While looking forward to this album as I do with anything Nas has involvement in, I never had high expectations as the other half of this collaboration, Damien Marley, is someone whose material I haven't enjoyed too much. However, I did love their collaboration, 'Road to Zion', which was easily the best song on Marley’s grammy award-winning 'Welcome to Jamrock', so there was some hope for some great songs, if not a great album.
However, after plenty of spins, I'm fairly happy with the quality we have received, and I probably like this more than I thought I would. It's a very cohesive album with a constant theme throughout, lyrically and on the boards. It's one of those albums, because there are some great tunes, particularly at the beginning of the album, the slightly weaker tracks do grow on you the more you listen. As just mentioned, it does start off great with Nas and Damien trading lines in the opener which does give any track afterwards a hard task in bettering it, however, all of the first three tracks are very good. And while there are a few slightly weaker tracks like 'Land of Promise', it is easily one of the more consistent albums that you'll hear these days.
To the artists, and when Nas does get the chance to rhyme on this he impresses, with a similar flow to that on his last album. The fact he is spitting similarly themed lyrics probably adds to that feeling. Damien Marley is also good vocally, and you couldn't get a much more distinctive pair. Although sometimes, particularly when is trying to sing/rap fast, his accent makes it hard to completely comprehend the lyrics. Their styles do combine for something unique though.
Overall, the sixty-two-minute duration does fly very quickly even after many listens, which is always a good sign an album ain't too bad. Also, pulling off a six-minute song can sometimes be a challenge in hip hop but 'Strong Will Continue' particularly, feels like a general four-minute tune. The only criticism and why this doesn't get a higher rating from me - is probably that it lacks that one or two more really great songs.
Collaborations like this are generally hard to pull off but the Distant Relatives have created a very cohesive crossover album that is hard to place in particular genres. If you enjoy what Nas has been doing on his past couple of albums and a touch of Reggae/R&B, this should be a likeable album for you.
Best Tracks: As We Enter, Tribes at War, Strong Will Continue, Friends, Dispear, Nah Mean, Africa Must Wake Up
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