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In Depth Review: Nas' Stillmatic


Nas-Stillmatic In Depth Review

Opening Opinion:9.9/10

Nas’s Stillmatic is easily one of my favorite rap albums and perhaps my favorite Nas album. I had the album bootlegged…then well, I lost it, then bought it again years later lol. So what makes this a definitive Nas album? Why do I prefer this over the obviously classic Illmatic. Not only that, but this is also the album that made me a Nasir Jones fan.

                On the title track Nas raps, “Blood of a slave, heart of a King.” The album is off to a good start with the lush beat. Things quickly get hardcore on “Ether”. He goes at Jay-z but odds are you already knew that. The thing that still gets me is how personal and lethal this diss track is. “I been f***ed over, left for dead, dissed and forgotten.” I like the beat too.  Jay-z’s Takeover was like Jay keeping away everyone from his NYC throne. Ether is like him clearly almost getting knocked off of it.


                “Got Ur Self A…” is not the first Nas song I liked but it made me really notice how talented he is. Its an undeniable hit single. I love the chorus and that beat is so real. It’s kind of like the comeback song for this comeback album. The next track is “Smokin” and its actually one of the album’s weakest tracks. Its dark and creepy, which isn’t really Nas’s style, but its by no means a bad track. “You’re Da Man” Is another great song, I absolutely love the lush beat and cool chorus. “Rewind” is one of the best tracks. Nas tells a story as only he does. He tells this graphic scene in reverse…so by the end you can tell how it got started. True lyricism and creativity.

                The next track is just so emotional. “One Mic” is one of those songs you think of when you think of the rapper. It has such a soft chorus but the verses are hard as f***. Nas doesn’t need the bull just a mic. It’s arguably the best track here.  “2nd Childhood” and “Destroy and Rebuild” kind of go hand in hand. The latter is about other rappers disrespecting Queens Bridge. The former is about people that just don’t go anywhere in life…..

                There was a terrible song on the album here called “Braveheart Party” but Nas listens to his fans and he took the song off. It wasn’t replaced, just taken off. “The Flyest” with AZ is dope. I love the chorus. “Rule” with Amerie is also dope. The album hasn’t lost any steam thus far. “My Country” is about America of course. “My Country, she wants to get rid of me” raps Nas. It’s an interesting song, and is placed perfectly on the album.

                “What Goes Around” is one of the best song s here. Nas raps about those who do wrong and how they get what comes to them. It’s a song we should all here. “Every Gheto” closes out the album. It’s a fitting closing to a great album. So ultimately I think Nas was trying to at least match Illmatic if not out do it and he did that. The album is varied and full of thoughtful songs.



Closing Opinion: 10/10
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