Offers nothing new to an already exhausted and dying genre.

Same old, same old….

A work of art by 2 of the culture’s most pivotal and, influential artists. This album skilfully pays homage to the essence of Hip Hop as well as showcasing how important DJ Premier believes Nas is to the music. The production accompanies Nas rather than props him up and for the first time in a long time, the lyricist has been given the platform to express themselves freely. The texture of the production allows Nas explore more than he has before. He gives props to graffiti artists who, have almost become forgotten in Hip Hop culture with the song Writters also, they highlight the tradition of the pause tapes on the song of the same name.

DJ Premier captures the sound of New York and blends it with Hip Hop tradition. It’s not the average producer/artist album where both parties are advertising their best work to the industry by making a string of radio hits or club bangers, this is an ode to the culture. A musical portrait to celebrate what made so many young people around the world, fall in love with it from it’s inception. The breakdancers, the taggers, the DJ’s as well as the MC’s.

The duo have highlighted how the culture is not just sex, violence and drugs which is synonymous with Rap music today but, it shines a light on other parts of the culture which often gets overlooked. (The songs Bouquets and shine)

This album has shown how much Nas has grown. He is showing us that you can still embrace the culture in your 50’s without doing what the kids do by limiting your creative energy with bravado and playing up to the negative portrayal of African Americans.

This is a very important piece of music that will be viewed as a masterpiece rather than a classic.

DJ Premier and Nas have given us something we didn’t even realise how much we needed until now.

This is an amazing body of work …Hip Hop Lives