MUSIC REVIEW: Hit-Boy x Nas : Magic

For those who never wanted to celebrate this Saturnalia season, Nasty Nas and Hit-Boy bring an audio X-Mas gift directly to DSPs.
“Magic” is just like any trick : completely arriving out of nowhere, but happens to be so authentic that there is no mistake of any illusions. The only mistake on this record is that Nasty should’ve switched out the “C” in the title with a “K”, just to drive home how real this record is, not that this duo really need any more help to do that.

A thirty minute record, with the accolades that the “King’s Disease” series has already attained, if Nas and Hit are going for a three-peat with Grammy nods, this is how to get it done. From the gate “Illmatic” already let listeners know what Nas could do with a short runtime, decades later he’s at it again experimenting with drill flows in “Speechless” and “Hollywood Gangsta”, destroying any misconceptions that he couldn’t master a new style and put his spin on it as he did back when BDK & Kool G were running the multi-syllable pattern game.

“Ugly” has haunting chords and contains a disappointed diatribe throughout the vocal work. “40-16 Building” has one of the most insane 70’s sample – work this side of Necro’s 2005 “Sexorcist” album. “Wave Gods” is another soon to be classic Preemo x Nas joint, with a touch of A$AP double-time and wit. Only right, on the last tape for Nas to boast he and Hit are the new EPMD with Eric & Parrish on the track that he pays homage to Gang Starr while coming for their legendary crown on this record with Premier on the cuts. Hip-Hop Heads can only keep their fingers crossed for a Guru verse from the vault on a future remix. “Wu Is For The Children” is essentially a one track summarization of Nas’ critically-acclaimed album “Life Is Good”, delving into Nas’ hermetic reflections, and the closing records “The Truth” and “Dedicated” serve their purpose in locking down listeners for the remaining minutes of the LP.

“Magic” is different from the “King’s Disease” series in that there are no skippable tracks, no strange deviations in to gospel or corny R&B, or room for guests to steal the show.
“Magic” is hard-hitting soulful hip-hop. With Nas showing his best qualities in both boastfulness and pensiveness, while Hit-Boy provides a soundtrack that reminds listeners why his name has been brought up in so many conversations over the 2010’s as a producer to look out for in the credits.

Just as “The Lost Tapes” series proved, though Nas has many strengths , one of his glaring weaknesses is his album placements. Thank the GOD MC he saves his throwaways, because they are Magic indeed.

Track list:

Score : 5/5