Street's Disciple

iTunes Review

Street’s Disciple is a juxtaposition of the two aspects of Nas’ personality that have been warring for years: his focus, and his pompousness. With the multi-character storytelling of “Sekou Story” and the father-son blues of “Bridging the Gap,” Nas proves he's determined to push his music forward. At the same time, Street’s Disciple is lined with references to classic hip-hop, from the canonical samples of “American Way” and “Sekou Story,” to the beatboxing of “Virgo” (rap godfather Doug E. Fresh) and the tributes to Jam Master Jay (“You Know My Style”) and Rakim (“UBR”). Perhaps best of all is “Thief’s Theme,” a sequel to “Made You Look” that proves Nas still knows how to make a rock-solid street rap song. Following the soul-baring God’s Son, Street’s Disciple signaled the beginning of a new chapter in Nas’ career. Nas now has so much to say that his songs represent jam-packed collisions of concepts, observations, and poetry. The window into his soul was widening, and though he’s lost the concision of Illmatic, the new Nas is more fascinating and revealing than ever.