I’ve been on a demo kick lately. I’ve been listening to demos from lots of artists, from Elliott Smith to Gravediggaz. But the demos that it pains me the most to listen to are those from Nas circa Illmatic.
The songs like “Just Another Day in the Projects” and “DéjàVu” remind me of when I fell in love with Nas as an artist. His wordplay, his tales of street reality with a pinch of optimism, those were the things that I really dug about the guy. And those are the things that I’ve barely heard since Illmatic.
Don’t get me wrong… Nas can still bring it. I’ve enjoyed most of his last few albums. But listening to those lost tracks reminds me how far Nas has come and why that’s not really a good thing.
I think that evolution can be good thing. I mean, I’m completely for the whole “opposable thumb” thing. But I think that everyone can agree that what descended from Nasty Nas has left just a pinch to be desired. It’s as if you had an adorable baby that later grew up to be Jermaine Dupri; you can’t help but be disappointed with the end result.
As I listened to those demos I heard Nas making sense and finishing off thoughts, and I longed for those days again. I miss the days when the notion of a new Nas album filled me solely with joy and not a mixture of dread and joy. I want Nas’ next joint to be amazing, but I know he’s capable of creating true trash.
I don’t want to admit that Nas’ best days are behind him, though all the evidence seems to point to that conclusion.
Nas is so far removed from the guy who wowed me on Illmatic that it’s not fair for me to expect him to be that guy again. But those songs make me really miss that old guy. You’d think that listening to older stuff would get me pumped to hear upcoming stuff, but in this case it’s just the opposite.
Hopefully Nas will prove me wrong and get “Nasty” again. But my hopes aren’t too high.
