Nas & Damien Marley

The collaborative effort between Nas and Damien Marley entitled Distant Relatives drops this month. Damien Marley on the hook in this song gives Nas's lyrical gangsta persona perfect context for the new era of hip-hop.

Gil Scott-Heron

Spoken word artist, hip-hop forerunner and musical legend Gil Scott-Heron brings the blues on his new album I'm New Here. It's his first studio album in 16 years. Lyrical content draws from of a lifetime of anger at the social and political status quo. While illustrating his frustrations, he relentlessly warps through introspection, confession and mantras of pride. In the background (but perhaps even more compelling), Scott-Heron's musical influences range infinitely, from the repetitive lyrical traditions of folk and blues to the unconventional drum textures of hip-hop to the electronic drones of dubstep. The end result is a masterpiece, a testament to the applicability of today's newer musical styles to artists of the old generation and the longevity of a truly gifted musician.

Check out this remix with another significant artist from New York.

Gil Scott-Heron - New York Is Killing Me (Remix) feat. Nas