NaS: Life Is Good Review

Retail Release in 2012
Summary: 3rd Def Jam release from NaS, after Hip Hop Is Dead and the Untitled/Nigger Album
Overall Rating: Very Good (4.5/5)
Rating Comment: Clearly, a lot of care was taken in making this album. There is a lot of variety in themes and production. Arguably, it's the best produced album of NaS' career since Illmatic, if ever. A stellar album with the weakness of lacking a lot of all time great tracks. "Daughters" is the only one for sure. "The Don" is second best thanks to a unique beat flowed over quite well. However, there are a ton of good songs, and they're good in a variety of ways. After Illmatic, this is probably the most "recommendable" album in NaS' discography.

1. No Introduction: B
3/4/4 - Solid intro track.
2. Loco-Motive: C-
1/3/3 - Not bad. Weak background helped by above-average lyrics.
3. Queen's Story: D
1/3/3 - Sick flow but the song is otherwise unremarkable. Perhaps the worst song backing on the entire album. Doesn't work.
4. Accident Murderers feat. Rick Ross: B+
4/4/4 - Cool concept. Strong guest verse by Rick Ross. I like NaS' first verse more than the second.
5. Daughters: A
3/5/5 - Best track on the album. Personal lyrics overcome a suitable, though not awe-inspiring beat.
6. Reach Out: B-
3/4/3 - Beat includes a well known sample, but NaS flows well over it.
7. World's An Addiction: C+
3/4/3 - Good vocals (by Anthony Hamilton), and good lyrics to support the concept.
8. Summer On Smash: D
2/3/2 - Not a fan of Swiss Beats' production style. And the chorus is poor. Nice verses by NaS though.
9. You Wouldn't Understand: B+
4/4/3 - Smooth beat with a nice interspersed Rakim sample.
10. Back When: B
3/4/3 - N/A
11. The Don: B+
4/4/3 - Grew on me. Different from most NaS beats. Strong verses.
12. Stay: B+
3/5/4 - N/A
13. Cherrywine feat. Amy Winehouse: B-
4/3/2 - Singing and rhyming both sound good, but don't mesh well into one track.
14. Bye Baby: B+
4/3/5 - One of the most interesting and unique song on the album.

BONUS TRACKS

15. Nasty: B+
4/5/3 - Made You Look style track. Wicked flow over a stripped down bangin' beat.
16. The Black Bond: C-
2/3/3 - Interesting concept. Incomplete execution.
17. Roses: D
2/4/2 - I like the musical backdrop, but the song doesn't quite work for me.
18. Where's the Love: C+
3/3/3 - N/A
19. Trust: C
2/3/4 - Solid theme and lyrics. Wish the chorus and beat were better.

Grades Dated Fall 2012