Having won a surprising first ever Grammy for the solid, but unspectacular, King’s Disease, Nas returns with a sequel that takes everything his 2020 record did well and does it ten times better.
The lyricism and delivery from the Queensbridge rapper are immaculate throughout, as is the production from Hit-Boy, who manages to combine a nostalgic “boom-bap” 90s sound with modern trap beats, which currently dominate hip-hop. The versatility of the producer is matched by that of Nas himself, best demonstrated on the 5th track, and only single of the album, ‘Rare’, which is split into three parts and shows his impressive range of rapping styles, which have helped keep him in the game for so long.
Throughout the album, Nas reflects on his place in the world of music. On the track ‘Store Run’, he demands respect from the new generation of rappers but on ‘Moments’ accepts that he is no longer at the height of popularity and is willing to be a guide to younger artists: “My whole career I steered away from features / But I figured it’s perfect timing to embrace new leaders / Accepted my position as the master teacher.”
This theme continues on the penultimate song ‘My Bible’ where Nas lays down some life lessons, warning young rappers to be responsible with the influence they have: “Too many mamas layin’ flowers at they graves / Don’t rap about death, it’s power in what you say.”
Nas also uses this album to explore the reasons for his failed romantic relationships. ‘No Phony Love’ sees him rap over a soulful melody about his struggles with trust issues and how he “might be married to music” as his career always comes first.
The record contains a number of excellent features, including impressive verses from Eminem and EMPD. The most notable, however, comes on the standout track of the project, ‘Nobody’. A fantastically haunting beat acts as the backdrop for Nas’ first collaboration with Ms. Lauryn Hill since the 1996 classic ‘If I Ruled the World’. The ex-Fugees star steals the limelight and shows the world that she’s still one of the best wordsmiths around, despite her effective retirement in 1998.
Nas has long since cemented himself in the pantheon of greats, but King’s Disease II dispels any fears that his best days could be behind him. Of course, it’s not as good as his debut album Illmatic, but nothing ever will be. Nonetheless, it is his best project for nearly 20 years and demonstrates his never-ending ability to evolve with the changing sound of hip-hop, while also staying true to his roots.
Rating: 4/5
