Kwame & New Beginning - Nastee ( Audio CD )

Despite some strong moments, Kwamé's third album, Nastee, didn't go over quite as well with his cult fan base as its two predecessors. Part of the reason is likely that the production is more polished than the bright funk of his previous two albums, and the studio sound is just a bit tinny. Another part of the reason might be that as he got older, Kwamé also got a little more sexual and a little more profane, which is understandable but seemed to contradict the happy-go-lucky boy-genius persona fans had come to expect. Even hints of hardness don't suit Kwamé all that well, but although his lyrical perspective is less consistent, Nastee still has some good moments. The opening exhortation to "wake up! scratch yo' butt!" gives way to a fine dance track in "Dontmatta," and a few of the lines in "Ding Dong" will sound awfully familiar to anyone who's heard Busta Rhymes' "Dangerous." "Can U Feel It!?" hits the clever lyrical heights of old, and the title track is one of his better story songs. And even when he rhymes about weed on "Don't Wanna B Your Love Thang," it's couched in a clever metaphor. On the whole, Nastee isn't as underrated as Kwamé's first two albums, but it's still worth tracking down for aficionados.

CONDITION: NEW

TRACK LISTING

1 Wakeupscratchyobutt!!! 0:26
2 Dontmatta 4:39
3 Nastee 5:14
4 Ding Dong 4:22
5 Love in F/X Minor 3:40
6 Shaboom! 4:05
7 Can U Feel It? 4:05
8 Cantwinfaloozin 3:54
9 Thatthewaydatitgoez 5:08
10 Don't Wanna B Your Love Thang 5:13
11 These Wordz 5:47
12 Without U 4:19
13 U Got It 4:54