Controversy
Superstar
This chemistry/synergy between Nas & Hit-Boy was what the game has been missing
Rapmastermind
Superstar
Rapmastermind's Review of "King's Disease II"
The Pressure – 4/5
Death Row East – 4.5/5
40 Side – 4/5
EPMD 2 – 4.5/5
Rare – 5/5
YKTV – 3.5/5
Store Run – 5/5
Moments – 4/5
Nobody – 5/5
No Phony Love – 4.5/5
Brunch on Sundays – 4/5
Count Me In – 5/5
Composure – 4.5/5
My Bible – 5/5
Nas is Good – 5/5
Personal Bonus Tracks:
EPMD – 5/5
Life is like a Dice Game – 4/5
Production: 4.5/5
Lyrics 4.5/5
Sequencing 4.5/5
Features 4.5/5
Overall: 4.5 MICS
“Talk about Back in the days….This ain’t Back In the Days.”
There's nothing like a Great Sequel. You love the original and then the Characters come back and blow you away again. But for it to work, there are The Sequel Rules. That’s what they are called in Movies. Meaning when you do a sequel, there are specific rules you must follow for success. You know, like bringing back Main Characters. Having a bigger Adventure or more dangerous mission. Only a few sequels are considered just as good or better than the original. “Godfather II”, “Empire Strikes Back”, Aliens”, “Terminator 2” and “The Dark Knight” to name a few. Of course it’s debatable as the original films of those series are all classic. Well In the case of “King’s Disease II”, NaS and Hit-Boy give us that Blockbuster Sequel. The original is coming off a Historic Critically Acclaimed Grammy Success. If "King's Disease" was a movie, it won "Best Picture" in Rap. Well with the sequel, they follow the Sequel Rules by bringing some returning Characters.
Of course with themselves leading the show. Along with Charlie Wilson and Don Toliver. But like all great sequels, they bring some new characters. Chart some new territory as well. One thing off the bat, this album sounds different from the original. It’s also longer in length. The Sound is much bigger on this record. NaS has always evolved on each album. Each one different than the last. With Hit Boy they were able to evolve together to make some thing even more fresh and new. Now after “King Disease” we were all speculating on what NaS’s next album would be. Because of NaS’s past, I was sure he may want to work with other producers. He did do a few songs outside of Hit-Boy this year but they never stopped working. After the Grammy with Hit-Boy the chemistry continued on.
(NaS Pays Homage to the Legendary EPMD on the album)
NaS has never done a direct sequel. “StILLmatic” is like an unofficial sequel to “ILLmatic” and then there was “Lost Tapes II” that came almost 20 years later. Both of those had elements similar but were different from their predecessors. This was different because it was back to back. With the exact same Producer as well. Then 6 months after the album, suddenly, “EPMD” dropped. I loved it…..the song was like a futuristic 80's track. Plus they were paying homage to EPMD. Legendary Group.
Even then I was hoping they would work with NaS. But little did we know, that song was NaS letting us know that Him and Hit-Boy were back in business. Then NaS would be on the dope Khalid Jay Collabo. Next he would do two really hot DMX features. One being a "Life is Good" outtake "Bath Salts" with Jay and X and another with X. I was really liking what I was hearing this year. He remade the classic mixtape demo cut “Life is like a dice game” too bringing in Corde and Freddie. Then a few weeks ago he had a surprise announcement for the sequel and that Hit-Boy was returning. That immediately let me know that they just picked up where they left off.
(NaS finally gives his side of the Infamous Tupac Confrontation)
So the snippet of “Rare” drops. I was liking that tease. Finally the album comes out. So I push play and right away, NaS and Hit-Boy are bringing pressure with “The Pressure”. It’s a hard beat and gets the album started right. NaS let’s everyone know he’s going nowhere. Next is the East/West Saga “Death Row East”. The song details NaS’s infamous run in with Tupac. It also talks about NaS wanting to squash any issues. It’s always great hearing insight from during that time.
Hit-Boy pays homage with an “All Eyez On Me/Makaveli” era type beat for the song. NaS gets into storytelling mode and gives his side of the story. It was a really good track. Also that was a nice touch to have live audio with Ed Lover announcing that day. It's just brings you back to the time and moment. RIP Tupac and Stretch. Next is the trap influenced “40 Side”. The beat really does bump. I enjoyed NaS’s flow on this too. It’s like a Queens Anthem right here. He shouts out his hometown all throughout. Again this joint bumps. The Lil' Baby adlibs weren't bad at all. Helped with the atmosphere of the song.
(After producing "The Cross" from "God's Son", Eminem finally features on a NaS song)
Then would be a song a lot of people are talking about. It's also doing very well on streaming already. EPMD 2 which features EPMD themselves and Eminem. First things First, I LOVED the original. Like I previously said, the beat was like some futuristic sh!t but from the 80’s. I know exactly why Hit-Boy and NaS named it EPMD. Well they ended up adding the remix to the album ala (Dead Presidents, Dead Presidents II). The beat is the same but changed slightly. NaS goes in with a hard flow and verse. I liked the back and forth from Erick and Parrish too. It’s good to hear EPMD, Legendary Group. Also the song eludes to their comeback LP "Back in Business". Em finishes off the song and I thought his verse was straight. You can tell he was happy to be on the song. Was it lyrical miracle? Yeah but I’ll take that over all this weak singing and non-rapping going on, lol. My only issue was probably the last part of his verse. He did get into his lyrical acrobatics, lol.
Don’t get me wrong, this was a lyrical type of collabo. But the end of the verse I was like "Aiight Em" lol. But overall the verse was fine and I still liked the remix. Having NaS and EPMD on a song is dope. Em also did bring some bars so that’s good. I wouldn’t put it over the original but it’s right there. And No NaS didn't get you know what on his own ish, lol. I like his verse better. Next is the 1st single, “Rare” and I loved it. The fast flow and Beat switches were nice. He also had several lyrical homages to Biggie on the song. Kind of cool this ended up a single because it’s showing his lyrical skills all these years later. Loved the video too, it was very trippy, lol. Next was the club banger “YKTV”. I confess my least fav but It was basically like “Spicy” in that way. I get is more of a youthful club record. I like the beat though, it really bumps. A boogie and YG came cool but again it’s only aiight. “Store Run” is vintage NY sounding with the sample. Love NaS’s spitting on this, def one of favs. Hit-Boy killed that right there. Sounds like an old school NaS record. Again he flipped that sample tight. Same with “Moments”. It had that “2nd Childhood” vibe as far as the beat. Also felt a little like “Back When” too. Love when NaS gets nostalgia and raps about the past.
(Full Circle Again: 25 Years after the Classic "If I Rule The World", Lauryn "L Boogie" Hill is back on a NaS album)
Speaking of the past....after bringing back the Firm last time, the next song floored me just as "Full Circle" Did. “Nobody” is like hoping in the DeLorean and time traveling. NaS and Lauryn take you back to the 90’s Neo Soul days. When “Miseducation” was poppin. When D’Angelo, Maxwell and Erykah Badu was doing their thing. Love the soothing beat and instruments. Had that chill vibe like DMX’s “Walking in the Rain”. NaS kicks two nice verses but yes Lauryn went in something serious. It felt like she never left. This was L Boogie Lauryn too. Like “Nappy heads”, “Vocab”, "The Score" Fugees Lauryn. Spitting too. Sorry Esco, L-Boogie got you, lol. Felt like Full Circle Part II bringing them back 25 years after “If I ruled the World”. I love this record. Artists like Lauryn Hill are one of kind. I find it impossible to get tired of that song. Happy NaS was able to bring her back. “No Phony Love” doesn’t disappoint either. Charlie and NaS do it again. This time with a nice 80’s vibe.
Charlie voice is timeless and the beat and chops were dope. NaS gives us a nice relationship record. “Brunch on Sunday’s” was dope, nice beat and chill vibe. Blxst does pretty good on the vocals too. The album finishes off with the bang. “Count Me In” has stayed on repeat. Beat had me a hello then when the bass dropped that was it. NaS destroys this too. “Composure” is just fire. Even Hit-Boy drops a nice verse. But that horn section is too much. Sounds like some Premo Gang Starr ish. NaS kills it too. “My Church” had that big Just blaze sound and “NaS is Good” is a dope soul sample that had a little old school Ye vibes. But still had those hard hitting Hit-Boy drums. Both songs capped off a very strong Sequel. The album flows well and the 2nd Half is really bananas. Like I said, Blockbuster Sequel. Since both “EPMD” and “Life is a Like a Dice Game” were produced by Hit-Boy leading up to the album. I only felt it was right to include them as personal bonus tracks though they aren’t included officially.
Overall I’m very please. NaS and Hit-Boy make a great team. It’s early but it feels like they improved over the original. I’m still dissecting the bars but of course NaS goes in. The Sound is bigger, the features even more surprising. Hit-Boy did a fantastic Job producing this album. The Beat Switches, Samples even the natural production he did. Those bass line's, damn. Job well done again Mr. Hollis. You the Hit-MAN now, lol. You definitely knockin em down, album after album. Does this mean “King’s Disease III” August 2022? Well I'm more about living in the moment now and enjoying this great follow up. But Yes hopefully they can finish the Trilogy strong, next year would be great but whatever NaS decides....I'm going to ride for the journey. I'm just happy after 6 long years from "Life is Good"....NaS has given us 4 back to back projects. Hopefully Videos for “Nobody” and “EPMD 2” should probably happen based on the response of those records. But NaS is showing Hip Hop grow as a rappers in his late 40’s can still have success in this game. The “Grown Man” Hip Hop Album. NaS started on “Street’s Disciple” and even expanded it “Life is Good” he’s now comfortable in this space. Hip Hop has grown up. Expect another successful chart entry for Esco.
It’s a 96 Metascore on Metacritic with a 9.5 User score
30 years in the game and delivering like this smh
30 years in the game and delivering like this smh
IWasntMadeToPlayTheSon
Mutant Mindframe
Y’all think jay stopped listening after nas said “God son across the belly” on the intro? 
KD2 makes kd1 feel like an demo
Should nas just ride it out with Hit boy here on out. I mean obviously they have to get us Kd3 down the line but what after that? Does he just ride out into the sunset with a couple features here and there.
It’s getting to the point where it would look awkward if he does an album without hit.
It’s getting to the point where it would look awkward if he does an album without hit.
Mastamimd
Ain't shyt
Bro I hope he never makes an album with anyone else ever again
Maybe an external producer or two but this dude revived his career...all the boom bap crybaby nerds can keep begging for the Alchemist/Primo/Madlib fully produced album
Hell the last big name producer to do a full album(Kanye) ruined that idea. Nah.
Man I kno I posted this already but yo Nas is good man
All this cheer leading you doing you gonna pull a muscle or something, sit down breh
Yea or that “Rick Ross should executive producer nas next album” bullshyt. So disrespectful.
criminology
hearse initiator
All this shyt how Hit Boy elevated nas… how Nas should never work with anyone else is low key disrespectful. If anything it’s the other way around.
Rick Ross executive producing a Nas album wasn't BS. He and Nas actually had a real conversation about it:
‘I’m the Godfather of That Paper Rap’: A Conversation With Rick Ross