Nas & Hit-Boy dropped the third instalment of their critically acclaimed “King’s Disease” album series.
Our rating: 9.7/10
Even if the 2020s have been strange, one item has indeed been consistently provided throughout this decade. New releases from the King’s Disease collaboration between Nas and Hit-Boy.
It’s amazing to see Nas’ career in such a resurgence. He’s 30 years old and is on a three-album streak that matches the finest albums by most rappers. Nas raises the standard in the third instalment of his “King’s Disease” trilogy.
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There aren’t many terrific third editions in any franchise. I can say with absolute certainty that King’s Disease III is the finest part three of a piece I’ve ever heard or seen. Nas is a rare example of a rap icon that consistently releases albums each year. With the rapper releasing music more frequently, one may anticipate a dip in the caliber of his work—especially given that he works on each record alongside the same team in the studio. On King’s Disease III, however, Nas and Hit-Boy demonstrated that their artistic affinity and charisma only grow more astounding each time.
Hit-Boy has advanced considerably. More than at any other time in his career, Nas and him appear to sync stronger than before. I’m at a loss for standouts since this is so good. Nas dominates each track, even if I don’t like the trap sounds on 30 and Til My Last Breath.
On the first track, “Ghetto Reporter,” Nas doesn’t waste any time in telling his fans that they’re in for a momentous occasion and says precisely what everybody was thinking:
Ni**as know I don’t drop this often, so cherish it (So cherish it)
Like your daughter’s graduation, kids’ marriages”
Nasir isn’t one to rush, as both he and his followers are aware. Nas is renowned for carefully selecting each song on his albums, and he frequently forgoes quality in favor of bulk to make sure his albums leave a lasting impression. Perhaps Nas’ increased feeling of energy and subsequent masterpieces are a result of his knowledge of his own transience.
Thirty seconds intro “Legit,” We know precisely what you were feeling: Is this going to be the song? You get pure musical erotica after suffering through a midway rhythm and an elderly black man who could possibly hold his breath. When a riff rhythm with a tremendous knock finally appears, Nas is prompted to attack us with jubilant rhymes that illustrate his transformation from dubious company owner to legitimate business entrepreneur. I adore the passion of this track above all else.
In “Thun,” Nas tells the narrative of his early existence on the streets using an amazing rhyming system. Nas continues to win while performing sounds that seem like the classics his fans have loved from day one of his career in hip-hop. The album “Thun” is a highlight. Nas pays homage to his neighborhood, Queens, using reflective chords and a gritty feel that is certain to bring out whatever rap head’s mean mug. His dramatic come-up on the streets of New York is highlighted in his rhymes with a faultless flow. You’ll get goosebumps from the way he pumps up like a man who understands how much labor he put in there during his height.
During the recording of this song, I’m very certain that Nas’ laptop, microphones, audio amplifiers, and other equipment caught fire.
No, I didn’t include “Michael & Quincy” on this top 5 list because Nas simply gets fired up and explodes off in the track! Nas provides us with numerous reasons to think that he is a supernatural over a rhythm that grows progressively more intense as it continues to play. It would be an injustice to suggest that Nas here is exaggerating his own virtue. The Mobb Deep and Nas song “It’s Mine” beat is extremely similar to “Hood2Hood.” Nas does a great job at spitting out powerful rhymes that discuss what it requires to be a ruler and how to party when you become an immortal leader while still sounding like his classic self. Overall, “Hood2Hood” ranges from quirky to sneaky as heck, in my opinion.
The atmosphere of King’s Disease III is both nostalgic and contemporary. It speaks openly about ghetto politics and life lessons while born and raised in the Queensbridge slums, and its release ties with one of the worst and most well-known homicides in hip hop. Nas motivates his followers with songs like “Hood2Hood,” which serves as a reminder that life is far too short to waste it in constant warfare.
When I came to “Reminisce,” the song that divides the album in two, I started to feel a little uneasy. Only because “Reminisce” seemed like the ideal way to cap off such a powerful album upon first listening.
As a young man moving up from the slums to the mansion, Nas reflects on his up and downs in “Reminisce.” Hit-Boy creates the ideal atmosphere for a profoundly emotional tone over a reflective beat that takes “You Remind Me” by Mary J. Blige. After “Reminisce,” I couldn’t have imagined Nas and Hit-Boy surpassing it, yet they once again show that it’s not over yet.
With “WTF SMH,” Nas demonstrates his ability to compete for both the peak of rap music and the current rap generation. On the rough song, Nas screams out until Hit-Boy deftly alters the rhythm, and Nas shifts to a calmer, more contemplative flow.
Nas demonstrates that maturing like wine comes with its share of bumps and bruises.
I could picture Shakur creating a song like “Once a Man, Twice a Child” if he was still around. In addition to the song’s sound that reminds me of “Keep Your Head Up,” Nas’ approach to accepting development and the difficulties and hardships that come with becoming a man shouts Pac to me. In any event, “Once a Man, Twice a Child” is not only simply a pleasant listen; it’s also an excellent learning opportunity.
By giving life to the well-known “Beef” metaphor, Nas once more personifies the dead. Nas uses poetry to deconstruct concepts for the audience who is listening with their senses and their minds. The song “Beef” is where his lyrical taste is most apparent. Only Nas is able to go into his own bag.
Nas and Hit-Boy cleverly integrate the concept of King’s Disease with in-depth reflection, inspiring us to reflect on ourselves and understand that our own life in this world isn’t assured. With skillful poetry, they serve as a reminder that Black men are often diverted from their genuine purpose in life by avarice and its many manifestations, including desire, wealth, celebrity, and jealousy.
As much as I would like to salute Nas, Hit-Boy deserves all the praise in the world. I genuinely believe that the sounds he provided Nas with were incredible. I was awestruck by how he was capable of seamlessly blending many periods, sounds, gears, and coastlines all through the piece. The rhythms, on the other hand, strike me as being multi-layered, complex, and very forceful.
All three King’s Diseases propel hip-hop ahead while simultaneously reminding us how far it has gone. Nas and Hit-Boy are currently on the hottest run in hip-hop history. We must support them to continue their wonderful job.
