When NaS and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley decided to make a collaborative album called Distant Relatives last year, they didn't set out to make a cookie-cutter album fused with hip-hop/reggae. The master plan was to create a body of work that inspires to teach, motivate, listen and learn a thing or two about Africa's rich history. The result is nothing short of a masterpiece, that transends a positive message, that can be heard from the streets of the inner-city to the dusty roads in Africa. NaS and Damian Marley bring vivid social commentary to life through song, and the album stands as a testament to both men and their stoired careers. The revolution begins with the energetic, heavy baseline opener "As We Enter". The jump off finds both been trading bars back and forth like a tennis match, with no one outshining the other. The chemistry between NaS and Marley is undeniable. Both of them seem to have found a way to coexist without getting in each others way as they merge their respected genres of music together. That chemistry can be found on "Friends" as Nasir and Damian tell tales of the true meaning of friendship, while exposing the fake impostors in the process: "Salty niggaz hate the smarter ones/ These are the doubters that sour about my run/ I barely made it out the slums/ My value high, cause I do more than rap about a gun/ I made money for niggaz/ Y'all never lookin out for none..." raps NaS. Topics such as this, and more can be found throughout the album. The somber, guitar-laced "Count Your Blessings" is a true gem, as Damian Marley and NaS lists the things in life that people should appreicate the most despite life's shortcomings. Marley sings: " I got love and assurance/ I got new health insurance/ I got strength and indurance/ So I count my blessings/ And gives thanks to the Master that throughout all the disaster/We're still here together after/ Better count your blessings." Distant Relatives never strays off course, and is enjoyable from the beginning to the end, which is rare in this music industry, because today's albums consist of one or two singles surrounded by an orgy of filler tracks. Lil' Wayne pops up on "My Generation" and delivers one of his best verses in a long time. Other standout tracks are the revolutionary "Strong Will Continue" and the infectious-in-your-face- "Nah Mean". What NaS and Damian Marley have done with Distant Relatives was exactly what Marvin Gaye did with his milestone What's Going On decades ago, and that was to create music that was a reflection of the times, and in doing so, they just created 2010's first real hip hop classic. I rate this 5/5
No comments:
Post a Comment