The New York lyricist Nas returns with more claims to the throne in a ‘Magic’ sequel.
VERDICT:
The fact we are here once more talking about five Nas albums in three years is nothing short of incredible, not to mention high-quality projects, one without any features. This is a sign of the spirit of Nas’ skill level in an era where many expected the best of the genre’s golden years to have fizzled out with the advent of rappers whose personas remain inauthentic, to say the least.
Nas shows us his skill is a constant
From the get-go, Nas responds to an industry eager to promote those who fail to retain a sense of what Hip-Hop actually is, evident on Abracadabra, where he ploughs through repeated drums veiled in bass and delivery which is good as an opener, though I expected more. But then its follow-up, Office Hours featuring 50 Cent which is flooded with parading snares and samples, is accompanied by a Curtis Jackson whose verse is shorter than expected especially after he blew his own trumpet on Instagram. Not to mention lacking vitality.
On Motion, a suspenseful score plays beneath the verbal adroitness of the artist, who even goes to the point of resurrecting old school hooks of simplicity. His technical storytelling is on show again, hurried by its production where he articulates: “I’m havin’ motion like an eighteen-wheeler out on the turnpike, my worst night a motion picture, Fox Searchlight“.
Next up, Nas once again paints a vivid portrait and communicates his experience in flow over works you might not have pictured him recording as demonstrated on Bokeem Woodbine and Earvin Magic Johnson where he wears his choices with confidence. The style we know him for returns on What This All Really Means, a song where Jones poignantly reflects on his experiences and what they personally suggest to him.
It is obvious he is having fun on this album with a bravado that implies he could care less about the critics, though fans will expect a certain sound from the Queesnbridge man, and on Pistols on Your Album Cover this returns.
Nas is now fifty years old, matured to the age where beef is something for the kids, a relic of your developing music years, unmistakable when reacting to 21 Savage‘s comments that he is “irrelevant”. But my, how the tables have turned for someone he argued is an extraneous rapper, to now featuring on a song with the man in question. Somehow, it works.
Final thoughts
In the midst of a scene grappling with the ident of autotune, a rich feature functioning on presentations at the behest of marketing plans – Hip-Hop has taken a turn. The aforementioned would be perfectly fine in a world where corporate interests fail to put their greasy mitts on a collection of artists who partake in said actions, but that is not the case here. Hip-Hop is covered in falsified ideas and executions that are rarely heard anywhere else, a testament to the power of a genre that can raise any topic without feeling out of place. But it’s not looking all that bad when we consider the exploits of our friendly neighbourhood rapper Nasir Jones, who, not only has been positioned as one of the best but retains evidence that confirms such assertions.
Hit-Boy has been at the forefront of a fundamental Nas resurgence, a man who is more than just his name having produced Nas’ last five projects. Born Chauncey Hollis Jr, he has made it his mission to associate of late with only artists, and that includes the man of the hour. Nas is one of few rappers who can be described as such, taking his time to ply his trade through genuine conversations and experiences realised through many years of existing in the game.
Built around ’90s-esque production encouraged by Hit-Boy, Escobar embraces it for a well-built project which is far more appreciated in a time when longing for the golden years of Hip-Hop is at its highest. It might not be for everyone, but it is for Nas fans.
Is there a vinyl version of Magic 2?
Yes, Magic 2 is available on all streaming platforms but you can buy a special edition vinyl copy direct from Mass Appeal.
The record is a decorative ornament for any collector, and considering its visual appeal, I doubt I would ever open such an item. Keep it locked in its cellophane folks, and bump it on your chosen streaming platform.
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