Nas:
God's Son - Columbia.

Release date: Dec 13, 2002

Album review by: B.Malkani

1. Get Down

2. Cross, The

3. Made You Look

4. Last Real N**** Alive

5. Zone Out - (featuring Bravehearts)

6. Hey Nas - (featuring Kelis/Claudette Ortiz)

7. I Can

8. Book Of Rhymes

9. Thugz Mansion (N.Y.) - (featuring 2Pac/J Phoenix)

10. Mastermind

11. Warrior Song - (featuring Alicia Keys)

12. Revolutionary Warfare - (featuring Lake)

13. Dance

14. Heaven

DISC 2:

1. Thugz Mirror - (Freestyle)

2. Pussy Killz

3. G.O.D., The

"What you want? See, I already had The Gift and The Curse? F**k that s**t, the first shall be last, I'm the man's man, a rapper's rapper, G-O-D S-O-N, they'll be none after" - Nas - Last Real Ni**a - God's Son.

Most rap fans and critics thought Nas would never top or reach the standard of his debut album 'Illmatic' . However, with the recent release of 'God's Son', this Queens Bridge rapper has proved that he has the intense skills and thought provoking lyrics that made his 1994 release such a success. Over the past year, Nas has warming us up with his album 'Stillmatic' and the more recently released 'Lost Tapes', my CD player, still consisting of both. On Dec 13th 02, God's Son also found itself in my CD player, and is yet to be removed. The album is just too good, which makes it official, Nas is definitely back and in my opinion eliminated any questions of his lyrical superiority, over rap rival Jay Z.

With this album, Nas has relied on a good flow, heavy lyrics and powerful beats to create an amazing album. It starts off with the track 'Get Down', a song consisting of his tales of life in Queens Bridge. The track has a funky feel, due to an amazing use of a sample by the Godfather of funk James Brown. Other songs on the album, with an old skool feel are "Hey Nas" and the current single of the album, "Made you Look", which uses the sample, 'Apache', by The Incredible Bongo Band. Nas proves this sample still sounds fresh.

One of my favorite songs of the album, "Last Real Ni**a Alive" summarizes what has been going on in the struggle to be the so called, 'King of New York'. In the song, he admits that during 1993, he borrowed from Biggie and Raekwon to gain the NY title. Nonetheless, Nas reveals that both rappers would turn around and say to Nas that the other was stealing his ideas! The story carries on with Nas's thoughts and feelings as he is making his moves during the time of the millennium approaching. Furthermore, he exposes his unwillingness to get involved with the Jay Z beef, due to his mother, Ann Jones suffering from cancer. Sadly, she died and Nas makes a tribute to her by writing a song called 'Dance', in which he raps about how he would have liked to have one more dance with her before she passed.

This album is gripping and has guest appearances from Claudette Ortiz from City High, Kelis, Lake and one of my favorite songs on the album, which is produced and featured by Alicia Keys. There is also a song with the late and great 2pac, called "Thugz Mansion" in which both rappers rhyme about street dreams and a ghetto heaven. Another enjoyable track would have to be 'Book of Rhymes', where Nas is flipping through pages of a forgotten notebook and raps lyrics he wrote previously and ends up dismissing his work until he can find the perfect combination. Also look out for a track produced by Eminem called "The Cross". The only song that I am not feeling is "Zone Out", featuring Bravehearts. Otherwise, there is no reason for you to press the "FF" button!

From Nasty Nas, to Escobar, to Nastradamus to God's Son, this album reveals a sharper, wiser rapper who displays his opinions and teachings that can be applied to today's society. God's Son is a combination of tales from Queen's Bridge, inspirational lyrics as well as spiritual tracks. Nas became a commercial artist during the 1990's and instead of following the route of rapping about superficial issues, Nasir Jones has bought something to the mainstream market - He has bought back the essence of hip hop by exhibiting extraordinary lyrical content. I leave you with three words :BUY THE CD!

Rating 4.5 out of 5.

(This album is too good, I can't just have 3 top joints… I need 5!)

1. Get Down
4. Last Real Ni**a Alive
8. Book of Rhymes
11. Warrior Song(featuring Alicia Keys)
14. Heaven

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z