New Music First: Nas And Damian Marley ‘As We Enter’
Big name collaborations in the world of hip-hop can often be a huge anti-climax. Just take Jay-Z and R. Kelly’s 2004 joint album ‘Unfinished Business’ as an example: two of the most prominent artists of their time coming together to produce a commercial and critical flop. However, if early indications are anything to go by it would seem that the new album from Nas and Damian Marley, ‘Distant Cousins’, has none of these problems.
Nas remains one of the most highly rated rappers of his generation while Damian Marley’s mix of ragga, hip hop and more traditional reggae forms saw him pick up three Grammys and a gold disc for his last album, ‘Welcome To Jamrock’. The first cut from the album, ‘As We Enter’, sees the New York and Kingston pair trade flows over a rolling old-school break. Lines such as “I’ve got The Guns” (from Nas) and “I’ve got the Ganja” (from Marley) show the pair aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel on this track – but when it sounds as urgent and as joyously retro as this there is no need to.
‘Distant Relatives’ is due for release on May 25th and also features collaborations with Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Snoop Dogg, K’naan, Stephen Marley and – oddly enough – Joss Stone.
