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in his Queens street hustle and the other tackling heady political science issue , Illmatic had something for everyone . The ensuing two decades would find Nas cemented as an elder statesman of hip hop while never quite reaching the stardom level of his one-time nemesis Jay-Z . Producer Hit-Boy signed with Kanye West ’ s GOOD Music imprint in 2011 and became an in-demand in-house beatmaker creating hits for West , Travis Scott , Beyonce , and Lil Wayne . After the lackluster performance of the West-produced Nasir album in 2018 , Nas decided to go with West ’ s protege Hit- Boy for the Kings Disease album in 2020 . While the first salvo from the pairing left listeners slightly cold , with each album , the connection seems to tighten . With KDIII , the chemistry has matured , creating a strong bond between rapper and producer . The beats are constantly morphing , often with the songs beginning in one style and ending completely differently . A dense tapestry of samples , the production here simultaneously evokes early ‘ 90s east coast hip hop as well as modern-day drill rap . Hit-Boy brings back the chipmunk soul of old Kanye on “ Legit ,” where he takes a vocal sample from the 1991 movie The Five Heartbeats and stretches it out for eternity , creating a disorienting feeling . Elsewhere Hit-Boy mimics the homemade grittiness of classic Wu-Tang productions like on “ Thun ,” where a gothic orchestral piece slowly creeps up on the listener . On “ Hood2Hood ,” the beat approaches Miami Vice levels of opulence and decadence , somewhat conjuring the shiny suit rapper trend of the late 90s . While the big-hearted idealism of early hits like “ If I Ruled The World ” has faded mostly by the wayside , Nas ’ current lyrical approach reflects his veteran status . He still brings vivid imagery and humor to nearly every verse here . While some of the vocal hooks verge on unfinished simplicity , that ’ s not the point of KDIII . A rapper staying true to himself and relevant while entering his fourth decade , the game should be inspiring to anyone who ever picked up a microphone .
- Andy Derer
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NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE World Record
( Reprise )
Similar to Neil Young & Crazy Horse ’ s transcendent 1990 comeback Ragged Glory , 2012 ’ s double album Psychedelic Pill found the band mounting another raw , loud , intense renewing of their garage rock vows . When the first song lasts for 27 minutes without becoming a bore , you know you are listening to prime Neil Young & Crazy Horse . Fast forward ten years , and Neil Young is just as prolific as ever , often releasing a new album and multiple archival releases within a calendar year . Neil made headlines in early 2022 by pulling his music from Spotify after the streaming service allowed Joe Rogan to continue to interview people known for being outspoken against
the Covid 19 vaccines . Some saw it as taking a brave stance against misinformation , others took it as a convenient way of looking righteous while leaving a platform notorious for its terrible royalty payouts to the artists . Either way , it brought Neil back into the conversation setting the table for the 15th Neil Young & Crazy Horse album World Record ( his 42nd album in total .) While one could expect to hear a more angry version of Neil given the somewhat turbulent current state of the world , don ’ t expect a Ragged Glory II . While Neil relies on the pump organ and piano for most of the album , most of the guitar work is handed over to Nils Lofgren . A subdued affair , World Record focuses lyrically on the usual Young topics , the climate , love , and world peace . The band finally lets their trademark guitar fury unleash during the second to last song , “ Chevrolet ,” a 13-minute barnburner that will certainly be manna to any longtime fans of the band . While Neil ’ s quirks are somewhat downplayed on World Record , he lets his idiosyncratic ways air out in the liner notes , where he gives the exact birthdate ( day / month / year ) for not only every single contributor ( including ubiquitous producer Rick Rubin ) but also his sister , mother , and father ( who graces the album cover .) A little bit more of that trademark Neil Young weirdness would have been welcome on World Record .
- Andy Derer
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DARYL HALL AND JOHN OATES Do It For Love LP reissue ( U-Watch / BMG )
Daryl Hall and John Oates were Goldselling hitmakers in the ‘ 70s and an unstoppable Platinum-plated force at pop radio during the ‘ 80s , notching an enviable pile of Top 40 hits and # 1 singles that continue to fill their concert setlists today . Following 1990s Change of Season , the duo hit the brakes and released only two more studio albums of original music . 1997 ’ s underrated gem Marigold Sky was reissued in March .
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