 Roses ★★★☆ Another song about relationships and women. 18 Where's the Love (feat. Cocaine 80s) ★★★★☆ This could have been exchanged for one of the weaker tracks on the standard edition. Nice. 19 Trust ★★★★★ Ditto. The production here is the darkest of these 19 tracks and it's another introspective track making reference to Nas' tax issues among other things. Overall, this is an extremely solid album, with only two or three weak moments among the 19 tracks. If I was to create a list of Nas' best songs though, I don't think many of the tracks featured on Life Is Good would feature too highly. A couple just needed something extra to be elevated from excellent to classic songs. Although more time is probably needed for this to be set in stone. Much of it is though what rappers his age should be rapping about and what we will probably see more of, other than rappers nearing 40 and over, spitting about what they did on the street corner in their last life. In comparison to his previous albums, no, it isn't better than Illmatic, but it is a more consistent album than his previous two solos, being Hip Hop Is Dead and Untitled. Although, as mentioned I'd rather the best few on either of those albums than the best few on this one. As this album signifies the final album under his contract with Def Jam, it'll be interesting where Nas goes from here. A collaboration with Common? DJ Premier? AZ? Lost Tapes 2? Much has been hinted at, so we'll just have to wait. Best Tracks: A Queens Story, Accident Murderers, Daughters, World's an Addiction, Bye Baby, Nasty, Where's the Love, Trust

It's a credit to Lyfe for creating something ambitious here with it being a concept album about this life, but 'Must Be Nice' is the only song that has stuck with me. The rest is consistently decent but trying to list the best tracks is a challenge as I can't separate most of them. Many songs have a short interlude of narration attached to them to add to the story but on repeated listens it does irk a touch when you really just want to hear the music. It's an album you can just press play on and enjoy the listen from front to back but for me it never reaches great heights. Best tracks: Must Be Nice, Cry

I'm a massive fan of T-Rock. If I could only listen to one rapper's discography, I'd take Rock's. The fact that I had to add him to the database when I joined this site a few months back is a real shame. Since the double album, 'War of the Machine', dropped in March of 2019, all of T-Rock's projects, about five or so, have been short, and here that trend continues. There are eight tracks and two remixes of maybe his best known song, 'Slang and Serve'. 'What You Need' basically uses the beat of his amazing song 'Thug It Out' released years ago. And 'Bring It Back' also uses a 007 sample that Rock used on 'Hell on Earth' that was originally a 'Throw Them Thangs' beat from Indo G. So there is a feeling of familiarity on a bit of this. This is another good release. It's difficult to dislike anything he does as he generally sticks to the same formula. Even though he continues to choose some dope beats, I would love for him to work with a completely different production team for an entire album. Nevertheless, the production on a number of tracks is great with differentiation between the choruses and verses. The best here aren't as strong as his best tracks normally are, but there are a number of songs with replay value that are listed below. If you like thumping beats with a great rapper who uses a variety of flows, check out this and his best stuff. Best Tracks: What You Need, Good Money, Bring It Back, Byrd, Slang & Serve (Remix 2)