Nas. For those that don’t know of him, Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones is a legend in the hip-hop industry. Surrounded by the likes of The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, he first came into prominence by rapping on the streets of New York and garnering a small following. After making brief guest appearances on a few tracks, he released Illmatic (1994) which was universally acclaimed by both critics and the hip-hop community as a classic. It’s praised for its crisp production, timeless lyrics, and powerful subject matter, and it was considered an incredible debut album for the fresh new face of the New York hip-hop scene. Unfortunately, when the bar is set that high, anything below is considered a disappointment. Nas would go on to release several studio albums and more hit songs, but nothing that was indisputably considered a classic. After several years of trying to recreate the commercial and underground success of Illmatic and failing, Nas was floating in limbo with few surges in recent years. Nas has been making a comeback for the future. After a successful collaboration with Lil Nas X (of Old Town Road fame) on the track Rodeo, it seemed that Nas was gaining some of his old momentum back by painting himself as a newer, trendier version of himself, leading into King’s Disease (2020), his newest project.
The project was executive produced by famed producer Hit-Boy, who has also produced tracks and albums for artists like Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and Beyoncé (composing much of Lemonade which was widely praised for its artistic, avant-garde instrumentals). Sonically, the project isn’t groundbreaking, relying on heavy kick drums and punchy snares interlaced with complicated samples — trademarks of the instrumentals that were present in Illmatic and 90’s hip-hop. Certain songs on the album, however, use fast, modern trap drums characterized by fast hi-hats, short and snappy snares, as well as deep droning 808s that spawned from the southern rap scene. This album sees Nas acting his own age but demonstrating a need to prove himself, something that many describe as “rookie hunger.” No longer is he rapping about armed robbery and drugs and the “things he sees” on a day to day basis. He now acknowledges that he comes from a position of privilege, a position where he doesn’t see these things anymore. Instead, he focuses on his thoughts, his music, money, and fame as an indisputable legend which is more believable, real, and therefore, more emphatic.
The album begins with its eponymous title track” King’s Disease”. The classic boom-bap sound is interlaced with a smooth soul sample and is held together by a constant, powerful Nas voice where he talks about himself in the present tense: as a legend in hip-hop who has popularized several trends that continue to this day. Then comes the track “Blue Benz”, which is another east-coast, gritty, boom-bap beat. However, in this track, he provides a description of the New York he grew up in, taking note of the luxury that was fueled by crime. It’s a general message about materialism and how it dominates the world today. The third track “Car #85” showcases more boom-bap but a little more nostalgia and emotion. Again, complicated vocal samples mixed with a bass guitar and your typical kick-snare combo. The track is a metaphor for a safe space from life that everyone both rich and poor can feel. “Ultra Black” is the fourth track and has a very triumphant sound, showing more boom-bap and for good reason. He shows the “classic hip-hop” sound that has textures and feelings. It’s bombastic, loud, and decadent, which helps the kingly atmosphere of the song. Nas also raps about black empowerment and how no amount of money or fame can change his opinions or beliefs on black power and that some things, despite your status, should never change. “27 Summers” is an energetic trap banger that celebrates Nas’ longevity as an artist. “Replace Me”, however, is a complete shift in focus that doesn’t work well for the album. In this star-powered song, Nas, Big Sean, and Don Toliver sing about a materialistic woman who simply “bleeds them dry.” It’s a pretty big dip in the album, and luckily it only stays for one song. “Til The War Is Won” is a powerful track about the power of a black woman as a mother, sister, or wife. It’s a trap beat carried by its mellow piano and airy synth roll which gives the song optimism. He talks about the hypocrisy of people who compliment black women for being strong but never help them. “All Bad” is another break-up song, featuring Anderson .Paak to sing the hook, do a verse, and the refrain. Even Anderson Paak couldn’t save this song. It’s sonically jumbled, Nas appears for a third of the song, and the rest is dominated by Paak, leaving a very confusing message. The ninth track, “The Definition” is a dim light shining right after “All Bad”, and the track talks about the 2016 American election with his own beliefs about the “supposed rigging” of the 2016 election, police violence, and how no party is really good by playing a clip of Hilary Clinton calling black men “super predators.” “Full Circle” is a reunion for Nas and his rap group from the 90s and follows that era and their story. The song ends with a Dr. Dre verse where he prescribes a “Cure” for “King’s Disease.” “10 Points” is another call back to the old school hip-hop that Nas found fame on. On this track, Nas talks about the double standard associated with being a rich, black man. It talks about how a rich, black man is still always seen as a criminal. In “On The Cure,” Nas recollects all of his past spoils as an artist and a celebrity. And a letter to people asking him to go back to Illmatic, essentially telling them that he wants to grow as an artist and that going back to previous works is not an option. “Spicy” is your typical trap banger that features Fivio Foreign and A$AP Ferg, two New York natives, and seems like an afterthought or an extra on an album about topics like Black Lives Matter and Black Power with its explicit lyrics about drugs and money and women.
At the end of the 13 song album, Nas accomplishes talking and rapping about a wide range of topics from his days as a person growing up in Queens to the world a rich black man must navigate. King’s Disease sees an older, fresher Nas at the top of his game, hungry for his old seat as the King of New York.
The album is a solid seven to a light eight for me. My personal favorite track is “Car #85” for the nostalgic feeling that Nas creates through his storytelling and flow over the simple and yet beautiful boom-bap beat. My least favorite track would have to be “All Bad” because there were horrible choices made production-wise, and the lyrical content of the song coupled with its mixed messages made it difficult to listen to.
