Nobody has had quite a run as Nas has this late in their career in the storied history of Hip-Hop. But at 49-years-old and already in his third prime and ironically enough as Hip-Hop, itself, goes into its 50th year of existence. It’s truly quite remarkable and inspiring the rejuvenation that Hit-Boy has brought out of Nas over these past two plus year’s with the very unlikely duo’s King’s Disease trilogy. As well as their remarkable surprise EP, Magic. They released last December. The duo has now delivered last month the epic and celebratory, King’s Disease III. Which as Nas alludes to with bars of, “They argue KD1, KD2 or Magic, what’s harder? When KD3 go harder than all of them.” When you listen to the way Nas so effortlessly and masterfully flows with such precession and ease. From the very opening track, Ghetto Reporter, all the way up to the album’s closing track, Don’t Shoot and bonus track, Till My Last Breath. You can see why Nas has a pretty good argument for making such a statement about his 15th solo album of his very illustrious and storied career.
Nearly 30 years after his very historic and defining classic debut album, Illmatic. It’s truly remarkable to see Nas show that same hunger, grit and wisdom he brings to his audience now. But in an even more lyrically sharp and precise way that shows how much he has not only grown as an emcee, but man and human being over that time as well. It’s especially shown even more so on the album’s four tracks run of Legit, Thun, Michael & Quincy and 30. Which ironically enough is easily the top four tracks on the whole album. Legit, which features a very crazy and absolutely brilliant flip of Eddie King from The Five Heartbeats by Hit-Boy on the production. Seeing Nas rapping about the way he was able to make it out the belly of the beast of the New York Queensbridge projects he grew up in. In a legit way that many others he grew up with weren’t able to and he thought he would never be able to himself. He also gives game to the youth on how they can make better choices in the streets than him and several others he knew did. Thun, meanwhile features that timeless more darker and orchestral cinematic instrumental and is an obvious QB anthem for the famous slang of Nas’ hometown. While also featuring the very sly, funny and cleverly now often quoted bars of, “No beef or rivals.nnThey playin’ “Ether” on TIDAL. Brothers can do anything when they decide to. In a Range Rover, dissectin’ bars from “Takeover.” Sometimes I text Hova like “N***a this ain’t over,” Laughin’.” Michael & Quincy features another very soulfully rattling backdrop. As Nas spits his braggadocious raps about how him and Hit-Boy are like an updated version except in Hip-Hop and not Pop of the late great Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones. The beat and somewhat flow switch from Nas on, Michael & Quincy, quite brilliant too. 30, goes back to the absolutely triumphant and glorious production. That even has a little bit of trap in it too. As Nas uses a somewhat double time flow as he effortlessly raps about his dominance in Hip-Hop and Rap for nearly 30 Summers. Giving himself his own flowers as well.
One of the things that makes King’s Disease III such a stellar and remarkably amazing album too. Is the way that Nas is able to shine so brilliantly both lyrically and through his stellar charismatic wordplay. As well as sound so comfortable in his own skin too cause of not feeling the pressure he has had throughout a majority of his career to maintain a certain status. Which is highlighted even more on such standout tracks as, Recession Proof and Reminisce. In which Nas is able to so effortlessly tell stories of how his development year’s as a teen shaped him into who he’s. That included him and his brother, Jungle, trying to avoid hitting the floor at a Knicks game cause Nas had sex with somebody’s lady that was near those seats. Reminisce features a very brilliantly flipped sample of Mary J. Blige’s classic record, You Remind Me. That adds to the very nostalgic feel as Nas raps and reminisces about the things he had to go through to get to this point in his career. As well with bars like, “When you high as me. You get highly critiqued. Hopped on a beat, purposefully soundin’ like ‘9-3. None quite like me, so haters can S-M-D.” On how it has been both a blessing and a curse. Thus why Nas also urges listener’s to hold his current music to his early classics as well. The way he switched his flow to a new flow after Hit-Boy switched the beat to a more Drill style bit that a lot of New York is known for right now. Also showing how Nas is able to adapt to the current times while still staying true to himself.
Some other favorites of mine from the album that are also standout tracks. Are First Time, Beef, I’m On Fire and Till My Last Breath. First Time, a very brilliant conceptual introspective track where Nas over the smooth and nostalgic backdrop raps about what it felt like for him when he heard his favorite artists for the first time. While also wondering what it was like for his fans the first time they heard him or any of their other favorite artists. Beef is a very powerful track that finds Nas over the very moody and overcast backdrop. Rapping from the perspective of beef. Like the kind when you are in disagreement with someone over something. Meanwhile, I’m On Fire, has a brilliant sample of NBA Jam’s popular, “On Fire” call. As Nas raps throughout the track about how, “On Fire.” He has been on the mic over this recent very resurgence of his that he has been on over the last nearly three to four year’s or so. Till My Last Breath, is a very triumphant and trumpet-based record that has a brilliant ear-catching sample of Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet’s song, Narco. That has famously been used as entrance music for closer Edwin Diaz, of Nas’ hometown New York Mets. As Nas raps so effortlessly a victory lap of sorts for the conclusion to his King’s Disease trilogy with Hit-Boy.
Overall, King’s Disease III, is easily the best of the three album’s released between Nas and Hit-Boy. That while not a classic album is the closest of the three to being one. Cause of how inspiring and remarkably amazing both, conceptually and lyrically. That the album is from beginning to end and for Nas to do it all solo without any features. Is what makes it even more impressive. With the amount of features most emcee’s or artists in general usually have on their album’s in modern times. The very high replay value is also what makes it easily one of the top not only Hip-Hop, but album’s released across all of music here in 2022. Which also not only lets us know why Nas was once again one of the top emcee’s this year, but once again helps to continually prove why he’s among the top three to five emcee’s and lyricists of all-time.