Distant Relatives

[rob_one]

Do you want to hear a story? It involves a boy who was born in the deepest, darkest jungles of Africa. The boy, a South African named Jabulani Tsambo, would rise to become one of the biggest rappers on the continent – and some would say one of the best. (Bear with us; this is going somewhere).

Rest of my review available here:
http://www.beatnikonline.net/reviews/nasir-jones-damien-marley-distant-relatives
 

[K'niep Tang]

Lmao @ 'deepest darkest jungle'. U just had to. Read it. Dig the way you spun it (i.e. Hollow core)

[TATEguru v.2K9]

I haven't disagreed with a review more since The Source gave Doggystyle just 4mics.

The whole thing is based on a**umptions made about a business transaction between 2 artists. Who is to say Jabba did not know he was getting an old verse?
When we were talking of the HIPHOCALYPSE mixtape vol.2 Akir was going to give us a verse we already knew was used elsewhere and there was full disclosure.
Unless you have seen the contract relating to the Nas verse used you cannot make a**umptions and base HALF the review on that a**umption. More review than rant really.

I enjoy My generation too for what it is. Fine it has 2 pop artists on it but thats the whole point. These are the voices of this generation. Weazy even had a bareable verse and Nas came correct over triumphant production.

Lausse.

[Msanii_XL]

Rob that's not a review... maybe  complaining about an emcee getting a used verse = makes the spirit of the album (all about africa questionable) but still that's not a review.

[rob_one]

This from a City Press story:
http://www.citypress.co.za/Entertainment/News/HHP-represents-SADC-at-BET-Awards-20100520

What Nas did
Jabba’s fans on Twitter and Facebook were recently angered by the actions of American hip-hop star Nasir Jones (also known as Nas).

Jabba paid close to R100 000 (he would not reveal the exact amount) for Nas to record a verse for Jabba’s song Keledimo.

However, Nas went on to use the same verse on a track he recorded with Damien Marley, which was later leaked on the internet.

“Rappers do it all the time though; it’s really not a big deal,” said Jabba.

“Even Khuli Chana (a local hip-hop artist) did the same thing with a track we recorded. Although I had not paid him anything.”

He said he wouldn’t take legal action against Nas. The BET nomination, he said, proved that, contrary to what he believed Nas thought of him, he was not “a small-town rapper trying to push a mixed tape”.

Jabba didn't know he was getting an old verse. He got the verse first. He's been very big about it, but let's be real Tate: there has not been any evidence that Jabba knew he was getting an old verse, and since when does one pay $10,000 for an old verse anyway?

@Msanii: It's very much a review. Knowing what had happened between Nas and Jabba, hearing Nas and Damien go on and on and on about Africa coloured the entire album experience for me. As such, my argument is that although it's a great album...

... it is a genuinely good album, bursting with great moments like the ominous ‘Tribes At War’ and the bouncy ‘Count Your Blessings‘.

It’s the kind of project that clearly has a lot of time and love invested in it, and it’s being quite rightly proclaimed by all and sundry as one of the better albums you’ll hear this year.

...it is hard to get into it knowing what Nas is doing on the business side.

[TATEguru v.2K9]

And my point is that you do not know what Nas is ding on the Business Side so your review should not be based on mere a**umption.
2 sides to every story Rob.
Nas hasn't even addressed the issue of the exclusivity of the verse.
If it was such a big deal/ paid so much money for it HHP could/ would sue since it would be within his legal right.

No sir. A review that was not. A rant, yes.
A review that only mentions 4 of the songs on a 13 track album?

[WESTMONK]

I'll have to say as far as a review is concerned, with the whole ''Distant Relatives'' lp themed around the African continent. Nas&Damien did make an effort to encourage awareness of our distinctive sound including accomplices like K'naan as mentioned.
Despite the fee charged for Nas to record alongside HHP being ridiculous ,  that shouldn't dictate there's a lesser appreciation for African artists even if  Nasir's verse was reused.

If anything, lending his voice to a locally praised artist shows admiration and approval, but perhaps consider the verse may have been submitted and reused becuase of the recording process and time constraints for this album. Afterall, since mid 09' both musicians were trying to reach the destined release date of May 18th.
We may not ultimately know what drove Nas to charge HHP for the same verse, but surely there are some legitimate reasons beyond the listener's understanding.

[General Ratzinger van Stilzkin]

yo

guys 10k for a verse is nothing....

do your research and find out how much mainstream artists charge for verses, you will realize the $10k is nothing. no one knows the details of it, we all sitting here on our high horses running our internet mouths.

let it be, HHP paid for it and put it on his album. whether its an old verse or not shudnt concern anyone of us but the two.

full stop.

[rob_one]

No sir. A review that was not. A rant, yes.
A review that only mentions 4 of the songs on a 13 track album?

I wasn't aware that there were unwritten rules for reviews.  Who says I have to mention a certain number of songs? I felt I could make my point by writing it the way I did.

It might not have fit your conception of what a review should be, but look at the debate it sparked off. And ultimately, I just have to give my verdict on the album - which I did. How I get there is up to me (and my editor agreed with me on this one).

[TATEguru v.2K9]

I agree. Look at the debate it sparked. Little of which is about the actual music.

Editors agreeing with publishing rants does not vindicate the "review". I'm sure The Source editors agreed with the 4mic review of Doggystyle too...

[rob_one]

I agree. Look at the debate it sparked. Little of which is about the actual music.

Editors agreeing with publishing rants does not vindicate the "review". I'm sure The Source editors agreed with the 4mic review of Doggystyle too...

You're just mad because I'm having to support the Lakers. 

[watziznehmegin]

I like a lot of your reviews on that site Rob, but this seemed to not be about the album, but rather about Nas verse on HHP's album. After reading your review I still have no idea how you feel about the album, do you like it? Or is the fact that Nas gave Jabba a recycled verse taint the listening pleasure of this album to that extent for you? I doubt that Jabba is that upset about it, $10,000 for a verse from Nas is not a bad deal, his market value far exceeds ten large. Jabba might have known about this before hand for all we know, it seems rather unfair to shoot down Nas in a review like this, when we don't know the internal affairs. Making notice of the fact, why not, but I honestly would have rather read more on how you feel about the album instead. But keep writing them reviews dude, they are fun to read.

[rob_one]

I like a lot of your reviews on that site Rob, but this seemed to not be about the album, but rather about Nas verse on HHP's album. After reading your review I still have no idea how you feel about the album, do you like it? Or is the fact that Nas gave Jabba a recycled verse taint the listening pleasure of this album to that extent for you? I doubt that Jabba is that upset about it, $10,000 for a verse from Nas is not a bad deal, his market value far exceeds ten large. Jabba might have known about this before hand for all we know, it seems rather unfair to shoot down Nas in a review like this, when we don't know the internal affairs. Making notice of the fact, why not, but I honestly would have rather read more on how you feel about the album instead. But keep writing them reviews dude, they are fun to read.

I disagree, but will take your guys' thoughts into account. Cheers for the feedback!