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The grimy soundscapes of the record allows Freddie to tell us exactly why he is number “Uno” in the game. The compoistion is made out of eerie bell pads, short brass hits and haunting pads that come together and form the instrumental. Contains samples of Synergy´s “Shibolet”.

https://youtu.be/B2boLW1WPAo

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A more hype-up type of production unlike much of Cocaine Piñata. As the staccato strings hits continue to follow their own progressions, a humming bass line and fitting drum pattern are laid down with them to complete the production.

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Double Entendre…

Nas grew up and has repped Queens his whole life.

  • Since Hip Hop Is Dead, listen to the last real nigga alives music. One of the few if not the only good one left.

  • Listening to his music is like injecting adrenaline to keep Hip Hop alive.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkOfeHTvYD8

A soulful and jazzy production with lush piano and keyboards featuring trumpets. It contains two samples:

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The production sounds like a loco-motive is comming through with guitar sling too create that urban city feeling, which the album will be centred around with it´s concept of the war in Chicago. While it also could represent Common and Ab-Soul comming through like a train with their sharp lyrics.

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A spiritual record which is captured by the compositions church singing as background vocals as well as the hook with strings from time to time being played. The drums are sampled from “Is There A Love” by Trevor Dandy and the main choral arrangement samples “Oh Yes My Lord” by Voices of Conquest:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsqfQASepFE

As Common explains in the ‘making of “Kingdom”’ video:

“Kingdom” started with me and No I.D. going through samples, and one of the samples he played was like “Help me get, get the keys to the kingdom

No I.D. later suggested that they contact Percy Bady to arrange a choir to sing the intro/hook based on this sample (Percy, also from Chicago, was the one behind the choral arrangement on R. Kelly’s hit song “I Believe I Can Fly”).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNN4oGa9W6U

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In this song Common uses a warzone as a metaphor and allegory for the violence and socioeconomic issues prevalent in Chicago. Which the whole album will be about. Therefore No I.D & Cocaine 80s created this war atmosphere with the production – typical War drums and trumpets as well as the record contains an interpolation of the classic intro of “Shook Ones Part 2” as a hook:

To all the killas and the hundred dolla billas
For real niggas who ain’t got no feelings

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Horse (of The Bravehearts), one of Nas homies. Most famous being indirectly mentioned by Jay Z in “Takeover” to get under Nas skin:

To your bodyguard’s “Oochie Wally”’s verse better than yours

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The composition is jazzy, piano-based loop featuring strings. It has an underlying sorrow that flavors nostalgia – the beat has a gentle melancholy tone. That Nas compliments with remincing over old times.

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#The Great Debate

Not just over who is the GOAT, but also which year was best – referencing back to the first line of the song:

That summer… the summer 88 is the best…

While Nas might choose 87 as the best. Why? Through his music he tries to describe these time not only reminicing, but also tries evoke those feelings to the listeners that he got from 87.


A lot of people want the golden age to comeback – therefore trying to relieve it while Nas is trying to revive it through:

So the listeners will understand why he thinks it was the best times.

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