Nas has as soon as once more spoken about his long-rumored collaborative album with DJ Premier — this time on his new venture King’s Illness 3 with Hit-Boy.
On the observe “30,” the Queens rap legend snuck a line in concerning the joint effort with Preemo, mentioning the album may nonetheless see a launch date.
“Doesn’t matter that is sheer aid, I really feel the breeze that is/ Superhero materials, rap star standing/ Premier album nonetheless would possibly occur,” Nas raps on the Hit-Boy produced observe.
Phrase of a Nas and DJ Premier album received round after the 2 mates talked about desirous to do it throughout an interview with Scratch in 2007. Years would go by, and nothing materialized in addition to Preemo promising that it might come out in varied interviews.
Nas and DJ Premier started working collectively after the legendary producer heard the rapper’s “Halftime” observe for the primary time. Preemo beloved the report a lot that he wasted no time hopping on Esco’s debut album Illmatic to deal with manufacturing alongside Massive Professor, Q-Tip, Pete Rock and extra.
The work that got here from that union was a few of Nas’s most revered data, equivalent to “N.Y. State of Thoughts,” “Reminiscence Lane (Sittin’ in da Park)” and “Symbolize.” The duo would proceed to work with one another on songs equivalent to “Nas Is Like” and “N.Y. State of Thoughts Pt. II.”
Regardless of not giving followers a lot of an replace on the album, Nas and Preemo reunited in 2022 after they joined forces on “Beat Breaks” off the producer’s Hip Hop 50: Vol. 1 EP.
The observe options classic DJ Premier increase bap manufacturing anchored by a breakbeat pattern (“Shout to Breakbeat Lenny and Breakbeat Lou,” he says within the intro). Its title is a nod to Nas’ “the graceful felony on beat breaks” line from the Preemo-produced “N.Y. State of Thoughts,” which he fittingly scratches in.
Nas, alternatively, salutes the pioneers, revels within the limelight of rap stardom and reminisces on falling in love with the tradition as a toddler whereas displaying his ageless dexterity on the mic.
“Rocking with Preem is nothing wanting superb,” he raps, earlier than including: “Examine the vibe, old style types been augmented/ You heard every little thing ’til Nas vocal cords hit it/ Good Lord, now’s it me or is that they hard-headed?/ Premo beats are water, let your ideas dissolve in it.”