Distant Relatives

Ok here's something I started writing in the May (and meant to post back in June... but didn't)and only finally just finished. Ok, if I had to do one of those "Best of 2010" posts, I would probably have this on the shortlist for best album of the year... but I don't really want to come up with a list just yet, and due to the length of this post, I'm going to just go ahead and call it the Best Album of 2010. Here's my overdue post on Damian Marley and Nas' Distant Relatives. Since it is such a long post and there are so many great links, I'm just going to let it simmer for a few days.


We've been waiting so long for this to come out (too many delays!!), and I can say... it is straight fire. Apparently they performed together in the summer of 2009 at Rothbury Festival and Rock the Bells, but the album finally came out May 18, 2010 to critic success. Personally, the collaboration was something that excited me, not only as a big fan of Damian Marley (his ridiculous live shows and lyrical intelligence in the studio) but as Nas as a meaningful hip-hop artist. I say "meaningful" because I expected something great from the collaboration, but I probably wouldn't have high expectations and excitement had Damian Marley produced the project with, say... Snoop Dogg.

Back in December 2009, my boy Suril and I attended a roundtable at the National Geographic Center in DC hosted by Sway (yes, THAT Sway from MTV) discussing the origins of hip-hop and reggae. We didn't really know what we were getting ourselves except we really wanted to see Damian and Nas. Without boring all of the awesome details of the event, here are some bullet points:

* Sway knows his shit! I didn't know his background or knowledge of hip hop and reggae, but the dude is legit.

* The connection between reggae and hip hop is a lot stronger than one might think, just hearing the perspectives of DJ Red Alert and there, Cool-Herc and Rakim among others really underscored the importance of bringing this album to a large audience.

* In their first questions asked, Damian was eloquent and deep as usual, and had gotten Nas too high before the discussion. Literally, Nas couldn't make any sense with his first answer except to really laugh and say "just Nas doin' Nas" or something to that effect. It was awesome after the event ended hearing all of them talk about how music affects their life and what they try to convey in their music. I won't do it justice, but here are a few direct clips.

* Later that night they performed at Zanzibar, the infamous club on the SW Waterfront of DC" and didn't go on stage until 2AM (can't really remember), and performed some individual classics and a few collaborations that had everyone salivating. that last link is an actual clip from that night!!


Many delays to the actual release of the record only heightened the anticipation, especially seeing something like the Behind the Scenes look at the recording process:

Nas and Damian Marley Exclusive Interview for Distant Relatives

MySpace Hip Hop | Myspace Music Videos


As the album prepared to drop in May, they performed on Jay Leno, and I thought the appearance was actually pretty weak and un-energetic, at least to "my standards" whatever those may be. (At the time of writing that statement, I was expecting to see them live for a full set in the fall of 2010, but I failed... miserably). This well-written article, though, justifies my expectations and belief in their project.

The album dropped finally, and it is time to talk about a few of the actual songs in the album:

As We Enter, their most recognizable song on the album, for me, is probably one of their strongest and still the most fun song on the album. You'd expect their strong songs to be completely serious, but the pace and beat of the song really energize you. I think it was a smart choice for their single and the first song they really let leak in the HBO show How to Make it in America. They really match their cadence well and the speed of back and forth delivery is almost playful and really demonstrates their ability to meld their styles. Not many pairs can successfully switch off lines back and forth matching the pace of the delivery like they have even after years of working together. In my mind at least, they are up there with the notable pairs, like Talib and Mos Def, or Method Man and Redman.

In Tribes at War, the addition of K'naan almost overshadows Damian and Nas. Musically, it might be the most forward-thinking produced song. I don't want to get into this song more because K'naan really deserves a full post.

Nah Mean – definitely a beat that would appeal more to Damian Marley, a fun loop reminding me of what you might hear of a middle eastern carnival almost with some flutes. When Nas starts the second verses... wow. Unexpectedly, Nas takes it to another level. Then it basically goes into a remix (I don’t know if it is purposeful or unoriginal) of Damian's song “Stuck in Between” from his second album Halfway Tree. At the very least, when I first heard of it they lyrics immediately reminded me of that song. See what I mean? Nah mean? haha.

Land of Promise – again Damian starts off strong, with some straight geographic comparisons of American and African, which Nas then basically asks the question of why the Western and African cultures survive with such differences, and the song ends with a feeling that they are preaching a possibility of closing the gap. The entire song has that great old school reggae feel to it.

Strong Will Continue – Nas stands out as a positive preacher of survival, and Damian provides more of the Chorus to back him up. I want to avoid saying “classic” Nas, but it has some elements of the later stages of that 90s golden era of hip hop, more towards Talib, Mos Def, and Common (and of course Nas himself) with a little harder deliver than that of Tribe Called Quest to urge a positive mentality.

Patience has one of the best background vocals/music, and best overall concept song of the album? One might say the song gets too abstract with the lyrics, but every time I try to listen hard to the message and words of the song I think it encapsulates the power and importance of their partnership on this album. This song might have more balance of the two styles finding a true middle ground, not only lyrically but musically.

The album is so soulful and worth listening to start to finish. Listen to the album here on grooveshark. What is your favorite song? Could Distant Relatives actually be considered one of the best albums of the year?