Nas photo by Ben Kaye
Ever since Nas declared his next “Album Done” on his contribution to DJ Khaled’s compilation album, Major Key, the world has been waiting with bated breath. There’s been little news about the Life Is Good follow-up since then, save for the Queensbridge rapper for telling Billboard he “might do something different” to promote the album before it drops this year. Time will tell what exactly what Nas meant, but for now, he’s collaborated with DJ Shadow on a new track called “Systematic”.
The beat features Shadow’s sampling expertise and record scratches, as it simultaneously pays homage to Illmatic-era boom bap while also feeling fresh. Nas brings the heat as well, instructing listeners to feel what he’s saying and bragging about his recent venture capitalist ventures. “Meetin’ starters, I invest if I want to/ Transform the global market with all of my partners.” Stream it below.
It’s currently unknown whether “Systematic” will appear on either artist’s next projects or whether it’s merely a loose track. Update: The track is featured on the season premiere of HBO’s Silicon Valley. Recently, Nas released “Angel Dust” on The Get Down: Part II Soundtrack. DJ Shadow last album was 2016’s The Mountain Will Fall.
Both artists are on tour throughout the spring and summer. Find their respective schedules below.
Nas 2017 Tour Dates:
04/23 – San Bernadino, CA @ High Times Cannabis Cup
04/28 – New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
05/27 – Monterey, CA @ California Roots Music and Arts Festival
06/24 – Heber City, UT @ Bonanza Campout
07/01 – Tilburg, NL @ Woo Hah! Festival
07/06-07/08 – Frauenfeld, CH @ Openair Frauenfeld
07/09 – London, UK @ Wireless Festival
07/10 – Liverpool, UK @ Liverpool University Guild of Students
07/11 – Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy
07/14 – Dour, BE @ Dour Festival
08/27 – Portland, OR @ Project Pabst
DJ Shadow 2017 Tour Dates:
04/21 – Indio, CA @ Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
05/18 – Tokyo, JP @ Liquid Room
05/23 – Perth, AU @ Astor Theatre
05/25 – Brisbane, AU @ The Tivoli
05/27 – Sydney, AU @ Vivid Sydney
05/28 – Sydney, AU @ Vivid Sydney
05/31 – Melbourne, AU @ 170 Russell
06/02 – Auckland, NZ @ The Powerstation
06/09 – Helsinki, FI @ Sideways Festival
06/14 – Toulouse, FR @ Le Bikini
06/16 – Barcelona, ES @ Sonar Music Festival
06/17 – Biarritz, FR @ Atabal
06/20 – Paris, FR @ Elysee Montmartre
06/21 – Orleans, FR @ L’Astrolabe
06/22 – Lyon, FR @ Transbordeur
06/24 – Shepton Mallet, UK @ Glastonbury Festival
07/06 – Quebec City, CA @ Festival d’été de Québec
07/28 – Randalls Island, NY @ Panorama Music Festival
08/11 – Budapest, HU @ Sziget Music Festival
08/13 – Newquay, UK @ Boardmasters Festival
08/15 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2
08/16 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2
08/18 – Saint-Malo, FR @ La Route Du Rock Festival
09/06 – Fort Punto Christo, HR @ Outlook Music Festival
09/09 – Dorset, UK @ Bestival
09/25 – Antwerp, BE @ De Roma
09/26 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
09/30 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Institute
10/01 – Leeds, UK @ O2 Academy
10/03 – Glasgow, UK @ O2 ABC
10/05 – Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall Manchester
10/06 – Bristol, UK @ O2 Academy Bristol
10/07 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
