On this date in 2010, Queensbridge king Nas and reggae royalty Damian Marley dropped their collaborative album Distant Relatives on the Universal Republic/Def Jam imprint.
This Hip Hop/reggae collabo album was the first of its kind, with its release coming after Nas’ controversial Untitled album and Marley’s landmark Welcome To Jamrock LP. The production was very organic and exempt of super producers except for Jr. Gong and Stephen Marley, having Marley explain , “We’re trying to have a sound that’s reminiscent of both of us, but not exactly like either… A lot of charity albums come off corny. We want this to be something you’d play in your car.”
The album did daily well commercially, entering the Billboard 200 at number five and selling over 125,000 in its premiere month. Distant Relatives also served as a refreshing alternative that was a vehicle of consciousness to younger listeners captivated by the more popular gangster-themed music. Features boasted the likes of Joss Stone, Junior Reid, Lil Wayne, and others.
Salute to Damian and Nas for this pivotal piece of Hip Hop history!
After taking a break with Run The Jewels and El-P, Killer Mike decided to make a big comeback on his own this year. In fact, it had been an 11-year return in the making. His last solo effort was released on May 15, 2012 with R.A.P. Music. That was until June 16 of this year, when Mike unleashed perhaps his best record to date, with MICHAEL. It has done so well for the Georgia legend that is up for a handful of GRAMMY nominations.
It is easy to see why it could win Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance categories. There are so many fantastic records on this LP. “SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS” is the key player here, but “RUN” with Young Thug is another fun one. The great additional tracks and remixes have also helped bolster the legitimacy around Mike’s self-titled tape.
Listen To “RUN (Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley Version)” By Killer Mike And Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley
Mike has redone “MOTHERLESS,” “DOWN BY LAW,” and now “RUN.” For the latter, he has brought on the reggae legend, Damian Marley. This new version keeps a similar rhythm to the original but relies more on drums and horns. If you pay close attention the beat’s pattern has a slight hint of Thugger’s “Wyclef Jean” from his 2016 project JEFFERY. You can check out the music video above.
What are your initial thoughts on this brand-new remix, “RUN (Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley Version),” by Killer Mike and Damian Marley? Do you prefer this rendition, or the original with Young Thug? Is this still your favorite song off of MICHAEL? Where does this album rank for you amongst the rest of the rap albums from 2023? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around Killer Mike. Furthermore, stay with us for all of the best song drops throughout the week.
This year marks the 13th anniversary of Nas and Damian Marley’s collaborative album, Distant Relatives. The album was released on May 18, 2010, via Universal Republic and Def Jam. Damian Marley and his brother Stephen Marley almost entirely produced the project. Distant Relatives was Nas’s second collaborative album, following his group album with The Firm in 1997. It was Marley’s first full-length collaboration with another artist, preceding the Superheavy album with Mick Jagger, Dave Stewart, Joss Stone, and A.R. Rahman.
Nas and Damian Marley initially connected for “Road To Zion,” a song from Marley’s third studio album, 2005’s Welcome to Jamrock. Nas’s song “One Love” from Illmatic is inspired by a song of the same name from Damian’s father, reggae icon Bob Marley. Damian Marley had previously worked with many other hip hop artists, including Black Thought, Treach, and Eve. Distant Relatives followed Nas’s 2008 album, Untitled, which was polarizing for its political content and intense subject matter. Nas and Marley’s Distant Relatives album stands out among their catalogs, not only as a quality collaboration but as an album that fused genres and displayed the close relationship between hip hop and reggae. Here is a look back at the album for its anniversary.
A Fusion Of Two Genres
On the album’s opener and lead single, “As We Enter,” Nas raps, “My man’ll speak Patois, and I can speak rap star.” This lyric concisely summarizes the album as Nas and Marley dominate in two separate worlds of music but can make good music together. The album’s title, Distant Relatives, also speaks to this connection, as portions hip hop’s early musical origins derive from reggae influences.
Damian Marley is not considered a rapper, but he can effortlessly flow on a track like one and keeps up with Nas on a track like “As We Enter.” The song is one of the most exciting moments on the album as the two trade lines with ease. Their distinct voices complement each other nicely. Damian Marley’s Welcome To Jamrock incorporated some elements of hip hop, so it was no surprise that he and Nas worked well together. “As We Enter” samples “Yègellé Tezeta” by Ethiopian musician Mulatu Astatke. Most of the samples on the album come from African musicians such as Amadou & Mariam, Sara Chaves, Tunji Oyelana, and David Zé. The album also samples several Jamaican artists like Dennis Brown, Little Roy, and Damian’s brother Ziggy Marley.
Distant Relatives brought the worlds of hip hop and reggae together through the chemistry between Nas and Marley. The album’s guest list also combines the two genres, with Stephen Marley and K’naan appearing on multiple songs and features from Lil Wayne, Dennis Brown, and Joss Stone. Regarding production, some songs on Distant Relatives lean more towards hip hop while others lean toward Damian’s reggae background. With that in mind, Nas and Marley sound equally comfortable with each other’s style of music, which speaks to their skills as artists and their working relationship.
Distant Relatives Covered Serious Issues
The production of Distant Relatives and the chemistry between Nas and Marley were essential for the album’s success. The lyricism and messaging of the album played an integral role in making a memorable collaboration. Lyrically, hip hop and reggae share many similarities in the topics that artists tend to discuss in their songs. Distant Relatives sheds light on serious issues around the world, drawing comparisons between Africa and America. Songs like “Patience (Sabali)” and “Africa Must Wake Up” highlights the importance of proactively working towards change to solve problems, as well as the importance of unity in Africa in the face of adversity. “Dispear” speaks to underprivileged people, while “Friends” discusses the importance of real friends and distinguishing them from fake ones. “Leaders” with Stephen Marley pays tribute to significant Black leaders and how they inspired change.
An Uplifting Message
Distant Relatives also has many uplifting songs on its tracklist that preach uplifting and motivational messages. A prime example of these hopeful songs is “Strong Will Continue,” a motivational song about not giving up in times of hardship. “Count Your Blessings” is about being happy and grateful for one’s fortune, “In His Own Words” is about the power of God, and “Land of Promise” serves as a love letter to Africa.
The song “My Generation” is also an essential album highlight. The song features a soulful hook from Joss Stone and a chorus of children, making for an uplifting song about the hope for the next generation to make progress. Nas and Marley talk about how this generation can create change, paying respects to those that came before them and pointing out the issues that need to be addressed. Lil Wayne also raps about how change starts from within oneself. “My Generation” is a standout track that exemplifies how Nas and Marley fused their sounds to create a body of work that excels, celebrates the lineage of Black music, and spreads messages of unity.
Two days ago on Instagram, the brand new @calivibesfest account posted a cryptic video with a caption that said “Something is on the horizon.” It didn’t take long for us to find out what that “something” is, as the lineup and dates for Goldenvoice’s brand new California Vibrations Festival (Cali Vibes) has now been announced. Wu-Tang Clan and a very special Bob Marley Birthday Celebration with Ziggy, Damian, Julian, Stephen and Ky-Mani Marley are highlighting a loaded lineup of reggae, rock, roots and hip-hop. The Bob birthday celebration is especially intriguing with The Marley Brothers playing songs from their father’s timeless discography.
The festival takes place from February 2 — 4, 2022 at Marina Green Park in Long Beach and the lineup also includes Rebelution, Sean Paul, Stick Figure, Slightly Stoopid, Sublime With Rome, Dirty Heads, Atmosphere, Barrington Levy, Sean Paul, The Grouch & Eligh, Pepper, Long Beach Dub All-Stars, Koffee and more. Tickets go on-sale this Friday, October 15 and 3-day passes begin at $285 for GA, $420 for VIP and $999 for Beach Club Passes. Single day tickets are also available.
You can view all of the ticket options here. Which also includes single day tickets and payment plans. Visit the festival’s site for more info on everything and check out the full lineup poster for the 3-day festival below.
