Nas & Damien Marley - Distant Relatives Thread (4.5 Stars from Hip Hop DX)

4.5 Stars

I am by no means a massive fan of Nas. Apart from Illmatic and It Was Written I can't really enjoy that much of him. 

His last three albums bored me to death, especially Untitled. This album though upon two listens has me hooked.

Who else is enjoying this. 

How's the production? Nas is still a great lyricist IMO but production has really bogged down his last 3 albums. I'm also not so sure about the guests but he has K'naan on this so that's a definite good thing.-Halftime-

There's production to make everyone happy but it's definitely better then that I've seen on the last Nas albums. 

for whatever reason, i've never in my life been anticipating a Nas album less than I'm anticipating this one.

I just get the impression this is Nas' last shot at trying to be relevant. He's been grasping for relevance for the past five years, with no avial. First a double album that was garbage, then two albums where the title was more interesting than any of the content...and now this. An album with a washed up reggae singer that was never good enough to be washed up in the first place. The only thing interesting about this is the Marley name being on the cover, and even then it's a 3rd rate Marley disciple who's never been a fraction of what his father was.

Really, Nas has become a child looking for attention, and this seems like his last grasp for just that, leaving me all the more convinced that this album will be awful.

^ Both Untitled and HHID received great reviews from critics and sold well... Dude is not "grasping for relevance" in any way. 

Anyway... good album, I was expecting a lot more from it, but it's a strong effort. 

I gotta agree with Colt. Nas' last few albums were snooze-fests and cheap gimmicks relying on shock factor. Yeah, there were a few good songs here and there but ultimately both HHID and Untitled sucked. His rapping has gotten worse and his ear for beats is bad to say the least.

Might listen to this later on but I don't have much faith in it being anything more than a wasted hour. 

^ Both Untitled and HHID received great reviews from critics and sold well... Dude is not "grasping for relevance" in any way. 

 

Anyway... good album, I was expecting a lot more from it, but it's a strong effort. 

 

elpooz

I bet if Amerie knew running through Washington D.C. naked would catapult her latest tape to selling 500,000 copies, she'd have done the same thing. You think KRS-ONE named his album "Hip Hop Lives" because it was the first thing that popped in his head....not that it worked since no one has cared about KRS-ONE since god knows how long, but still.

for whatever reason, i've never in my life been anticipating a Nas album less than I'm anticipating this one.

I just get the impression this is Nas' last shot at trying to be relevant. He's been grasping for relevance for the past five years, with no avial. First a double album that was garbage, then two albums where the title was more interesting than any of the content...and now this. An album with a washed up reggae singer that was never good enough to be washed up in the first place. The only thing interesting about this is the Marley name being on the cover, and even then it's a 3rd rate Marley disciple who's never been a fraction of what his father was.

Really, Nas has become a child looking for attention, and this seems like his last grasp for just that, leaving me all the more convinced that this album will be awful.

Colt45fool

In fact I wrote it off. I never listened to a single track before I first listened to the album. Give it a shot. I'm not even a Nas fan like I said. 

for whatever reason, i've never in my life been anticipating a Nas album less than I'm anticipating this one.

I just get the impression this is Nas' last shot at trying to be relevant. He's been grasping for relevance for the past five years, with no avial. First a double album that was garbage, then two albums where the title was more interesting than any of the content...and now this. An album with a washed up reggae singer that was never good enough to be washed up in the first place. The only thing interesting about this is the Marley name being on the cover, and even then it's a 3rd rate Marley disciple who's never been a fraction of what his father was.

Really, Nas has become a child looking for attention, and this seems like his last grasp for just that, leaving me all the more convinced that this album will be awful.

Colt45fool

[QUOTE="Colt45fool"]

for whatever reason, i've never in my life been anticipating a Nas album less than I'm anticipating this one.

I just get the impression this is Nas' last shot at trying to be relevant. He's been grasping for relevance for the past five years, with no avial. First a double album that was garbage, then two albums where the title was more interesting than any of the content...and now this. An album with a washed up reggae singer that was never good enough to be washed up in the first place. The only thing interesting about this is the Marley name being on the cover, and even then it's a 3rd rate Marley disciple who's never been a fraction of what his father was.

Really, Nas has become a child looking for attention, and this seems like his last grasp for just that, leaving me all the more convinced that this album will be awful.

DaDukies

Final rating for the album, 7.25

Very good album. 

Hip Hop Is Dead, and N-Word as album titles isn't grasping for relevance/attention/shock factor? Colt45fool

 i may not agree w/ you but this is a damn good point. at least you've thought it through, which is more than i can say for most.

 also i know otb and chances are this is a good album masquerading as "great" cuz people are so starved for good. but you know i'ma check it out. i'm kind of excited now that i see k'naan's on it. dude is brilliant.

I bought it, pretty dope.  I am seeing Nas and Damien Marley June 9th

eh, album is okay. Nothing too bad, but nothing special.fat_rob

Kinda funny seeing some of y'all forgetting a new Nas album even came out. I kinda have to wonder if this is the same fate Jay-Z is gonna be facing when his next album drops after the crapfest that was "Blueprint 3".

Anyways, their performance on Leno the other night was REALLY good. I'm kinda interested in this and will eventually check it out. Even as someone who's never really thought Nas was anywhere near as good as he's made out to be, I still think Nas has still got it lyrically, and just needs that good production behind him.

Honestly I haven't even thought/bothered to check it out...iHeartCali

Same. I think the fact that it's a collabo with Damian Marley is just kinda scaring me off for now. But I'll check it out eventually. 

An album with a washed up reggae singer that was never good enough to be washed up in the first place. The only thing interesting about this is the Marley name being on the cover, and even then it's a 3rd rate Marley disciple who's never been a fraction of what his father was.Colt45fool

Colt described it perfectly

[QUOTE="Colt45fool"]An album with a washed up reggae singer that was never good enough to be washed up in the first place. The only thing interesting about this is the Marley name being on the cover, and even then it's a 3rd rate Marley disciple who's never been a fraction of what his father was.andyboiii

Colt described it perfectly

that's actually an awful description of 100% haterade

 good album. don't love it but maybe in time i will. 

Yeah, this is pretty good. Not a cIassic or anything, but pretty good all the same.

Even Lil Wayne does his thing! :P

Good album, no weak tracks. Patience and Nah Mean are my favorites.SuperSaiyanLink

couldnt put it better myself, those are my 2 fav tracks 

[QUOTE="SuperSaiyanLink"]Good album, no weak tracks. Patience and Nah Mean are my favorites.hittin

couldnt put it better myself, those are my 2 fav tracks 

Word, patience is incredibly dope.