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|rev10 = ''[[LA Times]]''
|rev10 = ''[[LA Times]]''
|rev10score = (favorable)<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-nas-review-20120717,0,1525842.story]</ref>
|rev10score = (favorable)<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-nas-review-20120717,0,1525842.story]</ref>
|rev11 = ''[[XXL (magazine)]]''
|rev11score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>[http://www.xxlmag.com/reviews/2012/07/nas-life-is-good/]</ref>
}}
}}


Revision as of 19:53, 17 July 2012

Untitled

Life Is Good is the tenth studio album by American rapper Nas. It was first released on July 17, 2012. This is Nas' final album under Def Jam Records.

Background

On August 9, 2011, the first single entitled "Nasty" was released via iTunes.[2] On February 24, 2012, Nas stated on Twitter that he had finished the recording of the album.[3] A new single entitled "The Don" was released on iTunes on April 3, 2012, after premiering on Funkmaster Flex's radio show. The song is produced by Salaam Remi, Da Internz and the late Heavy D. The song "Another Black Girl Lost" was leaked on April 17, 2012 though it does not appear on the album's final track listing. On May 1, 2012, the next single from the album, entitled "Daughters" and produced by No I.D., was released via iTunes, though an unfinished version had previously leaked on April 27, 2012. On June 21, 2012, a fourth single entitled "Accident Murderers" featuring rapper Rick Ross and produced by No I.D. was released officially via Nas' SoundCloud. The fifth and final single from the album, "Loco-Motive", was released on July 2, 2012. It features Nas' longtime collaborator Large Professor and production by No I.D..

Guests

Guest appearances on the album consist of longtime collaborators Mary J. Blige and Large Professor. British singer Amy Winehouse is featured on track number 13 with unreleased posthumous vocals. Nikki Flores, a US minor star, co-wrote and features on track number 17, "Roses". Other guests on the album include a rapping appearance by Rick Ross on the fourth single "Accident Murderers", and vocals provided by Anthony Hamilton, Miguel, Swizz Beatz and Victoria Monet. In addition to these, the group Cocaine 80s provides assistance on a bonus track in the deluxe edition of the album. Their appearance consists of guest verses by rappers Common and No I.D. with backing vocals from the rest of the group.

Although Nas was planning to have a collaboration with longtime rhyme partner AZ, he did not appear on the album's final tracklist. The two have not released a song together since 2004. Nas also planned to collaborate with Odd Future members Tyler, the Creator, Frank Ocean and Hodgy Beats. Tyler confirmed in an interview that while they had indeed recorded a song, none of Odd Future's members appeared on the final tracklist.

Production

Salaam Remi, Heavy D, producer duo Da Internz, and No I.D. are so far the only confirmed producers for the album. Nas has called the album a "magic moment" in his rap career while mentioning that Swizz Beatz, DJ Premier, The Alchemist, Dr. Dre, Kanye West and RZA are possible producers on the LP.[4][5] Producer Bangladesh revealed that he has produced some tracks for the album.[6] Producer Kane Beatz revealed he has recently worked with Nas.[7] Producer/DJ Statik Selektah has also said that he has produced a couple of tracks for the album.[8] Illmatic collaborators Pete Rock and Large Professor are also rumored to have logged studio time or sent beats to Nas for the upcoming album. Pete Rock has confirmed that he is working with Nas via twitter and in a video interview with SB.TV. Speaking on possible producers for the album Nas also revealed: "It's all about who got it. I'm not reaching out to any specific person, really. I did reach out to No I.D. But other than that, people already know that we want to work together. Almost every producer in the game, I had a conversation with. We're just going to see what fits, what makes a marriage together." In an interview with magazine Complex, producer RZA revealed that he had provided Nas with ten productions,[9] although it has not been announced how many of these have been used on the album.

Long-time producer Salaam Remi commented on his production on the album by saying, “If I’m going to do hip-hop, I want it to be something that a mumble-mouth rapper can’t rap on. You better have something to say and be speaking up.” On the whole, Nas' new music cuts against the grain. “I wanted to make a soundtrack that allowed Nas to be Nas,” says No I.D., the renowned rap producer and Def Jam executive who was the other major contributor to the new album. "I don’t have a calculation of what is going on now with the kids, but I just wanted Nas to do what he do." [9]

Concept

The green dress which appears on the album's cover is the wedding dress worn by Kelis, Nas' ex-wife and fellow-musician, by whom he has a son. It was the only thing she had left in their house after her divorce with Nas, which had bothered him. Nas has stated the album is "important" to him and has a more lighthearted feel to it, showing the transition from his old life to his new one. Nas told The Guardian: "I found [the dress] in my house and thought, 'It's going somewhere'. Either on the cover of my album, or burning in a garbage can. I was angry when I first found it. Hurt and angry - but I don't think she left it deliberately to hurt me. It's just part of the dress, so I don't know where the rest of it is. But it made all the sense in the world for me to hold on to that. I guess that's just my personality." [10][11] Nas has compared the album to Marvin Gaye's classic Here, My Dear, which is famous for chronicling Gaye's first marriage to Anna Gordy.[12]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Life is Good has received positive reviews from music critics, currently holding a 70/100 on Metacritic, which indicates "generally favorable reviews" based on nine reviews.[13]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllHipHop(9/10)[14]
Allmusic[15]
BBC Music(favorable)[16]
Entertainment Weekly(B-)[17]
The Guardian[18]
Huffington Post(favorable)[19]
The Independent[20]
NME(8/10)[21]
USA Today[22]
LA Times(favorable)[23]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."No Introduction"N. Jones, E. Ortiz, K. Crowe, K. BartolomeiJ.U.S.T.I.C.E. League4:15
2."Loco-Motive" (featuring Large Professor)N. Jones, E. Wilson, W. MitchellNo I.D.3:41
3."A Queens Story"N. Jones, S. Remi, J. Simmons, D. McDanielsSalaam Remi4:35
4."Accident Murderers" (featuring Rick Ross)N. Jones, W. Roberts, N. Solomon, C. DeGarmo, M. WilliamsNo I.D.4:38
5."Daughters"N. Jones, E. Wilson, P. Adams, G. DeCarlo, D. Frashuer, P. LekaNo I.D.3:20
6."Reach Out" (featuring Mary J. Blige)N. Jones, M. Blige, D. Franklin, S. Remi, R. Jerkins, I. Hayes, F. Perren, C. Perren, R. WyattSalaam Remi, Rodney Jerkins, DJ Hot Day, Nas3:47
7."World's An Addiction" (featuring Anthony Hamilton)N. Jones, S. Remi, A. HamiltonSalaam Remi5:01
8."Summer On Smash" (featuring Miguel & Swizz Beatz)N. Jones, K. DeanSwizz Beatz4:20
9."You Wouldn't Understand" (featuring Victoria Monet)N. Jones, A. Best, M. Claxton, E. Barrier, W. Griffin, T. Brown, V. McCantsBuckwild4:36
10."Back When"N. Jones, E. Wilson, B. Forgie, S. Moltke, M. Williams, C. DeGarmoNo I.D.3:22
11."The Don"N. Jones, D. Myers, S. Remi, M. Palacios, E. Clark, W. Maragh, N. ThomasSalaam Remi, Heavy D, Da Internz3:02
12."Stay"N. Jones, E. Wilson, L. AbramsNo I.D.3:45
13."Cherry Wine" (featuring Amy Winehouse)N. Jones, S. Remi, A. WinehouseSalaam Remi5:56
14."Bye Baby"N. Jones, S. Remi, N. Shebib, T. Gatling, G. Griffin, A. Hall, T. Riley, A. GrahamSalaam Remi, Noah "40" Shebib3:59
Total length:57:53
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Nasty"N. Jones, GibbsSalaam Remi3:04
16."The Black Bond"N. Jones, S. RemiSalaam Remi2:23
17."Roses" (featuring Nikki Flores)N. Jones, A. Shuckburgh, D. Wilson, S. Fenton, N. FloresAl Shux, Dan Wilson3:32
18."Where's the Love" (featuring Cocaine 80s)N. Jones, E. Wilson, J. Fauntleroy II, M. Berrin, P. Nash, P. HustonNo I.D.4:27
Total length:71:17
iTunes Store bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
19."Trust"N. Jones, M. Samuels, M. Burnett, J. Evans, J. SublettBoi-1da, Matthew Burnett, Jordan Evans4:34
Japan bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
20."The Don (Don Dada Remix)"N. JonesSalaam Remi, Heavy D 

Samples

  • "No Introduction" contains a sample from "Don't Cry" by Kirk Franklin
  • "Loco-Motive" contains a sample from "L'Illustration Musicale"
  • "Accident Murderers" contains a sample from "They Said It Couldn't Be Done" by Norman Feels, "The Bridge" by MC Shan
  • "A Queens Story" contains a sample of "Étude Op. 10, No. 12" by Frédéric Chopin, "Peter Piper" by Run-DMC
  • "Daughters" contains a sample of "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" by Wayne McGhie & The Sounds of Joy, "Dust to Dust" by Cloud One
  • "Reach Out" contains a sample of "Ike's Mood" by Isaac Hayes, "Once In A Lifetime Groove" by New Edition
  • "World's An Addiction" contains a sample of "Something's Missing" by The Five Stairsteps
  • "You Wouldn't Understand" contains a sample of "Let's Start Love Over Again" by Miles Jaye, "Eric B is President" by Eric B & Rakim
  • "Back When" contains a sample of "The Bridge" by MC Shan, "Double Agent Jones" by Barry Moore Combo, "Live Routine" by MC Shan, "Raptivity" by Ronnie Gee
  • "The Don" contains a sample of "Dance Inna New York" by Super Cat
  • "Stay" contains a sample of "Seven Steps to Nowhere" as performed by L.A. Carnival
  • "Bye Baby" contains a sample of "Goodbye Love" as performed by Guy
  • "The Black Bond" contains a sample from "Paguenosis" as performed by Salaam Remi
  • "Where's the Love" contains a sample from "Brooklyn Queens" as performed by 3rd Bass

Release history

Region Date
Germany[25] July 13, 2012
Australia
United Kingdom July 16, 2012
France
United States July 17, 2012
Canada
Japan

References

  1. ^ "Nas talks new posthumous Amy Winehouse track 'Cherry Wine'". NME. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  2. ^ [ Nasty - Single on iTunes] Retrieved on 08/09/2011
  3. ^ Nas via [ (((Twitter)))]. Retrieved 24/02/2012
  4. ^ [ Nas Talks 'Distant Relatives', Says Kanye West Wants to Produce Next Album] Retrieved on 08/09/2011
  5. ^ [ DJ Premier Hints At Collaboration With Nas For "Life Is Good"] Retrieved on 08/09/2011
  6. ^ [ Bangladesh Talks Recording With Nas For New LP] Retrieved on 08/09/2011
  7. ^ [ Producer Kane Beatz Confirms New Work with Nas, Talks Breakthrough] Retrieved on 08/09/2011
  8. ^ DJ Pizzo (2011-08-25). "Selektah Speaks On Projects With Nas, Termanology, Action Bronson & Reks". Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  9. ^ a b Ahmed, Insanul (2011-12-05). "Interview: The RZA Talks Headphones, Hollywood, and Working on "Watch The Throne"". Complex. Complex Media. Retrieved 2012-06-26.
  10. ^ "Nas explains Kelis wedding dress album cover". DigitalSpy. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  11. ^ Blanco, Alvin. "VH1 Behind The Music: Nas". VH1. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  12. ^ Nas Compares "Life Is Good" To Marvin Gaye's "Here, My Dear ...
  13. ^ [1]
  14. ^ [2]
  15. ^ [3]
  16. ^ [4]
  17. ^ [5]
  18. ^ [6]
  19. ^ [7]
  20. ^ [8]
  21. ^ [9]
  22. ^ [10]
  23. ^ [11]
  24. ^ "OFFICIAL: Nas Life is Good Album Tracklist | Rap Genius Blog". Rapgenius.com. 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
  25. ^ [[12]]
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