The Lost Tapes 2 has contributions from Al Jarreau, Keyon Harold, RaVaughn, David Ranier, Swizz Beatz, and J.
The album features 16 previously unreleased tracks that were cut from recording sessions from Nas’ previous four albums: Hip-Hop Is Dead, Untitled, Life Is Good and Nasir. Yet the existence of ‘The Lost Tapes 2’ also feels a tad pointless and like something that won’t really captivate many beyond his hardcore fan base.In 2002 Nas released The Lost Tapes and in 2016 he announced part 2 was on its way. There are four or five reminders here of why Nas is one of the greats - it’s hard, for example, to think of another rapper who could rap so eloquently over the complex jazz of ‘Jarreau of Rap (Skat Attack)’, even if the song’s repetition is slightly irritating. The keys on the former are particularly beautiful and Nas’ boast that we’ve “yet to see any heavyweight make it to this round” shows he’s much more confident rapping over more stripped back production. The original Lost Tapes contained previously unreleased tracks from recording sessions for. They come from recording sessions for his previous four albums: Hip Hop Is Dead, Untitled, Life Is Good, and NASIR. It is the sequel to the compilation album The Lost Tapes, released in 2002. ‘It Never Ends’ and ‘Highly Flavoured’, produced by The Alchemist and RZA, will also have you reaching for the replay button, with their minimalist beats not overshadowing Nas’ softly spoken rapping style. In 2014, Nas shared plans for The Lost Tapes 2 after launching his independent label Mass Appeal Records. The Lost Tapes 2 is a compilation of unreleased tracks by New York MC Nas. The Lost Tapes 2 is a compilation album by American rapper Nas, released on Jby Mass Appeal Records and Def Jam Recordings. It’s hard not to get choked up as Nas sounds genuinely upset discussing Prodigy’s mural being vandalised due to unavoidable street politics. Pete Rock’s nostalgic production on highlight ‘Queensbridge Politics’ inspires a vintage performance from Nas memorable, emotive bars see him reminisce on his complicated friendship with the late Prodigy (of Mobb Deep). ‘The Lost Tapes 2’ is at its best when Nas isn’t trying to play Lothario, but instead playing the part of the street veteran whose eyes have seen way too much. He just doesn’t have the same wit when it comes to rapping about relationships as he does when rapping about the street, a trick that, say, Tupac and Jay-Z have managed to balance. Tracks such as ‘Vernon Family’ and ‘Queens Wolf’ are let down by beats that go nowhere, yet the likes of ‘Royalty’ and ‘Adult Film’, which feature Swizz Beats attempting a falsetto and sounding horrible, fail because Nas just isn’t very good at writing love songs, with his lyrics – particularly the cringe bars “Nothing like making love with somebody you love / Nothing like coming home to grub” – devoid of any edge and bordering into misogynist territory. While Nas’ flow is usually cutting and direct, the fact a lot of this music meanders means his rapping sounds less focused than usual. Unfortunately the majority of the songs see Nas rap over dated, tinny production that sounds regressive compared to the more visceral punk trap sound that’s driving rap culture forward right now.
‘The Lost Tapes 2’, a collection of originally rejected songs – spanning from 2006’s ‘Hip Hop Is Dead’ right up until the ‘Nasir’ sessions in 2018 – is certainly substantive (it has a weighty 16 tracks), but the music here just isn’t great enough to quench the thirst that ‘Nasir’ left us with. With classics such as ‘Illmatic’ and ‘It Was Written’ under his belt, his status as a hip-hop legend is pretty unshakable.Īlthough it had its moments – particularly the poignant, heartfelt Kanye West duet ‘Everything’ – ‘Nasir’, which was produced entirely by West, felt under-baked and left many Nas fans wanting something more substantial. Although personal issues, particularly a messy divorce with Kelis, have played a part in stifling the Queensbridge rapper’s creativity, you sense that Nas is also comfortable slowing things down, having realised there’s no longer any pressure on him to release new music.
Nas’ output this decade has been pretty sporadic, with the rap legend only putting out two new studio albums: 2012’s ‘Life is Good’ and 2018’s ‘Nasir’.
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