A couple years ago, months before Nas' "I Am" was about to drop, a friend of mine came by with a tape... He explained to me that Nas' album had leaked, and that this was it. I listened to this album intensely, only to find that Nas had brought it back to "Illmatic" on this piece. Due to heavy bootlegging, the original version of "I Am" was scrapped, and it was released as a mostly radio friendly album, which disappointed me immensely. Due to Nas' recent successes, he now wields the power to be able to release something that really does not have a radio track on it, but is a return to the days of Nasty Nas. "The Lost Tapes" is a selection of a few tracks that were supposed to make up "I Am", as well as a few that were left off of "Stillmatic" (for some BIZARRE reason!).

Nas starts the album off in fine fashion, with "Fetus", a story of Nas' escape from his mother's womb. Those who have heard this track in the past will be surprised to know that Nas re-recorded the first verse, which is now completely different than the original. Rumor has it that Nas re did the first verse to pay tribute to his mother, who recently passed away. From "Fetus", we arrive at "Doo Rags", a track that has been circulating the underground since "Stillmatic" dropped, and has everyone scratching their heads as to why Nas would leave this off "Stillmatic". This track is easily one of the finest songs Nas has ever recorded, a mellow, chilled out beat where Nas talks about growing up in his era, this song alone is worth the purchase of the album. Nas then glides through an Alchemist produced gem, "My Way", before employing an AZ sample for the hook on the smooth as hell "Gotta Love It". Two tracks later, Nas hits us with "Blaze a 50", one of the most underappreciated concept tracks ever. Nas spits fire while telling a story about lies, lust, deceit, and a double murder. This track is not to be missed. Nas' newfound political outlook makes a strong appearance in the form of "Black Zombies", another Stillmatic leftover. This is an excellent song about the perils of blacks in the world, and should definitely be heard to be fully appreciated. "Can't have more than two guns without squeezin' 'em, on our own people", "scared to do it for ourselves unless we see someone do it first", these are just a few of the many quotable lines from this track. Nas masterfully rounds of "The Lost Tapes" with "Poppa Was a Player", a song dedicated to his father and respecting the fact that he waited until Nas was grown until he decided to leave the family.

I guess most people reading this are wondering why this album isn't a 10. There is only 1 reason (that I can think of): Nas' decision to leave "Among Kings" off of "The Lost Tapes" only proves that he really has issues when choosing what to include on albums, which contributes the idea that Nas has one of the illest unreleased catalogues. Had "Among Kings" been included, it would given the album one more outstanding track, and would have upped the length and the depth of the tracklist. That said, "The Lost Tapes" is easily one of the best releases of the year, and a solid Soundscan showing for this item would only increase the chances that other rappers would follow suit, releasing albums that are generally aimed at only their hardcore fans, leaving out the radio friendly trash that so frequently corrupts the overall quality of an album...

The Lost Tapes deserves a little background information. For the most part, this was the album that I Am... was supposed to be. However, after heavy bootlegging, I Am... was completely redone and we got an average Nas album. Looking back, if this was the album that Nas would have released instead there would be no doubt that he is the King Of New York.

You'd be hard pressed to find anything wrong with this album. The only thing that is remotely bad is that Everybody's Crazy and No Idea's Original were already released as bonus songs on special edition versions of Stillmatic. Granted, most true Nas fans have heard most of these songs, but if feels great to finally hear them in perfect quality rather than MP3.

The album starts off with the stellar Doo Rags and never lets go until the end of the final bonus track, Fetus. This is a very conceptual album, and it shows Nas's ability to make a song about anything he pleases. There are no highlights on this album, because every song is nearly perfect. If one must pick the best songs though, they would probably go with Blaze a 50, Drunk By Myself, and Poppa Was a Player. On each of these songs, Nas paints some of the most memorable images ever heard in hip hop.

Simply put, this album has to be heard to be believed. It won't appeal to the Nas "fans" who are looking for more You Owe Me, You Won't See Me Tonight, or Hate Me Now, but to any true fan of hip hop this is a must. Is this Illmatic? Not in concept, but in quality it may be just as good.

Most notably this album will remind you of Illmatic, his flawless debut which set him up with seemingly impossible standards. I've always defended certain parts of his successive albums, like "Undying Love" from his album 'I Am' or "The Message" as proof that he hadn't lost it as an emcee after Illmatic or "sold out." Recently Nas has regained musical direction, but Lost Tapes reminds us that he did in fact lose clear direction for his music under the pressure to increase his album sales. There's no way the same emcee who made Oochie Walla should have avoided putting the songs from Lost Tapes on his albums. Simply put this album crushes everything he released after Illmatic until this came out, and it stands as a pretty sad commentary that great hip hop tracks like these were pushed aside in favor of appealing to the MTV bred teeny boppers who now dominate the audience of hip hop.

It's a short album at only 11 songs but what's here, as said, is outstanding. There's a great balance between personal situations and observations about his city and culture, typical examples of Nas at his lyrical peak. What's really shocking tho is that the production is more well suited to Nas than most of the instrumentalization he's decided on over his career. "Drunk By Myself" is a track I never get tired of along with "Doo Rags." Low point is "You Gotta Love It which is easily the most uninteresting song on the album.

While a great testament to Nas this album only makes me question what he was doing on most of his other albums?

When 'I Am... The Autobiography', Nas's first double album, was bootlegd months before the release date, Colombia decided not to release the cd. Nas had a problem. His fans wanted a double album from him but all of his material had been bootlegd. In an effort of meet his fans needs he recored over 100 songs in one year to release two cds-'I Am' & 'Nastradamus'. After the sucess of his cd 'Stillmatic', Colombia decided to cash in and make a mix cd of some of the 100 songs recorded that didnt make it. The result was 'The Lost Tapes vol. 1'

This cd is ill. Everysong is ill. But the thing that shines on this cd most of all are the story tracks. Drunk by Myself- venturing into the mind of an alcoholic, Fetus- Nas's own birth, but most of all: Blaze a 50- one of the illist story tracks in hip hop thats too crazy to explain.I dont care what you say Nas> Slick Rick, Nas> Biggie, Nas> Immortal Technique when it comes to storytelling raps.

Okay, some Columbia executive needs to be either shot or fired...either way they need to be discharged from their job. How any of these tracks didn't make it on to one of Nas's "official" LP's is a mystery to me. While at first sight it appears that the release of "Lost Tapes" seems like some money hungry executive's scheme to cash in on all the publicity Nas was getting during the time, it could easily pass as an actual LP, and a damn good one at that. The track "Doo Rags" kicks things off and sets the tempo for the rest of the CD. Right away, "Lost Tapes" has a feel of a more modern version of Nas' classic 1994 LP, "Illmatic," as it's filled with classic street tales that only Nas can depict to listeners. The album's highlight is "My Way," a track where the street poet tells of how he made it in the rap game and how he secured his spot as arguably one of the greatest of all time. From beginning to finish, "Lost Tapes" contains excellent production and Nas...well...Nas comes as only Nas Escobar can bring it. This is a must have for all hip-hop fans, as it's easily one of the top LP's of 2002.