Chuck D has spoken up in defense of Nas after Jim Jones and the hosts of The Breakfast Club sparked a debate about the relevancy of veteran New York rappers.
While appearing on the radio show last week, Jones bragged about still connecting with younger fans, despite only releasing one album in six years.
“You know how dope it is for me to be in this game for this long and be able to make music that the youngsters that wasn’t around when I was really lit still admire and want to know who this guy is?” said the Dipset legend, who is currently enjoying renewed success thanks to his Laila!-sampling single “This Sh!t Still In Harlem.”
“I don’t see too many people from my day doing anything like what I’m doing right now. If they are, call them out. I want to see how many there are.”
After Charlamagne Tha God began to name the likes of Pusha T and 2 Chainz, Capo clarified that he was referring to MCs from his home city of the Big Apple.
As the crew attempted to answer the question, Charlamagne and co-host Loren LoRosa both agreed that “Nas is not active enough.”
“Let’s chat about it,” Jones replied, before suggesting that Nas’ recent six-album run with Hit-Boy was better received by older fans than younger ones.
Chuck D, however, did not subscribe to that argument and offered a rebuttal on social media.
“Active like this week? Aint @nas play stadiums in 2023 and Arenas in 2024?” he wrote. “I don’t understand this coverage or lack of. Artists seasons ain’t every year sports seasons. Whew we gotta long ways to go in culture.”
The Public Enemy legend added: “Im not disagreeing on HIS individual perception……but if Nas resonates around a planet and Mr Jones is a regional activity … wheres the measurement?
“Ball speak Nas is NBA HOF … Jim the Ruckers Street legend .. both legit in their leagues and Games. In ball they use to say the streets styles appeal to a certain baller. Too radical for coaches. Same comparison in rap.”
Chuck concluded by saying: “Always gonna be separate conversations cause we separate generations… sometimes we must let young generations enjoy their time of discovery as long as they don’t get fooled and trapped by crime. Because as we see its the Devils Cookbook hiding the recipe lol.
“Part of the thing is like boxing…rapping you supposed to believe and THINK you are the BEST at something. @jimjonescapo supposed to boast and brag .. and have rap ego. Its Art aint gotta be fact like sports. I stepped on any stage on Planet Earth knowing i was going to be Louder.”
Nas himself has yet to weigh in on the debate.
Active like this week? . Aint @nas play stadiums in 2023 and Arenas in 2024? I don’t understand this coverage or lack of. Artists seasons ain’t every year sports seasons. Whew we gotta long ways to go in culture https://t.co/wHo72VLFLG
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 1, 2025
Im not disagreeing on HIS individual perception……but if Nas resonates around a planet and Mr Jones is a regional activity … wheres the measurement? Whos the judge on Art here Dew?
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 1, 2025
Ball speak Nas is NBA HOF … Jim the Ruckers Street legend .. both legit in their leagues and Games . In ball they use to say the streets styles appeal to a certain baller. Too radical for coaches. Same comparison in rap.
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 2, 2025
Always gonna be separate conversations cause we separate generations… sometimes we must let young generations enjoy their time of discovery as long as they don’t get fooled and trapped by crime. Because as we see its the Devils Cookbook hiding the recipe lol
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 2, 2025
Part of the thing is like boxing…rapping you supposed to believe and THINK you are the BEST at something. @jimjonescapo supposed to boast and brag .. and have rap ego. Its Art aint gotta be fact like sports. I stepped on any stage on Planet Earth knowing i was going to be Louder…
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 2, 2025
Meanwhile, 50 Cent also took issue with comments that Jim Jones made in his Breakfast Club interview.
The “We Fly High” hitmaker boldly claimed that he could beat any of his New York Hip Hop peers in a one-on-one Verzuz battle.
“It don’t matter who it is,” he said. “I got a real catalog. I just had a gold record last year. We can go back — I got 20 records for every year […] It’s gonna be hard for a lot of people from New York to win with Capo.”
When Charlamagne floated the idea of a sound clash against 50, Capo shot back: “Nah, I don’t wanna do nothing with that sucka. Leave him out the conversation.”
50 subsequently returned fire on Instagram, writing: “JoMo only got one song, Ballin written by Max B. Better shut up before I have Tru Life chasing you around the city again. Fucking punk!”
Respect to Nas but these young dudes need to put respect on him get off Eminem zionist meat and listen to a real legend!
Let’s compare Lloyd Bank’s catalog to Jim Jones as a example. No comparison, so have a seat in the corner with your dunce hat on Jim. Carry On!!!
You need to be relevant to speak about irrelevancy. And Jim, you ain’t bro. Sit down and leave Mr King’s Disease Grammy winner alone.
You need to be relevant to speak about irrelevancy. And Jim, you ain’t bro. Sit down and leave Mr King’s Disease Grammy winner alone.
Jim thinks that just because he dresses like the younger generation his songs connect with them. He’s a goof. Instead of growing up he’s in his 3rd childhood. All his peers are passing him by and doing bigger things while he’s that old dude trying to stay cool with the kids. Damn near fifty but in reality no where close. And I mean that both in age and status in the game. Joker
in what other genre are people so obsessed about being RELEVANT?
seriously, who gives a shit about a damn popularity contest.
Co-sign. If you step out of that mindstate, you’ll find that hip hop is alive and well. That bullshit folks are calling hiphop nowadays (trust, true heads know exactly who and what I’m referring to) has tried to emulate hiphop with all the glitter and gleam.
Nas made Illmatic which is considered one of the greatest hip hop albums ever created. He will ALWAYS be relevant to the genre. He’s also been on one hell of a run with his albums lately. Meanwhile, what has Jim Jones done that fans of lyricism actually care about? I’ve said this a lot but rappers and hip hop fans really need stop obsessing over relevance when they don’t seem to have any idea what it actually means. Relevance doesn’t disappear just because you aren’t a fan. It’s about contribution, impact and legacy. Playing music in the car or club isn’t a barometer for quality, it’s just elevator music for you to switch your brain off to. You’re not even really listening to it. If you actually did listen you’d realise how trash most of it is.
Why do all these guys who can never come close to Nas seem to use him as a barometer for relevance? Lonzo Ball did it, 21 Savage did it, now Jones. I’ll just say this. I’m a southern dude who’s always loved NY rap. Back in 1998 I remember 2 dudes in my gym class clowning me for liking Nas and Wu. I told them that Nas and Wu are timeless and No Limit and Cash Money won’t be around in 10 years. Here we are nearly 3 decades laters and Nas and Wu still sell out shows and drop albums. No Limit…? Let’s just say, there was a limit.
@AhmadSumadi Bars…
Nas need to link with Ye. Jones calling him to get in the studio these old heads normally not sensitive like that. Jim you and Ye talk Trump into getting Kay Flock pardoned and helping NYC we need open carry, no taxes, land ownership, the zionists to leave, and street legal dirt bikes and ates no license. Get all these politicians in jail.
No he doesn’t
You have chuck d going in for you. Nas doesn’t need to acknowledge or say anything.. is this jamar or jimmy, better yet Stan spit.
Jim Jones dreams of being a legend like Nas.