In December 2015, it was reported that Nas signed on to executive-produce an indie film titled The Land with Cleveland-bred artist Machine Gun Kelly starring Erykah Badu. Now listen to one of the songs from the soundtrack, a collab by Nas and Badu called “This Bitter Land.”
Along the lines of Billie Holiday’s interpretation of “Strange Fruit, “This Bitter Land” is a somber ballad that features a melancholy, haunting melody by Badu and a verse by Nas about the ills and grit of society.
“This bitter land / Watered with my soul / The fruit it bears / Leaves me so cold,” Badu sings.
Nas flows, “Cop shot us up, he get a medal then retire / But it never will define me / Write a letter to the president, whoever in control of the society.”
The Land hits theaters this Friday, July 29th.
