Nas - HMV Picture House, Edinburgh 26/06/12

Stepping onto the stage, hip hop godfather Nas was greeted by the enthusiastic, sweltering crowd packed into the HMV Picture House. Wrapped in a jumper promoting yet unreleased new album Life Is Good, the rapper opened with a raucous rendition of 'Hip Hop Is Dead', the track brought to life by the live band accompanying the MC in an attention grabbing opening gambit. 
"Lets go back to where it all started," he then proclaimed, launching into a medley of tracks from classic debut album Illmatic and tipping the crowd into a frenzy. 'N.Y. State Of Mind', 'Life's a Bitch' and 'It 'Aint Hard To Tell' were all given an airing. Nas is well known and admired for his complex lyricism over a multitude of projects, so it was perhaps inevitable that the MC would fluff his lines at some point. A slippage occurred during 'The World Is Yours', the rapper briefly forgetting his words in a delivery that was otherwise technically flawless.

The song selection ranged widely over Nas' decorated career. Popular singles 'Hate Me Now', 'Get Down' and 'If I Ruled the World' were brought to life with gusto, tracks linking seamlessly in a breathless performance. Guitar and rapper were merged to strong effect on Fox News baiting 'Sly Fox', while the tempo was mercifully slowed by the bluesy 'Bridging the Gap', a collaboration with his father Olu Dara.
The aforementioned forthcoming Life Is Good featured heavily on the set list. The reflective 'Daughters' was contrasted with the freewheeling 'Nasty', in which the rapper demonstrated exactly why he is considered one of the most talented MC's to ever pic up the mic. New single 'The Don' rose the atmosphere to a crescendo, a rousing way to end the show.


75 minutes after he first appeared, the Queensbridge native left the stage. Though there was no encore, the crowd were left satisfied by a breathless, honest performance from a true hip hop legend.
With 6 million dollars worth of backdated taxes to pay, it's fair to say Nas will be doing many more tours and adding to the discography that already stretches into double figures (including collaborative projects, upcoming LP Life Is Good will be his 12th official release) for some time to come. On this evidence, he will always be welcome back.  

Drake - Take Care

Drake has been dividing opinion since his mixtape So Far Gone took the hip hop world by storm in 2009. Some see him as a multi-talented messianic figure at the forefront of popular rap, while others regard him as a pretty boy making R&B that can barely be classed as hip hop. Whatever your opinion on the Canadian entertainer, this album is unlikely to change your mind either way. 


Album opener 'Over My Dead Body' takes over from where Thank Me Later left off, with mellow piano keys providing the backdrop for Drake to wax lyrical about his accomplishments while Chantal Kreviazuk provides a soulful hook. This sets the tone for the chilled out mood that pervades the album, up tempo tracks proving to be thin on the ground. 'Shot For Me' allows the rapper to test the limits of his actual singing voice, rather than the irritating half singing half rapping that contributed to the lukewarm reception for his last album.  The trend is followed through into 'Doing It Wrong' with great success, a welcome, more emotional side to the rapper shining through. There is a tendency in Drake's music towards moody bitterness, and this runs through both of the songs as he arrogantly dismisses the women of his past. Other examples include 'Look What You've Done' and 'Marvin's Room', Drake using the downbeat tracks to uncomfortably bare his soul. 


There are, however, more upbeat tracks on the album. 'Make Me Proud' features assistance from rumoured wife Nicki Minaj, the chemistry between the two artists becomes undeniable over a pulsing beat. Lead single 'Headlines' is a catchy, boastful toast to everything the rapper has achieved in his short career. 'HYFR', with mentor Lil Wayne, is an opportunity for Drake to showcase an improved, speedier flow, suggesting the MC has used the time since Thank Me Later wisely. Another highlight is the sensual 'Practice', Drake demonstrating why his female fan base is so widespread.

Guests on the album are largely expected, with two notable exceptions. Canadian newcomer The Weeknd shines on 'Crew Love', eclipsing his fellow countryman on his own track. More importantly, Drake is finally awarded his dream collaboration with Andre 3000. The ATLien drops by for 'The Real Her', the song also featuring Lil Wayne. Unfortunately, the track fails to match the sum of its parts, the ponderous beat hard to distinguish from the instrumentals that have proceeded it. As always, 3000 drops witty, playful rhymes, but the project does not stand up to repeat listening.


Track By Track


1. “Over My Dead Body” 7/10
2. “Shot for Me” 7/10
3. “Headlines” 8/10
4. “Crew Love” feat. The Weekend 7/10
5. “Take Care” feat. Rihanna 6/10
6. “Marvin’s Room” / “Buried Alive Interlude” 6/10
7. “Under Ground Kings” 6/10
8. “We’ll Be Fine” 6/10
9. “Make Me Proud” feat. Nicki Minaj 8/10
10. “Lord Knows” feat. Rick Ross 6/10
11. “Cameras” / “Good Ones Go Interlude” 7/10
12. “Doing It Wrong” 8/10
13. “The Real Her” feat. Lil Wayne & André 3000 6/10
14. “HYFR (Hell Ya Fu**in’ Right)” feat. Lil Wayne 7/10
15. “Look What You’ve Done” 6/10
16. “Practice” 8/10
17. “The Ride” 6/10


The Verdict:


Drake is unlikely to win any new fans with Take Care, his sophomore album following the pattern established by Thank Me Later. There is, however, evidence of artistic progression, making the album a definite improvement on his disappointing debut. Supporters of Drake will be delighted with this new collection, whereas his detractors will find plenty to support their opinions.


7/10 

Skepta - The Garage, Glasgow. 7/10/11

After dodging the burly man fighting a weedy chav (this was Glasgow, after all), we made our way round the back of the Garage to G2, the smaller venue playing host to Skepta on his second U.K tour of the year. Attempts to purchase a Fosters proved unsuccessful, apparently we were meant to ask for a wristband while being charmingly frisked by the door staff.
These minor issues overcome, it was time to watch support act Krept and Konan, buoyed by their recent youtube remix of 'Otis' (5 million hits and counting). Their brief set was enlivened by a competition between two members of the crowd, the principle object being to recite Skepta lyrics in order to win £10. Both contestants were, somewhat predictably, atrocious, and the lesser of the two evils won the day. Krept and Konan, for their part, delivered a nervous, inexperienced performance that betrayed their novice status on the U.K Grime scene.

The preliminary acts over, it was time for the main event. Skepta kept us waiting an impressively short 15 minutes, strutting onto the stage with his ubiquitous mantra of "Fuck Skepta". His band was strikingly attired in crisp white dinner jackets, the Grime legend donning a similar outfit. Bunches of red roses adorned the stage, contributing to the strange dinner party theme. Introductions over, he launched into 'Rescue Me', the anthemic chorus serving as an appropriate opening number. For the next hour the enthusiastic crowd was treated to a myriad of hits spanning his 5 years at the forefront of the British rap scene, including 'Bad Boy', 'All Over the House' (thankfully promising there would be no stage show) and, of course, 'Too Many Man'. Memories were refreshed with a medley of older material, Skepta bouncing irrepressibly across the stage as his energy fed into the crowd. New single 'Hold On' also proved a hit. At the conclusion, the London MC sincerely thanked his audience for their support, before engaging in what can only be described as the least convincing stage walk off I have ever seen. Within 30 seconds he was back for the encore, not being heartless enough to deprive his fans of hit single 'Amnesia'. He did however, neglect to perform 'Rolex Sweep', something the group was all looking forward to having practiced the dance all week.
In summary the gig was short, sweet, and well worth the entry fee. On this evidence there is plenty more life in the Grime stalwart yet, and I'm sure Glasgow will be welcoming back in the near future.