‘The Lost Tapes 2’ is a compilation of previously unreleased tracks by legendary New York MC, Nas, taken from recording sessions for his previous four albums; ‘Hip Hop Is Dead,’ ‘Untitled,’ ‘Life Is Good’ and NASIR. The last instalment in the series came in 2002, and this time around tracks left on the cutting room floor feature the likes of Swizz Beats, RaVaughn, Al Jarreau, and Keyon Harrold, as well as production from Pharrell Williams, Kanye West and No I.D. With the standard this high, it’s astounding to think that these tracks just didn’t make the grade at the time.
Nas originally announced the project back in September 2010, but the project was delayed because Def Jam allegedly would provide sufficient budget, nor would they consider it one of the albums owed to them as part of his contractual obligations. In a letter to Def Jam entitled ‘PUT MY SHIT OUT,’ Nas demanded control over his material, and in 2014 co-founded Mass Appeal Records in order to have full creative proprietorship over his projects.
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