Few best-of-both-worlds collaborations work as well as Distant Relatives, which pairs Nas' incendiary rhymes with the keening hooks and global rhythms that Bob Marley's youngest son favors. Together they vent assorted complaints — war, poverty, Nas' divorce battle with Kelis — in righteous tones that only occasionally lapse into preachiness. B+
Download These:
As We Enter, which samples Ethiopian jazz master Mulatu Astatke at amazon.com
Slow-burning Friends at amazon.com
