As he gears up to release his debut album Survival next month, Dave East drops “Godfather 4,” a collaboration with Nas.
The introspective track finds the Harlem rapper and his mentor flowing over a soulful instrumental, produced by DJ Green Lantern, with contributions from New Orleans brass band the Soul Rebels and jazz trumpeter Keyon Harrold.
God’s Son pays homage to MCs who rhyme “intelligent” over “orchestral tracks” before singling out Dave as a worthy successor. “No offense, but I was over with finding young spitters with names I remember Dave,” he raps as his protégé’s name echoes on the track.
East takes the baton from there. “Yo big bro, I’m from the ice pick era, light-skin terror / Thought I could sell this dope till my life get better,” he raps.
“Godfather 4” follows the Jacquees-assisted “Alone” from East’s upcoming debut Survival, which arrives on Nov. 8.
Following the album’s release, he will kick off his “Survival Tour” on Nov. 22 in Atlanta before traveling overseas to the U.K., Europe, and Dubai.