DJ Nastee - The Album B4 The Album

While I used this Saturday to mostly slack off and zone in and out of College football games I also made the point to finally get around to bumpin' DJ Nastee's new project "The Album B4 The Album".

Before we get into the music, lemme give you the background on this DJ/Producer/MC that is based out of Burlington, VT by way of NYC and who's work I'd bet you've actually heard before and never were aware of it.

Having broke into the game as a prominent engineer, Nastee cut his teeth by mixing sound sessions for some of NY's landmark artist's while they were crafting some of their most highly regarded LP's. He was the man on the mixing consoles for Mobb Deep's all-time smash hit "Quiet Storm", a handful of Big Pun joints off the classic album "Capital Punishment", Dead Prez's monumental "Let's Get Free" album and for many of the culture's other leading emcee's/groups including Brand Nubian, Killah Priest, Noreaga, Busta Rhymes, Tash and Big Noyd....

Interested yet?

His thick resume doesn't end there either. He's also a noted producer who's provided tracks for the likes of Das EFX, ODB, Half-A-Mil and The Cella Dwellas back in the latter part of the 90's. If your really up on ya Hip-Hop lore, than you might recognize him from the time he spent in the nine man band Unity 2 as well.

All that said, it really wasn't too much of a stretch when I heard how nicely produced and delivered Nastee's debut is. I kind of expect good things from guys that were doing them back when I was growing up listening to their shit. True, many a dope act from the "glory days" has gone astray in the 2K, but thankfully, DJ Nastee's name can be kept off that list. Only false move he's made recently was being on that SMH-fest "The White Rapper Show"...LOL, just playin' Nast....

Utilizing a raspy delivery, calculated rhymes and his own vast mixing and production know how, Nastee tee's off on "The Album B4 The Album", which btw he's providing free to the masses via download. Sure to catch any 90's purist, his no nonsense attitude toward the music is a constant and his lambasting of some of the game's current trends is appreciated. The Hardcore production technique's spill out of this album as consistently as some of Nastee's twisted pulp commentary. He's not afraid to get hardcore with his scripture, something that is sorely missed in rappers today. Amply complimented at times by another legend in his own right, DJ A Dog, who lends some of his scratching know how to Nast's un-apologetic and candid concoctions, I found this release well rounded. He didn't forget to sprinkle in the lighter joints amongst the hard edged stuff too, I can understand and appreciate that.

Shining moments are "A Lil' Liquor", "Just Say", "1 Blud" and "Children's Story 2009".

a sure shot Purehip-hop pick at 8 out of 10...

-BIG D O









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