Any hip-hop head, or even a casual enjoying of the culture, can tell you that Nas is a legend in the sport of rapping. Widely considered by most to be one of the greatest to ever do it, whenever Nas drops an album it is a big deal, but circumstances are a bit different here. Nas is giving us the sequel to his fantastic album, King Disease, the album that got the Queens legend his first ever Grammy. While the Grammys have been proven to be the end all, be all for an album’s legacy or quality, seeing Nas win one was huge for the culture. So here we are in 2021 and Nas returns with King’s Disease II, his official follow-up. So how does it measure up?
I think that Nas and Hit-Boy, the producer that Nas linked up with for both of these releases, both work so well together that it’s practically seamless. It was like that with the first album, but on this sequel the pair’s bond is even more tight. Nas is somehow still at the top of game despite the many years he’s been in it and he’s also embracing his role as a hip-hop legend, being a mentor to the new artists seeking to reach the level of greatness he has. The album sounds like a victory, it’s joyous to listen to. You can feel Nas’ age through these raps, it’s the words of a vet who has seen it all and is still on top. On “Moments,” he goes into details about the past moments we can’t return to but love to reminisce. Hit-Boy’s production here is simply perfect, so beautiful, it’s the perfect background for Nas’ tales of the past and the life he lives now. Even with great verses from fellow legends Eminem and Ms. Lauryn Hill (their song was also a great highlight), Nas can’t be overshadowed. This is the sound of legend who knows where he stands in the game and is showcasing why he is at the top.
