S. Samuel
While fans continue to wait out rap veteran Nas' long-awaited Lost Tapes 2 release they can kick back and enjoy a new previously unreleased early 1990's freestyle.
According to reports, the vintage audio stems from Nas rhyming back in 1993.
In honor of the 20th anniversary of Illmatic, Nas digs in the crates and unearths a commercially unreleased freestyle. The nearly 10-minute track, recorded on “The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show” on October 28, 1993, features 6’9? and Grand Wizard and can be found on the second part of Illmatic XX. Due April 15, the two-disc compilation includes rare remixes, unreleased demos, and freestyles commemorating the anniversary of Nas’ seminal debut. (Rap-Up)
Recently, Nasir said the main thing he had more of these days than his Illmatic days was zeros in his bank account.
“Now I got money. Back then I was rich with spirit. Now I got money. That’s the difference. Back then I was talking about “you should get money, the world is yours.” Now, I became a man and I’ve experienced the finer things in life.” (Complex)
The hip-hop poet also gave a take on where he stood today as an artist.
“I am in a great place. When you first start, you want to speed and outdo the ones that came before you. You want to let them know you are here and they need to respect you now. But when you are where I am, you realize that you don’t have to do that. Your journey is your journey. You don’t have to rush it. It’s going to be what its going to be. Right now I’m at a place where I am good. How I feel, my everyday life, and how I feel artistically, I’m real good. So when I go sit down to make music, it’s from a great place.” (Complex)
During a recent panel discussion, Nasir talked about being perceived as a high-profile entertainer and shared some words about his upcoming Time Is Illmatic film.
“I don’t see myself as the most mainstream around, I just see myself as, I’ve been around,” Nas said on being asked what it was like to be accepted by the mainstream via the film fest. “I wanted to see what it was like… I definitely stepped into the mainstream stage for a little while, partied and had a good time, and then I went back to what I was doing.” (XXL Mag)
Check out the new music:
