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The Nas and Damian Marley collaboration Distant Relatives came together as a way to earn money for schools in Africa, but before any corny “charity album” misconceptions get in the way, know that this is one purposeful monster and a conceptional bull's eye that fully supports its title. Actually, it all comes together in the album’s first few seconds as Marley and Nas loop a sample of Ethiopian jazzman Mulatu Astatke for “As We Enter”’s effective and infectious beat. Rapidly trading the lines (Nas): "I’ve got the guns"/(Damian): "I’ve got the Ganja"/(Nas): "And we can blaze it up on your block if you wanna” just raises the excitement level to a “Welcome to Jamrock” or “Nas Is Like,” but when the following “Tribes at War” creates a cinematic big picture of Africa crumbling while its people are unwillingly scattered across the globe, the album turns compelling. On the track, guest K’Naan offers the provocative “I drink poison/Then I vomit diamonds” while the devastating “Leaders” features Nas’ “Malcolm on the podium/Shells drop to linoleum/Swipe those/Place them on display on the Smithsonian.” Still, there’s much more hope and pride here than anger and darkness. The majestic “Strong Will Continue” marches forth with a positive spiritual message, while “Count Your Blessings” is musically akin to Damian’s Bobby Brown collaboration “Beautiful” and father Bob's’s “One Love” lyrically. The magical moment that explains it all comes in the form of an old Dennis Brown interview which is sampled for “Land of Promise.” Answering the question “What do you think of Africa?” Brown replies “Just to mention of it man, is like, you call mi name man” in a voice that displays a whirlwind of emotions, from the very best to the very worst. Distant Relatives is this African contradiction explored further with hip-hop, dancehall, and by way of samples, jazz, and African music showing the way. It’s a royal and a striking reminder of why these two artists have reached legendary status.
© David Jeffries /TiVo
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Nasir Jones, ComposerLyricist - Damian Marley, ComposerLyricist - Mulatu Astatke, ComposerLyricist - Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Producer - Jamaal Sublett, ComposerLyricist - Tim Harkins, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James "Bonzai" Caruso, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Nasir Jones, ComposerLyricist - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marc Lee, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - K'Naan, FeaturedArtist - Greg DePante, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Damian Marley, ComposerLyricist - Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Producer - Tim Harkins, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Keinan Abdi Warsame, ComposerLyricist - James Rudder, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James "Bonzai" Caruso, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Nasir Jones, ComposerLyricist - Marc Lee, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg DePante, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Damian Marley, ComposerLyricist - Benjamin Reid, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Producer - Tim Harkins, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Rudder, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James "Bonzai" Caruso, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, MainArtist - Eric “Twizted” Young, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Nasir Jones, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Marley, Producer, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marc Lee, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Damian Marley, ComposerLyricist - James "Bonzai" Caruso, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, MainArtist - Eric “Twizted” Young, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Nasir Jones, ComposerLyricist - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marc Lee, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charles Wakeman, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Tim Harkins, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James "Bonzai" Caruso, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, MainArtist - Eric “Twizted” Young, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Nasir Jones, ComposerLyricist - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Damian Marley, ComposerLyricist - Steve Nowa, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Producer - Tim Harkins, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James "Bonzai" Caruso, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Nasir Jones, ComposerLyricist - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marc Lee, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg DePante, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Damian Marley, ComposerLyricist - Benjamin Reid, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Producer - Tim Harkins, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Rudder, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James "Bonzai" Caruso, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, MainArtist - Miguel Bermudez, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric “Twizted” Young, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Nasir Jones, ComposerLyricist - Marc Lee, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dennis Brown, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Damian Marley, ComposerLyricist - Charles Wakeman, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Producer - James "Bonzai" Caruso, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, MainArtist - Andre “Illestr8” Forrest, ComposerLyricist - Eric “Twizted” Young, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Nasir Jones, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Marley, Producer, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marc Lee, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Josh Newell, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Damian Marley, ComposerLyricist - Casey Lewis, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charles Wakeman, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Nowa, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - James "Bonzai" Caruso, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, MainArtist - George Massa, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Nasir Jones, ComposerLyricist - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg DePante, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Damian Marley, ComposerLyricist - Charles Wakeman, Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vernon Mungo, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jose Quintero, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Producer - Tim Harkins, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Rudder, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James "Bonzai" Caruso, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, MainArtist - Bobby Newland, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Nasir Jones, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Marley, Producer - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marc Lee, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg DePante, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Damian Marley, ComposerLyricist - Charles Wakeman, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Green, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Amadou Bagayoko, ComposerLyricist - Mariam Doumbia, ComposerLyricist - Tim Harkins, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Rudder, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James "Bonzai" Caruso, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, MainArtist - George Massa, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric “Twizted” Young, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Nasir Jones, ComposerLyricist - Dwayne Carter, ComposerLyricist - Lil Wayne, FeaturedArtist - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marc Lee, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joss Stone, FeaturedArtist - Greg DePante, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Damian Marley, ComposerLyricist - Charles Wakeman, Recording Engineer, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Producer - Tim Harkins, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Rudder, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James "Bonzai" Caruso, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, MainArtist - Eric “Twizted” Young, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Nasir Jones, ComposerLyricist - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Marc Lee, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - K'Naan, FeaturedArtist - Josh Newell, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Damian Marley, ComposerLyricist - Casey Lewis, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charles Wakeman, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Producer - Tim Harkins, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Keinan Abdi Warsame, ComposerLyricist - James "Bonzai" Caruso, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, MainArtist - Eric “Twizted” Young, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
The Nas and Damian Marley collaboration Distant Relatives came together as a way to earn money for schools in Africa, but before any corny “charity album” misconceptions get in the way, know that this is one purposeful monster and a conceptional bull's eye that fully supports its title. Actually, it all comes together in the album’s first few seconds as Marley and Nas loop a sample of Ethiopian jazzman Mulatu Astatke for “As We Enter”’s effective and infectious beat. Rapidly trading the lines (Nas): "I’ve got the guns"/(Damian): "I’ve got the Ganja"/(Nas): "And we can blaze it up on your block if you wanna” just raises the excitement level to a “Welcome to Jamrock” or “Nas Is Like,” but when the following “Tribes at War” creates a cinematic big picture of Africa crumbling while its people are unwillingly scattered across the globe, the album turns compelling. On the track, guest K’Naan offers the provocative “I drink poison/Then I vomit diamonds” while the devastating “Leaders” features Nas’ “Malcolm on the podium/Shells drop to linoleum/Swipe those/Place them on display on the Smithsonian.” Still, there’s much more hope and pride here than anger and darkness. The majestic “Strong Will Continue” marches forth with a positive spiritual message, while “Count Your Blessings” is musically akin to Damian’s Bobby Brown collaboration “Beautiful” and father Bob's’s “One Love” lyrically. The magical moment that explains it all comes in the form of an old Dennis Brown interview which is sampled for “Land of Promise.” Answering the question “What do you think of Africa?” Brown replies “Just to mention of it man, is like, you call mi name man” in a voice that displays a whirlwind of emotions, from the very best to the very worst. Distant Relatives is this African contradiction explored further with hip-hop, dancehall, and by way of samples, jazz, and African music showing the way. It’s a royal and a striking reminder of why these two artists have reached legendary status.
© David Jeffries /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 01:01:40
- Main artists: Damian Marley Nas
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Universal Republic Records
- Genre: World Reggae
© 2018 Republic Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 2018 Republic Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
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