I've already posted the press kit for Nature's gem of an album, For All Seasons, as well as his original Next feature in Vibe, and two volumes of the Queens Classics mixtape series. But, today -- on Nature's born day -- I'm diggin' back, once again, to 2000's For All Seasons. I remember I was traveling from Queens on the LIRR (Woodside line - after 2 buses) out to Nassau, Long Island to college - I'd get off at Hempstead and take the bus or walk from the Westbury line, which was a HIKE! I specifically remember packing Nature's For All Seasons and LL Cool J's G.O.A.T., which I think were released about a week apart, and I ran those projects (among others) that fall semester of college traveling back and forth. Nature was 50 Cent before 50 Cent, yet he obviously never reached the highest of heights that 50 did. He came up in the mixtape scene, had the industry ablaze with crazy records, freestyles; a ton of classic features and so on, landing him a solo deal to release the long-awaited album on Columbia Records (home of Nas). My favorite joints off the album were "Man's World," "We Ain't Friends," "The Ultimate High" with Nas, "Young Love", "Nature's Shine" and "I Don't Give a Fuck" - oh, and "Young Love," too. It had joints, perhaps not the critically acclaimed release, but it did have joints! The Queens Classics mixes fill in all the gaps, minus "If I Ain't a Thug," which I'm still trying to get my hands on! Critics labeled the album as an uninspired effort that lacked hooks and content-driven lyrics, but like today, I still go back to it from time to time. If you were outside -- especially in Queens -- you remember what a threat Nature was on a track in that timeframe. So, Happy Born Day, Nature! Dig back in For All Seasons, streaming below...
Don't forget to dig into the archives for more...
