- Title: USA: Rapper Nas and reggae artist Damian Marley team up on a new album and tour
- Date: 25th May 2010
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (MAY 18, 2010) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAMIAN MARLEY, REGGAE STAR, SAYING: "We just wanted to come up with something fresh, something creative, something that would reflect Nars' music, reflect my music and still not be clones of either, you know what I mean. And also reflect Africa and the world at the same time you know what I mean."
- Embargoed: 9th June 2010 13:00
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- Country: USA
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- Reuters ID: LVAD9V13A4L0C5FBWF8S9NCFRF4C
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- Story Text: The album "Distant Relatives," is New York emcee's Nas' first collaboration with any artist for an entire album. It combines some of his trademark tight lyrics and fluid rapping with Damian Marley's Jamaican grooves and simpler phrases, with guest appearances from other top rappers including Lil' Wayne.
"We are musicians and we like each other's work a whole lot and we thought it would be good to see what would happen if we collaborate and we just went in and did it," said Nas.
A tour begins Friday in California before taking in the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee and then traveling to European cities including Paris, Cologne, Rotterdam, Manchester and Dublin.
Grammy Award winner Damian Marley, 31, the youngest son of reggae master Bob Marley produced all the songs.
"We just wanted to come up with something fresh, something creative, something that would reflect Nars' music, reflect my music and still not be clones of either, you know what I mean," said Marley. "And also reflect Africa and the world at the same time you know what I mean."
Featuring guest appearances from Lil' Wayne, up-and-coming Somali rapper K'naan and British soul and R&B singer Joss Stone, it mixes rock guitar, world music percussion, hip hop beats and traditional African instruments. It was co-produced by Marley's older brother Stephen.
"We wanted to come up with something fresh and creative and The lyrics tackle subjects from African poverty to the diamond trade.
Critics have reacted positively, saying the album deserves praise for it originality and for decrying Africa's ills. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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