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.”
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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.
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“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.”
