The Lost Tapes

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The Lost Tapes
The Lost Tapes cover
Studio album by Nas
Released September 24, 2002 (US)
Recorded 1998 - 2001
Genre Hardcore hip hop, East Coast hip hop, Alternative hip hop
Length 43:02
Label Ill Will/Columbia
CK-85275
Producer Nas (exec.) , Rockwilder, Trackmasters, Kanye West, The Alchemist, L.E.S., Precision, Hill Inc., Alvin West
Professional reviews
Nas chronology
From Illmatic to Stillmatic: The Remixes EP
(2002)		 The Lost Tapes
(2002)		 God's Son
(2002)

The Lost Tapes was a compilation album release by Queensbridge rapper Nas. Released shortly following his fifth proper studio album, Stillmatic, the album was a compilation of Nas' previously unreleased tracks, some from the bootlegged second disc of the original double album version of I Am.... The other tracks were underground singles, tracks recorded during the Stillmatic sessions.

Several of the tracks touch on many personal issues as I Am... was supposed to be an autobiography. Examples include "Poppa Was a Playa" a song which was ghost-produced by a young Kanye West for then-mentor Deric Angelettie. It's a record where Nas recounts childhood memories of his father Olu Dara's self-indulgent lifestyle. Another personal track is "Fetus" where Nas recounts his experience while inside his mother's womb before birth. Other notable songs include the social commentaries "Purple", "Black Zombie" and "Drunk By Myself"---a song that ventures into the tragic mind of an alcoholic. The Lost Tapes, along with Stillmatic, and to a lesser extent, God's Son, revived the underground credibility that Nas seemed to have lost over the years while breaking into the mainstream. Gaining notable critical acclaim upon its release, the album is said to have some of his most artistically developed work ever.

The Lost Tapes is highly acclaimed and considered better than most 'lost recordings' compilations. According to Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews.com:

“ "[The Lost Tapes] is far from the typical quality of "rediscovered and unreleased" material that most musicians put out between studio albums. Such CDs are often infamous for having one great song (usually from a soundtrack) and a lot of weak joints, but not this time...all the music is quality...No cameos, no hype, no bullshit."[1] ”

Contents

[edit] Track listing

# Title Length Songwriters Producer(s)
1 "Doo Rags" 4:03 N. Jones, L. Gates Precision
2 "My Way" 3:55 N. Jones, A. Maman The Alchemist
3 "U Gotta Love It" 3:18 Nasir Jones
Leshan David Lewis
Carlos Wilson
Louis Wilson
Ricardo Wilson		 L.E.S.
4 "Nothing Lasts Forever" 3:52 Nasir Jones
Leshan David Lewis		 L.E.S.
5 "No Idea's Original" 3:04 Nasir Jones
Alan Maman
Barry White		 The Alchemist
6 "Blaze a 50" 2:49 Nasir Jones
Leshan David Lewis
Jean-Claude Olivier
Samuel Barnes		 L.E.S., Poke & Tone
7 "Everybody's Crazy" 3:35 N. Jones, D. Stinson Rockwilder
8 "Purple" 3:39 N. Jones, T. Spearman Hill Inc.
9 "Drunk by Myself" 4:03 Nasir Jones
Alvin West
Samuel Barnes
Jean-Claude Olivier		 Alvin West, Poke & Tone
10 "Black Zombie" 3:35 N. Jones,T. Spearman Hill Inc.
11 "Poppa Was a Playa" 3:49 Nasir Jones
Kanye West
Allan Wayne Felder
Norman Ray Harris		 Kanye West[2]
12 "Fetus (Belly Button Window)" [Hidden Track] 3:20 Trackmasters
  • The production of "Poppa Was a Playa" is credited to Deric Angelettie, West's then mentor.

[edit] Samples

My Way

  • "Just a Little Bit" by Larry Page Orchestra

U Gotta Love It

No Idea's Original

  • "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little Bit More Babe" by Barry White; written by Barry White

Poppa Was a Playa

  • "The Newness Is Gone" by Eddie Kendricks; written by Allan Wayne Felder and Norman Ray Harris

Fetus

[edit] Chart positions

Chart (2002) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200 #10
U.S. Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums #3

[edit] References

  1. ^ Nas :: The Lost Tapes :: Ill Will/Columbia Records
  2. ^ MTV.com: Kanye West: Kanplicated


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