Artist:
Nas
DJ Premier
Genre:
Rap
Total Time:
48:13
Record Label:
N/A
Purchase Album:
CD, Amazon Music, Vinyl,
Apple Music, Spotify
Release Date
December 12, 2025
Find out more about this album release after the jump.
Nas
DJ Premier
Genre:
Rap
Total Time:
48:13
Record Label:
N/A
Purchase Album:
CD, Amazon Music, Vinyl,
Apple Music, Spotify
Release Date
December 12, 2025
Find out more about this album release after the jump.
Purchasing Links
Product Description: Any telling of Nas’ story would be woefully incomplete without mentioning DJ Premier. Back in the day, the esteemed Gang Starr producer laced the then-rising Queensbridge MC with three beats that made his game-changing 1994 debut, Illmatic. That professional connection continued with placements on albums like I Am… and the triumphant Stillmatic, further linking the two artists in the annals in hip-hop history. As such, the arrival of Light-Years, fully produced by Preemo at the virtual halfway point of Nasir’s improbable 2020s run, seems like the fulfillment of rap destiny.
Naturally, these men have grown and evolved in the three decades since their first team-up. Nas’ references to crypto portfolios and Saudi investments on “GiT Ready” and “Welcome to the Underground” are exceedingly far from those found on their initial studio collaborations, a better reflection of the artist as contemporary businessman while intermittently nodding to his origins as a NYCHA project kid. That’s not to say the album doesn’t indulge in nostalgia, evidenced early on by a sociopolitically-charged third installment in their “NY State Of Mind” series. Elsewhere, he conjures the spirit of graffiti’s glory days on “Writers” and revisits his rap personas on the existential run-through “Nasty Esco Nasir.”
Raising the bar, Premier’s signature scratch-laden instrumentals veer between throwback to timeless through the cavernous chill of “Madman” and the cassette noise groove of “Pause Tapes.” Some of his unapologetic sample choices convey his elder statesman status, repurposing a seminal mid-’70s funk-rock hook for the evocative “It’s Time” and elevating the lost art of elite boom-bap on closer “3rd Childhood.” By combining his impossibly deep crates with Nas’ extensive book of rhymes, Light-Years sets itself apart as a standout in both of their storied catalogs.
Naturally, these men have grown and evolved in the three decades since their first team-up. Nas’ references to crypto portfolios and Saudi investments on “GiT Ready” and “Welcome to the Underground” are exceedingly far from those found on their initial studio collaborations, a better reflection of the artist as contemporary businessman while intermittently nodding to his origins as a NYCHA project kid. That’s not to say the album doesn’t indulge in nostalgia, evidenced early on by a sociopolitically-charged third installment in their “NY State Of Mind” series. Elsewhere, he conjures the spirit of graffiti’s glory days on “Writers” and revisits his rap personas on the existential run-through “Nasty Esco Nasir.”
Raising the bar, Premier’s signature scratch-laden instrumentals veer between throwback to timeless through the cavernous chill of “Madman” and the cassette noise groove of “Pause Tapes.” Some of his unapologetic sample choices convey his elder statesman status, repurposing a seminal mid-’70s funk-rock hook for the evocative “It’s Time” and elevating the lost art of elite boom-bap on closer “3rd Childhood.” By combining his impossibly deep crates with Nas’ extensive book of rhymes, Light-Years sets itself apart as a standout in both of their storied catalogs.
TRACK LIST:
1 .
My Life Is Real
(02:39)
2 . GiT Ready (02:52)
3 . NY State Of Mind Pt. 3 . (03:12)
4 . Welcome To The Underground (03:20)
5 . Madman (02:24)
6 . Pause Tapes (02:37)
7 . Writers (04:53)
8 . Sons (Young Kings) (03:03)
9 . It's Time Nas, DJ Premier & The Steve Miller Band (02:29)
10 . Nasty Esco Nasir (02:43)
11 . My Story Your Story Nas, DJ Premier & AZ (03:49)
12 . Bouquet (To The Ladies) (04:29)
13 . Junkie (03:41)
14 . Shine Together (02:41)
15 .3rd Childhood (03:29)
2 . GiT Ready (02:52)
3 . NY State Of Mind Pt. 3 . (03:12)
4 . Welcome To The Underground (03:20)
5 . Madman (02:24)
6 . Pause Tapes (02:37)
7 . Writers (04:53)
8 . Sons (Young Kings) (03:03)
9 . It's Time Nas, DJ Premier & The Steve Miller Band (02:29)
10 . Nasty Esco Nasir (02:43)
11 . My Story Your Story Nas, DJ Premier & AZ (03:49)
12 . Bouquet (To The Ladies) (04:29)
13 . Junkie (03:41)
14 . Shine Together (02:41)
15 .3rd Childhood (03:29)
OTHER ALBUM RELEASES:
- New Music Albums: PLAY ME (Kim Gordon)
- New Music Albums: IRREVERSIBLE (Brigitte Calls Me Baby)
- New Music Albums: HIGH NOON HYMNS (The Long Ryders)
- New Music Albums: GOLDSTAR (The Sophs)
- New Music Albums: TRYING TIMES (James Blake)
- New Music Albums: TRANSMITTER (Cut Worms)
- New Music Albums: ARCADIAN DREAMS (Hannah De Priest, Debra Nagy & Les Délices)
- New Music Albums: CRYSTALPUNK (Chalk)
- New Music Albums: HARD HEARTED WOMAN (Ora Cogan)
- New Music Albums: LOTUS BRIDGE (The Monochrome Set)
- New Music Albums: ONLY YOU LEFT (The Orielles)
- New Music Albums: PARIS IN THE SPRING (Alexis Taylor)
- New Music Albums: ORIGINES (Trio Sypniewski)
- New Music Albums: LA BELLE EPOQUE (Weiyin Chen)
- New Music Albums: ARIRANG (BTS)
- New Music Albums: FUTURE SOUL (Tedeschi Trucks Band)
- New Music Albums: MANU SINISTRA (Illia Ovcharenko, Oksana Lyniv, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra)
- New Music Albums: THE WAY I AM (Luke Combs)
- New Music Albums: SUNYA (The Dear Hunter)
- New Music Albums: CLIPPING (Special Friend)
- New Music Albums: PARADISES (Ladytron)
- New Music Albums: IMMANUEL WILKINS QUARTET - LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD VOL. 1 (Immanuel Wilkins)
- New Music Albums: CITYFOLK (Son Little)
- New Music Albums: ZUZAX (Damaged Bug)
- New Music Albums: GIRLFRIEND (Grace Ives)
- New Music Albums: SENTENCE STRUCTURE IN THE COUNTRY (More Eaze)
- New Music Albums: THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE (RAYE)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please keep the comments as civilised as possible, and refrain from spamming. All comments will be moderated. Thank you !