Once upon a time, in a small village nestled in the heart of the forest, rumors began to spread of an alleged witch living amongst the villagers. Whispers of strange occurrences and unexplainable happenings fueled the fear of the unknown, and soon, a witch hunt began. The villagers, consumed by fear and paranoia, began to turn on each other, accusing their neighbors of being the witch. Friendships crumbled, trust was shattered, and chaos ensued. The once peaceful village was now overtaken by suspicion and a relentless pursuit for justice. Under the cloak of darkness, the villagers would gather in the town square, fueled by their fear and determination to find the witch.
Before his sudden death in 2007, rapper Pimp C celebrated his release from jail with this lush posse cut: Houston’s reigning hip-hop duo UGK were joined by fellow Dirty South crews Outkast and producers Three 6 Mafia for a celebration of playalistic splendor over a sweet sample from the soundtrack for the blaxploitation film The Mack.
Simultaneously, GloRilla follows in the footsteps of iconic single girl songs past, including Single Again by Trina and Beyonce s forever anthem Single Ladies, cementing another unapologetic celebration of freedom all while jumping out the window with her ratchet ass friends. For Just a Friend, he donned a powdered wig to play piano in the video and bellowed an outlandish interpolation of Freddie Scott s 1968 soul hit You Got What I Need.
Under the cloak of darkness, the villagers would gather in the town square, fueled by their fear and determination to find the witch. Pointing fingers and shouting accusations, chaos reigned supreme as the search for the witch intensified. One by one, innocent people were caught in the crossfires of the witch hunt.
Album Review | Nas – Magic
This album was released on December 24th this year. As of the time of this writing, the album has been out for 10 minutes. It was announced less than 24 hours before its release, so this was a pretty big surprise for me. I enjoyed King’s Disease 2 a lot, and it’s actually grown on me even more since I reviewed it. That album is really great. I’m hoping that this project here will be even better, but I’m gonna try to keep my expectations in check. Every track is produced by Hit-Boy.
There aren’t any songs that I don’t like on this project, so I’ll write about the full thing in the proper order of the tracklist. The album starts off with Speechless. I think the beat on this track is pretty awesome to be honest. It actually kinda sounds like something that Kendrick could’ve rhymed over on good kid, m.A.A.d. city. I think Nas killed this shit too. His flow on the first verse is great.
I'm 21 years past the 27 club
It's like I went back into my past and then I sped it up
Robert Johnson, Winehouse, and Morrison found where heaven was
Heaven on Earth, this shit is magic with no fairy dust
Home of the gully gangsta, the gruesome, and the scary stuff
I told my brother Jung "fuck 'em, they gon' go through hell with us"
They don't have the history in the streets that compare with us
I even love the hook on this track. There’s really nothing I don’t like about this song. Nas usually starts his albums off with great opening tracks, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that this song is so good. It really impressed me though. I think it’s dope as hell. The following track is called Meet Joe Black. This one didn’t impress me nearly as much as the opening song, but I still think it’s pretty good. The beat from Hit-Boy is cool, and both of the verses from Nas on this song are good. I actually think the hook is really good too. There’s nothing that I don’t like about this song. It’s just that nothing about it really blew me away. Everything here is very well done though. Nas’ flow sounds great. It’s kind of a short song, so there’s not much to dig into, but nevertheless, I enjoyed it. Ugly is better than the preceding song in my opinion, but not as great as the opening track. I think the production is pretty goddamn good, and of course both of the verses from Nas are great. His flow is nice and smooth as always. I really like the opening quatrain.
It’s ugly outside, it’s muggy, it’s muddy outside
105 fahrenheit, thunderous skies
The clouds shape a clown face above where you reside
Under his eye, teardrop got the ugliest cry
At one point he teases King’s Disease 3, so I guess that’s coming out in 2022. That’s cool.
You been through shit, I been through shit, everyday is an honor
It's ugly how Mercedes Moore lost her life to a stalker
I'm on offense everyday 'til I see the love
KD3 on the way, this just to feed the buzz
This song definitely has the weakest hook on the album up to this point. I wouldn’t say that it’s bad, but it’s just not particularly good. With that said, the actual rapping and production are so good that I don’t even mind. I think this track is dope. I have mixed feelings about the production on 40-16 Building. I appreciate how loud and energetic it is, but the repetitive loop gets kind of old after a while. I still think it’s a good beat, but it’s definitely not one of my favorites on the album. Thankfully, I think Nas rapped over it really well. I like how aggressive he sounds here, and I think the hook is pretty good too. It’s a good track, but far from my favorite on the album. I still fuck with it though. Track 5 is called Hollywood Gangsta, and I know I’ve heard that same sample somewhere very recently, but I can’t remember where. If I ever figure it out I’ll update this review. Update: the sample comes from the song “So Low” by Mic Logik. Anyway, I think the sample itself is pretty great. I just wish it was something I hadn’t already heard before. The beat is still fire though. I think Nas killed it too. Again, his flow and rhymes were smooth as hell, as always.
The scars of martyrs, the path of bastard seeds
Effects of absentee fathers passed on with ease
Hope the babies eat healthier, and may we get wealthier
They was not givin', we ask for forgiveness, not permission
Whole clique is each other's counselor
Holdin' sticks without a hockey puck
Can't co-sign 'em, them niggas not with us
Hop on a private jet with 12 tenants
Right when I land, the chopper to Manhattan is 12 minutes
There’s not really much of a hook on this track, which I don’t mind at all personally. I think the song is really dope. I don’t have any gripes with it. I mean, I guess I would’ve preferred if it had a more original sample, but that’s a super nitpick. The song is dope. The following track is entitled Wu for the Children, and it’s another really great song. I think the production is pretty fantastic. I appreciate the minimal percussion, and Nas sounds fantastic over it. Both of the verses on this track are really smooth. I love how smooth his flow is during this couplet…
It’s so hard for him even though his talent is god-given
Pardon him, stop putting your faults on him
I think the hook on this track is really good too. Nothing about the song really blew me away, but there’s also nothing in particular about it that I don’t like. I think it’s really dope. The following track is a highlight entitled Wave Gods.
This track features A$AP Rocky & DJ Premier, and I think it’s fire. I really love the production, and A$AP Rocky actually rapped shockingly well on the first verse. I mean, it’s not really anything special lyrically, but his flow and delivery just sounded really goddamn great. He fits over this beat really well too in my opinion. Nas definitely had the better verse, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise.
I used to hit the block hopin' they see me
Watchin' Video Music Box, sittin' close to the TV
I was inspired by Whodini and Kool G
Got my first pair of J's, thought I was 2-3
Invest in all my G's before we rest in peace 'cause we sure to rest in peace
My shorty is a piece, a piece of mind, a dimepiece
I might buy her a piece of property
You might've had some joints, but ain't nothin' like me & Rocky seen
Out of all the songs on the album, this one somehow feels the most complete. The production is fantastic, the rapping is great, and the scratches from DJ Premier are just the icing on the cake. The song is dope as hell. The penultimate song is called Truth, and it’s another really great track. I think the production is pretty cool. I appreciate how aggressive it sounds, and Nas matched the tone pretty well. This is definitely one of the most aggressive songs on the album. His flow on the verses is smooth as hell.
We need a meeting, money and fame is fleeting
You never really know the reason why two people is beefing
Bloody murder, in the '80s, he had suede Louis seats in the 'burban
Did dirty, his sentеnce start turning
Look at life, took advice from thе streets of Vernon
Nothing Nice, John Boy Ice, his death undetermined
Pick an island, anywhere for your happy soul or return it
When I'm gone, I pray my family don't get the cash and burn it
I think the hook is pretty solid too, despite its simplicity. I’ve seen people making bold claims about this song, calling it Nas’ “best song since ’94,” which is kind of insane to me. It’s not really a highlight for me on the album. I think it’s dope though. I fuck with it. The closing track is a major highlight called Dedicated. I love the production from Hit-Boy, and I appreciate how it’s slightly faster paced than a lot of the other songs. Nas sounds fantastic over it.
Chefs come cook for me
Look what it took for me, the streets had its hooks in me
Yeah, people ask me what books to read
Destruction of Black civilization, that's history
Journal of Chris Columbus, that is what interests me
Juneteenth holiday finally came and it pisses me
Off for the fact that we came in chains, you'll be physically in pain
Dedicated like Ricky Walters, Dougie and Dana Dane
There’s a pretty awesome beat switch about halfway through the track that kinda pushes the song to the next level for me. I think this is the best track on the album personally. It grows on me more and more each time I listen to it. It’s dope af.
This album is pretty great. I don’t think it’s quite as good as King’s Disease 2 personally, but it’s definitely close. Also, for what it’s worth, this is the first time that I’ve liked every single track on a Nas album since Illmatic. I really don’t have any consistent gripes with it. Not every track blew me away, but I’m definitely satisfied with this project. I think Nas & Hit-Boy are a great pair, and, even though I’d personally like to see Nas work with guys like DJ Premier and Large Professor again, I’m looking forward to King’s Disease 3. I won’t be surprised if this ends up as my favorite album of December. I think it’s really dope. Check it out.
Favorite Song: Dedicated
Least Favorite Song: Meet Joe Black
Lives were ruined, relationships torn apart, as the village descended into madness. The accusation of being a witch was seen as the ultimate betrayal, an accusation that carried a heavy burden and often resulted in severe punishment - or worse. As the hysteria continued, a group of villagers banded together in an attempt to find a more rational solution. They urged the community to question the validity of the accusations and to seek evidence before condemning their neighbors. Through their efforts, doubt and reason began to seep into the minds of the fearful villagers. Slowly, the frenzy surrounding the witch hunt began to wane as people started to question the legitimacy of the accusations. Finally, after months of turmoil and heartache, the villagers realized the folly of their ways. They had been blinded by their fear and driven to the brink of destruction. The realization that the witch they had so desperately sought to find did not exist slowly sank in, and a collective sense of guilt and remorse washed over the village. In the aftermath of the witch hunt, the villagers worked tirelessly to rebuild their community, to mend the broken ties and heal the wounds caused by their own paranoia. Lessons were learned, and trust was slowly regained. The witch hunt story became a harrowing reminder of the dangers of fear and ignorance, of the devastating consequences that can arise from blindly following accusations without evidence. It served as a cautionary tale, a reminder that the true monsters are not always the ones we fear, but the ones we create..
Reviews for "The Witchfinder General: Matthew Hopkins and England's Witch Trials"
1. Sarah - 2 stars:
I must admit, I was excited to read "Witch Hunt Story" as I am usually a fan of supernatural thrillers. However, this book fell flat for me. The storyline lacked originality and the characters were one-dimensional. The plot felt predictable and the twists were cliché. Overall, I was highly disappointed with this novel and I would not recommend it to fellow readers seeking an engaging witch hunt story.
2. John - 1 star:
I found "Witch Hunt Story" to be a complete waste of my time. The writing style was dry, and the pacing was slow. The narrative lacked tension and failed to build any sense of suspense. I also found the characters to be uninspiring and unrelatable. Additionally, the author's attempts at creating a historically accurate setting fell short, with historical inaccuracies throughout the book. I struggled to finish this novel and would not recommend it to anyone interested in witch hunt stories.
3. Emily - 2 stars:
I had high expectations for "Witch Hunt Story" based on the intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to them. The plot felt disjointed, and the pacing was uneven. The author failed to capture the essence of the witch hunt era, and the historical details seemed superficial and superficially researched at best. Moreover, the characters lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with or to care about their fates. Overall, I found this book to be a missed opportunity and would not recommend it to fans of witch hunt stories.
4. Michael - 1 star:
"Witch Hunt Story" was a huge disappointment for me. The story lacked originality and felt like a rehashing of other witch hunt narratives I have read before. The characters were thinly developed, and their motivations seemed forced. The author failed to create a compelling atmosphere or to build a sense of tension and suspense. The plot twist felt contrived and unrealistic, leaving me unsatisfied with the overall reading experience. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging witch hunt story.
5. Samantha - 2 stars:
I was excited to delve into "Witch Hunt Story," but unfortunately, it didn't captivate me as I had hoped. The writing style felt clunky and the language lacked sophistication. The plot progression was slow, and I found myself losing interest in the story. The characters were forgettable, and their interactions felt forced. Additionally, the resolution of the witch hunt story felt rushed and unsatisfying. Overall, I was disappointed with this novel and would not recommend it to fellow readers seeking a compelling witch hunt narrative.