Nas Agrees With CNN’s “Finest Emcee” Tag, Reconciles With Kelis “As Friends”

    The buzz has started to surround Nas’ next album. The Queensbridge emcee is saying he’s fully prepared to work on new music soon, adding that he’s in a “zone.” However, he also had more to say about his life during a recent stop at Hot 97. The emcee responded to the CNN article calling him Hip Hop’s “finest emcee,” by agreeing with the label. He also talked about his relationship with Kelis, saying they’re “back together,” before adding, “as friends.”

    “I don’t know if I’ve done my best,” he explained, saying he has much more left in his career. “I think what’s next to come is crazy because the zone I’m in is so right, that I’m happy to be in the place that I’m at right now to make music. I don’t know what just got into me but I love it. I’m gonna take advantage of the zone that I’m in when it comes to making this next record. I feel like Ali. I feel like going in so I started to put togethert he base of it and I’m ready.”

    This comes on the heels of being named Hip Hop’s “finest emcee” by CNN. Nas responded to this article by saying that he agrees.

    “Yeah. Kinda. At first, I was cringing like, ‘What?’ But the way he broke down the article…It is what it is, man. I’ma own it.”

    Part of his recent success has come on the heels of some personal woes. The emcee divorced his wife Kelis shortly before releasing his last effort, Life is Good, an event that influenced his content, theme and album cover heavily. However, he says even that relationship has been mended with time.

    “We’re back together as friends,” he clarified. “We were not friends. We were not the best friends for a long time. It was crazy. We’re friends now. That’s what it is. We’re not together. We’re friends though.” 

    During the interview, Nas also reveals a bit about his relationship with his father. Nas opens up by saying he feels love for his father because he was “always around,” even though his parents were not together. 

    “We were always close,” he shared regarding his father, Jazz veteran Olu Dara. “We didn’t always live together. There was the separated home. I grew up with my mom. My mom raised me and my brother. But he was there. He was always around. A lot of my dudes, the pops was not there. So, the fact that we had a relationship that comes from also music too, it was a blessing for me to show that to the world, man.”

    More from the interview can be seen below. Photograph by: Scott Gries

    RELATED: CNN Calls Nas Hip Hop’s “Finest Emcee” 

    94 thoughts on “Nas Agrees With CNN’s “Finest Emcee” Tag, Reconciles With Kelis “As Friends”

      1. Gossiping and making assumptions about Nas is your fucking problem. Nas is a man and that fact that he can be friends with his ex is a testament to his maturity and evolution as a man and artist. This is why Nas can display such a positve demeanor because he understands that in life you can’t subject yourself to negativity. Nas prblem is that he does not tell the gossiping public to “SHUT THE FUCK UP!”

    1. Typical Nas. Everyone always given him accolades even though he does not deserve them. He is only great because people tell you he is. His next album will be just as underwhelming as the rest. It will not change anything or add anything new to the game but they will tell you of its greatness.

      They say dying aint the shit but its pleasant
      Like everything you once thought relevant is now irrelevant
      Your life is lying about your amount of relevance
      You’re nothing like Jonah and the Lion
      you were never pleasant in trying times
      They presented your pleasant lines as a treasure or a prize
      Your the son of false lines and worthless lives
      Guess you are God’s Son.

      Fuck Nas by GSON

      1. Did he fuck your sister and never call her back or something? To have so much hate is unbelievable to me. You’re one miserable person, you need help.

      2. I’m not hating just expressing the truth about the overrated fuck. His life is not lying about his amount of relevancy. The media is lying about his amount of relevancy.

      3. What makes you an expert on the Media relationship with Nas? Or are you one of the crazy conspiracy theorist who come up with crazy shit. Was substance or information do you have to prove your point? One of those righteous idiots and fucks.

      4. The nigga just aint that nice B.

        One time for your mind
        Yes that’s all you ever offered
        Would have been better for mines
        If you were the sacrifice that was offered
        Remember niggas claiming you shot Pac
        They always reached to try and make you legend
        Everything you stood for was shot
        Just another fake prophet killing faith in heaven

        Fuck Nas-by GSONII

    2. Haters stay MAD! Nas don’t sweat the bullshit…he overcomes it. This is why CNN the leader in world news labeled him the GOAT LYRICIST!

    3. cnn said lyricist not the greatest hiphop artist ever, everybody agrees with cnn on that, duh, but nas aint the greatest rapper ever tho, nas is number 5 ever when it comes to greatest hiphop artist ever, we all know who that title goes too.

      1. That’s because there is no greatest rapper ever. It’s all a matter of subjective opinion, not fact. Just like those top 5 and top 10 list are. That list will change depending on who you ask. So that really isn’t a measuring stick. I will say what Nas is, is a completely well rounded artist. Which is what most of these “greatest rappers ever” should aspire to be.

    4. Nas is the the best in the game. I can’t wait to hear his new music, he reinvents himself every time he drops!

      1. ^^^ You can reinvent yourself without being a “sellout”, white boy. Reinventing is evolving and growing as an artist. None of Nas albums sound the same or follow trends of what’s hot in music. He always finds new concepts to talk about every album.

      2. ^^ gtfo with your racist bullshit. Clearly you didn’t even get the guy’s point, black boy. He was saying the exact same shit you are.

      3. CNN doesn’t know jack about hip hop, so their labeling Nas can be instantly dismissed. As for Kelis, it’s no surprise Nas would go back to her in some way. They both share the same mindset, I.E. Misery loves company, so they should just get back together, have another kid, and then Kelis can really hang him out to dry.

      4. The CNN article is on point. They might not know shit about hip hop(as the online nerd stated) but reading that piece to why they think Nas is the greatest lyricist was on point.

      1. In life it takes a real man to be friends with his ex-wife who happens to be the mother of his son. When boys grow into men they realize that life is more important than being bitter over love loss. Only a bitter little boy calls a woman who he never met a “ugly ass ghetto whore” and only a real simp like yourself calls the MATURE stance of Nas having a friendship with his son’s mother an L. When you Nas haters stop trying to perpetuate you loser behavior on to Nas you will then understand why with all his advsersities Nas ALWAYS PREVAILS!

      2. Can someone please explain to me why people hate Nas so much? I think Nas is so real with his music than it makes some people uncomfortable. His not all up in people’s faces, but his music is respected and appreciate and it really bothers some people badly. Anyone have a better explaination?

      3. Take your ridiculous reasoning out of here. Some people just don’t like Nas, get over it, you sensitive ass nigga.

      1. dope ass list man.. honestly really really dope..but i have to be unbias and say none of them are the best alone…all great lyricist.. people think lyricist is just constant syllable use and word play.. words create pictures and emotion 2 most powerful things we feel…2pac did that the best.. when he rapped you believed what the hell you was hearing..it had feeling and emotion. a lot of those guys are just great with the pen..not lack the flow but the emotion.. but again i cant really argue that list. each one of them got a song that will make you rewind..

      2. Jay Electronica?? I mean the dude can spit bars for days, but there’s no way he can be top 10 without an album or barely putting out music.

      3. Phonte & Jay Elec….

        How a can talk about MCs with no classic albums (phonte has a good one Jay aint even dropped yet)

    5. Nas is an ATG, but calling this guy THE GOAT in a genre that has given us hundreds of classics in the 90’s alone is straight up disrespectful.

      1. I don’t see how it is disrespectful? He is arguably the GOAT just like anybody else who is in the top 5 convo. Busta Rhymes, Lupe, Kanye, Blu, Common and others have all called him either the GOAT or the best breathing. Arguable GOAT KRS-One paid a tribute song to a guy 8 years his junior and Kris has a fairly big ego. Not saying Nas is the GOAT, but he deserves to be in that conversation.

      2. yeah anon not really makin sense….also seein that arguably an example of nas’ at his best would be from the 90s

      3. ^^Outkast is a group, not a solo artist, and their albums are wack. Eminem has 3 good albums and 4 pieces of shit. Nice try.

      1. Totally agree. Is it me or was Angie Martinez kinda salty the way she kept repeating “the greatest lyricist ever” all the time. Like deep down she wished it was Jay Z, they used to date.

    6. Blu is a totally average, boring, uninteresting, safe, ordinary, dime-a-dozen underground MC with really dope beats. For him to be mentioned in the same breath as the all time greats is laughable. C’mon now. To like him is one thing, but don’t lose perspesctive here. I like Raymond Felton, but that doesn’t mean I think he’s as good as Chris Paul.

    7. Fuck 2pac, Fuck Eminem, Fuck B.I.G., Fuck Jay Z, Fuck Lil Wayne, Fuck Nas, Fuck HHDX, Fuck Twitter, How about we discuss the real Top 5

      1. DMX

      2. Earl Simmons

      3. Dark

      4. Man

      5. X

      1. you must have smoked some new drug that aint hit the streets yet…DMX is.well was dope not great but his aggressiveness and flow made it easy to over look the lack of lyrical ability..and he was deep with his shit at times…he might be your favorite but he definitely isn’t the best….

      2. ^^ I really think it’s the other way around. His aggressiveness and flow overshadowed his lyrical ability. X is one of the greatest poets Rap music has ever had.

    8. Ok let’s face it, nas back in the day had a few good songs, but come on dude just admit that your new shit ain’t saying shit. I still believe slim shady is a better rapper, performer and business man than nas.

      1. You dont believe yourself do u shitface asshole?
        how many classic records does Gay-minem or sorry Eminem have?
        Ignorance is cheap.
        u betta do your history,never again mention Feminem in the same league with God’s son

    9. Friends, Romans, countrymen lend me yo’ eardrums
      It was a beautiful day off in the neighborhood
      Yellows and greens and blues and browns
      and greys and hues that ooze beneath dilapidated woods
      Ain’t a thing could explain what pertains
      to cocaine it’s a stain that rain
      See summer roll around niggaz holla bout change
      Then they steady move them ki’s like Bob James
      Cause old man winter’s arrived, the temperature dives
      November just died, December’s alive
      Thus it ain’t no typical ride
      Just individual’s way to bring home
      the bacon when bacon was all gone
      Makin it our own, takin me all wrong
      We’ve all indulged in the bulge of those no-no’s
      No you ain’t solo, it’s even lower levels you can go
      Take sun people, put ’em in a land of snow

    10. My favorite Nas album is hands down Stillmatic. Man so many good memories listening to that album. Nas is just timeless. When I have kids one day, i can’t wait to show em real NY hiphop like Nas, 50, Jay, Big, etc.

    11. AT THE END OF THE DAY, HATER GON HATE.

      NAS IS THE GREATEST LYRCIST OF ALL TIME, AND TOP 5 DEAD OR ALIVE RAPPER.

      HI HATER, BY HATER.

    12. I heard a lot of Nas influence in Ether Q’s mixtape that dropped today. Love lyrical hip hop. Especially Illmatic

    13. RAKIM
      Black thought
      Q tip
      andre 300
      MF DOOM
      Big daddy kane
      biggie
      fatlip
      mos def
      kool keith
      common
      in no specific order

      Nas not even in my top 10

    14. – ALL I DO IS NAME DROP!!!!!
      – AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I’LL NEVER STOP
      – HOPE WEEZY SIGNS ME FOR BEATING 40 GLOCC
      – IF NOT, IMMA LOOSEN SCREWS ON HIS SKATEBOARD
      – YOU CAN TELL IN MY RAPS I GET BORED
      – SO I NAME EVERY RAPPER THAT I ADORE
      – REAL NIGGA RATE THIS SONG A 5, BUT 50 WOULD RATE IT A 4
      – DO A SONG WIT HIM? FUCK 50, IM NEVER BUDGING
      – DO A SONG WIT HIM? I LOVE 50, I DONT HOLD GRUDGES
      – EXCUSE THE BI-POLAR-NESS
      – JAY YOU A LEGEND, BUT I GOTTA DISS
      -CAMEL LIPS, FINE BITCH, WEALTHY AS SHIT
      – TRUTHFULLY I BE YOU, IF I HAD ONE WISH
      – BET 2PAC AND BIGGIE WOULD RESPECT THIS
      – “THESE NIGGAS TRY TO HOLD ME BACK” RICK ROSS SHIT
      – IM SKATING ON THESE HOES,WEARING TRUCK FIT
      – MARRYING MY HOE, JUST TO STAY RELEVANT
      – BECAUSE I FILMED IT, AND PUT IT ON TELEVISION
      – HOPE LEFT EYE COULD SEE MY VISION
      – NOW THE COPS WANNA JA RULE ME, AND LOCK ME IN PRISION
      – CUZ I GOT KEYS, LIKE SWIZZ AND ALICIA
      – DONT RIDE PLANES AFTER WHAT HAPPENED TO AALIYAH
      – THIS BIG PUN AND BIG L REINCARNATED , COMING THRU YA SPEAKAS
      – WANTED TO DROP A REAL CLASSIC, BUT LEFT YALL WITH JESUS……
      PEACE AND IM OUT

    15. fuck cnn it knows nuthin bout Hip Hop.
      I have huge respect for tha homie Nas he’s in the top 5 but not the finest.Makaveli was and iz still tha finest playa though he physically dead.Then there’s tha Good Doc of course.bitch cnn must concentrate on dirty politics and punk rock or even fuckin r&b.

      1. who the f#ck is the Good Doc? Dr. Dre??? If so, how could you rank someone who has never wrote a rhyme in their life ahead of Nas? That’s ridiculous. To put Dre on any MC list is just straight up dick riding. The best thing Dre has done in the last 10 years is make headphones.

      2. 2pac and Nas niggas. I read an article where it said Black thought is underrated. I know alot of people put Rakim and Krs-one and Daddy Kane in their top list. But a nigga like ICE CUBE deserve as much credit as Black Thought and others.(and im from NY) Only difference is Black thought is still a beast on the mic, while Ice Cube isn’t as good as he used to be. But Ice Cube still makes music independently.

        Anyway 2pac and Nas gave me the most heart felt music, and its not even close. On top of that both niggas had bars. Just not that typical punchline after punchline bull shit.

    16. yeah nas is dope no lie, that life is good album was the shit imo best album of 2012 imo.

      as for kelis, nas fuck that ugly slut move on son

    17. Who has a better catalogue than NAS????

      The artist you even argue that comes close is Jay-Z or Ghostface…

      Album for Album….. am I lying??

      1. Ghosface always drops good albums, jay-z’s only solid album was his first one….The rest are filled with pop songs.

      2. To say that Jay only has 1 solid album is ludicrous. He puts out a lot of pop singles, but they’re not all pop filled from start to finish. You gotta give him more credit than that.

      3. Jayz and Ghostface catalogue is the only niggas who is fucking with Nas’ shit. But Ghostface isn’t the lyricist Nas or Jay z is. But he is still nice. So that takes GFK out.

        Jayz
        RD,BP1,Black,(classics)
        IML vol1,HKL vol 2,AG(hot albums but not classic)
        Dynasty(mediocore)
        Bp3, Bp2,KC,LOSC vol 3(weak tho some of these albums had hot songs)

        Nas
        Illmatic,IWW,S-matic,Lost tapes,LIG(classics, tho LIG might be to early, but im still bumping this album now since the summer))
        I am,God Son,HHID,Untitled(hot albums but not classics)
        SD,(mediocore)
        Nastrodomus(weak tho this album had some of my favorite Nas songs mix with some of his worst commercial songs)

        None of Nas’ albums are the same, while Jay-Z for the most part follow the same formula.

    18. Nas is technically the best lyricist. The best artist is subject to your own opinion. I agree that CNN doesn’t really constitute an opinion that matters but no media outlet has a valid opinion. Most of them are just college journalism majors acting like they know something about rap music. The approval from other top notch artist is more important. With that being said people like Lupe, the whole Slaughterhouse, Jay Elec and even Jay-Z have called Nas the best lyricist. You can knock CNN’s opinion all you want but you cannot knock someone like Lupe’s opinion until you show you know how to rap!

    19. The G.O.A.T……No one even comes close..Nas has been the best story teller of our generation and he has evolved more than any MC of his era…salute…

      1. Canibus, Killah Priest and Ras Kass are above his level lyrically

        Only difference is, they not as successful as Nas is

    20. Top 3

      2pac
      Nas
      Scarface

      Nas is the best alive and has the most fire albums. Now 2pac has dropped way more albums than any other rapper he dropped like 9 to 11 main stream albums and like 14 to 18 under ground albums. Scraface is the best from the south Scarface has more talent in his left nut that the weazel will ever have

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *