Maps of Music

Distant Relatives (2010)

Where the lyrics of Distant Relatives take you, and where it was really made.

It began as leftover tracks meant for a short EP about Africa, and ended up as a full album by Nas and Damian Marley.

Key places

NRG Studios, Los Angeles (2010)

Recording site NRG Recording Studios (Hollywood) — Discogs credits NRG Studios in Los Angeles among the studios used for this album. The pin marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Los Angeles recording sessions (2010)

Recording site Los Angeles — Wikipedia says recording sessions for the album took place in Los Angeles, California. The pin marks the city center, not a specific studio. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Miami recording sessions (2010)

Recording site The Hit Factory Criteria — Wikipedia says recording sessions for the album also took place in Miami, Florida. The pin marks the city center, not a specific studio. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Distant Relatives: collaborative studio album by Nas and Damian Marley
• Released May 18, 2010 by Ghetto Youths United, Universal Republic and Def Jam Recordings
• Fuses hip hop and reggae musical elements, with samples from African music
• Lyrical themes include colonialism, poverty, Pan-Africanism and the universality of the human condition
• Guest artists include K'naan, Stephen Marley, Dennis Brown, Junior Reid, Joss Stone and Lil Wayne

Background

• News of the album first came at the 2009 Grammy Awards, when Nas told MTV reporters
• Nas said the record would help build schools in Africa and show love through music
• The title comes from Nas and Marley's relationship and their shared African ancestry
• Leftover tracks from their previous albums were originally planned for an EP based on Africa
• After working together, the duo decided to record a full album

Recording

• Nas and Marley began recording in 2008
• Sessions took place in Los Angeles, California, and Miami, Florida
• Damian and Stephen Marley produced most of the album
• The album used live instrumentation in the recording process

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones on September 14, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York City; raised in the Queensbridge Houses, Queens.
• Son of jazz and blues musician Olu Dara; began as "Nasty Nas" in 1989 and recorded demos under Large Professor.
• Made his recording debut on Main Source's 1991 song "Live at the Barbeque"; signed with Columbia Records in 1992.

Career

• Debut album Illmatic (April 19, 1994) is regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums; selected for the Library of Congress National Recording Registry.
• It Was Written (1996) debuted atop the Billboard 200; single "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" featuring Lauryn Hill brought mainstream success.
• Feud with Jay-Z (2001–2005) via the diss track "Ether"; Stillmatic and God's Son helped restore his critical standing.
• Released Hip Hop Is Dead (2006) and Distant Relatives (2010) with Damian Marley, whose royalties went to African charities.
• King's Disease (2020) won his first Grammy for Best Rap Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
• Released King's Disease II, Magic, King's Disease III, Magic 2 and Magic 3, all produced by Hit-Boy.
• Announced Light-Years with DJ Premier, a 2025 collaborative album.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Upon release, the album received positive reviews from most music critics
• Metacritic average score of 73 based on 23 reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews

Records

• Debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 with 57,000 first-week copies
• Sold 134,000 copies in the United States as of June 2010
• Debuted at number four on Billboard Digital Albums
• Reached number one on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Rap Albums and Reggae Albums charts
• Debuted at number 30 on the UK Albums Chart and number four on the UK R&B Albums Chart
• Entered the Canada Top 100 Albums chart at number 9
• Debuted at number 38 on the German Media Control Charts
• Entered the European Top 100 Albums chart at number 33

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Proceeds from the album were to go to a project in Africa, with the possibility of building a school in Congo.
• A sold-out panel discussion on the African diaspora and music, sponsored by National Geographic, highlighted the Distant Relatives project.
• The single Strong Will Continue was featured as soundtrack in an EA Sports game, 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
• Track 10 contains elements of the recording Kurikute by Sara Chaves.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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