JAY-Z and Nas had one of the most highly publicized beefs in Hip Hop history. Multiple diss tracks and tense public interactions plagued their relationship for years. Although they recently appeared on the DJ Khaled track “Sorry Not Sorry” together, there was once a time when that never would’ve happened.
During an interview with REVOLT’s Drink Champs series, 3rd Bass legend MC Serch sat down with co-hosts N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN to discuss a myriad of topics, including his extensive history with Nasty Nas.
At one point in the conversation, N.O.R.E. brought up how JAY-Z called out Serch on the 2001 Nas diss “Takeover” with, “And you ain’t get a coin, n-gga, you were getting fucked then/I know who I paid, God: Serchlite Publishing,” in reference to using the Nas sample.
Serch, who executive produced Nas’ 1994 seminal debut Illmatic, quickly set the record straight and explained how Nas actually owns a portion of JAY-Z’s catalog.
“[Kareem Biggs], Dame, and Jay come to my office and say, ‘Hey, we have to clear this ‘Dead Presidents’ sample,’” he said around the 47-minute mark. “’Take care of us.’ I said, ‘OK, no problem, give me $2,500 — but just know we’re gonna have 25 percent of your record, on the publishing. He was like, ‘Alright, cool.’
“[Jay] gave me a check for $2,500, I delivered it to [Zomba Music Group]. But if you look at the liner notes on ‘Dead Presidents,’ Nas is one of the publishers. So that line can live as much as it lives, but Jay don’t own a piece of Nas’ catalog, but Nas owns a piece of Jay’s catalog. And that’s a fact though.”
Printed on the liner notes of JAY-Z’s 1996 album Reasonable Doubt is Nas’ “Ill Willl Music” as a publisher under “Dead Presidents II” alongside Nas’ government name (“N. Jones”) as a writer. After executive producing Illmatic, Serch said he decided to look at their working relationship a little differently.
“I wasn’t going to be the Jew to take advantage off the Black man,” he explained. “I don’t need to get wealthy off Nas, and I don’t. My checks are very humble and I’m OK with that ’cause they’ll go for the rest of my life. When you look at streaming, Illmatic streams 400 million a year to this day. I get my fair share.”
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Elsewhere in the interview, Serch talked about his upcoming Breaking Anonymity podcast, his sordid history with MC Hammer, MF DOOM’s shocking death and why he’ll never drop the “MC” from his name. Watch the full interview above.
Ha I highly doubt J cares at this point. It’s all laughable ???
We would not know would we? MC Search was just clearing the misconception created by J that Nas does not own his catalogue. In fact Nas owns piece of J’s catalogue.
Oh he cares!! But u are right…this shit is highly laughable…LMAO
We have 2 brothers who moved past the beef and both on the verge of being billionaires and he’s bringing up this nonsense now? Dude STFU.
Because he was askeD ya hurt fUk…
This is fake news. What King HOV said on “Takeover” and “Supa Ugly” was all facts, all of it and I believe every word he said on those joints. He was for real. Anything else anyone says is hearsay and can’t be proven. It’s the ROC in here!
There he go everyone!!! We all were waiting for you Mr.Fuck QueensBridge. We all know your soul is now burning inside. This is the greatest hip hop “factual story” I heard in years! Us…Nas fans love you Mr. Fuck Queensbridge!!! We own you! Hahahahahaha
That Ether still burning slow, huh? LOL!
You got a problem son
You looking really insecure for somebody who claim his favourite rapper on top homeboi! The Roc just left the building! LoL!
Nas GOAT
The record has been set!
Jay back in the days was cold, but in the end, Nas always prevails, still to this day. The GOAT for sure.
DRAKE IS ARTIST OF THE DECADE . AND J COLE ON SOME HIPHOP ISH IS BETTER THAN NAS AND JAY Z . HIS FLOW IS BETTER
no one cares about dorky drake and his tiktok dances.
Wat you say Boi!? LMAO! There’s levels to the game. Your boi Cole only heating up. He not even on Nas n Jay level. You must be high on something. Should’ve stayed in yo daddy nutsack.
Jay always been kind of a snake/untrustworthy so I never really felt a lot of his stuff. His older stuff from 96-2003 was dope. Nas always was lyrically better. Ether>Takeover and people need to stop with the “takeover was facts” when in fact, Ether was full of facts!! You know damn well Jay is insecure and this definitely got him a little in his feelings. He’s always trying to 1-up Nas. Not going to mention Illmatic but I believe It Was Written is better than Jays whole catalog.
I would think the MC Hammer portion of the interview would be more interesting than this. I haven’t heard the interview but I’ve heard the story before.
Facts…..Fuck Queensbridge is not on Jay-Zs payroll and THAT’s SO LAAAAAAAAMMMMME!! LOL
STFU