Nas has used his latest album to address a multitude of controversy from his past, including a lawsuit from Pete Rock and the sale of some of his catalog by MC Serch.
On the King’s Disease III track “30,” the Queensbridge MC offers his first response to Pete Rock’s planned Illmatic lawsuit. In January, the legendary producer revealed plans to sue Nas over unpaid royalties from the rapper’s seminal debut album.
“30” hears Nas express how surprised he was by the legal move, rapping: “I wonder why Pete Rock would act like that/ That type of behavior make me give rap right back.”
While its unclear whether he moved forward with the planned lawsuit, Pete Rock originally alleged that he had never been paid his share of royalties for the classic single, “The World Is Yours.”
He and his attorneys claimed despite a contract stating the producer would get a cut of the money made off the track and Pete Rock being cut out of millions in royalties, their attempts to settle the issue have yielded no response from Nas and his team.
“Nas and his people have stonewalled me since 1994; My New Year’s resolution is to be compensated for my hard work on Illmatic,” Pete Rock said at the time.
“The World Is Yours” was the only Illmatic track to get a gold plaque from the Recording Industry Association of America. Pete Rock produced and received songwriting credit for the song, which has since been sampled by the likes of JAY-Z, Eminem, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, and the late Mac Miller.
“30” — which on its hook references the “30 summers” that have passed since Nas’ debut single “Halftime” — is one of several instances on King’s Disease III in which Nas casually alludes to rumors and controversial moments that have been a topic of discussion in his career.
The track also includes a vague confirmation that fans may see him deliver a collaborative project with DJ Premier. Word of a Nas and DJ Premier album got around after the two friends mentioned wanting to do it during an interview with Scratch in 2007.
Years would go by, and nothing materialized besides Preemo promising that it would come out in various interviews.
Elsewhere on King’s Disease III, the song “Thun” — a nod to the Queens, New York slang popularized by the late Prodigy of Mobb Deep — hears Nas turns his attention to his bitter conflict with JAY-Z and marvels at how far they’ve come, admitting he sometimes texts Hov joking about how their rivalry “ain’t over.”
Closer to the end of the 17-track album, Nas namedrops MC Serch, with a line that seems to indicate he bears no ill will towards his former manager’s recent decision to sell his rights to Illmatic and It Was Written.
“Peace to MC Serch, how much the catalog worth?/ I made it so many can have a piece of what I earn/Push it to the max, now it’s maximum returns,” Nas spits on “WTF SMH.”
Serch, who helped Nas land his deal at Columbia Records, served as the executive producer on Nas’ first two albums, which arrived in 1994 and 1996, respectively.
While they arrived decades before Nas would win his first Grammy, both albums marked career milestones for the Queensbridge MC. Illmatic remains one of the most highly celebrated debuts in Hip Hop and holds the distinction of being one of the only Rap albums included in the Library Of Congress.
King’s Disease III marks the fourth collaboration between Nas and award-winning producer Hit-Boy. It also closes out a trilogy which started in 2020 with the album that would earn the prolific MC his first Grammy Award in 2021.
King’s Disease and King’s Disease II were bolstered by high profile features, including a reunion with AZ, Cormega and Foxy Brown as The Firm on “Full Circle” on the first offering; and Lauryn Hill’s appearance on “Nobody” on the sequel.
The latest album, however, finds Nas delivering every bar unassisted.
Nas and Hov are the 2 artists everybody should take notes on. True lyrically talented beasts and business men that didn’t make a career off dick riding trends or mumble rapping. I think the only 2 new artists out there that are even on their level lyrically are j. Cole and Kendrick… And that’s just real facts.
Yup. Jay, Nas, Eminem and Tupac.
No others are lyrically better.
And agree on J Cole & Kendrick being the best of the newer school of rappers. Maybe Joyner too.
Can’t name Pac if Biggie’s no mentioned, whom outvof the 2 is by far more lyrically inclined. & HONESTLY Em has more bad albums than good. You could easily argue everything after his 3rd album is between GARBAGE to mmmm average at BEST. Would definitely have Busta, AZ, HELL even Ice Cube & Scarface before Em. Em has never had an album thatvyou didn’t have to skip songs on.
Funny who you say is the best when there are a WHOLE lot of rappers that have better album catalogs
Nas,AZ, black thought, Pharaohe monch, OC,Styles P, K-Rino, Ras Kass, Lord finesse, mos Def, Redman, tragedy khadafi, ILL Bill, Slaine, Rakim, KRS-1, GZA, big L, big pun, Kxng crooked, and royce 9’5 are all more lyrical than eminem, Jay Z or Tupac. It shows you know nothing about hip hop or lyrics and you only know the mainstream who are always overrated and never the best
Nope no one should take notes from Jay Z who’s unoriginal and a biter and a Stealer. Nas, AZ, Black Thought, Pharaohe monch, OC, Styles P, Rakim, KRS-1, GZA, Ras Kass, Lord finesse, mos Def, Redman, tragedy khadafi, ILL Bill, Slaine, kxng crooked, big L, big pun, K-Rino, big daddy Kane, and Sean price are all lyrically better than Jay Z and on the same lyrical level as Nas. It shows you don’t know hip hop if you don’t know this
That’s just your opinion bro. To say all those are better and that others don’t know lyrics if they don’t agree is ridiculous. Who cares how lyrically dope someone is if they have never made classic albums. Jay-Z has countless classics under his belt. Some of the dudes you mentioned are “lyrically” better but can’t match his catalogue. Others are definitely not better in lyrics or catalogue. The only dudes you mentioned who can match or top him lyrically and in catalogue are Nas and Black Thought, and that’s only if you consider his work with The Roots.Even then, that’s just my opinion, and we’re all welcome to it. See how that works?
Nas chased trends all the time and failed miserably
Why only MC serch gets paid for two albums?
Why only MC serch gets paid for two albums?
Those were the only two he had with Columbia under his Searchlight Publishing when he got Nas signed. He got paid points on those albums
Why only MC serch gets paid for two albums?
Because Nas those two were when Nas was signed to Searchlite publishing
Nas is a joke. These rappers are stuck in adolescence and a lot of their fans are too.
Here’s your 30 seconds of fame. After this, NO MORE! There’s no room for TROLLS here trying to get a ride to recognition. So you can just hop back on the 🍆 you rode in on, because 🍆 ridas are not accepted here. & that you little condom is no joke.
Boy Stop!!!!! Nas is your favorite rapper most favorite rapper. You funny,grow up learn something.
can’t believe Nas got his first grammy in 2021! those awards are a joke
MC Serch just so happen to be a small hat. I think maybe Kanye really onto something there 🤔
Ye apparently no black dude ever screwed anyone out of money. Wonder what Evidence and Little Brother have to say about that?
Cut the garbage already, bad business is bad business. The so-called elite lose more and more power every day in the music industry because their methods are becoming obsolete. WE don’t need them. Y’all literally think people are genetically prone to being greedy based on race. Sounds very white -supremacist-like, no? lmfao
The album is excellent, great beats and raps
Kings disease 3 shows how weak that new drake/21 album is. Nas is lightyears ahead of them in hip hop.