By Odeisel

N***a switch up your flow, your s**t is gahbage, what you trying to kick, knowledge?-Jay-Z “Takeover”

Hard to believe that was roughly 10 years ago. As a whole, time has been kind (at least musically) to both rappers in different ways. While Jay-Z has spread his i’m the greatest gospel through the keep it real kingdom, Nas has quietly carved out the most lyrically compelling catalog for a solo emcee ever. Yeah we WAS trying to kick knowledge, but in between that there were quite a few bangers.

But that line really stuck out. Switch up your flow. Nas conspicuously switched it up on Godson’s “Heaven” to appease the naysayers, but we haven’t seen him really let lose on the skill side of things. He’s always been a heavy lyricist, but rarely does he employ different devices to convey those thoughts. Look no further than his new song co-helmed by Jr. Gong, “The Promised Land.”

Nas, full of MC arrogance and swagger, does indeed drop knowledge, referencing “satellites causing earthquakes”- a reference to the rumored H.A.A.R.P. technology and apocalyptic imagery of “1000 foot waves” just to hip you to the fact that the road to the promised land is paved with pain and death. But its not all gloom and doom. Nas employs a really ill fragmented bar scheme, twisting and breaking up words and phrases with scatter alliterative device.