“I still remember the first time I saw the black and white squares on the concrete as a kid. Story goes; the Black King rarely ever deals the finishing move. But a man who has no imagination has no wings. You Might see a King on the defense.. But I see the only piece on the board that can never be contained” – Nas
Queens, New York legend Nas has showcased his greatness once more on his new album Kings Disease II. Fifteen tracks deep, the sequel LP was entirely produced once more from Hit-Boy as a testament to the duo’s shared chemistry. The features are as iconic and pleasing as they come, with legendary names such as Lauryn Hill, EPMD Eminem, and Charlie Wilson topping the list. From an objective standpoint it’s generally proven that sequels/follow-ups are inferior to their predecessor(s), but in my opinion Nas & Hit-Boy have achieved the exact opposite. As my good friend Ruben aka Check the Rhyme shared, “King’s Disease was like Nas & Hit-Boy making a good playoff run, but KD 2 feels like a Championship Parade. Their chemistry is refined and the final product is better than I ever expected.” In other words, the first release served as the blueprint for the second, thereby creating two connected bodies of work that will withstand the test of time. There’s plenty standout tracks which in large part stems from Hit-Boy’s understanding of Nas’ stylistic forms of expression. Sonically each solo record boasts an evolved version of Nas to signify excellence beyond his prime as he raps over modern production along with his more classic hip-hop identity. As for visuals, the song “Rare” was the perfect choice as it symbolizes the rarity of an artist with Nas’ longevity. Cinematically the black & white visuals align with the thematic chess concept; particularly relating to a King’s role and perspective through a Black lens. Lyrically there’s plenty of truth-telling wisdom in the purest form as anyone can attest to the emcee’s Hall of Fame resume. With lines such as “Mentally I’m in Queens / More money, more problems you gotta be ready for all that it brings,” the song’s living proof that Nasty Nas will never abandon his roots. Peep the Savannah Setten directed visual for “Rare” below and be sure to listen to all of King’s Disease II!
“The limits of your mind are the limits that you create. You are your only opponent” – Nas