American rapper Nas dropped his 16th studio album King’s Disease III this week, wrapping up the trilogy of albums that began with King’s Disease in 2020.
The 16-track album was produced by legendary beat maker Hit-Boy, who has worked with the rapper since 2020. On this album, Nas raps about the corrosive effects of violence, upward social mobility for Black Americans, and dull luxury, and once again, feels comfortable in his skin as one of the most important voices in East Coast hip hop.
Unlike the previous two instalments in the King’s Disease trilogy, the tracks on this album are much more precise in their technical construction, without the ostentation, making for a confident album, which only lulls in the middle.
With 16 tracks - 17 including the bonus ‘Til’ My Last Breath’ - this is almost to be expected, but at no point is there any doubt that Nas continues to be, in rap, a force to be reckoned with.
