This album was a worthy follow-up to Stillmatic and proved that Nas really had a second-wind in his career and that his last album wasn't just a flash in the pan. "Get Down" is classic Nas, and the James Brown samples make the record even stronger. The simple Eminem produced beat of "The Cross" places emphasis on Nas' rhymes. "Made You Look" is one of my favorite rap singles ever and "Last Real N***a Alive" is excellent storytelling over a Ron Browz instrumental. Other highlights are the Alicia Keys-assisted "Warrior Song" and his ode to his recently deceased mother "Dance." Considering Nas' writing skills, one of my favorite songs is "Book of Rhymes" where he goes through notebooks and raps rhymes, stanzas, and verses that never found their way into a song. This album is almost ten years old, and it still sounds great. It makes me even more eager for Life is Good in two days.
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