Nas - Greatest Hits - Music & Performance - CD

Some would say that a greatest hits album from a rapper of the stature of Nas is long overdue. And considering the body of work he has assembled, they'd have a good case. Though it might only seem like yesterday to some, it was actually 1994 when NAS released his debut album Illmatic. Achieving the critical and commercial success that it did, it heralded in a major new East Coast rap talent. Since then, the vast majority of Nas' full-length releases have soared to the upper reaches of the charts: more than enough top grade material for a "best of" release.

The 14 tracks here include not only highlights from the past, but two new tracks (which open the disc): the autobiographical "Surviving the Times," and "Less Than An Hour," which is the theme from the movie Rush Hour 3. On top of that is the cast of contributing artists, which includes AZ, R. Kelly, Lauryn Hill, Puff Daddy and Q-Tip. Not a bad roll call in any rapper's language. And the class shines through on every cut.

Nas (aka Nasir Jones) has moved through different phases (and personae) in his career, and they're all represented here. So too are the wide range of beats that have underpinned his success. "It Ain't Hard To Tell" (from Illmatic -- which is sonically minimalist like several of the tracks -- features a classic bumpin' beat as well as a squawking sax sound. At the other end of the percussion spectrum, the clever phrasing of the rhymes and dripping piano notes are overlaid on a shuffling beat in "N.Y. State of Mind."

The tones of the songs also run the gamut. "Surviving The Times" has a distinctive smooth jazz flavor that keeps it mellow even when Nas' flows get cranking, while "Made You Look" -- which starts with a gunshot -- has a more hardcore; suspense-drama feel.

The sampling on Nas' songs is always both very selective and high impact. In this regard, two tracks really stand out here. "I Can" is an inspirational song directed at children and actually features kids rapping ("I know I can/ Be what I wanna be/ If I work hard at it/ I'll be where I wanna be") -- the musical undercurrent is a piano playing Beethoven's "Fur Elise." Before she died, Nas' mother requested her son write just such a song. In stark contrast is "Bridging The Gap," which borrows heavily from blues great Muddy Waters' "Mannish Boy."

Greatest Hits shows the many directions Nas' music has taken over the years. But more than anything it is testimony to his determination to move ever forward, to evolve, and to expand the horizons of rap.

By Adrian Zupp