Nas participated in a Reddit AMA session today (April 15). During the session, the rapper spoke about a variety of topics, including his 20-year-old debut, Illmatic, his view on the current state of Hip Hop and his rumored ghostwriting on Will Smith’s “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It.”
“Alright, let’s clear this up once and for all. I hung out with Will in the studio. And watched him write it. It was a fun studio session, and I said a line or two or three to him. It wasn’t that serious. Will Smith wrote that song. But seriously, I watched him have fun making that record on his own, and Will is a true MC,” Nas says.
Will Smith isn’t the only emcee Nas praised. The Queensbridge rapper also recognized several other rappers as emcees he is interested in listening to today, including Drake, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Jay Electronica, Rick Ross, Schoolboy Q, YG, Jeezy, Bishop Nehru and Fashawn. Aside from naming emcees he listens to today, Nas also praised rappers who have crafted albums that have been “significant in shaping the culture.”
“Public Enemy’s It Takes a nation. Erik B and Rakim Paid in Full. Drake’s last album Holy Grail,” Nas says regarding this topic.
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Another rapper Nas mentions in his AMA is The Notorious B.I.G. “Class act. Also funny. Naturally funny. And he was a genius,” Nas says.
Below are some select quotes from Nas’ AMA.
Regarding Illmatic’s Classic Rating: “Someone asked when I realized Illmatic was classic and what jazz I’d recommend: I would recommend Love Supreme by John Coltrane. And I guess when I played it for my guys in my neighborhood, they told me it was a classic. Really surreal moment.”
On His Music’s Impact: Yeah, I’m sure man. At least once a year, a fan will tell me that one of my albums helped them find a reason to not commit suicide and to go on. That’s powerful. I’m humbled. And it scares the shit out of me too.
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When Asked To Tell Jay Electronica To Release His Album: I tell him almost eveyr day.
Regarding His Favorite Television Shows: Modern Family, that girl, Sofia Vergara, I need her. Walking Dead. House of Cards is my shit.
On Remixes To Past Work: I was not down with it originally. I didn’t want to do that. But I was happy it happened afterwards. I like the World is Yours remix by Q-tip and the It Ain’t Hard to Tell remix by the Large Professor. Those remixes I love.
When Asked About Past Rap Monikers: Rapper Nas, and another one that I will never tell. MC Nice was one too.
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