“20 years in this game lookin’ 17…”
After a good reception to last year’s Life Is Good street single “Nasty,” Nas fans have enjoyed collaboration tracks like “Triple Beam Dreams” (Rick Ross) and “Like Smoke” (Amy Winehouse) while patiently awaiting Esco’s next album leak. The wait ended today with “The Don,” a single that takes Nas’ older fanbase into consideration while still acknowledging Hip-Hop’s current radio climate.
The song begins with a Supercat speaking on the importance of bringing the music to the poor and disenfranchised. The beat, heavy on bass and drums, goes with Supercat’s words as it reflects the block jams of Hip-Hop’s early days. The production is an example of organized chaos/syncopation, as the influence of all three producers can be heard. The late Heavy D’s dancehall and reggae sampling is evident, as is Salaam Remi’s penchant for beat/rhythm switches. The Internz, the new hit-making duo behind Big Sean’s “Ass” and Rihanna’s “Cake,” have their fingerprints all over the rhythmic, repeated chorus chants that have become one of their signatures.
Lyrically, Nas brings it all together. On the surface, much of the rhymes come off as straight-forward braggadocio. However, a more rewarding listen is available from closer inspection. Nas’s descriptive skill fleshes out the verses. There are lines about coming up listening to legend Kool DJ Red Alert (highlighted by Red’s signature vocal drop), homages to Heavy D and Queens street legends (The Supreme Team, Fat Cat Nichols), and sprinkles of orthodox Islam and 5% philosophy.
“The Don” is a track old and young fans can enjoy. The use of multiple producers simultaneously makes this sound vintage and contemporary. Def Jam, get that Life Is Good release date together.
NAS “THE DON”
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 
It’s tight!