Nas 'Hip Hop Is Dead' Listening Session (Videos, Pic)

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Nas 'Hip Hop Is Dead' Listening Session (Videos, Pic)

November 10, 2006 8:51 a.m. by Dave Park

Last night Def Jam hosted a listening session for the upcoming Nas album Hip Hop Is Dead (Release Date: 12.19.06). Here are my brief notes on the session, please be aware that the tracklist will more than likely change. Also, I was about to do the collapse after a sleep deprived week, the alcohol didn't help and it's actually very difficult to really listen to an album at these things.
Nas introduces Hip Hop Is Dead

Nas talks with Jay-Z

Food - (B+) Shrimp, Collard Greens, Chicken, Macaroni, Pork Chops - Not bad, but not at the level of a Puffy listening session I attended earlier this year.

Alcohol - (A-) Hennessy, Grey Goose, Corona, Heineken - None of that cheap well liquor that gets you sick. Good to know that President Hova is not cheap.

Highlights:

QB Tru G ft. The Game - Probably the track that bangs hardest

Play on Playa ft. Snoop

Where Are They Now - Homage to past emcees including King Tee and Father MC

Hip Hop Is Dead - Listen for yourself

Still Dreamin ft. Kanye West

Can't Forget About You ft. Chrisette Michele - The beat is bonkers.

Lowlight:

President Hova told them not to play ~~"Carry on Tradition"~~ "Black Republican" (via: Nah Right) when it was about to come on. It sounded like he was on that track. It was pretty funny, but at the same time borderline torture.

Nas and Jay-Z were both in attendance. Nas thanked everyone for coming out and seemed surprised/happy that Jay came out to support. This is the second Def Jam listening session I've been to where Hova has stopped by, definitely a cool move on his part.

Very Unofficial Tracklist

"QB True G" (featuring The Game) (Produced by Dr. Dre)

"Won't Go Back"

"You Mean the World to Me"

"Play On Playa" (featuring Snoop Dogg) (Produced by Scott Storch)

"Where Are They Now?" (Produced by Nas)

"Carry On Tradition" (Produced by Scott Storch)

"Hip-Hop Is Dead" (Produced by will.i.am)

"Still Dreamin'" (featuring Kanye West) (Produced by Kanye West)

"Blunt Ashes" (Produced by Chris Webber)

"Let There Be Light"

"Unforgettable" (featuring Chrisette Michele) (Produced by will.i.am])

There are suppose to be more surprises and changes before the album drops.

Posted in: ALBUM ANNOUNCEMENT , JAY-Z , NAS , THE WOMBATS

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25 Responses

November 10, 2006 at 9:28 a.m.

MC	Sounds like this could be a winner for Nas. I read a negative review on Jigga's album but Im hoping its just some hatin and not for real..MChttp://mcmusicnotes.blogspot.com

November 10, 2006 at 9:35 a.m.

Théo

Damn! Chris Webber produced a song for Nas!!! After all, he might get more royalty points with this one song than Ron Artest with his whole album...

November 10, 2006 at 11:15 a.m.

fletch

Yeah, that tracklisting looks like just it's just for the listening session. There's a number of songs previewed eslewhere that are not included here.Let There Be Light / Let Me In The Light is produced by Kanye.And I don't think Jay is on Carry On Tradition, because it's been reported that LES did the beat for that collaboration.

November 10, 2006 at 11:18 a.m.

fletch

Yeah, I suspect that tracklisting is just for the listening session, as a number of songs have been previewed elsewhere that are not included here.Let There Be Light / Let Me In The Light is produced by Kanye.And I don't think Jay is on Carry On Tradition, as it's been reported that LES did the beat for that collaboration.

November 10, 2006 at 12:34 p.m.

mika

Yessss!! t'inkiete mec ! represent france, and monaco (the clip of 50cent and JAY-Z SWOH ME WHAT YOU GOT !!!)i'm french, so the rap is universel, usa and france are the big states of hiphopthe first and the second (or third) nation so Nas is a big mc, a big lyricist, and a big rap star, and jay toothe best of both men!on attend les albums avec impatience, si sa sort avant les mecs qui peuvent l'envoyer ou le faire parvenir sont super cooli love Hiphop, and hiphop is not dead because NY is alive BIATCCHHHH !New YORK Shiiiiit !!!!!!!!!! Nas & Jay-z On mY NY SHIT !!!!!!Peace all over the world, hiphop ...Toi meme tu sais!Ps/ You can discovered two big hardcore french rappers: download: BOOBA (good lyricst street, hardcore)album"Ouest side" or ROHFF(hardcore, and album"Au del de mes limites" --> known is french and they had soldYou have other good rapper and scene in francewith more Big lyricst and/or big rapper SINIK, KOOL SHEN, OXMO PUCCINO"lipopettebar" Best album of the year, LES SAGES POETES DE LA RUE-DANY DAN OL KAINRY(feat raekwon -de park hill ÃÃ 91pise) NYSAY 113feat Mobb deep (lécole du crime)ROHFFfeatThe Game (Top of the world) NUBI DJ CUTKILLER (europeen dj for p.diddy) and Mixtape Evolution (Pow) with dj Whoo kid of gunitFOR THE GOOD FEAT IN FRANCECHECK IT ! Real The language is not a limita+

November 10, 2006 at 12:48 p.m.

infa

how do u find out about the listen parties events for artist and locations?

November 10, 2006 at 12:48 p.m.

50 ÑÑ. » Ð"Ð°&Ntil

November 10, 2006 at 1:18 p.m.

» don’t front friday'¢ pt II

[...] DON’T FRONT on NASTY NASGeezy represented the BODEGA'¢ at last nights HHID listening party in Money Makin’. While she certainly enjoyed herself, she was astounded at the sight of so many grown men falling all over themselves (and each-other), in attempts to get a little closer to Mr’s Jones and Carter.Prefix managed to get some video… and peep the lil’ hand-out, with sing along lyricsbreak out your monocle and follow along… Comments to this post [...]

November 10, 2006 at 2:12 p.m.

beatie bitch

Nas Is Back !!!!!!!!!!!!1

November 10, 2006 at 5:40 p.m.

Kondenado

big NAS back again hip hop is dead but with Nas is back to life Representin PortugalKondenado

November 10, 2006 at 9 p.m.

JuneJone!

THIS SHIT BETTER BE TIGHT I HEAR MICHAEL JACKSON AND NAS GOT A SONG ON HIP HOP IS DEAD CALLED Got it Back Like That .mp3 THIS SHIT BETTER BE TIGHT!!

November 11, 2006 at 11:18 a.m.

Poisonous Darts « trife life.

[...] Einen Bericht über die Hip-Hop Is Dead Listening Session gibts bei Prefix Mag zu lesen. [...]

November 11, 2006 at 7:34 p.m.

MC	Big Nas fan and hoping that the album goes way above and beyond "Hip Hop is Dead" the title track. Not too happy to hear them use the same sample, again, especially after hearing the track will i am made for The Game, Nas could do better on that..Lets hope!http://mcmusicnotes.blogspot.com

November 11, 2006 at 8:08 p.m.

Cuban Link

this isnt right at all, Jay-z is on a track, Where Yall At isnt on it, and neither is The Unofficial Biography of KRS-One.Both of which I heard and are beyond dope, and yes the rest of the CD (from what Ive heard) is way better than the ttitle track.Although it isnt great, it gets really catchy.

November 12, 2006 at 2:58 p.m.

black fist

Nas is the no 1 living rap legend ..true MC, best lyricist alive..the true king of hip hop/ rap music ..i think he stands as a positive example of what hip hop truely is ...this is my top five...tupac, biggie, nas, common, jay z...true legends ..living or dead.

November 13, 2006 at 4:16 a.m.

Probleem Minder Voor Probz en Ander Nieuws «

[...] Nu zal je je misschien afvragen waarom een voor hiphop zo historische track niet het hoofdpunt van deze post is. Check die twee woorden na de titel; radio rip. Er zitten twee gasten zo doorheen te blaten dat het bijna onluisterbaar wordt. Ik zou ook hyped zijn als ik de premiere in onze show had maar dit is gewoon irritant. De eerste die hier een goede versie van vindt is voor die dag KOTI (King Of The Internet). Check al die publiciteit rond de listening party van Nas z’n album maar eens. [...]

November 15, 2006 at 1:39 p.m.

Losi

I wish there were more tracks...11?! *sigh*

November 15, 2006 at 1:56 p.m.

Dave Park

That tracklist is wrong.There are 14 songs...http://www.prefixmag.com/blog/prefix/2006/11/15/nas-hip-hop-is-dead-tracklist/

November 16, 2006 at 7:35 p.m.

Mike

I hope this album is one of those where you can't skip a damn track (ala Illmatic, It Was Written). Nas is my favorite rapper of all time...yup over Pac and Biggie. Bring it hard Nasty...Imma cop two copies of dis one. BUY THE ALBUM YALL, DONT JUS BURN IT. This aint no one hit, down south b.s. (xcept for t.i. jeezy and weezy), this is that real ish. BUY IT, 12/19

December 3, 2006 at 2:59 p.m.

Dee

I pray and honestly hope that this cd puts Nas where he needs to be. I think he is a conscious rapper that still considers hip hop an artform and his opening to the listening session was heartfelt because it was FACTUAL. Hip hop is still entertainment...before you start talking about how many cars and chains that you have you must first put some serious lyrics and beats on a least half of your cuts. And second you must succesfully perform these songs in front of fans and peers. And come off like someone who derserves a holla. Hip Hop has reached a level of mediocrity that's unprecedented. A song shouldn't be a hit because there's a dance that goes with it...come on. And the fact that brothers are working together toward a common goal...Is a Blessing. Praise God! That's why he's on the screen saver!

December 16, 2006 at 10:15 p.m.

joey

Fuck You All

December 18, 2006 at 5:04 p.m.

ILLAPUERTOROCK

First off fuck you joey, On the real hiphops true meaning has been on life support for awhile now. These cats coming up think its cool to write about shit they have never done and even if they have done it are they that damn stupid to promote shit that causes nothing but pain and dramam in life. Nas and Jay are going to flip the game over.... with jay having the kind of pull he has at this time he has the power of the pen, and you know how the saying goes. Fuck around and start bringin the true school back for all these ignorant cconsumers to see what the ARTFORM is all about fuck all the dumb ass porch monkeys running around acting just like masta taught them! Then wonder why a lady holds her purse when a brother walks by them or why cops always mess with a group of brothers they only going off the garbage this idiots are feeding them via MTV , BET and so forth Peace to all true hiphop heads and death to the wack clones!!!

January 11, 2007 at 4:13 p.m.

kyle

think he is right all the old skelw jams gucci creww 2 live crew nwa run dmc the fat boys ll cool j were the greatest music of all time there will never be any music as good if the rapper keep posing like they do

January 20, 2007 at 11:34 a.m.

chris

speak damn english

February 3, 2007 at 9:15 a.m.

gnxmusic

Nas - "Hope" Remixhttp://gnxmusic.com/remixes/Nas_Hope_Gnx_Remix.mp3Check it out. Peace