But like almost every Nas album since Illmatic (with the exception of 2001's Stillmatic), Esco chooses beats that really don't help make the songs stick. "Queens Get the Money" is probably the most original composition on the album, but about halfway through the disc, that unique beat becomes a distant memory. Nas has previously stated that he chooses beats that don't overpower his lyrics, but that's exactly what prevents his songs from having a strong impact. Deeper album cuts like "We're Not Alone," "Y'all My N****s" and "Testify" have potent lyrics, but they're hard to listen to when the background is so pedestrian.
Still, Nas makes Untitled a standout in his lengthy discography. There aren't many rappers who can get away with the stuff that he pulled for this release and still make it a success, so you have to give Nas props for making this a high profile album. Even though he doesn't completely blow you away with his lyrics, he has plenty of intelligent societal commentary to keep you on your toes. If you suspect that this all might have been a publicity stunt, then you might be somewhat right, but after spinning this record for the first time, you'll realize that there's more to it than just the controversy surrounding it.