Verzuz has exploded in popularity since 2020 when Swizz Beatz and Timbaland co-founded the platform to combat the quarantine blues. As the event has grown into the corporate spectacle it is today, potential matchups continue to be a frequent topic.
During a recent interview with Bally Sports analyst Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Diplomats rapper Jim Jones weighed in on the possibility of getting JAY-Z into the Verzuz arena but contended there’s really only one worthy opponent — and it’s not Nas, Kanye West or Lil Wayne.
“I thought about it a million times,” he says in the clip. “Jay made all the sense in the world and he’s one of the illest people I’ve seen get on stage when it comes to performances from the days of his Summer Jams spats when he used to put people on the Summer Jam screen and embarrass them so I don’t know if people are ready for that type of warfare.
“I don’t think they’re ready for how he’s going to come; they’re worried about the hits he has and I know he’s going to come with the wittiness and his creativity is way more iller than the hits he has. So, I would leave that alone if I was most of them.”
Jim Jones continued by confidently naming Drake as JAY-Z’s best matchup due to the Toronto rap star’s consistency in the game and sizable catalog.
“The person I would say that would put up most of a fight would be Drake hands down,” he continued. “And I know that Drake hasn’t been here for the duration that Jay has been but, Drake has put out platinum hits every time he’s put a record out and we all know that every one single of Drake’s hits for the past 10 to some odd years that he’s been in this game which is a long stretch for doing music and he’s breaking a lot of records when it comes to entries.
“When it comes to 20 hits, I think that Drake would be the top candidate to jump into the ring with Jay. I know it’s a lot of different things that people say in regards to his qualifications and all that, but when we’re talking about hits and commanding everybody’s attention and making the fuckin’ stadium go crazy? Don’t play with that boy, ya dig? And I’m talking about right now.”
Freddie Gibbs & Crew Allegedly Assaulted By Jim Jones' Entourage - & Akademiks Is Loving It
But Jones also addressed his alleged altercation with Freddie Gibbs — albeit cryptically. The two rappers reportedly came to blows at Prime 112 steakhouse in Miami last month, but neither party has really confirmed or denied a fight actually took place.
“I’m all about peace,” he said. “I don’t know what’s going on with that. I haven’t heard anything like that, but for me I’m all about peace. I’m pushing that positive narrative, you know? I’m a grown ass man that likes to do grown things and that’s that. Respectfully.”
Here’s my thing about Drake, and somebody PLEASE correct me if I’m wrong. While he has “hits” without question. How many hits are people going to “go crazy” for against a rapper? 0 to 100? Yes. A few more? Of course. But I think a lot of his “hits” would put people to sleep, especially against a rapper. Hotline Bling was a hit. Who’s “going crazy” for that? God’s Plan? Nice for What? Toosie Slide? Those are all #1 HITS. Ain’t nobody going crazy for those. Plenty rappers would blow Drake out off aggression and mood alone. Against an R&B singer, Drake would fare better. Against a rapper with club bangers, street records, and lyrical records, he’s losing.
You listed a bunch of songs that wouldn’t do well in a verzuz, but Drake has many that would do well. He obviously wouldn’t play Hotline Bling or Nice For What in a verzuz. What about The Language, Free Smoke, No Tellin, Energy, Knife Talk, War, Mob Ties, nonstop, No Friends in the Industry, etc. it’s okay if Drake isn’t your cup of tea, but if you made his verzuz playlist he’d obviously lose Bc you’d choose his softest tracks lol.
Actually I chose songs that are his biggest ” hits” because people keep talking about how many hits he has as evidence of how he would do in Verzuz.
Snoop Dogg got the catalog……but ya know? He went in with X…..Jay ain’t gonna play fair….Astronaut Kid…… Future???
Jay’s bag is so deep. Take a song like Excuse Me Miss Again (La La La). Drake doesn’t have a single track that would stack up. Not one.
This isn’t Billboard or the top 40. Verzuz is like a battle rap stage. Dipset found out.
Exactly!! Personally, Lil Wayne would be a better match up!!! As we’ve all seen, the person with the biggest hits doesn’t always win. It’s whose songs has the bigger impact when played!!
Thats not how you use duration in a sentence bruh.
rappers really be over hyping themselves
Lmfao
LL Cool J would murder Jay Z
LL would get killed
LL would get ran over quit it, y’all reaching now.
And go to jail for life! That’s the only way he could murder Jay.
I say get ice cube
Jay would demolish Cube lol. That wouldn’t even be close.
J-Cole, that is all
Drake is a singer and rapper. Jay is straight hip hop
Jay is a Killa.. period. Its a battle.. not sing us your hits.. see what Jada did to the diplomats? With that “who shot ya.. that was bonkas.. Jay would kill him. You don’t have to like Jay to acknowledge his skill.
Why nobody talking bout Busta bust. He got great music an been around. I think it’s the best verzuz fir jay z
Busts FACTS
LL would hold up and probably decimate Jay. Both been around for a minute and both have an extensive collection
Are you people serious with this LL s***? I like LL but no, he would lose and lose badly. He’d be on his 5th album while Jay is still on Reasonable Doubt.
I say………….BUSTA RHYMES!!! Let Drake & Lil’ Wayne go at it!!!
FACTS
Maan u Work for hov tho Jim. Trynna get some cool points w jay. LOL smh
Drake has hits but when shit like “Streets is watching, D’Evils, Where I’m From, Heart of the City” drop…his whole catalogue gonna feel weak.
I think prolly one MC being overlooked to take on Jay in a verzuz is Mos Def!!!!! I think he could be formidable or even beat JY-Z. Busta, LL, Even Drake are all worthy adversaries but IMO Mos Def is The One!!!!!
I’ve been trying to tell
The world
Mos Def is the Guy
Jay Z VZ Jay-Z
Nas is the Only Worthy opponent. But Jay would never do a versus and let Tim and swizz take the bank. Jay requires ownership in anything like this. Til he gets that he’ll never do a Versus
Nas or Busta
Until then
Why are you guys even posting this clown when it comes to rap anymore. Drake got beat up by puffy who back then was too scared to say or do ishh to anybody
Nas
LL
Dmx(rip)
Mos Def
Lil wayne
Beanie sigel
Jadakiss
No particular order but they’d all win.