Anyway, "I Am" is my favorite album. I wish this one and "It Was Written" would get more credit by Hip Hop fans who claim "Illmatic is the best". I don't see how. I have heard every Nas album and this one is by far.. the best. People just don't understand Escobar because he's more mature and more of a thinker.. unlike nasty. This album is certainly worth the money, so please listen yourself instead of copying people why say illmatic was a "classic" and everything else from Nas is trash.

"I Am" isnt perfection, but it's still ill, in my opinion. The Intro was tight, followed by at least 10 good songs after. "NY state of mind pt 2" which was a sequel to "NY state of mind" from illmatic, tells about life in New York, over a great piano beat. "Hate Me Now" was great.. Puffy or no Puffy. I wasnt concerned with the hook that much anyway, which is all Puffy did. "Small World" is my favorite song EVER, a deep story about two people named Carolyn and Snuk over an obvious non-looped piano beat. "Favor for a favor" had a nice beat, Scarface's lyrics could have been a little more intelligent like Nas' lyrics on the song though. It's gangster material. "We will survive" shows how Nas could have respect for people who didnt even respect him (like 2Pac) as he sent a message to Pac and Biggie Smalls. This song is a lot like Illmatic's "One Love".. anyway, "Ghetto prisoners" was very poetic, I wasnt feelin the beat all that much though. Lyrics were great!

"You Wont See Me Tonight" came after the first block of the album. Obviously Timbaland did this track (Since you hear his voice in the background), and Alliyah sang the hook. Too jiggy for me, but not that bad. Anyway, "I want to talk to you" addressed important issues to the government (good song), where as "Dr. Knockboot" was just playa material over a bad beat. Luckily it wasnt that long.. The collab. with DMX "Life Is What You Make It" had a rather boring/stupid beat, lyrics werent so bad though. I thought "Big Things" was stupid originally, but it actually has decent lyrics. I just think Nas should stay away from dirty south flow and beats. "Nas Is Like" was ill, great lyrics, great flow, great beat (Thanks to DJ Premier). "KISSING" was about married life, decent I guess, but kinda boring. A beat Ive heard before too (From R Kelly I guess). "Money is my *****" was good, decent-to-good beat, and was about the good and bad of having money. and "Undying love" had a nice acoustic guitar beat. A song where Nas' "wife" cheats on him and he accidently ends up killing her, and himself (Fictional of course). Its tight though. Similar to Eminem's "Kim" only not as sick.

Anyway, this is a great album, unlike Illmatic and It Was Written, this CD DOES have a few bad songs, but all the others make up for them. Its great, and had elements of both the album title, and of Nas' first album Illmatic.
From Illmatic to I AM every album has a message,every lyric means something and you learn from Nas, I don't want to hear any comparisons to any other rapper (especially simple ass Jay-z), the only rapper who can be compared is Rakim. Nas has done a song with everybody since Illmatic peep his track record. songs with Wu-Tang, Mobb Deep, Slick Rick, Kool G Rap, 3rd base, Large professor, Missy Elliot, Puffy,Mary J Blige, Allure , R Kelly, DMX, Scarface,Foxy, Lauryn,AZ,Noriega,Dr.Dre, Jermaine Dupree, Timberland,Kid Capri,DJ Clue and list goes on. Name 1 artist in the history of Rap whose done this many songs with this many people multiple times(R Kelly,Mary, Dre, Puffy).And what about his classic versus. Verbal Intercourse (Reakwon's Album), Eye for an Eye (Mobb Deeps album), Fast Life (G-Raps album) It's mine (Mobb Deeps album) And dam near all of these versus have been given rhyme of the month or year in source. Not hatin but out of Jay-Z and Biggie none of them have had more rhymes of the month and none rhyme of the year like Esco! I'm telling everybody check the credits, he's the best without the power house!(Biggie had puff)(Jay-z has Russell) When it's all said and done I gaurantee he'll be given awards for longevity and success as rap's author, Because like he said"I'm a poor man's dream, a thug poet!, live it, I write down, and watch it blow up! ya'll know what I'm like Nastradamus in ya system every night Now!!!! One Love Esco

NAS IS LIKE
first of all, if u dont have "Undying Love" listed in your review, you haven't listened to the CD all the way through. "Undying Love" is just a phenominal song; could be the best story-telling song I have ever heard. This song is not your average hip-hop, it is just so unique, and at a higher level than the rest of his songs. unfortunately, the other songs, while still good, are just too similar to other rap songs out there. still a hot CD, but sounds too similar to other rap.
After hitting us with the classic albums " Illmatic" and "it was written" Nas returns with a stellar performance with "I am.." It features Great production and lyricism is excellent like always, the only Horrid track here is "DR.KNOCKBOOT" feel free to skip this song, but the whole album is playable from finish to end except that track, DJ premir come to brings some hard beats on "NAS IS LIKE" and "NEW YORK STATE OF MIND PT2" those songs give the album more hardcore edge,overall this album is a msterpiece and one of Nas's classics.

Production: beats:9/10.......lyrics 9.5/10
Favorite songs: Nas is like, small world, favor for a favor.

THE BEST
Nas has done it again, proven that he is on top of the game. His lyrical skills are awesome. If you hate him then you're just jealous that he's on top. I don't care who you are you can't deny his talent. This is his third lp and in my opinion is one his best. I'd have to put it in the top 3 out of all his albums. The best songs are "Hate Me Now" "Undying Love" and "We Will Survive."

1. Intro (Skit)
2. N.Y. State of Mind-4/5
3. Hate Me Now-5/5
4. Small World-4/5
5. Favor for a Favor-4/5
6. We Will Survive-5/5
7. Ghetto Prisoners-5/5
8. You won't see me Tonight-5/5
9. I Want to Talk to you-4/5
10. Dr.Knockboot-3/5
11. Life Is What You Make It-5/5
12. Big Things-5/5
13. Nas is Like-5/5
14. K-I-S-S-I-N-G 4/5
15. Money is my Bitch-5/5
16. Undying Love-5/5 (the best song)
On his third release, I Am, Nas bolsters his reputation as one of hip-hop's leading wordsmiths. His voice has grown so strong that none of the A-list guests (they include Puff Daddy, Aaliyah, Scarface, and DMX) can upstage the 25-year-old rapper. Nas has acted in a movie (Belly), but his real ambition is to write them; until that happens he'll be known for highly cinematic tales of the street. Nas is a lot like a prison-yard bard: he tells crime stories full of blood and guts, but he balances them with strong messages to stop the cycle of violence. His ghetto tales, such as "Small World" and "Favor for a Favor," stress desperation as the cause of crime rather than glorify the nihilistic criminality. Except for one track, "Dr. Knockboot," which casts him as a columnist to the hip-hop lovelorn and playa wannabes, Nas is unremittingly sober on I Am. His righteousness would seem nearly sanctimonious if not underpinned by superb production from the Trackmasters and DJ Premier. The production helps make this a consistent recording throughout, rather than a smattering of hits and misses. --Martin Johnson