Nas and Erykah Badu Connect for the Mournful ‘This Bitter Land’

Nas and Erykah Badu inhabit the same soul-school aesthetic, so it’d make sense that they’d collaborate — and that’s exactly what they’ve just done, for the upcoming soundtrack to the soon-to-be-released film The Land. The song, titled “This Bitter Land,” is a string-laden dirge that finds Erykah Badu channeling Nina Simone’s pained rasp and Nas slowing down his flow to let his bleak rhymes stick. “Cops shot us up / He get a medal then retire,” Nas raps soberly on the track, which you can stream below.

The Land, an indie drama that stars Badu and is executive produced by Nas, boasts a soundtrack that’s stacked with talent, including Jeremih, Pusha T, Californian rapper Fashawn, and Maybach Music Group’s Stalley. The compilation will officially drop on July 29.

There should also be new music coming from Nas soon: Trusted music news source DJ Khaled said the Queensbridge legend’s album was “done.” Nas also has a verse on Khaled’s Major Key, which is also out this Friday.