August 21, 2020

Nas "King's Disease" (Album Stream)


King's Disease is the thirteenth studio album by legendary eMCee, Nas. It was released today through Mass Appeal Records. The album features appearances from Foxy Brown, Dr. Dre, Cormega and AZ as The Firm, as well as Anderson Paak, A$AP Ferg, Big Sean, Brucie B, Charlie Wilson, Don Toliver, Fivio Foreign, Hit-Boy and Lil Durk. The album is produced by Hit-Boy, with additional production by Gabriel Zardes. King's Disease is the first album I've listened to on the day of its release in quite a long time. Although I'm still making my way through it - slowly digesting it - I've enjoyed what I've heard thus far! I've been disappointed by the early reviews I've read: fans/media are still comparing new material against his debut opus Illmatic and complaining that the music is catering to the mainstream. I'm amazed this is still a conversation in 2020, lol. Sure, I'd like to hear a Nas and DJ Premier album, too ... but I wasn't expecting some underground shit from Hit-Boy and I'm not gonna discredit the content and the skill of Nas, just because it's not 1994 anymore. Cut it out. Mind you, that's coming from someone who hustles nostalgia, the irony isn't lost on me! There's plenty to dig into with this release, just approach it with an open mind. And I can't let this post go up without saying that AZ is still razor sharp, too: "Dialog superb, flyest cars on the curb / word, when I evolved the higher God emerged..." Possibly the best verse on the whole project. Update: I've now sat with it for a few days and think it's a solid album. It's got replay value, to me! Dig in...