In an interview with Nas on Monday, Vibe Magazine learned a few details about the upcoming Distant Relatives collaboration with Damian Marley, as well as the rapper’s future plans. He explained how the studio sessions elicited inherent memories of past cultures within him.
“I can’t explain what it is, something else takes over when we in the studio,” he told Vibe. “When I hear [Damian Marley] mention Shaka Zulu, Incan warriors, I can see them rising up from the dead. I feel like we’re speaking to our ancestors with our music.”
Nas is familiar with writing music for those who came before him. On 2004’s Street’s Diciple he wrote a track as a tribute to Hip Hop pioneer Rakim. The song, titled “Unauthorized Biography of Rakim,” was received ambiguously by Rakim himself, who said he felt “funny” about the track, as Nas never offered him a phone call nor did he reach out.
“It’s just love and respect,” Nas explained, nearly six years later. “How could I [disrespect him]? Somebody makes a song about you, it’s gonna freak you out, no matter what. If someone makes one about me? I raise an eyebrow for a second but then since I’ve done it, I understand. It’s love, real shit. I wanna do one about KRS[-One] and Kool G Rap.”
Nas assured that the track was meant to honor someone he looks up to and also commented on Drake and J. Cole who have been compared to himself and Jay-Z. “I think its great that these brothers aim to be [like myself and Jay-Z]. They’re great. Jay Electronica’s a monster, [too]. They’re gonna open doors for more real niggas to get in the game. I love that shit. It’s too early for me to know, [though]. Those dudes are so creative, who knows what they’re about to do. I’m just gonna sit back and enjoy the show.”
In the interview, Nas also talked about his situation with Kelis, and the relationship between him and his first son, Knight.
i fink ra was jus pissed at nas bringin up sum private shit but u cant hate tha track was top notch… i wud luv to hear nas, jay, cole & drake ona record to settle the debate on whos the king of legends an whos the prince of up-an-comers!
THAT SHIT WOULD BE EPIC
Well, technically, Nas kinda crushed Jay twice: Black Republicans and Ether.
Nas is clearly the “Better Emcee”, but from an industry perspective, Jay Z could be considered the “Better rapper”
Drake is wack
J. Cole is ill
But he aint as good as Fashawn or Blu who dont receive as much recognition as they should even tho both of them have already made classic albums
i agree, I like what I have heard from J. Cole, not so much drake though – flow and voice don’t do much for me.
yo when you said Blu made a classic album already? You were talking about Below The Heavens right?? Cuz that’s my shyt. Or is their another album of his I shud check out. And which album by Fashawn, haven’t heard as much about him as I should. But J.Cole’s “Warm Up”, idk man I think that tops “Below The Heavens” and The Warm up is a mixtape lol, shud be an album tho.
@MIGHTYMIKE27 Fashawn’s album is called “Boy Meets World”. It’s a phenominal album, but if you want to see him do another style then also download his mixtape “The Antidote”.
So this is my opinion:
J.Cole has matured in his rhymes.
You look at the Come up and the Warm up and the difference is there.
So J.Cole is on my positive side.
(And who knows,I’ll be seeing him a lot,I’m sure,once I’m at STJ)
Drake is not so ill.
He caught my ear before the whole cash money thing.
And then he just started to sound more and more like Lil Wayne, whose voice I dread hearing.
Drake,if he doesn’t leave,or slap some sense into America now that he has them center stage,will flop hard.
You have dudes like Jay Elec,Shawn Crys., J.Cole,and various others like Blu and Fashawn(whom are completely,completely underrated) coming onto the scene.
Or rather bring the people to them.
Anyway,I hope to see the day I hear those names in the mouths of America.
Or at least in more people than right now.
Shut the fuck up you idiotic piece of shit moron. Get a job and stop commenting on rap music. You are the reason there is a recession. People like you are the reason the rest of the world considers us lazy. How the hell is a grown ass man going to sit on his ass all day and comment on rap artists? Get a fucking life you fucking piece of shit niggo. I award you no points and may god have mercy on your soul.
Damn F-One, apparently you caused the whole United States economy to take a dive because you commented on rap music on a rap music website. How do you feel about that, sir?
DRAKE NOT SO ILL? GET DEM EARZ CHECKED!
WAYNE THE BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO RAP SINCE GILLIE, KWON, ASHER, YOUNG DRO, 50, BANKS, ACE HOOD, SOULJA BOY
ON THE REAL YOU STRAIGHT DUMB! THIS AL!BUM! MADE BY BUMS SHITS WACK. NAS=SNOOZE RAKIM=SNOOZE -FALL BACK-
Those dumb brainwashed faggots who commented on F-Ones post are fucking retarded…these lames were probably born in 1990 and clearly dont know shit about this music. Weezy, Soulja Fag, Gucci Bag and the rest of these clone-ass, no talent having poser dick riders are the reason Hip-Hop sales are declining and people consider this once great art form a total joke now. Nas and Rakim are the greatest emcees in history and if you think they are a snooze, thats probably because you have shit for brains and their lyrics go over your simple minded head. Jay Electronica, Blu, Fashawn and maybe J.Cole are the only new artists even worth checking for…Drake has some talent but hes a pussy ass Weezy clone who makes pop music for soccer moms…beyond the few I mentioned ,the new era is basically weak as fuck…go listen to some real 90’s classics before you run your mouth…
lol @ Harris…
Some of you people just don’t make sense..
But yeah F-One no doubt about the dudes coming up.
Man, here’s the thing… Guys like Nas and Jay, well when they first came out, their shyt was legendary. Illmatic, Reasonable Doubt? But I feel as if those albums would come out today, these fucking fans would pay no attention. These fans/kids nowadays are LITERALLY fucking brainwashed by everything that’s wrong with Hip Hop, Souja, Gucci, Birdman, Jeezy, TI, Weezy, them last three are talented and got my respect but their not by any means amazing and good for the soul or have the ability to educate one with a rhyme.
That’s why you see guys like WALE and B.O.B who just came out and already fell into the trap and sold their souls, not trying to make classic debuts but just hit POP songs to sell records. Disappointments. Wale went from doing songs with Talib Kweli to doing songs with Gucci Mane. Cudi and Asher stayed true with their debuts and tried to put out classics but as good as they are they will probably never be a Jay or Nas.
But J.Cole? Blu? C.H.? etc, these guys have the chance, they just gotta stay grounded and true. And hopefully try to put out classics rather than hits.
I feel like Lupe will one day be right their next to Nas. Maybe passed…….
Lupe my boy! The Future of Hip Hop is vedy nice.
HAHAHAHA @ Robert Duvall! Fucking Hip Hop fans, smh.. lol
Anyways, I agree for most parts with F-One’s post. Drake has really fallen off since joining with Wayne, he’s basically just a clone now, mixed with some R&B.
J. Cole is nasty on the mic! Dude keeps killing every track he’s on. The south got a lot of great underdogs, Freddie Gibbs, Pill, Yelawolf (not that much of a lyricist, but he got personality and a great flow, the game needs that, especially the personality bit) etc. are all making great music. Fashawn’s Boy Meets World with Exile was greatness and his mixtape with Alchemist was nasty as well. Blu is dope, but been slacking lately. B.o.B isn’t a very good rapper, but a pretty good singer and a great artist but his album sounded like a Disney soundtrack! Slaughterhouse got potential out the ass, Joell Ortiz keeps getting nicer 😀 Let’s hope they don’t waste it on corny punchlines and more rushed albums.
And then we got lots of established act that might not be that big(and also some big ones), but that’s still dropping great music. Tonedeff & DJ Kno’s coming out with Chico and the Man in a few months, CunninLynguists keeps dropping FANTASTIC music, Nas & Damian Marley just dropped a great album, Wu-Tang is back in effect, OB4CL2, 60 Sec Assassin dropping, Killarmy is back, a new Clan album is planned, GZA’s dropping Liquid Swords 2 (let’s hope he brings back some energy) etc.etc.
In general, we got lots of reasons to be optimistic, but also lots of reasons to be pissed off. Being a clone is acceptable, not being able to rap is acceptable – and shit blows up. We all need to support good artists(regardless of styles, we also need diversity, let’s not forget that.. Some backpackers are acting like everything that’s not traditional boom bap rap is wack, that’s not how I roll!) in these times, I feel like we’re at a critical point. We need to show label’s that it pays off to actually rap, to have content, to be original.
J. Cole ……….. yes
Jay Elect………. yes
Fashawn………… yes
Blu…………… maybe
Drake……….. no.
sorry just to pop and feminine for me to regard as a dope MC. lyrics are just boring ass punchlines and autotuned songs for teenage girls in clubs
RAKIM Isi big.
NAS is big.
JAY-Z is big.
KRS-ONE is big.
KOOL G. RAP is big.
they’re all dons, and legends.
imagine them all on 1 track lets not forget kane
rappers like nas just support who the fuckin fag crowds following fuck j cole fuck drake look at people like big lou,nipsey hussle,nino bless,omar cruz, why no rappers talk about these artists
Big Lou, Nino Bless…are you kidding me?? Listen, alot of dudes can rap, you have to have something else to stand out beyond that. Them dudes sound like they could fit right in in 1995. Now, personally, that’s my favorite era- The Golden Era- but you have to accept that times change and hip hop, more than any other music form, evolves with the times, that is it’s essence. Bad or good. I’m not a fan of Drake either but he is talented, and makes music alot of different people like. I’d rather hear what Drake is gonna do than Nino Bless though I can tell you that!
And JCole. I’m feeling him thus far. Jay Electronica is dope.
Stop being a hater! It’s not like he’s talking about no talent hacks
nah you’re just a bitchin cuz your favorite underground wasn’t mentioned. I agree Drake is wack but J Cole and Jay Electronica are dope and Nas is supporting dudes who are actually bringing lyricism back to the forefront. In a recent video interview, maybe this one, he said that 3 years ago he saw noone tho could carry the torch, but now he has some faith in a few of these new cats. I agree. except Drake..
nah you’re just a bitchin cuz your favorite underground wasn’t mentioned. I agree Drake is wack but J Cole and Jay Electronica are dope and Nas is supporting dudes who are actually bringing lyricism back to the forefront. In a recent video interview, maybe this one, he said that 3 years ago he saw noone who could carry the torch, but now he has some faith in a few of these new cats. I agree. except Drake..
dude!!!!! to answer you question cause they suck. Over and out from the real south
Jay-Z, Nas, Rakim, KRS-one, Guru, Black Thought, this are the hip hop legents. By the way R.I.P Guru – Gang Starr lives on…Holla
forgot Common,.. Hip hop does not make sense without the sensible one.
Drake sucks. Fuck you if you disagree.
Word up. Fuck Drake
Fred da godson is the nicest new dude out!!
now if u ever knocked somebody off in ur life get a tattoo on your head and say who gives a fuck.
jesterdx has a great plan, that would put all their rhymes side by side they would all come with it and you know that they would put pen to pad on that one,i could see it Nas go first, Drake go second, Jay-Z go third, J.Cole go fourth. then just leave it up to the people, dont do no interviews, no promo, just put the track out and kill the game and let US, decide
Rakim’s reaction to U.B.R. was kinda wack btw. youtube it, it’s on video. I mean, Nas was clearly showin nothin but love and respect. Ra shoulda just said it was cool and moved on…. no need to talk bad about it.
anyway now all these rappers hope that their tributes to the greats will bring them greatness lol. Maybe it will. Jay Elect did “Nas Salute” Fashawn is doing “Ode to Illmatic” (I will not listen to anyone rapping over illmatic beats but Nas, even tho I like Fash) J. Cole has only said he’s influenced by him.
“Name a rapper that I aint influence!”
-Nas
NAS IN MY OPINION IS THE GREATEST……….. In terms of catolog,substance, flow he just exudes greatness
NAS IN MY OPINION IS THE GREATEST……….. In terms of catolog,substance, flow he just exudes greatness.
Longest and Strongest legacy in this rap game, Nasir Jones, Best Rapper Alive
I third this comment.
i would still say THE GOD EMCEE, RAKIM.
NAS IS THE GOAT
hate all you want on his record sales and his lack of business genius like jay-z
He’s conquered every fundamental facet of hip hop MUSIC
In the Media, your name and your image, is your bank account, and when an artist does not reach out to the person they are going to speak about, it could be considered an insult as now, someone else is making money off of someone else’s reputation. The bank account now switches hands. Though, some people, have the power to mention a name and increase their worth. So it is a horse a piece and truly the perspective of the person being talked about. Ne ways, good interview. Who cares about Kelis? NOT ME.
it’s good for Nas to embrace these upcoming rappers
Eminem and Jay-z have seen that it’s good to embrace these new rappers
Although majority of them might suck(Jay Elc&Jcole are dope) like say Drake etc.
collaborating with them opens the ears of the younger generation listening to them to the true greatest rappers.
Look at jay he has collaborated with the hottest rappers out since the beginning
It’s a smart move in staying relevant and expanding your horizon
And most of them won’t last very long so it’s good to use their over-hyped asses as promotion and an addition to your legacy
Why do you think Eminem suddenly supports mediocre lyricists likes TI and Drake?
He has reached out to do another collab for drake’s album
An album despite being presumably wack will sell like cookfood and open these little kids to true talent
Who knows?Some of those ignorant kids might decide to research up Em’s catalog and become one of his biggest fans?
Nas is mad humble. That’s why I respect him.
Jay Cole & Electronica are crazy talented. Drake is wack though.
I found a really good nas website CLICK HERE FOR NAS WEBSITE
Nas stay humble agree with dude below me, but on some real shit, these up and comers are MAD WACK to me, and at the top of my list is Drake. There’s no passion in it anymore, everyone and their cousin trying to spit. I want messages in my music not simple flowing. These new jacks can play in traffic, ONE.
Nearly every time a new artist starts talking about their favorite rapper, Nas, Jay-z and sometimes Eminem names are brought up.
It’s the cool thing to do, lol, three of the biggest names in the 90’s so naturally people will gravitate towards them.
i doubt Nas listens to Drake. Can you picture him bangin that autotune singing nonsense lol?
Nas talks about Jay Elect all the time so you know he means that. and anyone who’s heard The Warm Up knows J. Cole can spit flames
Rakim used to be hot until that Seventh Seal…cant believe i spent money on that album….dats why now i download before buying.
Like it or not…as far as consistency goes…its just been nas,jay,and L.L from 90’s.
the Wu are having a lil’revival with the last 3 years.
Jay cole is hot
Jay Elect…dude is amazing
Drake is just aight…he’s an entertainer…and we all know entertainers dont always have to be smart…or say sumfin relevant.
LL? hahaha
fuck outta here… Rakim is a legend and people still talk about his classics and his lyricism… u cant say he has no consistency if ppl still talk about him how nice he is 20 years later…
i’ve been listening to ra from paid in full album days and the only mc that could touch those fucking lines that come out of his mouth is probably nas..its not slick like Jay or witty like big L but the cleverness of those sentences or paragraphs as we called them those days is something out of this galaxy. I guess brilliant mind’s produce fantastic art!
A.O. & Smith
http://www.aoandsmith.com
“The new saviors of New York”
Hello, there is a great dating and friends site –**Blackmilitaryfriends.com**– to you. It’s a cool site caters to all men and women in the military or retired from the military seeking love and friendship. There are many single members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force, and Firefighters — as well as civilians, veterans.
Me and my aireforce boyfriend also meet there 1 year ago. We are now happily married. Check it out, you are also destined to meet your Mr or Mrs Right or good friends there.