King’s Disease By Nas Album Review (Listen)

Nas employs Hit-Boy as executive producer for album.

 Nas Is Back

There was a point in time when it was almost expected for an artist to “age out” of hip-hop. If an artist has a run for couple of years, they’d be considered a success. If the artist continues to produce for about a decade, they’d be considered an all-time great. However, what about the MCs who have been doing it almost 30 years?

No, we’re not talking about some random rapper from years past that pops up and performs novelty hits either. We’re talking about rappers who have consistently put out respectable bodies of work that gets people talking. Nas has been doing this for 27 Summers, and further he’s still as sharp as the Bevel Blade that crafts his signature fade. (That’s a bar!)

God’s Son

On Nas’s 13th album King’s Disease, the 46-year old provides God-like insight on every track, covering a multitude of subject matters. Whether he’s reminiscing on his hustling past on the Charlie Wilson-assisted ‘Car #85’  to praising Black excellence on the lead single Ultra Black, Nas’s versatility is undeniable.

Most importantly, Hit-Boy‘s production complement’s Nas’s effortless flow on King’s Disease. On 10 Points and Blue Benz, Nas certainly delivers two story-driven songs that will rival any in the MC’s legendary discography. So consequently, working with Hit-Boy on this project seems to light a fire under QB Finest.

King’s Disease also features heavy hitters like Big Sean (Replace Me), Lil Durk (Til The War Is Won), and Anderson.Paak (All Bad); all manage to shine but never outshined God’s Son.

Firm Biz

Subsequently, that honor is reserved for all-time great, AZ on ‘Full Circle‘. Super group, The Firm reunited for the track and they certainly did not disappoint! All managed to float on the track but Sosa absolutely stole the show reminiscent of Life’s A Bitch, in the same vein. In addition, Foxy Brown and Cormega both did their thing and even Dr. Dre made an appearance towards the end of the song to speak a few words. That is to say, this could lead to something bigger. Can this be the precursor to another album from The Firm?! (Fingers crossed.)

I didn’t hear Full Circle until today I never heard Nas, AZ, Foxy, or Dre verse I just heard Hit-Boy production and I felt it. The song is a beautiful moment in an ugly time and I’m appreciative to have been apart of it. #kingsdisease

— CORMEGA (@iamcormega) August 21, 2020

On The Cure,

Nas gives us a rundown on his illustrious career leaving us with a possible verse of the year. For instance, the third verse goes:

“Cuban link QB chain belong in the MOMA
So boomerang, you salute my twenty-seven summers
Rolls-Royce Brigade just ’cause it go with the moment
Pac saw the chain, got his medallion, I won’t
Insinuate imitation ’cause I copied his stomach
Kings honor kings, straight from my pops to my son’s s**t
Steak tartare bloody, mercury levels from raw fish
Sushi for lunch, waiter at the table, the cork twist
I’m studied like a book by many
They give me looks of envy, I took the Bentley
White chick like Liz Taylor might get the Bentayga
On my Rick James behavior
Life is school for the soul and I’m in life seven already
Life’s simple but heavy, incomprehensible s**t
Everything from sexy to deadly, I done been through that s**t
Still goin’ deeper like I grew a new inch on my d**k
We looked at robbin’ as a way of resolving our problems
My moms cooked food, but some of my n****s was starving
And whatever they was down to do, I was with ’em regardless
Turns out I was hungry and was hittin’ the hardest
The scissor was sharper, my predictions was on it
No fortune teller, just going off regular signs
N****s often tell ya they moves
Without a word, just reading they mind
Wasn’t needin’ no nine
Corner executive born in ghetto hell
Where metal yell especially over necklaces
Life lessons is karma
Whatever you dish out come back as blessings or to haunt ya
Could miss your kids and hit your grandkids for your dishonor
That’s generational curses, they said they want the old Nas back
Play the Clue tapes for old verses
Messin’ my homies’ lives up, sayin’ Nas will rise ’em up
Like they wasn’t live enough, many lives I’ve touched
Can I get a witness?
Can I get a witness?
I need a witness, drinkin’ three at night on some Bridge s**t
Wearin’ shorts and Timbs, summer night on some Bridge s**t
Party with gangsters, gettin’ right on some Bridge s**t (Yeah)
Like MC Shan and Marley, I be on some Bridge s**t”

One Mic

There are dope MCs, but then there’s Nas. Not many rappers, lyricists, MCs – whatever you want to call them, not many of them can touch Esco. Above all, when he gets in this bag only maybe 5 people to ever hold a microphone are able to be in the same room with him. In other words, he’s in rare company and in rare form.

That beat switch on The Cure …fck Nas 🔥🔥🔥 #KingsDisease pic.twitter.com/mnvjwXybe2

— SuckaFreeSykez (@Bandit_SykeZ) August 21, 2020

The Final Verdict

In conclusion, this is vintage Nas. Verbal Intercourse Nas. One Mic Nas. King’s Disease certainly surpasses 2018’s NASIR in virtually every aspect and is Nas’s best effort since at least Life Is Good. To clarify, this is the best Nas has been in years. Hit-Boy laced the project with some dope instrumentals that therefore allowed Nas to effortlessly breeze through this timeless opus. In other words, salute to Nas! He did this for the culture. 8.9 out of 10

Related Story| Nas Drops New Single “Ultra Black”

Randell M Thomas Jr| Twitter: @SavageRandy18| Instagram: @SavageRandy18