 The album incorporates musical references to both older and contemporary hip hop . Its production features live instrumentation , orchestral music , R & B , and boom bap elements . Music journalist Evan Rytlewski denotes " boom @-@ bap drums , lush keyboards , smooth saxophones , and the occasional Run @-@ D.M.C. and MC Shan sample " to be " tasteful accents " from golden age hip hop . Ryan Hamm of Under the Radar views that Remi and No I.D. ' s production " lean [ s ] toward opulent and epic " , while Pitchfork Media 's Jayson Greene writes that the latter 's produced songs " exude the warm TV @-@ fireplace crackle of ... throwback production . " Anupa Mistry of Now writes that " boom bap classicists Salaam Remi and No I.D. weave a raw , funky , orchestral lattice customized for Nas 's age @-@ appropriate raps " . 
