Music Review: Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives

Nas and Damian Marley, son of Bob Marley, have teamed up for an unforgettable Hip Hop album in Distant Relatives. Africa is the focus of the album with mentions to issues like poverty and warring tribes among other things. Proceeds from album sales will go to a project to help build schools in Africa. It's an especially honorable deed in the often materialistic world of Hip Hop music.

I'm also excited to see a mainstream album also fall into the socially conscious sub-genre of Rap. This kind of "Thinking Man's Hip Hop" is usually only found in Underground or Indie Rap. More than just a good cause, Distant Relatives is also excellently-produced and entertaining. It does a great job of fusing Marley's reggae with Afro-centric beats and Hip Hop elements found in Nas' music.

Distant Relatives kicks off with the upbeat opening track, "As We Enter." It's an excellent track with dueling verses from the two artists. It serves as a nice showcase of the duo's chemistry. Next, "Tribes at War" introduces us to the theme of the album with lyrics that touch some of the turmoil that consumes Africa. I feel that many don't understand the complexities of the Continent's tribal and political issues and I was intrigued when I found this subject matter on the album. Unlike the opening track, "Tribes at War" ties in African music with authentic-sounding drumming, chants, and a choir in the background. It even features the Somalian-born rising Rap star, K'naan.

"Dispear" is one of the most compelling tracks on the album from both a musical and lyrical standpoint. It's got a sense of urgency, lyrics delivered at a dizzying pace, strings, horns, piano, and metal-clashing sound effects. Nas raps in the chorus that his mind is his modern day spear as the pair detail wrongs based on social class and mentions to Shaka Zulu and Maasai people. For me, "Dispear" may be the highlight of the album as it shows that this project from Nas and Marley is unique and sounds like nothing else.

Article Author: The Coaster Critic

The Coaster Critic is a roller coaster enthusiast that loves reading and writing reviews of all kinds. In 2006, he decided to merge his passions for coasters and writing by starting a theme park blog. Currently, he's ridden nearly 200 roller coasters and visited more than 30 theme parks. …

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