Thread by @HopHeroes, @HopHeroes' 1st Track-by-Track Album Review ThreadNas - King’s DiseaseOverview: Nasir has released [...]

@HopHeroes& #39; 1st Track-by-Track Album Review Thread

Nas - King’s Disease

Overview: Nasir has released an album that perfectly exemplifies the position he holds in Hip Hop

Reserved, but not complaisant, it balances tradition & modernity in sound, style & substance

Peep game

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@HopHeroes& #39; 1st Track-by-Track Album Review ThreadNas - King’s DiseaseOverview: Nasir has released an album that perfectly exemplifies the position he holds in Hip HopReserved, but not complaisant, it balances tradition & modernity in sound, style & substancePeep game https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

" title=" @HopHeroes& #39; 1st Track-by-Track Album Review ThreadNas - King’s DiseaseOverview: Nasir has released an album that perfectly exemplifies the position he holds in Hip HopReserved, but not complaisant, it balances tradition & modernity in sound, style & substancePeep game https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten">">

Overview Cont: A return-to-form, of sorts, without ever retracing old footsteps, this is the offering of a veteran who has long since known that he has nothing left to prove, but chooses to share his outlook gracefully

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Track 1 - King’s Disease

Nas knew what he was doing when he made the Title Track & the Intro track one & the same.

This song does what an intro should in that it sets the tone for the album. But it also represents one half of it’s thesis/theme, which is completed by the outro

Track 1 - King’s Disease (Cont.)

Nas raps over soulful somber sonics while partly defining a "Disease" that Interpret to be about "priorities": Focusing our energy where it serves best & not letting the poison from the world keep us from standing (gout).

Track 2 - Blue Benz

Blue Benz was clearly for them “Nas doesn’t pick good beats” mf’s

A strategically polished choice, Hit-Boy momentarily shifts from the soulful/somber direction of the Intro, so we know this is a modern Nas album

The sequencing of this album is sharp

Track 3 - Car 85

Type of joint makes you nostalgic for sh*t you never even did

We’re back to the soulful vibe, Charlie Wilson killin’ the hook, & Nas bridging from the previous track with more storytelling, over a more melodic sound keeping the feel from track 1

Deliberate.

Track 4 - Ultra Black

At 1st drop, I thought this was a decent single, but struggled to enjoy it’s upbeat, celebratory theme originally, due to the dark climate we’ve been in this year

Nas knew better than me

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Track 4 - Ultra BlackAt 1st drop, I thought this was a decent single, but struggled to enjoy it’s upbeat, celebratory theme originally, due to the dark climate we’ve been in this yearNas knew better than mehttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

Track 4 - UItra Black(Cont.)

My mindset was: If I’m getting a pro-black anthem, I want it to be more pointed about the issues we face.

In context of the album though, it flows sonically from the previous tracks and, given Nas& #39; temperament throughout the album, it

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makes perfect sense that he isn& #39;t going full militant or political, but rather simply making a statement on Black Excellence without retracing issues he& #39;s already covered in the past.

Track 5 - 27 Summers

Coming off the buttery, classic Nas flow of Ultra Black, we switch up to a more modern delivery with content that continues the pro blackness & celebration from of the previous track, while emphasizing priorities again.

Hit Boy kills the beat ofc

Track 6 - Replace Me

This may be, by my estimation, one of 2 tracks that stray noticeably from any overarching themes, opting for more straight braggadocio lyrics.

Still, HB & Toliver keep the sonics consistent, without it being the same, while Esco & Sean just vibe.

Track 7 - Til The War Is Won

Amidst the intersection of multiple societal crises, Nas brings us back to priorities: We must not be numb to one another’s pain, but stand together.

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Track 7 - Til The War Is WonAmidst the intersection of multiple societal crises, Nas brings us back to priorities: We must not be numb to one another’s pain, but stand together.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

" title="Track 7 - Til The War Is WonAmidst the intersection of multiple societal crises, Nas brings us back to priorities: We must not be numb to one another’s pain, but stand together.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten">" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>

Track 7 Til The War Is Won (Cont.)

Blk women in the US are dealing with not 1 or even 2, but at least 3 epidemics, being disproportionately affected by police violence, rape, & the latest pattern to reach national attention: simply disappearing without a trace

Track 7 - Til The War Is Won (Cont.)

Nas makes sure to center the black woman, while carrying the theme of priorities in life.

Track 8 - All Bad

Along with the content of “Replace Me”, these relationship based musings aren& #39;t as reconciled with the general lyrical tone of the rest of the album, & as such seems more like the old school “obligatory relationship song”.

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Track 8 - All BadAlong with the content of “Replace Me”, these relationship based musings aren& #39;t as reconciled with the general lyrical tone of the rest of the album, & as such seems more like the old school “obligatory relationship song”.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

" title="Track 8 - All BadAlong with the content of “Replace Me”, these relationship based musings aren& #39;t as reconciled with the general lyrical tone of the rest of the album, & as such seems more like the old school “obligatory relationship song”.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten">" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>

Track 8 - All Bad (cont.)

That being said, the song is still solid.

Nas’s rhyme schemes, flow & delivery are all on point, & Anderson Paak is the cheat code.

Track 9 - The Definition

Falling asleep reading my review? Play “The Definition”, it’ll wake you up

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This track rightfully brings the energy back up from the previous one, while adding a piece to the puzzle of the theme of the album: what is Kings Disease ?

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Track 9 - The Definition Falling asleep reading my review? Play “The Definition”, it’ll wake you up https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

Track 9 - The Definition (cont.)

Rebuking the gov& #39;t & media, Nas recants about the same sabotage that he spoke of in his intro: When you’re a successful leader, & you speak truth, people will try to sabotage you. People will be envious, bitter & their priorities become skewed

Track 10 - Full Circle

A muthaf*ckin Z. C’mon man

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Nas, AZ & Cormega all speak on their evolving priorities in relationships from childhood to adulthood, while Foxy just blacks out, as Hit-Boy continues the soulfulness.

Can& #39;t stress how well HB laced this.

Consistency

Track 10 - Full CircleA muthaf*ckin Z. C’mon man https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

Nas, AZ & Cormega all speak on their evolving priorities in relationships from childhood to adulthood, while Foxy just blacks out, as Hit-Boy continues the soulfulness.Can& #39;t stress how well HB laced this.Consistency" title="Track 10 - Full CircleA muthaf*ckin Z. C’mon man https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤣" title="Lachend auf dem Boden rollen" aria-label="Emoji: Lachend auf dem Boden rollen">Nas, AZ & Cormega all speak on their evolving priorities in relationships from childhood to adulthood, while Foxy just blacks out, as Hit-Boy continues the soulfulness.Can& #39;t stress how well HB laced this.Consistency" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>

Track 11 - 10 Points

Nas really drives home the point of priorities here. He references the same jealousy & bitterness that he spoke on in the intro, while outlining how a King should carry themselves via the chorus.

Track 12 - The Cure (Outro)

Lastly, while paying tribute to iconic black figures of the past who embody his ideal, Nasir continues to offer the antidote:

Prioritize true family, move with purpose, believe in your dreams, Salute other Kings, Give back..

And more..

Conclusion:

Nas made a statement with this album. A timely one, for those who seek it & relate to where he is coming from, but better still also a broadly inclusive album both lyrically & sonically, yet does not waver from delivering exclusively pro black messages....

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Hit Boy crafted very Nas specific beats for this project, that somehow managed to sound retro & current at the same time, which is no easy task.

I am not going to make comparisons, or declare what this album "Is" or "Is not", but I will say this:

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I find no inherent flaws with this album.

Criticisms I’ve seen largely come from either purists still holding out for a traditional Nas with no “autotune” or melodic hooks, others expecting a more technically competitive Nas, or those who don& #39;t relate to the content..

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Nas has added to the wave of great releases seen in recent years by strictly 1 Producer, 1 Rapper. Particularly important given that Nas is the man who changed the standard from “1 DJ/Producer, 1 rapper” to “Team of super producers, 1 rapper” via the illustrious debut: Illmatic

Lastly, compared to other releases by a single producer/rapper combo, Nas’ release is special given that Hit-Boy& #39;s balanced blend perfectly bridges a mainstream & traditional sound, that may result in a blueprint for other late-career mc& #39;s to follow..

Time will tell

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