Search - Nas :: From Illmatic to Stillmatic: This Is Remix

It's an EP for god's sake!

12/28/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Duh!



Most EPs are 5-8 tracks long, so I don't understand why people are saying this CD is too short. The remixes on here are pretty decent, they're much better than the crap remixes on the Illmatic 10th Anniversary album. The "Life's a B****" arsenal remix is on-point and the "Affirmative Action" remix is nicely done as well. Hardcore Nas fans won't be dissappointed, and should be willing to dish out 9 bucks for these decent remixes of classic Nas joints."

For die hard Nas fans only! (2.5/5)

ctrx | 'bout to show you how the EAST COAST rocks... | 03/27/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This remix album was released at the busiest point of Nas's career, where he had been releasing so much relevant and mainstream music that a remix album was almost inevitable, especially during 2002, when almost every big rapper was putting out one of these. The remixes here are new takes on some of his most classic songs, and most of them don't really improve on them any. The only people considering buying this probably know the originals anyway, so they wouldn't buy it to hear Nas's lyrical power, and they would most likely be disappointed. Another thing that will deter many listeners is that the tracks are all edited, and the censorship is done poorly. "From Illmatic to Stillmatic: The Remixes" does well for what it is, but don't be expecting anything too much.



The only remix here that really significantly improves over the original is the "Life's a B**ch" Arsenal mix on this EP. Nas and AZ's verses are left unchanged, and instead of the toned down, slow beat on the original, there is a faster, saxophone laced beat. The "One Love" mix has a more defined bassline and vocals during the chorus, it's actually nice to hear. "It Ain't Hard to Tell" sounds very different than the original and is not worth listening to because it's not even close to as good. The "Street Dreams" remix is a little better than the original, but I didn't like the original that much anyway, and it still reflects that awkward period of Nas's career. The "Affirmative Action" remix is very unimpressive, replacing the original beat with a very tired and played-out old school piano line that we've all heard before. The "One Mic" remix isn't good either because except for the slightly sped-up drum pattern, it's virtually indistinguishable from the original.



The bottom line is that if you're a die hard Nas fan, you might find value to having these remixes in your collection, but otherwise I would not recommend it. That said, Nas is maybe the greatest hip hop lyricist ever and any music that is graced with his verses is worth listening to at least once. Newer fans should buy any one of his classic LPs before this."

One of the best remix cds I have heard

Jordan Appel | Powder Springs, GA | 02/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was casually browsing the used cd bin at my local cd store. I pick this up and see that it is Nas'remix cd. I said, hmm, I have to get this because I have only one of his cds(God's Son). So I picked it up and put it on in my car, and I heard Life is a Bitch remix, and I went "WHOA!" and started bobbing and weaving to it. I was thinking this is a great song, then I heard One Love remix, and I went, man, he is a good rapper, and they do not kill his songs with the remixes. The most pointless remix is the One Mic remix. That one sucked, I have never liked that song. It is just ok."