The opening track 'Doo Rags' contemplates Nas' youth and society's cyclical nature. Problems playing this file? See media help. The song was produced by The Alchemist and recorded in the sessions for Nas' 2001 album Stillmatic. Farber took note of 'a cinematic tale of self-destruction in 'Drunk by Myself,' and a compelling autobiography narrated from the womb in 'Fetus.' ' 'unlike many hard rappers, Nas' tales of ghetto horror are not covert boasts but expressions of true fear'. New York Daily News writer Jim Farber commented on his lyrical observations, 'Nas focuses on linear scenarios and on human motivations. rival Jay-Z' and 'the home truth about how most kids in the projects feel about the real-life gangstas who live in their neighborhoods', citing 'No Idea's Original' as an example. Slate magazine's David Samuels interpreted 'a message that begins with a rejection of the materialism of his. John Bush of AllMusic said the songs 'have more in common with his early recordings there's more of a back-in-the-day, wasn't-it-all-so-simple-then sound to 'Doo Rags' and 'Poppa Was a Playa,' two tracks that definitely wouldn't have fit on the raging Stillmatic.' Music writer Craig Seymour observed 'spare beats' in the music and few boasts in Nas' rapping, while Chris Conti from the Boston Phoenix said the simple beats 'counteract Nas's complex bars of braggadocio and street-life storytelling.' Īccording to Robert Christgau, The Lost Tapes abandons the thug persona of Nas' previous work in favor of more sensitive, nostalgic, and autobiographical lyrics. Stylus Magazine 's Brett Berliner said songs such as 'Doo Rags' and 'No Idea's Original' incorporate classical melodies, while songs such as 'Purple' and 'Fetus' feature neo-classical themes. Its music is characterized by low-key beats, sparse production, subtle string flourishes, mellow piano work, and subdued soul music loops. The Lost Tapes features introspective lyrics and themes of urban life, sociology, and despair. The Lost Tapes features sociological themes, narratives, and commentary on urban life (New York City public housing project pictured). The album was packaged with a booklet featuring artwork by Chris 'C-Money' Feldman and photography by Kareem Black, along with liner notes displaying the slogan 'No cameos.

Production was handled by The Alchemist, L.E.S., Poke and Tone, Precision, Rockwilder, Al West, Deric 'D-Dot' Angelettie, and Hill, Inc. Songs on The Lost Tapes were recorded in several recording studios in New York, including Right Track Studios, The Hit Factory Studios, and Sony Studios in New York City, Lobo Studios in Long Island, and Music Palace in West Hempstead, as well as South Beach Studios in Miami, Florida and Westlake Studios in Santa Monica, California. Most of the compiled songs first became available as bootlegs on underground mixtapes before being selected and mastered for The Lost Tapes. Several songs from the sessions for the former album, including 'Blaze a 50', 'Drunk by Myself', and 'Poppa Was a Playa', were bootlegged prior to its release and leaked to the Internet through MP3 technology, which led to their exclusion from I Am. The Lost Tapes compiles previously unreleased tracks that Nas recorded during 1998 to 2001 in the sessions for both his 1999 album I Am. A second volume of previously unreleased songs was planned before Nas had signed with Def Jam Recordings in 2006, but the project was delayed because of issues with his record label The Lost Tapes 2 was eventually released on July 19, 2019.

It received widespread acclaim from critics, some of whom viewed it as Nas' best record since his 1994 debut album Illmatic. Released with little promotion, The Lost Tapes debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200, selling over 70,000 copies in its first week. With low-key, sparse sounds and observational lyrics about urban life, the songs are largely autobiographical and nostalgic, departing from the thug persona of Nas' previous records. It features production by L.E.S., The Alchemist, Poke and Tone, and Deric 'D-Dot' Angelettie, among others. It was released on September 23, 2002, by Ill Will Records and Columbia Records, who wanted to capitalize on what was seen in hip hop music as Nas' artistic comeback the year before, and compiles previously unreleased tracks that were discarded from recording sessions for the rapper's previous studio albums I Am. The Lost Tapes is a compilation album by American rapper Nas.

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