All I do is stay focused
Looking straight forward at the world and beyond
I feel people pulling me down
I feel some pulling me up
I can't get stuck
I just keep moving forward
I got places to go man...
Nas




I subscribe to the dogma of holism (from a Greek word meaning all, whole, entire, total) the idea that all the properties of a given system cannot be determined or explained by its component parts alone. Instead, the system as a whole determines in an important way how the parts behave.

Almost a year to the day, I was fortunate enough to attend the Nas & Jr Gong - Distant Relatives concert. Their performance was electric, a memorable symphony of style, beats, intellect and fun.

Did you know that I
Exist before the earth
And did you know my eyes
Are windows to the world....
Damian Marley




The album is out now and has exceeded my expectations. K'naan is real. Africa is held in a positive light. I relate to the album thematically, the duo’s conscious ideology cemented in a critical analysis of the role the Motherland has on present day music, hip-hop and pop culture.


The positive messages relating to leadership, friendship, despair, patience and brotherhood are moving. The long anticipated fusion of QueensBridge’s (some will argue New York) finest Nasir Jones and Damian Marley, a future reggae legend, a humanitarian (also the youngest son of Bob Marley) has come to fruition.The beats do not seem forced, the flows contain truths and the talent does not overshadow the value adding messages.

The optimistic album message is universal. The album is a lyrical blend of urban intellect and Rastafarian music which reflects both their beliefs, guiding principles of one love, one mic, one planet, and freedom for all nations.

I love the whole album. My favorite track at this time is “Strong will continue”, dude goes off on those last bars.

YAMBUKA salutes excellence.

Onwards. Upwards. Always!

fa