Distant Relatives CD

MUSIC

RAP / HIP-HOP

Song Listing

Disc 1

Song Title

1. As We Enter ~ Damian "Junior Gong" Marley/Nas

2. Tribes at War - (featuring K'NAAN) ~ Damian "Junior Gong" Marley/Nas

3. Strong Will Continue ~ Damian "Junior Gong" Marley/Nas

4. Leaders ~ Damian "Junior Gong" Marley/Nas

5. Friends ~ Damian "Junior Gong" Marley/Nas

6. Count Your Blessings ~ Damian "Junior Gong" Marley/Nas

7. Dispear ~ Damian "Junior Gong" Marley/Nas

8. Land of Promise ~ Damian "Junior Gong" Marley/Nas

9. In His Own Words ~ Damian "Junior Gong" Marley/Nas

10. Nah Mean ~ Damian "Junior Gong" Marley/Nas

11. Patience ~ Damian "Junior Gong" Marley/Nas

12. My Generations - (featuring Lil Wayne) ~ Damian "Junior Gong" Marley/Nas

13. Africa Must Wake Up - (featuring K'NAAN) ~ Damian "Junior Gong" Marley/Nas

Album Notes and Credits

Notes & Personnel Info
	Audio Mixers: Charles Wakeman; James "Bonzai" Caruso.
	Recording information: Circle House Studios, Miami, FL; D.A.R.P., Atlanta, GA; Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Hit Factory, Miami, FL; Lion's Den Studios, Miami, FL; NRG Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Setai Recordings, Miami, FL.
	Photographers: Nabil Elderkin; Neville Garrick.
	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
Engineer: Marc Lee; Josh Newell; Vernon Mungo; Casey Lewis; Charles Wakeman; Benjamin Reid; Andrew Green; George Massa; Tim Harkins
Musical Guests
	K'naan
	Stephen Marley
	Dennis Brown
	Joss Stone
	Lil Wayne

Compilation Appearances

	Blue Crush
	Ultimate Reggae
	Hip Hop Is Dead (Explicit Version)
	Return From Mecca
	Blue Carpet Treatment (Explicit Version)
	E=MC2
	The Love And War Masterpeace
	Reggae Gold 2010
	Crunk Rock(Explicit Version)
	Strictly The Best Vol 43
	Revelation Part 1:Root Of Life
	Reggae Gold 2011
	Strictly The Best Vol 45
	Reggae Golden Jubilee:origins Of Jama
	Cypressxrusko Ep(Explicit Version)
	Strictly The Best Vol 43
	On My Radio
	Rasa Swank
	Patriots

Associated Artists and Works

Rusko

Technical Info

	Release Date : 05/18/2010
	Original Release Date : 2010
	Catalog ID : B0014398
	Label : Def Jam (USA)
	Number of Discs : 1
	Mono/Stereo : Stereo
	SPAR Code : n/a
	UPC : 00602527406596

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (p.68)
- 3 stars out of 5 -- "Though they decry Africa's ills, they also offer hopeful visions on the Lil Wayne-assisted 'My Generation.'"

Spin - "Bob's youngest son and Nas concoct an entire suite of rap/reggae crossover devoted to black nationalism and African liberation."

Billboard (p.36)
- "[T]he themes are communicated best through the music, a hybrid of the genres each artist has mastered coupled with African- and African-American-derived rhythms."

Mojo (Publisher)
(p.92)
- 4 stars out of 5 -- "[With the] choir-scored gospel-rap of 'In His Own Words' and blissful Isleys-esque slow-funk of 'Africa Must Wake UP' offering melodious pop to sweeting Nas and Marley's strong medicinal polemic."

Pitchfork (Website)
- "[A] true collaborative affair, two deeply talented guys with amazing, evocative voices finding common ground and exploring it."

Uncut (magazine)
(p.115)
- 3 stars out of 5 -- "Single 'As We Enter', finds the pair trading perfect verses over a Marley production that takes cues from Pete Rock."

BloomReach Content

Distant Relatives (2010)

Product Details: