Album Information

Artist Nas
Album Type Studio Album
Released August 21, 2020
Recorded 2020
Label Mass Appeal
Genre East Coast Hip-Hop, R&B, Trap
Producer(s) Hit-Boy, Audio Anthem, Corbett, Cyanca, G. Ry, Haze, J. Pelham, Pat Junior, Penthouse Parti, Rogét Chahayed, MonoNeon and others
Length 38 minutes, 24 seconds

King's Disease is the twelfth studio album by American rapper Nas. Released on August 21, 2020, the album was produced primarily by Hit-Boy and marked a widely praised return to form after the more mixed reception of Nasir. With reflective writing, polished production, and a strong sense of focus, King's Disease became one of the most celebrated albums of Nas's late career.

Background

Following Nasir and The Lost Tapes 2, Nas returned with a project that centered on nostalgia, maturity, and a renewed artistic partnership with Hit-Boy. The album was announced in August 2020 and quickly became one of the most discussed hip-hop releases of the year.

The title King's Disease refers to gout, an ailment historically associated with wealth and excess. Nas used the phrase as a frame for examining success, legacy, and the complications that come with long careers in public life.

The album also marked the beginning of a new creative era for Nas, one that would continue through several follow-up collaborations with Hit-Boy in the years ahead.

Music and Themes

The album blends introspection, social commentary, and career reflection. Nas revisits memories of Queensbridge, old hustler stories, personal relationships, and the realities of aging with the perspective of an artist who has already secured his place in hip-hop history.

Recurring themes include:

Hit-Boy's production gives the album a sleek, cohesive sound that supports Nas's measured delivery. The result is a project that feels contemporary while still grounded in classic East Coast sensibilities.

Track Listing

  1. King's Disease
  2. Blue Benz
  3. Car #85 (feat. Charlie Wilson)
  4. Ultra Black (feat. Hit-Boy)
  5. 27 Summers
  6. Replace Me (feat. Big Sean & Don Toliver)
  7. Til the War Is Won (feat. Lil Durk)
  8. All Bad (feat. Anderson .Paak)
  9. The Definition (feat. Brucie B)
  10. Full Circle (feat. The Firm)
  11. 10 Points
  12. The Cure
  13. Spicy (feat. Fivio Foreign & A$AP Ferg) [Bonus Track]

Notable Songs

Ultra Black

One of the album's most recognized singles, "Ultra Black" celebrates Black excellence and pride while reaffirming Nas's lyrical confidence.

Car #85

Featuring Charlie Wilson, this song looks back on past experiences and the ambitions that shaped Nas's early life and career.

Full Circle

A reunion with The Firm, "Full Circle" carries special weight as both a nostalgic return and a reminder of Nas's long-running ties to his Queensbridge circle.

Replace Me

Featuring Big Sean and Don Toliver, the track blends relationship themes with a smooth, melodic sound that broadens the album's emotional range.

Spicy

As the album's bonus track, "Spicy" adds a more celebratory and energetic closer to the project while keeping Hit-Boy's production at the center.

Reception

Upon release, King's Disease received generally positive reviews from critics, many of whom praised Nas's renewed focus and Hit-Boy's unified production style. Reviewers frequently described the album as a return to form.

The record also performed well commercially and strengthened the public perception that Nas had entered a strong late-career run. Its release helped reframe discussion around his recent work and renewed attention to his artistry.

Legacy

King's Disease is now regarded as one of Nas's most important modern albums. It not only restored critical momentum, but also launched a run of highly regarded collaborations that continued with King's Disease II and King's Disease III.

The album won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, giving Nas his first Grammy and confirming the project's significance in his catalog.

Today, King's Disease stands as a major late-career statement from one of hip-hop's most respected lyricists.

See Also