NEW YORK, NY (Top40 Charts/ Universal Republic Records) - Nas and Damian "JR. Gong" Marley are proud to announce the release of their highly-anticipated collaborative studio album, Distant Relatives (IDJ/Universal Republic), which hit stores today. Featuring the signature instrumentation and musicianship of Damian "JR. Gong" Marley with the hard-hitting beats and lyrics of Nas, the album title refers not only to the bond between the artists, but the connection to their African ancestry, which inspired the album both musically and lyrically. The pair will kick off a nationwide tour immediately following the release of the album in Arcata, CA on May 21st. The US leg of the tour will also incorporate late night TV appearances including The
Tonight Show with Jay Leno (May 19th), Jimmy Kimmel Live! (May 24th), Last Call with Carson Daly (May 27th), FUEL TV's "The Daily Habit" (June 6th) and The Late Late Show with
Craig Ferguson (June 10th) before heading overseas for the European dates.
The collaboration is sure to amaze with an album encompassing 14-tracks including the first singles "As We Enter" and "Strong Will Continue." The album was produced by Damian "JR. Gong" Marley and also features several guest appearances including Lil Wayne, who appears on the track "Generation," K'NAAN on "Africa Must Wake Up" and "Tribal War," and Stephen Marley on "Leaders" and "In His Own Words." In support of their new disc, Nas & Damian Marley are confirmed to make in-store appearances at Best Buy in LA on 5/20, Rasputin in San Francisco on 5/25, and Hot Topic in Las Vegas on 5/29.
The partnership between the two artists has already garnered critical praise:
"Few best-of-both-worlds collaborations work as well as Distant Relatives" - ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
"a vibrant blend of Marley's thick Jamaican patois and Nas' New York-accented rhymes"- BILLBOARD MAGAZINE
"the ambitious project approaches perfection on its own terms" - VIBE MAGAZINE
"This is a benchmark album for Damian and Nas" - HIP HOP DX
"Distant Relatives is a rewarding listening experience in its musicianship and lyricism, and one you can expect to go back to in the years to come" - ALL HIP HOP
"it's impressive, as on the unrelenting organ buzz of leadoff single 'As We Enter' and the riotous 'Nah Mean'" - SPIN MAGAZINE
Throughout the course of their musical careers, the duo has always admired each other's style. Since first meeting in 1996 the two artists have shared a mutual respect and camaraderie that was most recently showcased on the track "Road to Zion," from Damian's critically acclaimed album, Welcome to Jamrock. After having such a positive experience working together, they have joined forces for Distant Relatives. In their latest collaboration, Nas and Damian trace hip-hop's roots to Africa, where the genre originated as a vital form of cultural expression and was then transported by the slave trade to the Caribbean and the American colonies. It blossomed a half century ago in the dance halls of Kingston, Jamaica, and soon migrated to the park jams and recreational centers of New York City, where the culture became known as hip-hop. This evolution forms the basis of the Distant Relatives project.
Check www.distantrelatives.com for a complete list of tour dates and appearances.
About Universal Republic Records
Universal Republic Records is a division of Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company, with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 77 countries. One of several labels that comprise Universal Motown Republic Group, Republic Records was formed in 1995 by President, CEO of the label, Monte Lipman, and his brother, Co-President & COO of Universal Republic, Avery Lipman. Today, the label is responsible for numerous breakthrough and mainstream chart topping artists, including a diverse array of groundbreaking imprints and ventures encompassing new and established platinum and multi-platinum acts.
