Nas — King’s Disease II — Album Review
Hip Hop | Rap
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Music
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, more commonly known by his stage name of Nas, is unarguably one of the most influential and praised rappers that emerged from the New York hip-hop scene. And despite this fact, I was an example of somebody who became a fan of his music a little later than I perhaps should’ve.
To be more specific, I first began listening to Nas with the release of the 2018 album NASIR; the twelfth studio album from the rapper. Given the title of the album, it was introspective enough for it to serve as a great introduction to the rapper. The amazing production and seamless flows allowed NASIR to stand as a truly special project.
Given how much I had enjoyed that album, I was definitely eager to give his 2020 project King’s Disease a listen, and thus a review, as well. It was this album where I had fully come to appreciate the production courtesy of Hit-Boy, a frequent collaborator of Nas, and just how well it all went with Nas’ lyrics. King’s Disease did admittedly feel a bit more commercial and less artistic than NASIR, but I still enjoyed it all the same.
To my pleasant surprise, that wouldn’t be the last we saw of King’s Disease, as the sequel to that album found its way into 2021. Enter; King’s Disease II.
As if the opening few words of the above paragraph didn’t suggest so, I was far from aware that an album like this was in the works. What struck me straight away was the difference this album had from a visual standpoint. Nas hasn’t exactly had the sleekest of album covers, but I appreciated this cover art's simplicity.
From a visual standpoint, it contrasted greatly with the chaotic artwork of the first King’s Disease. But how does it compare musically?
I had my first inkling that this was going to be another great project, upon my initial skim through. I noticed an abundance of soulful sampling, which is a very good sign of an album bursting with grandeur and maturity, which is thankfully what we got with King’s Disease II.
Hit-Boy has once again got both hands on the production wheel. But instead of another commercial album like King’s Disease or another artistic album like NASIR, King’s Disease II strikes a perfect balance between both qualities.
The aforementioned soulfulness plays a great part in this album’s memorability and enjoyment and wonderfully reflects just how far the rapper has come. For me, this kind of aesthetic matches the whole “kingly” feel of the King’s Disease saga far better than the first edition.
This whole grandiose feel pretty much runs throughout the entire album and really had me on board with the successful life of Nas. With the exception of maybe one of two singles, King’s Disease is an enjoyable, engaging, and flawless experience from beginning to end.
Favourite Tracks: Death Row East | Store Run | Moments | Nas is Good
Least Favourite Track: YKTV
Mass Appeal
Enjoyment: 10/10 | Memorability: 9/10 | Atmosphere: 9/10
Uniqueness: 7/10 | Satisfaction: 9/10 | Narrative: 8/10
