Review: "King's Disease" Album by Nas
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The intro track to the album is a fearless anthem for the BLM movement, as it much of this album. People may have considered “Illmatic” to be his true comeback, but other Nas fans will find that this is where he truly shines.
While a lot of rappers are out here taking shots at each other and producing diss tracks a la Eminem and Machine Gun Kelly, Kings disease isn’t a refreshing reminder that we can all have success and use it to uplift each other rather than tear each other down.
Lines that give us goosebumps include: “You should want every brother to make it out But brothers want trophies, they troll for clout” and “You a king, you will be next to me, doing your own king shit, most definitely”
The lines encourage us to rise above gang culture, above social media culture , and above anything that promotes toxic forms of or comparison or masculinity. Much of this whole album feels like a big bro pep talk to the new era of rappers, instructing them to support their brothers rather than breeding animosity.
The transition into “Blue Benz” is flawless, and takes us straight to Queens, New York with a beat that hits and an ice cold Nas flow, his words like velvet as they explore debauchery and wild women.
"Replace Me” uses auto-tune the way it was intended, softens the track up along with a piano back beat. Nas spits, “That kid alright but I’m a kryptonite another type,“ leaving us pitying the next man that follows up a date with Nas - even if it’s with Big Sean or Toliver, who haven’t yet graduated to the throne. This track transforms the new school artists on it to old school, and that melodic, crooning chorus makes it even more addictive.
The lead single, “Ultra Black” is a celebration of Black physical beauty, like “Grace Jones skin tone, but multi that/Multiple colors, we come in all shades, mocha Black” and Black like “cornrows, afros” and it’s equally a tribute to black excellence and achievements, as Nas reflects on “Black like Kaep' blackballed from the Superbowls (Colin)”
Things cool down again with “All Bad” featuring Anderson Paak. This one has a chilled out and jazzy drum flow that permeates much of the album. The production choices feel like an homage of the mosaic of Black culture that led to hip hop, including jazz, blues, and soul.
Full circle features a round up of rappers that each murder their verse with ease. It’s especially exciting to see a comeback from foxy brown. It’s not all Lil Mosey and Bad Bhabie, for those of you who feel doomed. Biggie and Pac might be ghosts now, but their spirits live in Nas, a time capsule that manages to update itself and stay relevant time and time again. During this extremely bizzare time in the world, we’re facing an opportunity for rebirth, and this album is a sure symbol of that hope and optimism.
“10 Points” is another piece of brotherly advice that explores the judgement of Black celebs in the media, and reminds us “we all need knowledge instead of sneakers.“ It hits us with thought-provoking lines about materialism, where Nas pleads with us to remove the hype and re-focus.