Saturday, December 18, 2010

Nas - Hood Opulent (Best of 2010)


My second-to-last Best of 2010 compilation highlights my favorite living emcee, Nas. This year he released the long-awaited Distant Relatives alongside Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, a great album which was unfortunately snubbed by Grammy voters. He also made waves by teasing the upcoming release of The Lost Tapes 2, soon before announcing the label politics that was preventing him to do so. Damn. Let your voice be heard by signing this petition. As far as musical output in 2010 goes, Nas' newly-released (or leaked) music was disparate. Accordingly, this mix is approximately split threefold, as follows: 1) new features and previously-unreleased tracks, 2) Distant Relatives songs with Damian Marley as well as reggae style collaborations with other artists, and 3) remixes and previously-unreleased tracks from or with a 90s sound. The cover art was inspired by Herbie Hancock's 1962 LP Takin' Off, released under Blue Note Records (slideshow here). Enjoy... and turn it up!!