“King’s Disease 2” is the thirteenth studio album by American rapper Nas. It was released on August 6, 2021, through Mass Appeal Records. The follow-up album of Nas’ “King’s Disease” saga took a while to grow on me, but eventually, it did. From the unique production to the overall theme, everything on this album is laid out perfectly.
Overview
While in the first chapter of the what-would-become trilogy, Nas mentions the name of the disease, gout, more frequently, it is in this part that he spreads it into a much wider range of topics. From jealousy to fear and eventually love, the album takes us through all possibilities of human emotions.
“King’s Disease 2” was again, almost, entirely produced by Hit-Boy. The mentioned also adds a verse on the latter half of the album. In comparison to the first part, Nas also decided to work together with a few other producers, adding a much broader variety of beats and overall sound therefore.
What is New?
The first album in the series, “King’s Disease”, is on the surface about the gout disease, that was responsible for the deaths of numerous kings and queens in the monarchy. Nas mentioned in an early interview after its release that the disease is mainly caused by overindulgence. It is, however, not only the material goods that a king can overindulge, as Nas brings across during the duration of the album.
The album kicks off with “The Pressure”, a song which’s title already tells us what we need to know:
The pressure weigh a ton, it's gettin too heavy
Had to inspire them again like I didn't already
Real ones still around, release the confetti
God’s Son across the belly ('Cross the belly, 'cross the belly)
Past success builds expectations. And Nas fears not being able to come up with something worthy for us, his fans, after his last release. No wonder, considering that the first “King’s Disease” great reviews, with the album even surprisingly getting a Grammy in 2020.
It is in the closing minute of the track, however, that Nas sets the expectations up again, rapping:
It’s Nas 'til I’m gone, give my all, give 'em more Miles on my Peloton, I been working on my core
The track does for that reason what a good introduction to a book is supposed to do: it makes us listeners curious. From then on, the pace of the album keeps increasing.
Who Shot First?
The next track shows with the sound of its nostalgic beat alone what it is about to cover. “Death Row East” is about the infamous East Coast-West Coast feud. In it, Nas recalls several incidents during this period and also sets some rumors straight. He also seems to make fun of the at times comical gangster attitude, as is displayed in the hook:
High on life, drunk off dark liquor Shit gettin' eerie like I threw on Thriller Bitch, I'm a hard hitter, Rolex clocks and killers Holdin' the order, I'm prayin' God delivers
More than anything, this song perfectly connects the old-school vibe of hip-hop while at the same time serving as a warning for the younger generation of rappers, who it seems in Nas’ opinion, often don’t know what they’re getting themselves into when releasing certain music.
The track pays also homage to Pac and all the too early passed goats of hip-hop. In this track, Nas displays his great storytelling abilities once again.
Featured Artists and Production
As mentioned before, the variety of producers of “King’s Disease 2” is wide, including Hit-Boy, Corbett, Jansport J, and others.
And with those the number of featured artists also goes up. Like on the following track, “EPMD 2”, Nas also teams up with Eminem. In a similar way to the prior track, Em’ himself salutes the greats of hip-hop in his verse as well, saying:
I just pray for the day when I'm able to say that I'm placed with the greats And my name's with the Kane's and the Wayne's, and the Jay's and the Dre's And the Ye's, and the Drake's and the J Dilla's, Jada's, Cool J's And the Ra's and amazin' as Nas is, and praise to the Gods of this Shout to the golden age of Hip-Hop and the name of this song is
Other popular guests on the album are Mrs. Laurin Hill, who on “Nobody” delivers one of the best verses of the album, and Charly Wilson. The last mentioned also appeared on “King’s Disease” already. Blxst and YG are newer artists that add some flavor to the project as well.
And as listeners of Nas know already since “Life is Good”, he likes mixing soul elements into his rap lyrics. That is why we hear an altogether much different sound on “King’s Disease 2”. It is best displayed in tracks like “Moments” and “Brunch on Sundays”, tracks which carry a relaxing and never-before-heard vibe.
Rare Form
Nas is in rare form on this album. It is in the same named “Rare”, however, that we hear him with a more versatile style than ever:
Yeah, I'm in rare form (Rare form) Y'all still on the ground, you know I've been airborne (I've been airbone) Studyin' Big, studyin' Nietzsche You gotta call in a chopper to reach me
With the track, he shows that his lyrical abilities are sharper than ever and him being still among the greatest after plus 30 years on the throne of rap.
Love is Trust
The centerpiece of the album is, similarly to the first “King’s Disease”, the topic of love. More so, it’s the inability of a king like Nas to get fully into it. Or is it just his not-willingness? He knows best.
In the track “No Phony Love” he addresses, a possible reason why he can’t seem to find love:
She want me very exclusive (Yeah) Relationships bound to fail when you barely into it Stupid of me, continuously, I leave it in ruins You perfect but I might just be married to music (For real)
Nas again, it seems, refers to his past relationship with Kelis. In addition, he takes responsibility for his failed relationships with women in general, showing how much he grew up since then. Through listening to Nas’ music over the years, we also see that loneliness is a big symptom of “King’s Disease”.
The fact that he as a king can’t find love, however, doesn’t seem to be anything to regret for him. On the following track, “Brunch on Sundays”, Nas adds:
That's brunch on Sundays, she belong on a runway White Celine visor to block the sunrays Oysters work as an afrodisiac (Yeah) Soulful Sundays, run Anita back (Rapture) Gave her sweet love she said she needed that Still a playa baby, I know you seen The Mack
It seems that, after all, Nas eventually found peace with the lonely life of a king.
History Books
The last two tracks on the album are both very introspective pieces. While in the first one, “My Bible”, Nas mainly tells us about his insights over his many years in the music business and life, in the second and final track of “King’s Disease 2”, “Nas is Good”, he sums up the whole of the album. With doing so, he again displays his storytelling abilities, going back and forth in time through past and present events.
Last but not least, he tells us the reason for him being where he is:
Cheat code, I walked into my greatness Freak hoes throw they pussy a party, okay then Raised by a queen, that's the only reason I made it King's Disease the reoccurrence, that shit reinstated
In the last lines of the outro, he perfectly closes this chapter and also reveals his dislike for pessimistic people.
All In All
In the end, “King’s Disease 2” is a brilliantly produced continuation of the first part. While in “King’s Disease”, Nas referred to the disease more subtly, in this piece he goes much deeper into various aspects of it and also adds a few new causes to it.
The excellent instrumentals and overall good production of Hit-Boy, the brilliantly placed lyrics of Nas and the other featured artists, and the all in all great storytelling make the project an incredibly great album that can be listened to on repeat forever without the slightest glimpse of boredom coming up.
