With Nas’ eagerly awaited The Lost Tapes 2hitting streaming platforms this month, many fans were understandably elated to find the new track “Jarreau of Rap (Skatt Attack)” — the first single — was released on Friday (July 12). However, it wasn’t what everyone may have expected.
With production credits that includes names like Kanye West, Pharrell, Swizz Beatz, Hit-Boy, Pete Rock, No I.D., Alchemist, and Statik Selektah, it’s fair to have anticipated music in the vein of his first Lost Tapes.
What Nas delivered, though, was a genre-bending (and obviously polarizing) Al Jarreau sampled track — that also features Keyon Harrold, a renowned trumpeter whose Hip Hop track record includes work with JAY-Z (“Roc Boys”), Mac Miller (“Stay”), and 50 Cent (“Touch the Sky”).
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Fans, obviously, had their own takes on the track.
? next Nas gonna record a wet fart, loop that shit for 8 minutes & giggle away to himself as his fanatics praise him for pushing boundaries & innovating.
— Daniel Maunick (@danmaunick) July 14, 2019
HOW THE FUCK DO YOU MAKE THAT SHIT THE SINGLE. CMON SON.
— Uncle Shoes (@HouseShoes) July 14, 2019
This Nas Al Jarreau song is a perfect example of why Hov is the goat
— big ghost (@BigGhostLtd) July 13, 2019
Fam. This Nas and Al Jarreau song. … huh?
— William Ketchum III (@WEKetchum) July 12, 2019
Wtf happened to Nas -____-https://t.co/2RHFw3buXH
— Vanessa (@vanessanoheart) July 12, 2019
Nas resorting to ruining Al Jarreau songs to stay relevant in the year 2019 pic.twitter.com/WgxhRByoMm
— CLUB DUB MIAMI OPENS FEBRUARY 2020 (@HennyOmega) July 12, 2019
Damn son this ain’t it https://t.co/cow7KXFLon
— Born Master Reece (@WordToReece) July 12, 2019
For others, the song made perfect sense. His father is renowned Jazz musician Olu Dara (who first collaborated with his son on the song “Life’s a Bitch” off of the holy grail of Hip Hop Illmatic). An experimental jazz record, paying a tribute of sorts to the late Jarreau, shouldn’t be as shocking as it is intriguing — especially considering his upbringing.
"Jarreau Of Rap" is a tribute to musician Al Jarreau, who was famous for a singing technique called "scatting". I appreciate Nas rhyming to the rhythm of scatting, especially to this time signature. The musicianship is top notch. With the horn section playing the lead line.
— BASH NO KNOCKOFFS (@Rakabash) July 12, 2019
That new Nas single ups the lyrical and stylistic antes for rappers once again ? https://t.co/dRjudLQQBX
— Bruce Coleridge-Taylor Wright (@bctw) July 12, 2019
I heard the new @Nas joint from lost tapes 2, im seein the comments bein made, and I understand that not everybody gonna like the taste but from my perspective nas jus paying homage to Al Jarreau and skat jazz. He's always had a place for jazz in his heart and TRU nas fans kno.
— Trakz aka SP385 (@GODARTEEST) July 14, 2019
I know I'm old because I actually like that new Nas song ????https://t.co/davwWZzapi
— King (@Sportaphile) July 14, 2019
The projectis set to feature outtakes from the sessions that led to some of his more debated later releases. Was “Jarreau of Rap” the warning shot you hoped it would be? Sound off in the comments.
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The Lost Tapes 2 drops Friday (July 19) via Mass Appeal.
