Nas Magic LP (Pink Vinyl)

Ten Bands reissue their albums on limited edition pink vinyl, all for one cause. This is the 9th year for the initiative that has raised close to $300,000 for Red Door Community, an organization that provides community support for both those diagnosed with cancer and their caretakers.

The nonprofit's mission is to create a welcoming community of FREE cancer support to bring knowledge, hope, and empowerment to anyone and everyone impacted by cancer and their families. They are committed to expanding their program and broadening their reach to meet the growing needs of individuals living with cancer, in more places, and in more ways than ever before.

This year's set includes limited edition releases by Nas, The Black Keys, Colter Wall, The Allman Brothers, Judah & the Lion, Senses Fail, The Bangles, Turnpike Troubadours, Jungle Fire and BADBADNOTGOOD.

Produced by Nas' longtime collaborator Hit-Boy, Nas shares Magic, the transcendent nine-track album including "Wave Gods" ft. A$AP Rocky and DJ Premier.

The nine-track album Magic is cut from a similar cloth as the King's Disease installments that preceded it, but works as more of a stopgap release to tide over listeners as King's Disease III is being finalized. Hit-Boy's thick, straightforward, and somewhat retro-stylized production again offers as much of a voice here as Nas' fluid rhyming and wizened lyricism. Summery beats and glitched-out soul samples make tracks like 'Ugly' and 'Hollywood Gangsta,' and the huge fun of 'Wave Gods' finds A$AP Rocky dropping in for a guest verse while DJ Premier scratches in some familiar hooks from the archives of golden-era rap.

As always, Nas' lyricism and verbal energy are on proud display here. At age 48, he can still channel tremendous electricity into his rapping, as can be heard with his furious rhythm on 'Meet Joe Black,' 'Hollywood Gangsta' and more. He's also got the penmanship to back it up...All considered, there is plenty here to demonstrate that Nas remains a fantastic rapper and lyricist, and that he and Hit-Boy have achieved a valuable creative partnership together.