Nas Talks “Lost Tapes 2″ Delay

In light of a dispute over the release date of The Lost Tapes 2, Nas appears surprisingly calm when asked about the future of the album. Last month in a seething letter to Def Jam executives titled “PUT MY SHIT OUT”, the New York veteran asserted that he is “ready to drop in the fourth quarter”. In a recently posted interview on thesource.com, he seems to be singing a slightly different tune.

“My studio album is priority for the label and of course for me, so to find the time to put out The Lost Tapes, and then my real record, is what we’ve been up against.”

Nas broke new ground with The Lost Tapes in 2002, a complete album of unreleased material that sounded nothing like throwaway tracks. Fans are highly anticipating another lost tapes album, and of course new material from Mr. Jones who has always stressed the need to give the people what they want. The Lost Tapes 2 was rumored to be slated to drop on December 14^th, but at this time neither project has a hard release date. Still, Nas hasn’t lost faith in the compilation, and maintains its importance.

“I have recorded a lot of shit over the years, and the shit that I didn’t put out on albums should be on The Lost Tapes. There’s just all of this material and we’re trying to get it out. I’ve got no release dates right now. It’s in the workings. Hopefully get the shit out right and get it out soon.”

A true artist in the sense that the music and the listeners have always come first, Nas is taking his time with new material. His collaborative effort with Damien Marley, Distant Relatives debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 chart in May of this year and earned for the most part, acceptable reviews. Could Nas be feeling the pressure to create another critically acclaimed album?

“I’m taking it step by step because it’s so important for me. It’s important that I get this one right.”

We’ll just have to wait and see.