Although his passing was discouraging and highlighted the danger of this coastal beef, Nas still notes how he benefited from West Coast hip hop through the advice of Dr. This appeal to West Coast hip hop also came with the intention to end the conflict, but when Nas came to Vegas in 1996 to talk with Pac, it was too late, and Pac died before they were able to speak. “Death Row East” details interactions with Suge Knight and a conversation between Nas’s brother Jungle and 2Pac, all taking place within the backdrop of this conflict. This foundation cannot be mentioned without discussing Nas’s involvement in the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry. “Nas and Tupac Shakur.” Okayplayer, 1993. As a long-standing veteran in the game, Nas appeals to his past experiences and reflects on his contribution to the foundation of earlier hip hop. The allusions to these previous songs give “the chills” to those who respect his discography. Elements of Illmatic also surface on “Store Run” through the familiar proclamation, “The World is Yours.” Hit-Boy even includes the “braveheart” chant from Nas’s 2002 song “Made You Look” on “Rare” vii. The song “Store Run” has Nas reflecting on “Shootouts with my guys” vi while thinking about his nighttime experiences in New York, reminding the listener of “Shootouts” from Nas’s second album It Was Written. On the first track, “The Pressure,” Nas almost immediately references his 2001 song “Got Ur Self A…” through the phrase “God’s Son across the belly” v. One will notice callbacks to Nas’s earlier works throughout King’s Disease II, something many of his fans will appreciate.

Even Hit-Boy features and offers a verse on “Composure” to the surprise and delight of many listeners. Charlie Wilson, featured on King’s Disease, reappears on “No Phony Love.” Uncredited vocals consist of Don Toliver on “The Pressure” ii and “Death Row East” iii along with Lil Baby on “40 Side” iv. However, the inclusion of rappers YG, A Boogie, and Blxst allow the project to embrace the younger side of hip hop. Prominent names associated with old-school hip hop dominate the feature list, including Ms. The album has fifteen tracks, making the project Nas’s longest since his 2012 album Life is Good.

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