From his 1994 debut Illmatic to last year's collaboration with Damian Marley, Nas has become one of the world's most revered rappers. However, his choice of collaborators is sometimes questionable, with previous singles featuring dubious guest vocalists (Chris Brown, will.i.am) or odd production mismatches (Mark Ronson, Stargate). But when he gets it right, as he does on Nasty, the first single from forthcoming album Life Is Good, there's a spark and energy that sets him apart.
Over double-quick beats supplied by producer Salaam Remi, Nas barely pauses for breath as he delivers a run of verses (he even continues when the music stops). There's no chorus, no guests, just Nas's wordplay and a man revitalised.
