Bravehearts Bravehearted 2

In 2008 Bravehearts is comprised of Nasir Jones’ young cousin Nashawn Jones, and Nas’ brother, Jungle, aka Jibari Jones (son of jazz musician Olu Dara) with Nas cosigning and lending a verse here and there. This album is a return to their gritty Queensbridge roots, with rugged ndinnovative beats from little-known local producers, giving it an edge many say was absent from Nas’ last album. The overall sound is startlinglyamped-up at points becoming borderline dusted coming off like the bastard audio child of Madlib and Lil’ Jon. Add beats that alternately makethe Bomb Squad sound tame and recall the brilliant pop smash of Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock Life”, with elements of the soulful minimal backing of2000-era D’Angelo or Erykah Badu, and it’s crazy. The independent nature of this release has resulted in a pure, unadulterated “artist’s vision”album with Nashawn and Jungle’s street lyric lending a rough edge to a well-rounded album, equal parts tough R&B and Queensbridge swagger.