Phillip Nash

Lets smooth it out with this jazzy track from Phil Nash, "Hip Hop Ish." This jawn was produced by The Magnificent DJ Jazzy Jeff. It serves as Phil's first leak from his upcoming tape, Phil of The Future II, presented by Dub Floyd and Mick Boogie. - Okayplayer

I was wondering when the next leak from the Mick Boogie x Peter Bjorn & John Re-Living Thing remix album was coming. This latest track, "Stay This Way," features Big Pooh, Phil Nash, and Chaundon with DJ Jazzy Jeff on the production. Re-Living Thing (8/27) is a hip-hop themed remix of PBJ's album, Living Thing, and will feature appearances from Talib Kweli, GZA, Wale and others. - Okayplayer

New York, NY -- Phil Nash, the Motown up-and-comer who earned reader acclaim for "Going Up" and "Hip Hop Ish," has stepped into the Booth to bring us entry #78 in our DJBooth.net Freestyle Series. On his brand new, previously-unreleased "Nasty Nash" freestyle, the 20/20 Records rapper flows over a DJ Green Lantern-produced beat originally featured on Nas' "Fear of the Mandingo." Nash is currently preparing for the August 11th release of his Mick Boogie and Dub Floyd-presented Phil of the Future (Part 2) mixtape. - Djbooth.net

“Phil of the Future Vol. 2” is the name of the mixtape, but it's evident that Phil Nash is well aware of the legacy of classic hip hop from the early ’90s – perhaps not all too surprising given the fact that he’s DJ Jazzy Jeff’s protégé. Throughout the project, Nash provides countless bangers, true to hip hop form and impressively raw lyricism. Noticeable, as well, is the overall feel to the project, as he seamlessly transfers from song to song, all the while maintaining an incredible melodic balance of originality, precision, and vision.

His latest mixtape includes several cuts heavily influenced by the classic New York Tribe vibe. For example, “I Smell Smoke” (produced by Heartbeat the Producer) channels a soulful sample of Dionne Warwick’s “Walk on By” into a heart-wrenched testimony of struggle and inequality. “Heat Stop Working”, “Much More”, and “Gonna Want Me Back” offer a nostalgic feeling to the vintage days, a testament to the reason why NY became the Mecca of hip hop, as Detroit’s Nash flows with ease over the catchy jazzy trumpets. Equally impressive is his homage to the Queensbridge veteran Nas over the tracks “Nasty Nash” and “Nash is Like”, backed by the instantly-recognizable Premo beats. Lest we forget to recognize those who have paved the way, let’s point out the sampling of Big Daddy Kane’s “Ain’t No Half Steppin’” on Nash’s “Halfsteppin’”, a track full of sincere ambition and unbridled yet not-over-the-top egoism.

Aside from the lyrics, the production on this project is impeccable, full of classic yet classy sampling and smooth drum overlay. Easily, the most notable producer on the mixtape is the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff who offers his services on two tracks. There are also several credible features with the VA MC Skillz, Sim City, and Phene, among others. However, don’t get it twisted: while the features are heavy and the production solid, Nash is not left in the shadows, as he commands every track with his presence and embeds each with his own unique style.

His goal is achieve mixtape of the year (and no doubt more!), and honestly the ambitious vision is not far-fetched. He is one who has much to offer and is getting only better. I have witnessed his steady progression ever since his first mixtape and several feature songs, most notably “Uptown Anthem” with Washington, DC artist “Marky” (Studio 43 / SRC / Universal Records) off the VH1 Honor Roll mixtape, which was how I first discovered him. In conclusion, with his dope flow and respect and knowledge of hip hop history, Phil Nash has a clear lane to make some heavy moves in the future. Perhaps that is why we know him as . . . Phil of the Future. - Illvibes

Here's another mixtape to add to the "download immediately" category - Okayplayer

With a title like Phil of the Future, it’s clear that Phil Nash has big plans. And yeah, he deserves to. This mixtape, hosted by Lil’ Skrilla, might show there’s room for improvement, but it also proves that Nash is a young and hungry emcee with some serious potential.

Phil of the Future Vol. 1 is pretty evenly split between jacked beats and exclusives. Providing the original material is a slew of up and comers like Church Boy, Umbrella, and Jas Mace & Marchitect of The 49ers. Phil Nash himself admits that he’s “a few producers away from working with Pete Rock,” but most of these beats serve him well. It’s only appropriate that Phil Nash resides near the Mason-Dixon Line, since his beat selection wavers a bit between the north and south. Songs like “Get Used 2 It,” “Don’t Believe the Hype,” and certainly “Drive-thru” have a little southern flare to them, but they’re juxtaposed with beats from the likes of MF Doom (“?” & “Clipse of Doom”). Oh, and he kills the “C.R.E.A.M.” beat too.

Though he uses it sparingly, Phil Nash has the ability to flow with more speed than Nicole Richie. At times he sounds kinda like Elzhi (“Kill It”), and on “Take Ya Cool Off,” Nash gets his downright Twista on. The majority of the time, however, Phil Nash utilizes a more everyday flow, which also suites him nicely. Phil Nash is from, and reps, east Detroit, but now lives in Delaware. The influence of both regions can be heard. He relies heavily on (often brash) punch lines and clever word play, but maintains the flow first and foremost. While not all of his on-liners had me on the floor, he’s got some real jokes in his notebook. Ultimately, however, Nash is at his best when he puts the swagger aside and rhymes from the heart. If he keeps making tracks like “Closer,” an introspective song that manages to keep the jokes coming, Phil Nash might just live up to the mixtape’s title. Expect to hear about this kid again. - Okayplayer

We hope you all watched VH1’s Hip Hop Honors last night, at least to catch The Roots performing a special tribute to Isaac Hayes. More on that later. In the mean time, to further celebrate the event, Mick Boogie, NahRight, PressPlayFashionforward, and LRG hooked up for The Honor Roll Mixtape. Mick took some of the hottest in the game and had them remake classics from last night’s honorees; Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Slick Rick, Too Short, and Naughty by Nature. Artists on the tape include; Freeway, Alchemist, Evidence, Tanya Morgan, Skyzoo, Joell Ortiz, Pac Div, Talib Kweli, Little Brother and more. To give you a sample, here is one of the many heat rocks off the project with U-N-I‘s rendition of De La’s “Stakes Is High” produced by the homie 6th Sense. Follow me after the jump for the tracklisting and download link. - Okayplayer