Nas was apparently once in the running to be a member of Junior M.A.F.I.A., according to a Lance “Un” Rivera.
On Saturday (April 29), VladTV interviewed the music executive who had close ties to both The Notorious B.I.G. and his Junior M.A.F.I.A. crew. In a clip from the chat, he spoke about Nas’ early career and how his admiration for Lil Cease’s sister possibly blocked his opportunity to join the emerging group.
“What happened was is that he just got his record deal,” Rivera explained. “This is when Faith Newman had him. The first time I seen Nas through the ‘It Ain’t Hard To Tell’ video, I said, ‘Yo B.I.G., this kid is perfect for this group!’ Now, this is how the universe and the story is working.”
He continued: “I never met Nas at this moment in time. But as we was shopping Junior M.A.F.I.A., Daddy-O took me to Faith Newman’s office, and she had just signed Nas. And Daddy-O introduced me as this brilliant marketer, director, visionary type and she gave me Nas’ second single and said can I come up with a video treatment for it. And I wanted Toni Braxton, who’s hot at the time, to be the girl in the video.
“So the next thing you know, Biggie and Nas do a show somewhere in their early careers. This is when B.I.G. had ‘Party and Bullshit’ and Nas might’ve had ‘Live At The BBQ.’ They end up doing the show and Nas start liking Cease’s sister. ‘Cause I used to say why does B.I.G. hang with Cease? I’m tryna piece it all together. Like yeah, he was the little brother but Cease was a kid. And B.I.G. embraced him. So this is how they met. B.I.G. and Nas”
According to VladTV, since Nas and Biggie both had crushes on Lil Cease’s sister, it added a bit of fuel to their then-rivalry and was possibly the reason Nas wasn’t added to Junior M.A.F.I.A. — but it’s not 100 percent confirmed in the video as it cuts off before Rivera finishes his point.
Many were conflicted at hearing B.I.G.’s unlabored flow instead of Nas while some even thought he rhymed better than the Queensbridge deity.
“Cant believe i just listened 5 minutes of biggie rapping ny state of mind,” one person wrote on the viral TikTok comment section, while another added on Twitter: “AI just confirming that everything sounds better when it’s rapped by Biggie. Also, this is mental.”
Others saluted Nas’ flow: “The cadence is definitely unique to Nas. Dam I didn’t realize how unique his cadence was. It don’t sound right on Big.”
Meanwhile, Snoop Dogg has shared his thoughts on a proposed 2Pac and Biggie AI album.
Not wholly opposed to the collaboration, Snoop said he’s not into the idea of a AI-generated album featuring his late friend and the King of New York.
“I don’t really know about that, with the AI,” he said. “Because, that’s kinda like, computerized voices. You know? [But] I think if they can find some old tracks with their vocals, and put them together, that sounds better to me.”
Damn, y’all coulda at least shown a picture of her lmao nah I get it, there may not be any around but the article made me wanna see what she looked like
Right me too, now I got to gts
She has an old pic of her with Biggie.
https://www.instagram.com/tyieast/
Nas had a buzz as big as Snoop’s when he came out, and Big was still sleeping on couches, there’s no way he was joining anybody’s group.
Nas is a better rapper then Snoop , but let’s be real. Nas buzz was not as big as Snoops buzz when he came out. Let’s not start rewriting history!
Yes is was bruh… Nas flooded the airwaves and streets.
nowhere near the buzz of Snoop and Doggystyle. Even on Hot 97 a NY radio station, Snoop had a bigger debut than Nas
Yes, it was. Nas was that guy in NY circles from 1991 onward.
Yes it was bruh. You know nothing about Nas back then… man you could not even walk the streets or stay in the barbershop without hearing Nas. I was all the US at that time. Nas was the GOAT. And still in my eyes.
She has an old pic of her with Biggie.
https://www.instagram.com/tyieast/
No way Nas would have joined a bum group like Junior Mafia. And for the record, Nas has always been nicer than Biggie on the mic.
I dont think even nas would agree to that folk.
Back in the early 90s all New York was standin up for Nas. He was the real deal. And all the rappers were praising him for his first album. Biggie got a buzz merely because Puffy market the shit out off this burgers eating fat motherfucker. But I remember the Wu Tang and other rappers blaming Biggie for jockin Nas style. The only reason Nas might say otherwise today is out of respect for the dead.
Buddy tripping in biggie I bet u not even from New York I hate when ppl try to down play any one and pick side and ain’t from the area state or anything personal y’all ppl be funny I’m big all day and I fuck with nas and all New York rappers and I’m from the St.Louis ,Mo 314
Low key, Nas is the only other person with a claim to GOAT other than Pac. That’s why I always have them 1A and 1AA.
I agree bruh. Folks no nothing about Nas. Those fools just love party records to shake their asses to. Biggie was never nicer than Nas in total bluntness!
You really believe that Nas would join Junior Mafia and become one of Biggie’s sons?
No way Nas was joining Junior Mafia.
Imagine nas in Jr mafia
Boy no disrespect but she look like her brother I doubt Nas was at that THATS🧢🧢
Lance is on crack
Lance is on crack!!!
Nas first album was in 1991 party and bullshit wasn’t even out yet ad nobody knew big yet so idk what this nigga talking about ( big had party and bullshit and Nas maybe have live at the bbq ) Nas was already hot by the time we heard of biggie so why would a dude with a hit album being called a classic and the best rookie album ever be thinking of joining a group of unknowns and be under a another nigga who hasn’t done shit ? Ppl be out here cappin
Illmatic came out in 94
The Mafia was signed under UNDEAS, so as wild as this sounds, he must know some type of business going on with Nas and Junior MAFIA behind the scenes. I know Capone from CNN was supposed to be in Junior MAFIA.
bollocks. maybe they WANTED Nas to be in the group, but no way he woulda accepted such an invitation.
So Biggie liked his cousin? I always thought Cease was his little cousin? I’m confused now.