Gimme Your's - AZ

            Well I can say I finally went to a record store, and got about 25 records, as well as about 8 albums on CDs. It was quite the adventure getting there, but me and a couple of friends had a ball. Went to a couple stores, and the last one was right out of heaven. Before heading down there, I always imagined record stores with dollar bins with all sorts of old dusty vinyl. The cardboard stands that categorized everything, man we found a store with all that. The whole first experience was quite awesome. Anyhow, I found some AZ, and as a matter of fact Doe or Die. My first AZ album in fact. Usually I would already have all his stuff, but to me I always buy the physical album if their is one. Few stores around me, so I finally got it down in Noho. Got lucky with a couple other albums I don't have up in my area too. Anyhow, let's get to a track.

           When it comes to material lyrics, I am very picky. However, when you are one of the most underrated rappers and spit some of the greatest wordplay ever I can dig it. And that is what AZ holds under his belt, that and he has kept it real for well over a decade. His wordplay and style of rhyming is ridiculous. First time I heard him was off of Illmatic on, "Life's A Bitch" which you can read the post on how much that song changed me. However, this song is much darker than the latter, but no less lyrically golden.

           I'll post a couple bars I specifically dig, even though it is another case of great flow that seems to blend all his words together. Regardless I'll try and pick some stuff out.

I fucked with those beyond my age bracket

'cause they analyse and mack to get the papers and stack it

Leavin no trace to track it, keep on thinkin tappers is accurate

That mack shit, living the lifestyle, we filled with black wit

Kinda interesting. Shows us that AZ was clever enough to work with those older because they were smarter, which is a huge advantage in life. I notice myself, being the youngest in the family, I always had to shut up and listen, but man that has taught me to think before I speak, an underrated gift for certain.

Life's a performance so players play wit endurance

'cause from war sense, any villain's willing to get more intense

Another clever thought. Note that not only villains are willing to get more intense. In all aspects of life someone will always have more drive, you have to decide what is worth chasing, thus his mentioning of endurance. Man you can learn a lot with the words staring you down.

         And of course that beat is quite amazing, with Pete Rock on the track of course it is. Classic boom bip, where the drums carry the whole song. Little elements thrown into there to add some variety and that deep eery vibe. Something to bump late night in the city. And Nas singing on the hook, I love it. If you don't know I love when Nas sings, because when he sings off-key or whatever you wanna call it, everything is made easy. You can sing along so well, because anyone has that range ha ha. A nice sing-a-long. Woo, man what a great collaboration of efforts right here.

Life's A Bitch - Nas

Maybe my favorite song. Truly Powerful

A track that makes you look out at the world.

          This might just be my favorite song from Nas, and most definitely my favorite song from Illmatic. In terms of my whole library it is right up there with Late by Kanye West. Just to give you an idea of how much I love this song. The song is certainly famous, with a now classic feel to the song, incredible, and I mean incredible verses, all the features are just great. And the message is just deep, a real track to just think about life. I mean this song is just incredibly touching, something that you can reflect your whole life on. Ah man, it is ridiculous, words can't describe this song.
           The song is very quotable. AZ and Nas spit some of the best verses ever. I really haven't heard better, but thanks to the beat that also puts them above other verses with potential. Still, you just have to listen to AZ and Nas multiple times, as you can't possibly tell what they are saying the first time. That is when you know a rap is good, you just get lost in the words. All that is rapped is clearly hot and philosophical, so I will post stuff with the best message, in my own opinion of course:

(AZ):Others such as myself are tryin to carry on tradition
Keepin the schwepervesence street ghetto essence inside us
Cause it provides us with the proper insight to guide us

I really saw this as AZ saying stick to your roots. If you don't take experience with you; specifically the "street ghetto essence" in this case(which could otherwise be the struggles in your life, in which case you learn a lot of life); you won't learn and be able to make good choices later on in life. Take everything you have experienced throughout life. That line really gives you nostalgia, making your past flash bye as each words takes you somewhere else.

(Nas): I switched my motto -- instead of sayin fuck tomorrow

That buck that bought a bottle could've struck the lotto

Small choices can lead to the biggest possibilities. That is what that line means simple and plain, really another crazy philosophy, makes you think about everything you do. 

           Nas and AZ really do a great job rapping. Even if you are a shallow thinker when it comes to music, you would have appreciate there lyricism. On the other hand, they really build a lot of thought in my head. Taking you through their past, some important decisions, and their life now. Really they do equally well to give their own spin off. It doesn't feel repetitive either, considering how well the verses are constructed.

           The beat was produced by L.E.S. Although it was more sampled actually. If you listen to "Yearning For Your Love" by the Gap Band and the smaller portion of the sample is from "Black Frost" by Grover Washington, Jr. The track really relaxes you and just blends with the verses to feel absolutely changed every time you listen. It has a nice jazzy feel to it, as the bass helps me vibe to the song. It has some mysterious aura to the whole sound, I can't quite break down the whole hum of it by instrument. Oh well, beautiful regardless. The beat keeps it fairly simple, nothing too complex or any transitions. Thank goodness, or I wouldn't be able to handle my thoughts transition as I heard the volley of words from Nas and AZ at the same time of a more elaborate beat, I suppose anyways. Then as if the song couldn't get better, I just get swept away by Olu Dara playing the cornet. Man the jazz feel just fits right in with the beat. Olu is actually Nas' father, which makes the track even more special. The cornet just carries me all the way to the end as I picture all these things in life. Then silently goes out...

             I imagine a lot of scenarios each time I hear the song. But if I look at it from the Queensbridge projects, a lot of stuff happens. As I mentioned before, Nas makes me fascinated in the project life. Yet, instead of the violence and grittiness of N.Y. State of Mind, Life's A Bitch holds a more peaceful feel to it. I imagine a beautiful sunny day in the streets of QB. Somehow it was a good day, and you are just standing on the roof looking at the sunset. I picture someone at ease, as if they have just succeeded, and have gotten a guarantee that life may just work out. Then as the cornet starts they just walk away, just like the song walks away, and perhaps everything I have ever experienced, I have just walked away from. I am moving on to something I just don't know what. It is really the prelude to We Major, it is the plan to reach that success. Oh it really paints a beautiful world in my head, not the projects, but just as if something beautiful is going to happen in life. Yet, maybe it already has, and you are just reflecting.

That is why Life's A Bitch is a legendary track, it takes you back, but moves you forward. That is why the track is so powerful, it moves you so quickly through a flash of your life, but makes you dream of what is ahead, and all that can happen. Giving the song the opportunity to shine anytime in your life(Which actually relates to Nas' quote up above, those small decisions can lead to something ultimate). That means during: success, times of peace and hope, or when you are depressed, and perhaps hopeful to one day reach your goals, whatever that may be.

No other way to say it, for now anyways.

Hope you enjoyed reading this, sorry if it doesn't all flow together very well, just wanted to spit some philosophy. 

The Genesis - Nas

           A great opener to Nas' great opener onto the hip-hop scene. It would become the intro to one of the best hip-hop albums the world has ever seen. With a classic beat from the one and only DJ Grand Wizard Theodore. Has that old school vibe of course. Hearing the sound of the subway trains roll by. Which is one of my favorite qualities in certain music. When they really put you in the world, it really helps someone that is fascinated by something they can't experience. This track does just that, makes you imagine and wonder what is was like. I imagine Nas, AZ, and Jungle to be sitting up in a recording studio in the projects, as the subway comes riding through the city.
          After the train goes by this is played, and Nas' verse from "Live at the BBQ" plays in the background:

Hector: And you are sitting home doing this shit? You should be earning a medal for this

stop fucking around and be a man, there ain't nothing out here for you

Zoro: oh yes there is... this!

This is piece of the film Wild Style, a conversation between Hector and Zoro. Right after that the Grand Wizard beat kicks in. Nas, AZ, and Jungle begin to talk as the beat plays. Right off the bat, Jungle says:

Yo Nas Yo what the fuck is this bullshit on the radio son?

That line is always interesting, just proving Illmatic was ahead of its time. Plus, the stuff we here on the radio is actually bullshit. The music endorsed with the most money, contains the least amount of talent. Just interesting to imagine what exactly was the "bullshit on the radio" 20 years ago. They go in to discuss to keep it real, without a record label. And what always sticks out to me is when AZ says:

Regardless of how I go down, we gonna keep it real

Crazy now, because as a matter of fact AZ has gone the indie route in terms of hip-hop. Yet, Nas and him have kept it real. It is so crazy to think about that, and look at them both now, keeping that promise. Considering so many artists have changed through wealth, thinking that because they are mainstream, they can sit back and make simple music.

         All this and "Subway Theme"; the beat playing by Grand Wizard; really put you into another world. The beat is very catchy. Crazy drums is all you needed back then. That is indeed one of my favorite qualities of old school Hip-Hop. The simple structure really helps you get laid back. I mean trust me I love complex beats, they really mesmerize me. A nice balance of simple and complex is always welcome in my library.

The rest of the story of Illmatic will be painted. While mine isn't as complex as Late Registration, it certainly puts me in a fascinating time period.