Nas | The Music Ninja

[New] Nas – The Season (prod. by J. Dilla)

Posted by tylercole - October 30, 2014

Nas
The Season (prod. by J.Dilla)

It may not be Thanksgiving just yet, but the holidays brought out the softer side with a new tune from the Queens emcee, Nas. Apparently ‘Tis “The Season” for the rapper to deliver some new music for our listening enjoyment. Backed by a classic “Gobstopper”-sample from the legendary J.Dilla, the latest single is a smooth, percussion filled track with a nice jazzy vibe. After previewing this gem last night during Run the Jewels 2 event in Brooklyn, Nas unveiled the full-length studio version today for fans to get into.

Balancing snares and horns with some spoken words, Nas remains humble as he pays homage to the late producer and speaks on not being able to enjoy the spoils of his success. It is good to know that even with all the success, Nas still takes the time to give fans some original, reflective work. Nas also credits his brother The Jungle for his source of inspiration and denies ever getting rhymes from Jay-Z or his protege Jay Electronica. Take a listen to the new single and be sure to stay tuned to hear more.

Hip/Hop

[Hip-Hop] Nas – Life’s a Bitch (feat. AZ) (Free n Losh Remix)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - September 24, 2014

Nas
Life's A Bitch feat. AZ (Free n Losh Remix)

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Successfully remixing a song from one of the greatest rap albums of all time is no easy task, but Free n Losh prove it is possible with their latest take on Nas‘s classic “Life’s a Bitch.” The talented Canadian production duo replace the original instrumental with a vibrant bass-line, smooth piano and various soul samples. During the legendary chorus, Free n Losh layer a high-pitched portamento synth reminiscent of the G-Funk era. As a result, the song ends up sounding a bit like if the Illmatic anthem had west-coast production, with a splash of young Kanye West‘s soul sample skills. Check it out above and head to their Facebook page for a free download.

[Remix] Rudimental – Free (Feat. Emeli Sandé & Nas)

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - October 23, 2013

Rudimental
Free ft. Emeli Sandé [Nas Remix]

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It’s difficult for me to turn down anything related to Nas, so as soon as I saw this remix of Rudimental‘s “Free,” I knew I had to give it a listen. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the Emeli Sandé assisted track was already pretty spectacular to begin with. Bringing in Nasty Nas adds some hip-hop flair to The UK duo’s uplifting single, that’s all about taking life for what it is, and then tossing aside those cares to live life to the fullest without any restrictions. Check out the inspiring tune above, and make sure to grab the “Free” remix package when it drops on November 18, which will also include reworks from Jack Beats, Maya Jane Coles, and Roy Davis Jr.

[Hip-Hop] Big Sean – First Chain (Feat. Nas & Kid Cudi)

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - August 20, 2013

Big Sean
First Chain (Feat. Nas & Kid Cudi)

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While the most talked about single all year won’t be making the final cut, Big Sean is still out to prove that there’s plenty of material to look forward to on Hall of Fame. Joining forces with Sean on “First Chain” are Kid Cudi and Nas, who help engineer an eclectic single that features the group reflecting on some of the earlier successes in their respective careers. All three emcees are in rare form, with Cudi delivering one of his strongest verses in recent memory, and Nasty Nas spitting some pristine bars as expected. We only have to wait one more week to hear Sean’s sophomore effort, set to drop on August 27th.

Hip/Hop

[Hip-Hop] J. Cole – Let Nas Down (Remix) (Feat. Nas)

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - June 25, 2013

J. Cole
Let Nas Down (REMIX) feat. Nas

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When J. Cole‘s Born Sinner dropped last week, one of the first tracks people noticed was the heartfelt number, “Let Nas Down.” J. Cole is an emcee who’s never been ashamed to open himself up, but “Let Nas Down” may have been one of his most personal songs to date. In it, Cole describes the devastating feeling of letting down one of your idols. Specifically, he recalls the conflict bubbling up inside of him when he found out Nas wasn’t a fan of the first single (“Work Out”) from his debut album, Cole World. “Work Out” was a song that received mixed reviews from many J. Cole fans. Some viewed it as him selling out to produce a hit record, while others saw it as a necessary step to expand his brand. Born Sinner represents a return to the J. Cole we all know and love, and Nas decided to recognize that, finally providing Cole with some closure on this new remix. After finally receiving Nasir’s blessing, this new revamp represents a ceremonial passing of the torch as Nas now truly considers J. Cole to be one of his peers.

Hip/Hop

[Hip-Hop] Meek Mill – Maybach Curtains Feat. John Legend, Rick Ross & Nas

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - October 18, 2012

With Meek Mill‘s debut album, Dreams & Nightmares, set to drop at the end of the month, we’re finally getting a preview of what to expect from the young MMG representative. “Maybach Curtains” fits more into the vein of what you might find on one of his boss’ records, but the talented musician is able to adapt seamlessly while crafting a fitting verse of his own. Of course smooth, exuberant tracks like these are Rick Ross‘ bread and butter (actually bread and butter are his real bread and butter, but you get the point), so you know he had to squeeze in a verse himself (I just shuddered at the thought of Ross squeezing into anything), while bringing longtime collaborators John Legend and Nas along for the ride. As stated earlier, Meek Mill is able to break out of his shell a bit on this one, toning himself down slightly, while Legend appropriately belts out “Look how far we came” and “Through these Maybach curtain I see how life has changed” during the chorus. This was definitely one of the most anticipated track off of the album, but I’m sure it’s not the last big single from Meek. Make sure to check out his Dreams & Nightmares album when it drops on October 30th.

’Meek Mill ft. Nas, John Legend & Rick Ross – Maybach Curtains’

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Hip/Hop

[Hip-Hop] DJ Khaled – Hip-Hop Feat. Nas, Scarface & DJ Premier (Prod. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League)

Posted by Baseer Ahmad - August 10, 2012

When you think of the word “hip-hop,” DJ Khaled is not often the name that first comes to mind. Conversely, Khaled is what many would often associate with the antithesis of “true” hip-hop and all that is wrong with the genre right now. Whatever your feelings about Khaled and his contributions to the game, you have to give him props for the special group he’s been able to assemble here. With legends Nas and Scarface blessing the mic and DJ Premier and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League handling the boards, it’s easy for the listener to be reverted back to the glory days of the 90’s. Both emcees allude to the deceptive and fickle companion that hip hop can be, reflecting on their experiences over the last twenty some odd years, including both the riches of the highs and the struggles of the lows. It’s an interesting take on the subject, and provides us great insight on the rap careers of two of the greatest to ever grace the mic.

If you’re interested in seeing the process that went behind crafting this wonderful track, peep the “Making Of Hip Hop” video after the jump, and if you enjoyed this, and want to listen to some more heavyweight collaborations, make sure to cop DJ Khaled’s latest project, Kiss The Ring, on August 21st.

’DJ Khaled – Hip Hop Feat. Nas, Scarface & DJ Premier’

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Hip/Hop