One Love - Nas

Classic Track from Nasty Nas.

Great story, and some of my favorite lines in Hip-Hop.

           And a story is told. It is very hard to say this is my favorite track from Illmatic, but that's the magic of Illmatic. I can put any song from it to another album, and that could be my favorite off that new album. However, that is not the case, and I value every track from this album. So what does this one bring to the table? Looking at our roster of tracks, this one brings ultimate story telling. As well as holding other qualities that make Illmatic such a compete project, including incredible lyricism, and some classic old-school quality production.
           The production gives it a dark feel to it. Which really complements Nas' violent and gritty lyrics, or either way they really come together. Produced by Q-Tip, it has that nice boom bip feel on the drums, really something to make the song more addicting. Catchy, but in no means a low quality. A lot of keys play giving it that mysterious quality, while the loud kick in the drums give you that sinister feel. The horns are a nice touch as well, subtle, but great. Really unique beat, not alot of different instruments, but really feels like there is a lot going on with each piece in the beat. The main portion sampled for "One Love" was "Smilin' Billy Suite Part 2" by The Heath Brothers. The drums are ripped from Clyde McPhatter's "Mixed Up Cup", and Parliament's "Come in out of the Rain". The chorus is sampled from Whodini's "One Love", however Q-Tip still sings the chorus in Nas' version. A lot of interesting samples again. 
            The beat really does compliment Nas' lyrics. There is a whole bunch of different information spilled over the track. I don't need to break down the story, but if you listen it is comprised of the gritty lyrics. That puts the song as pretty serious, with a lot of beef between his friends and other people he knew in his projects. And just like "The Genesis", the intro really puts you into the scene You have Nas' friends chillin' outside one day, and one man gets a letter from Nas. That transition is reallly effective, because Nas is able to put you right into the story. How? With that intro. Sure when listening to the rest of the song you can picture most of it. Yet, with all the conversation you are put right into the Projects, and then Nas takes you through the letter, rapping of course. Basically, the into helps set the stage for the verses. I'll put my favorite lines up:

But yo, guess who got shot in the dome-piece?
Jerome's niece, on her way home from Jones Beach

The crack-heads stalking, loud-mouths is talking
Hold, check out the story yesterday when I was walking
The nigga you shot last year tried to appear like he hurtin' something
Word to mother, I heard him fronting

And he be pumping on your block
Your man gave him your glock
And now they run together, what up son, whatever
Since I'm on the streets I'm gonna put it to a cease
But I heard you blew a nigga with a ox for the phone piece
Whylin on the Island, but now with Elmira
Better chill cause them niggas will put that ass on fire

So stay civilised, time flies
Though incarcerated your mind (dies)
I hate it when your mum cries
It kinda wants to make me murder, for real-a
I've even got a mask and gloves to bust slugs for one love

A two day stay, you may say I need the time alone
To relax my dome, no phone, left the 9 at home

So I comes back home, nobody's helping shorty doo-wop
Rollin two Phillies together in the Bridge we called 'em oowops
He said, "Nas, niggas could be bustin' off the roof
So I wear a bullet proof and pack a black tres-deuce"

I took an l when he passed it, this little bastard
Keeps me blasted he starts talking mad shit
I had to school him, told him don't let niggas fool him
'cos when the pistol blows the one that's murdered will be the cool one

Shorty's laugh was cold blooded as he spoke so foul
Only twelve trying to tell me that he liked my style
Then I rose, wiping the blunts ash from my clothes
Then froze only to blow the herb smoke through my nose
And told my little man that I'm a go cyprose
There's some jewels in the skull that he can sell if he chose

Now, that is a lot of lines. So certainly, a lot of personal favorites. I can't stress it enough, this is Nas on a track from Illmatic, so any lines I picked were just things I personally liked such as, "Word to mother heard him frontin'"! Love that line.

Definitely a longer track off the album, longest in fact. With some interesting production from Q-Tip, and as usual Nas destroyed it, while bringing a specific story and another experience of the QB projects to Illmatic.

Timeless