Yet a full album format detracts from this, and the project would have suited an EP as initially planned. Nasir and Damian originally hooked up on ‘Road To Zion’ from Welcome To Jamrock, which felt so special at the time. ‘Friends’ nods to the vocal styles of Angolan singer Bonga, but we are still subjected to schmaltzy nu-school reggae on ‘Leaders’ and ‘In His Own Words.’ Almost unforgivably, Joss Stone is drafted in on ‘My Generation’ alongside Lil Wayne, but doesn’t do as much damage as one might have thought. ‘Patience’ could have been produced by a ghetto Sigur Ros, while standout track and first single ‘As We Enter’ takes its cues from Oh No’s Dr No’s Ethiopium, mincing ‘70s Ethiopian psyche-rock and jazz like Mulatu Astatqé and the Heliophonics into a jumping Gravel Pit of a hip-hop banger, as does ‘Nah Mean.’ Nas, unusually, keeps his mouth clean while delivering lyrics with sincerity. Jr Gong tells us that “there’s a lot of work to be done in the promised land,” addressing such topics as the diamond trade and political corruption. Although the old cliché of all humankind’s African beginnings does crop up, the lyrical content on Distant Relatives is far from preachy or sentimental. That’s right, you too.” It’s a simple premise for an album from two of urban music’s shining lights, Nas and Damian “Jr Gong” Marley, but one that is handled without simplicity. “We all come from one place and that’s Africa. Available on: Universal Republic / Def Jam LP
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