King's Disease II in Bloomington, MN

After 2019's disappointing
Kanye West
-produced
Nasir
, legendary Queens rapper
Nas
bounced back with 2020 album
King's Disease
. With the benefit of exhilarating
Hit-Boy
production on every track,
was revitalized, and the album scored the rapper his first Grammy, three decades into his craft. Sequel
King's Disease II
bests its predecessor.
takes on the production once more, but instead of relying mainly on throwback beats and wistful nostalgia, this installment of the series is darker, moodier, and more direct.
's beats are often tense and atmospheric, giving the album a cinematic feel as
leans harder into storytelling with his lyricism. He still spends time examining the past, but it's more of a history lesson than a fond remembrance. "Death Row East" is perhaps the best example of this, with lyrics that lay out a vivid personal perspective on the East Coast/West Coast beef of the '90s rap scene,
Tupac Shakur
's death, and
' role in those charged times. The warm soul samples and dusty drum loops of "Store Run" offer an old-school backdrop for reflection on memories both glorious and painful, and "Rare" finds
and
matching powers with ambitious beat-switching production and a whirlwind of quickly shifting flows and vocal hooks.
takes chances, presenting thoughtful, searching instrumentals like "Nobody" (which features a bold verse from the one and only
Lauryn Hill
) alongside more modernized trap beats like "40 Side" or "YKTV." The album moves smoothly through its various modes, with rowdy tracks highlighted by strong features from
Eminem
A Boogie wit da Hoodie
transitioning into more introspective and even softly romantic material on the album's second half.
sounds sharp and inspired throughout, giving performances that recall the uncanny brilliance that made his earliest work essential, but also showing he's still capable of taking his art to new places. ~ Fred Thomas