The Don

‘Heavy D gave this beat to Salaam for me to rap to,’ Nas announces on ‘The Don’, the second single to be taken from his soul-baring tenth studio album Life Is Good, referring to the highly-worshipped rapper who passed away late last year, and producer Salaam Remi, best known for his work with Nas and another member of the dearly departed hall of fame, Amy Winehouse. It’s a pretty hefty triple threat, even if it wasn’t coming to us from beyond the grave, but an earwormish hook and a razor-sharp flow from our leading man makes ‘The Don’ every bit as bold and intimidating as the name suggests. Psst. The jazz-funk breakdown two thirds of the way in is nothing short of blissful.