God's Stepson (N/A, 2003) by 9th Wonder

9th Wonder is a great producer and this is further evidence of that.  Considering Nas is one of the best lyricist's ever, sometimes his beat selection is less than stellar.  Fortunately, 9th realized this revamped a majority of God Son's tracks and one other.  The two tracks that I do think were better on the original release though were "Get Down" and "Made U Look."  Other than that, he definitely brings new life to a lot of already amazing records with his production.  Props to him for "The Cross" and "Ether" especially.

Big Willie Style (Columbia, 1997) by Will Smith

Will Smith was on the verge of movie superstardom when this album was released, but this project proved that the Fresh Prince could still rap.  With top-notch production from the likes of L.E.S., Trackmasters, and Jazzy Jeff, Mr. Smith created a great upbeat album.  The singles are great, but even some of the deep cuts here are great too such as "Candy" and "Chasing Forever."  Nas gets major props as well for ghostwriting some of Big Willie Style's standout material.

Street's Disciple (Columbia, 2004) by Nas

This double album is considered by many (myself included) as one of the weaker points in Nas' extensive catalogue.  However, because it is Nas, there are still some very strong records.  "These Are Our Heroes" and "Virgo" featuring Doug E. Fresh and Ludacris are great.  "Thief's Theme" is also a standout and wise choice for a single.  The cons unfortunately outweigh the pros on this album though as a lot of the production comes across and mediocre.  And just like every double rap album of all original material not called Life After Death, the set could easily be cut in half.  Personally, I prefer quality over quantity.

Untitled (Def Jam, 2008) by Nas

As controversial as this album was at the time of its release, it has held up over the years.  There are so many great cuts here: "Hero," America," Sly Fox" Y'all My N****s," "We're Not Alone," and "Black President."  I remember when President Obama was elected in 2008 and driving to work at school early in the morning and blasting "Black President" all the way.  Regardless of the alleged ghostwriting claims that have emerged recently, it doesn't change my opinion that Nas is one of the best lyricists ever.  Over twenty years in Hip-Hop, and Mr. Jones is still going strong.  Much respect due.

Duets: The Final Chapter (Bad Boy, 2005) by The Notorious B.I.G.

On paper, this isn't a terrible idea.  However, in reality, it is.  Remixing a lot Biggie of verses from his two classics over "current" beats with "current" rappers contributing new verses just doesn't work.  It sounds fake and forced.  The only saving graces to the album are the songs with unreleased material.  "Whatchu Want" with Jay-Z and "Living in Pain" (produced by Just Blaze) with 2Pac, Mary J. Blige, and Nas are both descent records.  But they still come nowhere near making up for the rest of the project.

4, 5, 6 (Cold Chillin', 1995) by Kool G. Rap

Lyrically and rap-wise, this album is incredible.  Kool G. Rap is one of the best rappers ever period.  His multi-syllablic rhymes allow him to fit an incredible amount of words into every bar without rapping too fast beyond comprehension.  As far as production, Dr. Butcher produces a lot of the album's material.  However, his beats aren't quite on par with what G. Rap has rhymed over in the past.  The album's highlight is the Buckwild-produced "Fast Life" which features Nas and makes better use of the Surface sample than R. Kelly would three years later on "Only the Loot Can Make Me Happy."

Street Fighter Soundtrack (Universal, 1994) by various

"In the Rotten Apple, take a bite taste the worm/Embrace the world of reality we're faced to learn/Coke connection drug bust, graveyards where thugs rest/I keep my mug blessed, the evil is illegal substance sold/Roll mob deep, guns in the black Jeep/Mac-11's and legends, cracks in the streets/Patroller, gold money-folder, gun happy soldiers/Never sober takin over, my blood is colder/Niggaz respect violence so I become it/I'm from it, I even done it blunted so run it"

-Nas, "One on One"

The Lost Tapes (Columbia/Ill Will, 2002) by Nas

"Pushin drop-tops, Stacy Lattisaw tapes, the 80's had us all apes/Youngest gorillas up to bat at home plate/That was a uncanny era, guns in my pants/Yeah X-Clan hair, with dreads at the top of my fade/Homicide and feds on the blocks where I played, b-ball/That's when I wondered was I here for the cause, or be-cause/Cause Ray Charles could see the ghetto/Was told to stay strong and I could beat the Devil/Cause yo, I used to play Apollo balcony seats/Watchin niggaz swing razors in the front row, then out in the streets/The car show, 560's, chemical afros/Acuras pumpin Super Lover Cee and Casanova/Live chicks be, asses bustin out of they clothes/Wearin lip gloss, big door knockers pealin they earlobes/So where them years go? Where the old gold beers and cheers go?/But now them shorties here doe, so"

-Nas, "Doo Rags"

Just Tryin' Ta Live (Rap-A-Lot, 2002) by Devin the Dude

This album ranks up there with The Fix, Aquemini and Ridin' Dirty as some of the best music in the history of southern hip hop.  "It's a Shame," with pronounced dark pianos in the beat (production courtesy of Dr. Dre) and a hook from Pooh Bear, is one of the albums early cuts but also one of the greatest in the set.  "R & B" is a very funny song that involves weed, alcohol and a redneck.  Nas and Xzibit make great contributions to "Some of 'Em" and DJ Premier doesn't disappoint behind the boards on "Doobie Ashtray."  Devin is a great writer, rapper, storyteller and singer.  With Just Tryin' Ta Live, he has assembled a great collection of individual songs that also fit together nicely to form a cohesive album.  Not to take anything away from a current artist like Drake who also sings and raps, but Devin did it before him and he did it a little better.

Life is Good (Def Jam, 2012) by Nas

It's been four years since Nas' last solo effort, but it's clear the wait was worth it after just one listen to Life is Good.  Whereas Nas' two previous solo albums addressed heavy cultural and social themes (Hip Hop is Dead and Untitled respectively), this time Nas gets personal with the poetic brilliance and insight that first captured listeners' ears over 20 years ago.  On the epic opener, "No Introduction", he rhymes, “Hood forever, I just act like I’m civilized/Really what’s in my mind is organizing a billion Black muthafuckas/To take over JP and Morgan Goldman and Sachs/And teach the world facts and give Saudi they oil back."  And "Locomotion" is Illmatic material for this generation.  However, this album is not all about reaffirming past achievements.  On "Daughters", Nas discusses being a single father to a teenage daughter and "Bye Baby" addresses the issue of his split with R&B singer Kelis.  Clearly, there is a strength in Mr. Jones' vulnerability and that is such a refreshing thing to hear in the current rap climate, especially from someone as gifted as Nas.  The Mary J. Blige-assisted "Reach Out" has the Queen of hip hop soul singing over flawless scratching and "Accident Murderers" finds Rick Ross, the album's only guest MC, dropping a surprisingly solid verse.  The album's only misstep is the Swizz Beatz produced "Summer on Smash"- Nas' clear attempt at radio spins, but it sounds forced and it's unnecessary.  With his legendary status in hip hop, radio is not required to draw an audience for Nas.  He can do that himself.  He has proven with Life is Good, like he has many times before, that real personal hip hop is powerful stuff and can connect with people in extraordinary ways (and the excellent production courtesy of No I.D., Salaam Remi, among others, doesn't hurt either).  And this just happens to be one of the best examples of that that hip hop and Nas have offered up in a very long time.

God's Son (Columbia, 2002) by Nas

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.

Nastradamus (Columbia, 1999) by Nas

It's all but unanimous that this is Nas' weakest album.  I don't dispute that, but there are still a few good records on here.  Considering Nas is one of the best lyricists ever, that should come as no surprise.  The streak of Nas/DJ Premier bangers continue with "Come Get Me," Life We Chose" is a great song and "Project Windows" with Ron Isley is a solid collaboration.  I also like the album artwork and how it correlates with Nas' three previous releases: from child (Illmatic) to adult (It Was Written) to legend (I Am) to prophet (Nastradamus).  And he wasn't wrong as a prophet.  In this millennium, it really is a "New World." 

I Am... (Columbia, 1999) by Nas

I Am… definitely has its ups and downs, but I think it's a pretty solid album overall.  "N.Y. State of Mind" is a certified classic, and so coming back to the song was a risk, but Premier and Nas crafted a worthy sequel.  And "Nas is Like," is one of the best songs that Mr. Jones and Mr. Martin have ever done together.  "Favor for a "Favor", the record with Scarface, is excellent and "We Will Survive" pays homage to Tupac and Biggie.  The faults of this project are that it's inconsistent and the album is a few songs too long.  And "Hate Me Now" with Puffy was a great commercial single, but I think "You Won't See Me Tonight" with Aaliyah would have been a better choice.

Hip Hop is Dead (Def Jam, 2006) by Nas

This is Nas' fourth classic album (following Illmatic, It Was Written, and Stillmatic).  The title makes a bold statement, but what I like about the content is that it doesn't attack current music as much as it recognizes and pays homage to what came before ("Carry on Tradition" and "Where Are They Now").  The collaboration with Jay-Z is solid [but I wish they both spit more than 1 verse].  The sample of music from The Godfather Pt. II for the beat to that song made it epic which is of course very fitting.  Other highlights on the album include "Let There Be Light," Blunt Ashes," and "Hustlers."  The final part of the album's final cut, "Hope," is Nas rhyming accappella.  It is very powerful how Nas brought hip hop back to the essence with that.  Hip Hop is Dead reaffirms that Nas is one of the most brilliant minds music has ever seen.  And his skills on the mic prove that hip hop is something worth saving.

The Infamous (Loud, 1995) by Mobb Deep

This is my favorite Mobb Deep album.  No disrespect to Murda Muzik ("The Realest" and the "Quiet Storm" records are great), but The Infamous is incredible.  "Shook Ones Pt. II" is one of the best hip-hop records ever.  The track with Nas and Raekwon is dope ("Eye For an Eye [Your Beef is Mine])" and Q-Tip's contributions only add to Havoc's already stellar board work.  This album is on par with Illmatic, Ready to Die, and Reasonable Doubt; not only are all four albums classic from a musical standpoint, but, culturally, they made sure east coast hip-hop still mattered at a time when Left Coast rap was dominating the entire hip hop scene.

Breaking Atoms (Wild Pitch, 1991) by Main Source

"Street's disciple, my raps are trifle/I shoot slugs from my brain just like a rifle/Stampede the stage, I leave the microphone split/Play Mr. Tuffy while I'm on some Pretty Tone shit/Verbal assassin, my architect pleases/When I was twelve, I went to hell for snuffin' Jesus/Nasty Nas is a rebel to America/Police murderer, I'm causin' hysteria/My troops roll up with a strange force/I was trapped in a cage and let out by the Main Source/Swimmin' in women like a lifeguard/Put on a bulletproof nigga I strike hard/Kidnap the President's wife without a plan/And hangin' niggas like the Ku Klux Klan/I melt mics till the sound waves over/Before steppin' to me you'd rather step to Jehovah/Slammin MC's on cement/Cause verbally, I'm iller than a AIDS patient/I move swift and uplift/your mind shoot the gift when I riff in rhyme/Rappin' sniper, speakin' real words/My thoughts react, like Steven Spielberg's/Poetry attacks, paragraphs punch hard/My brain is insane, I'm out to lunch God/Science is dropped, my raps are toxic/My voicebox locks and excels like a rocket"

-Nas, "Live at the Barbecue"

Stillmatic (Columbia, 2001) by Nas

No disrespect to Eminem's Recovery or LL's Mama Said Knock You Out, but Nas' Stillmatic is the best comeback in the history of hip-hop.  Not only was Nas struggling in his own career at the time, but Jay-Z was kicking him while he was down as well.  Everyone, myself included, thought Nas was finished when "The Takeover" came out.  But once "Ether" dropped, that was a game changer.  Then, on top of that, the rest of the album was fire too.  "2nd Childhood" is one of my favorite songs ever and "One Mic" still sends chills.  In addition to being critically acclaimed, I'm glad Stillmatic sold well commercially because it gave Nas a second-wind in his career.  And because of that, he has made even more great music to add to his already legendary catalogue.

Theater of the Mind (Def Jam, 2008) by Ludacris

Ludacris is a hip-hop superstar, but I feel like he is still underrated as an emcee.  His punchlines are crazy and he can destroy any beat that he rhymes over.  Mr. Birdges took note of this and crafted a theatrical piece for his 6th album.  I think it is some of the best work that he has released to date.  The song with Floyd Mayweather [Grand Rapids stand up!] ("Undisputed") is my favorite and the fact that he did a song with Jay-Z and Nas together is legendary.  Luda also made history by being the first southern rapper on a Premo beat [wherein he got a beat from Premier for his own album, Scarface appeared on Gangstarr's  "Betrayal" in '98].  And, in my opinion, he outshines Lil Wayne on "Last of a Dying Breed" with one of the best lyrical displays and impassioned deliveries that I've ever heard from him.

It Was Written (Columbia, 1996) by Nas

I am glad that this album caught on over time.  And to be fair, no album in hip-hop history could properly follow the masterpiece that is Illmatic.  Lyrically, this album obviously delivers.  And Nas rapping from the perspective of a gun on "I Gave You Power" is genius and perhaps served as a blueprint for similar gun-related tracks from Tupac and Pharoahe Monch that followed.  Production-wise, the album is solid as well and surpasses board work that followed on the next few Nas releases (not counting "Nas is Like" from I Am).  And "If I Ruled the World", with Lauryn Hill, is one of those rare singles that is able to crossover without compromising its sound or its message.

Illmatic (1994, Columbia) by Nas

"I rap for listeners, blunt heads, fly ladies and prisoners/Henessey holders and old school niggaz, then I be dissin a/unofficial that smoke woolie thai/I dropped out of Kooley High, gassed up by a cokehead cutie pie/Jungle survivor, fuck who's the liver/My man put the battery in my back, a differencem from Energizer/Sentence begins indented.. with formality/My duration's infinite, moneywise or physiology/Poetry, that's a part of me, retardedly bop/I drop the ancient manifested hip-hop, straight off the block/I reminisce on park jams, my man was shot for his sheep coat/Childhood lesson made me see him drop in my weed smoke"

-Nas, "Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)"