Roc-A-Fella alum Memphis Bleek was one of the first artists signed to Damon Dash and JAY-Z’s label in the late 1990s. Two of his four studio albums — 1999’s Coming of Age and 2000’s The Understanding — went gold and he’s been perpetually linked to Hov for the last two decades plus.
During a recent interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson of Bally Sports, Memphis Bleek was asked about the possibility of Nas going head-to-head with JAY-Z for a Verzuz battle, which he quickly shot down.
“There’s no comparison,” he replied. “Because Nas doesn’t have enough songs to compete. And it’s no disrespect to him but, he just don’t. Jay can battle somebody with just his B-Sides concert catalog, and it’ll still be better than people’s A-Sides.”
He continued, “It would have to be somebody like Big. That was his only competition that I’ve ever seen that he even felt that was competition. And he knew when they went and did Brooklyn’s Finest. Like, Jay knew that I had to go in the studio with the best-best of me ever because I’m rhymin’ with one of the best from Brooklyn. I’m not gonna let this dude dog walk me on my own record.”
There was a time when a friendly battle between JAY-Z and Nas wouldn’t have even been a thought. The two legends were embroiled in one of Hip Hop’s most infamous beefs throughout the late ’90s and early 2000s. In 2005, the two Hip Hop titans publicly reconciled at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey during Hov’s I Declare War Tour.
But while speaking to MC Serch for The Serch Says Podcast in August 2020, DJ Cassidy recalled DJing at a Def Jam holiday retreat in 2006 at Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort Casino, a place he likened to Atlantic City, where they were able to put their differences aside and put a permanent end to their feud.
“At the time, I’m doing all of Jay’s parties and Jay was the president of Def Jam and L.A. Reid was CEO,” he told Serch in an exclusive clip obtained by HipHopDX. “So, Jay and L.A. had already signed Nas to Def Jam and this was a big deal.
“I think Nas was coming from Columbia, so this was a huge deal because the JAY-Z and Nas battle had taken over the world. Several years later, Def Jam signs Nas while JAY-Z is the president of Def Jam, so this was an end of an era, the end of their beef, the two greats coming together — one as the label head, one as the artist.”
DJ Cassidy continued, “So Def Jam has an annual retreat over the holidays where all the staff and some of the artists, and they have parties. I did the opening night or the closing night party … I’m on a stage at a casino restaurant and we’re not talking a ballroom — we’re talking like the P.F. Changs at the casino. On one side of the room is Jay, on one side is Nas. I led myself into this epic 30-minute back-and-forth between Jay records and Nas records, and not just the hits. Like ‘Memory Lane,’ so on and so on. If my memory serves me correctly, the space between them started to get smaller and smaller.”
How Nas & JAY-Z's Longstanding Beef Was Permanently Squashed At A Private Def Jam Retreat
That’s when DJ Cassidy noticed something special was happening — and they’ve been cool ever since.
“Before you knew it, I passed someone a mic — this is all very casual, there was nothing set up for a performance,” he said. “This is like standing on a restaurant table. Next thing you know, they’re rapping each other’s lyrics. You could feel it in the room from L.A. Reid down, that everyone was like a little kid at Disney World witnessing their favorite superheroes come out of the castle. And they were doing their own but next to each other.”
The next Verzuz battle is scheduled on September 14 at 9 p.m. ET in New York City where Fat Joe will face off against Ja Rule.
Guess Memphis Bleek is still getting his apartment paid for by Jay. This shit is not relevant because Bleek said it. Nobody in the history of anything goes to Memph Bleek for insight…. Nas the GOAT
You right… but for me Jay’s music has more replay value than Nasir’s. Jay dropped some classics and some shitty albums but still… his lyrics skills and his beats selection are more efficient to me. Nas is definitley one of the best to ever do it lyrically speaking but he’s awful when it comes to pick a beat. And for that reason I can say Memphis Bleek got a point
The whole “bad beat picking” thing is cap. When you think of Nas’ best records, the beats usually come to mind before the lyrics. Just because Nas is into abstract, jazz-type beats doesn’t make them bad…maybe they’re not “jiggy” and commercial enough for you I guess lol.
Who said a beat must be “jiggy” or “commercial” to be considered good?? FOH! Don’t make me say things I’ve never said asshole. I just said that for me Hov’s music is better since his albums are more consistent regarding their production. I get bored more easily with a Nas album than a Jay album.
In a versus all you need is 20 songs nas got that easily. Big might have been better but he dont have the catalog.
Spoken like a man who use to bop his shoulders HARD to Hey Papi in the club back in the day…..
…while you was vibing to Chingy’s Right Thurr
So Nas don’t have enough songs but Big does?
Exactly. Lol
That made absolutely no sense. Nas got like 15 albums and big had two.
I know. Dudes be saying anything.
Bleek hit his head on the same rock Juelz hit his on
As long as Jay is alive, Bleek’s a millionaire
Memph bleek a loyal dude and I respect that
Being loyal and being a yes man are two TOTALLY different things
Groupie Bleek doing what Groupie Bleek does!! Anything out that guys mouth other than Jays dingaling is straight ignorance. Knowing damn well the platform, lifestyle and job you have has been given to you by none other than Jay himself so it serves you right to be Jays cheerleader. BIG a legend but only has 3 albums…Nas has over 10! Illmatic and It Was Written alone have another gems on there. We are talking true hip hop. Jay got a lot of hits but same was said about Dipset and Lox showed them up with strictly hip hop performance! Get those nuts out your mouth Weak Bleek and stop stirring the Jay and Nas pot to stay relevant. Both of their careers lap yours a million times
Jay catalogue > nas catalogue
Jay has more replay value, his music ages better.
Says no one ever. I never go back to shit from Jay except a few songs here or there. It’s the nature of riding trends, which Jay always did and why he was always more on the radio. Nas’ music is rap soul music. That shit is timeless. It’s him, Pac, and only a few others who can pull that off, and Jay ain’t one of them.
Nothing in Jay’s catalogue touching Illmatic, It Was Written or Stillmatic.
Not true. Jayz ages his music by name dropping brand names. He also just copies trends from other rappers. Hes not creative as an mc. Nas on the other hand is a true blue MC. He makes timeless music and he’s made his own trends.
That’s strange, they already had a vs and we all know who won that one!
Nas is the better emcee always has been
So biggy has a catalogue? This dude bleek so you used to riding ja-z he doesn’t know what he is talking about-maybe still mad about Ether-He can say Nas doesn’t have as many hits as jay z that we all know, but don’t say his catalogue can’t compete with Jay-Z. Jay-Z has the numbers, has the sales, has the commercial hits, but Nas will always be above Jay-Z in my eyes..
That’s exactly what I was saying…Real talk?
Lol, Memphis Bleek is a clown. Biggie is the only one who could compete with him when no one was checking for Jay before Pac and B.I.G. died.
They already had a verzuz in real life, not on some internet show. For real, on wax. Nas won. There’s no need for a verzuz LMAO
Bleek is still mad Nas let a slug melt in his hat. Love both rappers but Nas is my favorite emcee. The music is just different. But there’s a reason why an emcee being demolished by another is called being “Ether’d”
Jay was a beast from 96-03, but even then, Nas got him with that “Ether” and took down the whole Roc camp by himself. And Nas still continues to drop dope music while Jay’s music hasn’t hit the same for me since he came out of “retirement”. American Gangster had some joints but that’s about it.
Bleek must have bumped his head.
Bleek is still mad at “You wanna ball till you fall I can help you with that” Nas – Nastradamus
I like to smoke some of that shit Bleek been ?, I agree Jays albums are more consistent but Nas has more classics !! Even won Grammy LAST year ! What is J last hit ? Oj?Let the streets speak because The Legend already said” you already know who I’m better than . Tell Bleek UPS is hiring Sun.
BUT THE QUALITY WILL WITHHOLD ANY KIND OF COMPETITION. PDUB WALKER J
Hahahahahaha. Nas is an actual artist. Jayz is a corporate clown who uses a Basquiat painting to promote diamonds. His materialistic music, brand name dropping, didn’t age well at all.
Nah he got hits and can rap his ass off sorry. It would be an epic battle and would not be a blow out. Jayz and Nas represent hip hops authenticity and greatness.
Nah since reasonable doubt jays been a name dropping caricature of his former self.
I agree on the final part. I re-listened to Magna Carta album a while back, and boy, some of those references were outdated and cringy as hell. “Twerk, Miley Miley, twerk” I damn near got sick to my stomach when I heard that.
Someone tried to tell me Jay-Z would demolish Nas in a Verzuz with DOA as one of his songs. I laughed him out of the room.
-The whole Illmatic album
– The whole It was written album
– Half of I Am album
– You owe me and New world from Nastradamus
– Half the songs on Stillmatic
– Half the songs on lost tapes
– Half the songs on God’s son
I could go on and on but that’s enough banging songs to fill 10 verzuzes. Memphis should quit sucking Jay’s dicck that hard
Jay is pure commercial
Nuff said
Thank You! God is in the comments!
Jay has 13 studio albums, 5 collaborative albums, and 119 singles while Nas has 13 studio albums, 2 collaborative albums, and 79 singles. There’s enough for a Verzuz
Bleek on dust?
Discounting features, Nas got 14 solo records, the Firm Album, The QB finest project and Distant Relatives.
He doesn’t have enough records?
????
That slug really melted in his hat, he thinking funny now…
So true
If DMX, who has less than Jay and Nas can go against Snoop Dogg, who has more than both of them, then a Verzuz is possible.
Bleek is a lifetime leech. Dude nobody even knows anything you’ve done.
The comments on here are succint enough to not warrant what my response would’ve been to Bleek.
Nas doesn’t need more songs. Just needs 1 song “Ether” and the shows a wrap
Ok bleek we get it, you’re hovs lil sidekick and you’ve played your part very well but to say nas don’t have enough songs just makes you look stupid. The versus is a 20 song competition and nas has 13 studio albums not to mention a shit load of collabs so please explain how he can’t scrape together 20 songs? I’m not even talking winning the battle but you making it seem like nas career started last week when it actually was popping before you’re big homies you clown
People said the same about The Lox, seen how that went.
According to Memphis Bleak NASA doesn’t have enough songs to compete in a Verzuz with Jay-Z but Biggie does ? FOOL!!!
All he need is ether
Ether is all he needs. Beats Jays whole catalogue. And who’s still booking Memphis Bleek
I can’t believe what I’m reading in these comments….first, you don’t understand verzus if you don’t understand Bleek point. Yes Nas has alot of albums/records but what you fake Hip-hop fans on here forget is Nas legit only had 1 good album until Jay-Z revived his career with their beef. Even Nas himself would admit he doesn’t have it for Jay in a verzus.
Oh and btw you didn’t hear from Nas with anything worth while after Ether until once again Jay saved his career when he signed him to Def Jam.
Oh and by the way, this guy just replied to his own comment.
Jay Stans are still as insufferable as ever. Fun fact: when Nas first came out on stage to join Jay back in 06, Jay was rapping along to EVERY SINGLE LINE of The World Is Yours. He was the greatest hype man Nas ever had. Yet when Jay did Dead Presidents, Nas was just chillin. Walking around on stage, nodding his head.
Man GTFOH how dare you call yourself a hip hop fan and you wrote this dump shit. IWW is a certified classic and I am was a very good album. The only bad album Nas had prior to Stillmatic is possibly Nastradamus.
This is just dumb and wrong
Go back and listen to Nas’ albums…You can literally listen to every song. Except for couple on streets disciple. Nas is greatest lyricists ever. Yeah, Jay got more POP songs, but not more RELATIVE songs!!!
Memphis Bleek doesn’t have enough of anything to even mention Nas in a sentence.
If Verzus is more than 30 tracks each, then I would agree with Bleek. However, most I’ve seen is only about 20 tracks per rapper. A 20 track Nas is deadly. Just sprinkle lots of illmatic, a bit of IWW, Nas is like, some tracks from Stillmatic and some Godsson. No need to even go beyond that.
Why is Meek clowning himself, he doesn’t Nas already won with ether, while we’re still waiting for Meek to respond to Drizzy?
Oh I can’t read, thought it said Meek in the title so now I feel like the clown, I must apologize to Meek before he finds me ??♂️
It’s okay, Meek and Bleek are both mediocre rappers anyway. I don’t think anyone would really care about your mistake.
Its quality over quantity. Jayz only relevant because of beyonce.
So nas doesn’t have enough hits but biggie does? This is the only way anyone still talks about Memphis bleek, when he makes silly ass remarks like this.
In my opinion, I would luv to see a versus battle btwn the Great KRS ONE & Hov…
That will be epic….
Who is this ball licker? He wears Jay Z’s hat. Biggie only have 2 albums and Nas have 13 Be real… If Nas play 1 record, SHOOTOUTS it is a rap! That is too much of a lyrical assault
He must not be aware versus is only 20 tracks. To say Nas doesn’t have 20 bangas is nonsense.
Bleek needs to lay off the super weed. Dude is bugging big time. When is Bleek new album coming out? I cannot believe this fool said Nas doesn’t have enough songs in his catalogue…smh… Illmatic is a perfect album to begin with. I like Jay but come on Bleek. That’s like saying Big cannot compete with a person like 2Pac because he doesn’t have enough tracks which is possibly true. Nah can go head to head with Jay and come out victorious.
Ok how bout this since ball licker bleek got so much to say all of a sudden.. How many hits/songs does he have?? I’ll wait..?? stop speaking on someone else’s name & speak of yourself or STFU ?? Some people juz don’t know how to stop me being others business & speaking on others behalf…Hov is his own man respectfully..SMH
Nas shut down Memph in one verse in the QB Finest album. Memph got shut down in a bullshit album.
I will get even worse for Memph. His highest streamed song in his albums is Dear Summer. Enough said.
Fact. He’s a nobody. He should shut up and keep living of jay’s money. Wait for “the will windfall”
Which song on QB’s Finest?
I like how almost everyone can come together and agree Nas would wash Jay Z in a Verzuz
Agreed. Seems like people are starting o see through all the bs hype and promotion. Nas is an artist in every sense of the word, Jay z is a businessman whose talent is only important to him to the extent that it makes him money.
Bleek still living in the early 2000s ahahah if it was still then, he might have a point. But Nas’ discography has been better since their beef than Jay’s has honestly. KD 1 and 2 are better than pretty much everything Jay has stopped since 03
Bleek has always had Nas fucked up …he tripping but I do respect his loyalty
does he not realize Verzuz is only 20 joints (more or less) each artist? Nas may not have 300+ joints like Jay does (including guest verses), but he easily has 20 songs that can at least hold up to Jay’s best 20.
Let me look through Nas albums. I think Jay can get Nas in a verzuz battle. Jay has way bigger hits and top notch lyrics, especially through his first five albums.
Did you just say jayz has better lyrics than nas. Hahahahahahaha
I never said Jay has better lyrics than Nas. I said Jay has top notch lyrics. Read first before commenting lol. Jay certainly has more and bigger hits and would win in a verzuz. Nas’ best 20 wouldn’t beat Jay’s best 20. That is a fact!
He does not have too notch lyrics. He has brand names and forced metaphors.
When you talking about the greats it all comes down to which record you play and at what time. Jay, Biggie, Nas, Pac etc have so many records that it comes down to choices. Dead presidents might beat the message but NY state of mind might beat dead presidents? For example.
So that’s why it’s intriguing.
Jay z has some good songs but mostly its pop bs and name dropping brands.
Is he not a rapper? Why is he not talking about himself doing a battle with someone else? It’s normal to defend your clique otherwise he’ll starve to death “cut off from the will”
Bleek hates. No wonder all his albums has been bleek, lackluster. No food on the table without jay
HOV edges Nas in a versus battle, FACTS …!! Even his guest verses on the Nipsey joint, or What’s Free with Meek holds up as some of the best bars for the last five years.
Both Kings though, we’ve been blessed with these titans of the game, real talk.
Hahahahahahahahaha. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Bleek…the Robin to Jay-Z’s Batman. And not even a good one. The bi-sexual one. So the guy who has never carried a hit song on his own, the guy who’s “hits” all jad featured artists on them, feels compelled to speak about an MC of a much higher caliber than himself? Man, sit your goofy ass down in the corner somewhere and stay in your 2nd fiddle lane.
Nas is a dope lyricist, but he gets washed in a verzuz with Jigga. Hell, almost any rapper would. It’s no shade.
L.L. Cool J is hard as hell,
Battle anybody I don’t care who you tell. It seems to me that everyone has bumped their heads and forgot about the goat. Why not a Jay versus L.L. the original Goat. Where was Jay when LL said he was the goat and why he didn’t say he was the goat then. Facts are facts. In the words of Rick Flair ” to be the man, you have to beat the man ” Memphis Bleek, Big should never be included in the conversation because of his lack of albums, period. Perhaps your personal favorite but in your words about Nas, but he doesn’t have enough songs to compare.
Jay has some solid songs but most of them are heavily reliant on hooks from RnB stars. But to suggest Nas doesn’t have enough is just plain stupid.
4 songs from KD1
4 songs from KD2
4 from Illmatic
4 IWW
4 from Stillmatic
I’ll take these to the prison or isolation any day over Jay’s entire catalogue
Jayz = Gimmicks
Agreed
Back to the Grill, NY State of Mind, Halftime, Life’s a Bitch, One Love, Street Dreams, If I Ruled the World, The Message, Gave You Power, Nas is Like, Hate Me Now, Verbal Intercourse, You Owe Me, Got Yourself a Gun, John Blaze, One Mic, Made you Look, Book of Rhymes, Get Down, Hip Hop is Dead, Hero, Make the World Round, Accident Murderer, Loco-Motive, Just A Moment……..Not saying Nas would win or anything but not enough songs? FOTH Bleek
Tomps up bruh, you did urs with fact.
Nas all the way, still got luv for Jay though.
Both Jay and Nas been more in a comfortable peaceful space that i cldnt c a versuz b held anywere near the same sort of energy the Lox Dispet joint did.. That bein sed, the only sense i cld make out of wat this dummy Memphis Bleak is sayin is mayb that Nas hasnt got 20 songs as commercialy huge as Jay.. Which doesnt really matter.
It reads to me like Jay feel some type of way about Nas new albums Kings Disease 1&II and is using his guard dog to bait Nas and make the public think that he is better. For one, who is interviewing Meek and why? For two, what is the point in saying Big was Jay only competition? Jay is in his feelings imo.
I agree ? 100%
I was 20 during the either ass whooping jay got from Nas
Facts!, I’m glad I’m not the only one who observed this.
Nas is better rapper hands down ..I like alot of his music lyrics & beats .. Z just got a few good songs… That’s it
Memphis Bleek = Dick Rider
Memphis bleek is just a punk. This was said in order to spite Nas. Y’all need to pick who you interview carefully. This dude has no bearing in the industry. During his short (as leprechaun) career, he lived off of Jay. He has no bragging rights whatsoever. This kind of opinion is way above his pay grade.
JayZ sold his soul and dumbed down his lyrics and his message and now he want to be woke when Nas was doing this from the beginning. JayZ also relied on limelight and his business ventures which has nothing to do with music. He went after Tpain who isn’t even a rapper, DOA was trash. Bonnie and Clyde was fuckin horrible PAC didn’t like him . He’s a good businessman but will never be Esco. Nas personifies hip hop he never sold out, JayZ sold out to the NFL with that Kaep situation.
Exactly!
GTOH, how is it always that when a dude is more successful, made more moves, has expanded and exceeded Hip Hop culture, the man sold out? Talent, lyrics, bars, story telling et al brought HOV to this pinnacle. It’s a general human trait that we always root for the underdog. Get of Nas’ dick, ya’ll disrespect the guys rise in his own right. But he’s not better then HOV, possibly coming the closest though.
He name drops brand every chance he gets and brags about money. How much more of a sell out can you be?
Nas is not a single-driven artist. His strength is album development, concepts, and story-telling. With that said, he probably has more singles and feature singles than Jay does. If the argument that Bleek is making that the caliber of Nas’ singles isn’t up to the standards of Jay-Z’ then who know – It depends on what they play.
I agree. I do think Jay would beat Nas in a Verzuz because he has bigger/popular hits. Its a more hits based format. But just because songs are bigger hits doesn’t mean they are necessarily better. Lox proved that vs Dipset. Bleek got a little disrespectful with “no comparison” comment. Truly, Nas is Jays only true comparison. Jay knows it. He even said in an interview Eminem and Nas are his only competition. This may be blasphemous to most but I’d take Jay and Nas over BIG….sorry….thats just me though.
Same here brother. Nas, Jay, and 2Pac over BIG.
One word “Ether”.. Catalogs may not compare, but in the same MSG setting, if Nas were to drop Ether from jump the rest of the night is irrelevant. Song choice is crucial, but placement in a Versuz battle is just as important.
U can tell he jus speaking up 4 his man…dumb muthafuckas never learn. How Nas ain’t got enough songs but BIG(RIP) does?? LMAO!!! Memphis Weak..
Jay can’t mess with Nas on any level except for cash. Nas was making hit records before Jay ever jumped in the studio. Bleek is his #1 Stan Bleek will lie and co-sign about how much he had, whereas everyone knows Biggs is the one who had the startup money. How could B.I.G. have more hits than Nas when he only had two albums. I agree Big’s joints were nice, but not better than Nas. Anyone want a cup Ether cause Nas got some and will serve you right up.
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Saying Nas doesn’t have enough catalog, while mentioning BIG – who managed to put out only couple of albums – is absurd. Of course Nas has the songs and actually I prefer his output to Jays by a pretty big margin.
Ask Russell Simmons.
Some of y’all’ are tripping! Don’t confuse the new version of Jay with the old Jigga! Jigga is where Nas would run into trouble. I got Jigga all day in a verzuz against Nas.
Dumbest statement ever! This dude must be broke. Jay paid him to say it. Anyway, No nukka is F with Nas! KD2 is killing it right now! This dude has always been jealous of Nas. Go back in look at video clips on this irrelevant dude. Jay’s ball biter!
Bro Nas only needs to do Ether and that shit is over.
He said big because Nas doesn’t have enough song’s LoL ? ???
ETHER!