Nas and Damian “JR Gong” Marley are already good friends. They collaborated on the mesmerizing cut Road to Zion , off Marley's Welcome to Jamrock. The twosome's debut joint, titled Distant Relatives, is a kingdom of a different color. The album conflates Marley's lonstanding dub-rock aesthetic and Nas' flow. Nas told MTV News that the Distant Relative project stems from his recent efforts in Africa: “We tryin' to build some schools in Africa… and trying to build empowerment.” Marley and his brother, Stephen, produced amuch of the album. The duo recorded the disc with a live band in in L.A. and Miami, with Marley doing most of the production. Proceeds from the album will go to building a school in the Congo and tracks like Count Your Blessings reflect on the continent's ongoing unrest.