King's Disease II

After 2019s disappointing Kanye West-produced Nasir, legendary Queens rapper Nas bounced back with 2020 album Kings Disease. With the benefit of exhilarating Hit-Boy production on every track, Nas was revitalized, and the album scored the rapper his first Grammy, three decades into his craft. Sequel Kings Disease II bests its predecessor. Hit-Boy takes on the production once more, but instead of relying mainly on throwback beats and wistful nostalgia, this installment of the series is darker, moodier, and more direct. Hit-Boys beats are often tense and atmospheric, giving the album a cinematic feel as Nas leans harder into storytelling with his lyricism. He still spends time examining the past, but its more of a history lesson than a fond remembrance. Death Row East is perhaps the best example of this, with lyrics that lay out a vivid personal perspective on the East Coast/West Coast beef of the 90s rap scene, Tupac Shakurs death, and Nas role in those charged times. The warm soul samples and dusty drum loops of Store Run offer an old-school backdrop for reflection on memories both glorious and painful, and Rare finds Nas and Hit-Boy matching powers with ambitious beat-switching production and a whirlwind of quickly shifting flows and vocal hooks. Kings Disease II takes chances, presenting thoughtful, searching instrumentals like Nobody (which features a bold verse from the one and only Lauryn Hill) alongside more modernized trap beats like 40 Side or YKTV. The album moves smoothly through its various modes, with rowdy tracks highlighted by strong features from Eminem and A Boogie wit da Hoodie transitioning into more introspective and even softly romantic material on the albums second half. Nas sounds sharp and inspired throughout, giving performances that recall the uncanny brilliance that made his earliest work essential, but also showing hes still capable of taking his art to new places. ~ Fred Thomas

ナズの約1年ぶりの新作はヒット・ボーイとのタッグでグラミーも獲得した前作『King's Disease』の続編で、前作に続いて多数のゲストが参加。かのEPMDに捧げた既発曲"EPMD"にそのEPMD当人たちとエミネム(初コラボ!)を招いた続編"EPMD 2"や、四半世紀ぶりの再共演となったローリン・ヒルがタイトにラップする"Nobody"、若い世代のYGとブギー・ウィット・ダ・フーディが参加した"YKTV"といった垂涎級の楽曲が並ぶ。ヒット・ボーイによるソウルフルなタッチのプロダクションと年齢を重ねて円熟味を増したナズのラップとの相性も絶品で、ブラストやチャーリー・ウィルソンらシンガー勢のアシストも見事。意味深なタイトルの"Death Row East"では生前に交戦した故2パックについて綴っている。
bounce (C)Masso 187um