Distant Relatives (Review)

As we all know, my favorite rapper of all time has teamed with the son of one of my favorite artists of all time to create a cross genre album entitled "Distant Relatives." I will try to be objective in my review of this album, but everyone knows I am biased from the jump.

The idea for "Distant Relatives" began after Nas and Damien Marley recorded "Road to Zion" in 2005. What has resulted is a wonderfully planned and decently executed work of art.

The album begins with the uptempo "As We Enter," which basically introduces the world to the newly formed union of Nas and Damien. Nas boasts, "Must be dementia/ that you ever thought you could touch our credentials." They show their solidarity off the top by trading rap and reggae verses, seamlessly.

I will not take the time to review each song, but I will comment on the album as a unit. "Distant Relatives" (DR) is beautiful conceptually and artistically. It has been in the making for a few years now, and the patience of its creation shows. First of all, the artwork in the booklet is amazing. Historic artifacts such as the Rosetta Stone and images of Menelik II are set in a Black and Gold background. Musically, Nas and Damien flow well together. All of the production is handled by Damien Marley, so there is a reggae-feel throughout and it is very cohesive.

Thus, it is difficult to highlight standout tracks on DR. It is not the type of album where you say "Number 7 is a banger!" Instead, it is like one continuous track that you either like or do not like. If I had to choose favorite tracks, I'd say "Tribes at War," "Count Your Blessings," "In His Own Words," "Patience," and "Africa Must Wake Up." K'Naan shows off on his appearance in "Tribes at War," and Lil Wayne does a decent job on "My Generation." Some may consider the latter a little sappy, but we need a little positivity every now and then.

The shortcomings of this album are simple - many of Nas's verses miss the mark. Nas is one of the greatest rappers of all time and his voice and flow alone enhance a track. Sadly, he has to rely on these strengths too often on DR. Whereas Damien's lyrics come off as real and sincere, Nas's lyrics often seem superficial. For example, "In His Own Words" is a song framed by Damien to explain how God will see you through any challenge. Nas takes this time to rap about how he swears he saw God's face in his Claiborne watch. Bruh - seriously? I guess Nas can't help it - he's rich.

All in all, the album has a good feel and is worth giving a listen. This is especially if you want to listen to something exotic that still makes you feel at home.

Beats - 4

Lyrics - 4

Creativity - 4