Revisiting comments he made last month in an interview with the NY Daily News, Papoose reiterated his stance that he’s a better lyricist than Jay Z while speaking with VladTV.
When asked about the reaction to his comments, Pap recalled feeling like there was a balanced public opinion on the matter.
“The result, it was a frenzy,” he said. “It was an uproar, as always when I speak the truth. It was just an uproar. Some people agree with me. Some people disagree with me. That’s what happened. It was definitely an uproar, I can say that. A lot of people reacted to that statement. Like I said, I seen a balance. Me just doing my own [analysis] of it, I seen a lot of people who said, ‘Yo, technically Papoose is better than Jay Z. Lyrically Papoose is.’ If you put all the extra shit aside which has nothing to do with our craft.”
Describing his refusal to submit to an artist’s commercial success in a discussion of skill, Papoose said “I definitely promote confidence.”
“I wanna send that message of confidence out there to all the up-and-coming artists doing their thing and just not feel like you gotta bow down to an individual who has seen success for a long time,” he added. “It’s like almost a slave mentality to feel like you’re lyrically better than another person. And me personally, I’m just speaking the facts, but I definitely promote that confidence. That’s the message I’m sending out there…Facts is facts, lyrically he’s not on my level.”
When pressed about whether or not he feels like there are any rappers better than him, Papoose explained feeling like he’s lyrically unrivaled.
“What I’m bringing to the table and what I put out there lyrically is unmatched,” he said. “You gon’ be naming people all day. Let’s not single nobody out. If you start naming, you gon’ keep going. So I’m just gon’ tell you, my work is unmatched. My substance, my content, my concepts. I reach heights that none of these dudes ain’t even try to climb yet.”
The Nacirema Dream emcee went on to distinguish the reaction to the comments on Twitter. “It was a balance,” he said. “Twitter is one of the most hateful, envious places on the Internet. I’m sure you know that. I quote somebody else on that, somebody said that and I kind of agree with it. I was surprised at this particular statement that it was actually a balance that came to me. There was people who disagreed but it was a lot of people who seen it for what it was and agree with what I said. I mean you gotta take your hat off to the dude on a business level, but we just talking about what we do, this craft. A lot of people try to take you away from this and put other things in the way to insinuate that being a gangster or having money makes you a great artist. That doesn’t make you a lyricist. That makes you what it is. So, you know, lyrically he can’t fuck with me. Period.”
Naming Big Daddy Kane, The Notorious B.I.G., Kool G Rap, Nas, Tupac, and KRS-One as emcees he considers incredible lyricists, Pap went on to explain feeling like Jay Z is not on the same level.
“I think he’s okay,” he said. “I don’t think he’s an incredible lyricist but I wouldn’t say he was wack. I think he’s okay. He’s not wack but I don’t think he’s incredible lyrically…Lyrically I don’t think he’s what a lot of people think he is. You might have people who disagree with me, they entitled to that, but I just go off of a person’s work and what they put out there. As far as that pen-game is concerned, it’s not that potent.”
Near the end of the interview, Papoose divulged feeling like Nas won in a celebrated public battle against Jay Z and added that his initial comments may have been taken out of context in the original NY Daily News piece.
“It’s a no brainer, he lost,” Papoose said in reference to Jay Z. “He definitely lost that. When ‘Takeover’ came out, a lot of people was saying, ‘Oh, it’s over.’ I knew what was coming ‘cause I follow Hip Hop. I knew ‘Ether’ was gonna happen before it even happened. Niggas was looking at me like I had six heads when I was telling them that shit. But when it came, it was over. Yeah but he definitely lost that.
“Even with the Daily News, it was the same thing like right now, you ask me about him, so I responded,” he said. “It wasn’t like I went in the interview speaking his name. I’m not into that. But if somebody ask me a question I’m gon’ answer it. I said what I feel. They ask me about him. When they put the article out, it kinda looked like I just jumped out the window and said ‘X, Y, Z.’ Nah, they ask me about him. That was just the answer I gave.”
RELATED: Papoose: “Nobody Is Better Than Me – Jay Z, Nobody”
Hov gonna give you the 1/2 bar of death
LMFAO
Had to post….Papoose is waaaaayyyy better lyrically than Jay-Z!!! Jay-Z is boring and irrelevant now, IMO. Always been a huge Pap fan…from all those Kay Slay tapes/cds back in the day
“Jay-Z is boring and irrelevant now”
That would be Papoose
#disniggatrippin
My nigga. Please just keep other people’s name out your mouth, or you just gon keep taking L’s
Lyrically he’s not on Papoose level, that’s why financially he’s not on Papoose level either.
you really think lyrics translate into profits? is that why the billboard top 40 is full of such dope lyricists?
no one gives a shit pap. Should’ve stuck to music instead of this corny bullshit. Maybe these young cats would know who your bitchass is if you did.
If papoose’s level means stuck in the 90’s tough guy simp lyricism then yeah Jay’s definitely not on that level
What Papoose is not understanding is it’s about reaching people. So even if you’re a great lyricist like a Biggie or Nas you still need to know how to reach people. Tupac wasn’t the greatest of lyricist but he had a way with his words that made people feel what he was saying. No matter how great of a lyricist Papoose thinks he is the fact is nobody wants to hear that battle rap shit. So in the end no you’re not better than Jay-Z.
An intelligent comment! Nice!
Maybe to a casual listener. True heads care about the craft more than “reaching people,” which to me sounds like a sneaky way to say record sales. Jay-z has sold more albums and more people know who he is and heard his songs. Does that make him a better rapper than Nas, who has sold less and reached “less people?” Nope.
“A dope MC is a dope MC, with or without a record deal all can see, and that’s who KRS be son, I’m not the run of the mill, cuz for the mil I don’t run” –KRS1
“MC’s are just hopeless, thinking record sales make em the dopest” –KRS1
If you’re not talking about large money, saying things you will do and did them, being the most talked and hated without replying but will make more than all those talking and having most people saying you’re the best in what you do… What’s KRS 1 and your dome ass point?
Always thought Jay was overrated, better then this boring ass motherfucker tho
The hungry Jay Z..Reasonable Doubt through Blueprint 1, nobody was fucking with him in terms of lyrics. Jay was way more technical and relatable with his lyrics back then and had no peer. Pap is in the discussion in terms of top lyricist but he is inconsistent with flows and choice of production. Jay has definitely fallen off but still gets the edge until Pap can get more consistent.
well em did destroy him on renegade on bp1 so, saying he had no peers was a lie, and dont get it confused he did get murked even though he brought his a game
Anyone who is really into lyrics knows that Jay-Z isn’t that lyrical.
When he dropped his first album, no one saw it as some big thing where he was this next level lyricist or anything, he wasn’t as good as people who came just before him like Nas/Biggie, or earlier guys like Rakim, Kane, Kool G Rap, etc.
As an MC Jay-Z is just a pretty good all-rounder – nice enough flow, some reasonably clever lyrics, picks some ok beats to rap on some of the time…
cosign Pap may have bars, but he ain’t translating to the masses
I’m a music fan first and foremost and a lyric fan second so I prefer songs over spoken word poetry.
point is, regardless of your preference, he doesn’t have a song or spoken word poetry that translates to the masses
He’s not generating enough interest from the actual public, so it’s safe to say he’s not in a financially stable place.
50 cent is the Boss but pap is nice yo.BK stand up!!
the boss of what? jada, fat joe, Nas, Jay-z…who the fuck HASNT smoked 50?
eminem
Pap this ain’t 2004, Touch This (Remix) was the last REAL big record. No one listening for him like that anymore. Now he’s just off the deep end and beyond delusional now. Whatever, if he’s happy fine but he is nowhere near the level or pedestal he places himself.
Papoose let Kay Slay ruin his career after making him lose that 1.5 million dollar contract from Jive records by having Busta Rhymes fake about flip mode offering him more money. Pap shoulda just took the Jive contact and maybe he would be relevant today.
Funniest shit this year
Finally an accurate headline!
Jay-Z this, Jay-Z that (Jay-Z won’t hold my hand no more)
Jay-Z this, Jay-Z that
Jay-Z that, Jay-Z this (Jay-Z won’t give me no money)
Get off Jay-Z dick
What y’all niggas get front page articles, y’all mention Jay-Z name
(This thing on?) Jay-Z, Jay-Z, in Jay-Z news
I understand what y’all trying to do
I brought the flutes this time, though
Posted8 hours ago | Reply
Pap said he had six head about Ether, let’s see him have six head about his own career as Hov does for real.. You see one thing is getting real the other thing is mouthing and I see what fools like pap and most lil lame kids have here is mouthing not real work. And if you live by mouthing or complaining you will end up like pap or some commenters here who think putting in real work is wack. Good night!
Smarten up, Pap. Lyrics don’t equal record sales and surely don’t equal “enough interest from the general public”. And try to stop doing interviews, it’s clear to see they will only push you to talk shit about others.
Jay need to stop wearing skirt
Scottish men wear skirt too n have a place of their own… Where are you from? Fool!
We ain’t talking about Scottish men, this is about Hip Hop culture, and skirts have no place in this culture.
Stupid fuck boy. Lay off that molly u dickface. Papussy, GTFOH
[Jay-Z]
Uh, uh, listen
First the Fat Boys break up, now every day I wake up
Somebody got a problem with Hov’
What’s up you all niggas all fed up ’cause I got a little cheddar
and my records moving out the store?
Young fucks spitting at me, young rappers getting at me
My nigga Big predicted the shit exactly
“More money, more problems” – gotta move carefully
’cause faggots hate when you getting money like athletes
Yung’uns ice-grilling me, oh – you’re not feeling me?
Fine; it cost you nothing – pay me no mind
Look, I’m on my grind cousin, ain’t got time for fronting
Sensitive thugs, you all need hugs
Damn though mans I’m just trying do me
If the record’s two mill I’m just trying move three
Get a couple of chicks, get ’em to try to do E
Hopefully they’ll menage before I reach my garage
I don’t want much, fuck I drove every car
Some nice cooked food, some nice clean drawers
Bird-ass niggas I don’t mean to ruffle you all
I know you’re waiting in the wing but I’m doing my thing
Where’s the love?
“Ain’t no love, in the heart of the city..”
I said where’s the love?
“Ain’t no love, in the heart of town..”
Yeah..
And then the Fugee’s gonna break up, now everyday I wake up
Somebody got something to say
What’s all the fucking fussing for? Because I’m grubbing more
and I pack heat like I’m the oven door?
Niggas pray and pray on my downfall
But everytime I hit the ground I bounce up like roundball
Now I don’t wanna have to kill southpaw
Don’t wanna have to cock back the four pound bar
Look scrapper I got nephews to look after
I’m not looking at you dudes, I’m looking past you
I thought I told you characters I’m not a rapper
Can I live? I told you in ninety-six
that I came to take this shit and I did, handle my biz
I scramble like Randall with his
Cunningham but the only thing running is numbers fam
Jigga held you down six summers; damn, where’s the love?
Fuck
Then Richard Pryor go and burn up, and Ike and Tina Turner break up
Then I wake up to more bullshit
You knew me before records, you never disrespected me
Now that I’m successful you’ll pull this shit
Nigga I’ll step on your porch, step to your boss
Let’s end the speculation, I’m talking to all you
Males shouldn’t be jealous that’s a female trait
Watch you mad ’cause you push dimes and he sell weight?
You all don’t know my expenses, I gotta buy a bigger place
Hehehe, and more baggies, why you all aggie?
Nigga respect the game, that should be it
What you eat don’t make me shit – where’s the love?
Where’s the love?
wow!! i guess he answered him way before we just never noticed
Jigga has a lot for lame niggas they just never noticed. He once said “We don’t have to argue about who can rap just go through our raps” cos he know niggas don’t read all they do is hear how d rap is laid out n that’s it.
Papoose is right in a lot of aspects but I lost respect for him when he went after Kendrick over the control verse it was a a stupid thing to do the fact he didn’t understand what Kendrick tried to do or succeeded to was pretty stupid.
Pap can only do one style of rap just quick fast bars that diss everyone around him thats he can do he cannot make real songs or real music in general.
From your comment I can tell you’re confuse and need to go back to school just look at what you posted and think if your son did same as a defender you will be proud of him.
Pap is right / Pap can do real song or music in general. Fool
being better than jay z lyrically isn’t anything special. guy is where he is because he’s jumped on every trend there has been and knows the game business wise.
Neither one of these baboons are dope
I think it is all a matter of preference in the end, Papoose position can be debated either way. I think it is important to understand that Jay Z has stated before he “dumbs” down his lyrics for the masses. I wouldn’t say Jay Z is not as lyrical as Papoose, I would say that being lyrical is not nearly important to Jay Z as being commercially successful. Some artists do it for the rep, integrity etc, others are just trying to get paid. So depending on why they are in the game in the first place it all depends, what made Notorious B.I.G so successful was the fact that he was able to balance being a lyrical giant with commercial success, but then again, we were still buying albums and not downloading for free so where would BIG be today, the most lyrically gifted but broke rapper?
he got point but Jay did say he had dumb his shit down so you dummies can understand.
dumb down for my audience to double my dollars..they criticize me for but they all yell Holla..truth told if skills sold.. that verse is for Adults lol
Selling out > integrity smh.
^^ Yeah right, keep your integrity and die a peasant, Jay might have sold out but at least he’s a multi millionaire.
Whats with these in the comment section on some commercial dick riding
I came out of retirement for this comment. While Papoose will sing his own praises about him being sp lyrical and a great rapper, he falls in the category of Pseudo-Lyricist he says big words and miss pronounces em but doesnt really say shit. Like he read a thesaurus. Jay-Z works well because he appeals to both sides of the fence. The pop and the underground because he shows love and is at this time too big to ignore. Papoose’s audience is those white kids who love that stupid lyrical shit. We eat that up. He should work on his Catalogue before speaking on being better than anyone though cause the only song he killed was Touch It Remix.
Too much cociane Papoose.
look on my neck i got a carrot cake >> papoose’s career
IF YOU CAN READ THIS POO-POOSE. I NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER LIKED ANYTHING YOU EVER WAS EVEN FEATURED ON. YOU ARE THE EPITOME OF A DUMPSTER JUICE S#IT BAGGER.
MAN, HE NICE BUT HE AINT GOT SHIT ON CASS THE HUSTLER
Jay z hasnt put out a Good album since The Dynasty…real shit.
Jayz always puts out good music. Nothing Pap has been consistently good all the way through. If he was a great as he says he is he would be selling records. Talent trumps everything
So I guess The Blueeprint, Black Album and American Ganagster were’nt “good”…
HATER
bish whet? if anything the dynasty was his most “ehh” album ever lol the blueprint and the black album sound way better
He needs to change his stupid a$$ name, like 2Chainz did. Nobody likes his name, papoose, stupid marketing name.
was this really news worthy? everyone knows papoose isnt on jay-z’s level, both lyrically and for damn sure business wise. papoose can’t make a song to save his life, sure he uses big words and tries to do intricate word play but people don’t want to hear that shit. i don’t mean u dumb down lyrics to the point of a “laffy taffy” or any of the down south corny rappers, but u gotta be able to make songs that have enough lyrics that can connect with real hiphop heads. that’s another reason why joey badass is a nice lyricist but i see him as another rapper that can make intricate raps but after about 5 minutes of listening ur like wtf is he talking about? Papoose is the same way, u cant listen to him for a long time and when u do u realize he’s not all that great. The greats will always be Biggie and Jay because not only were they lyrical they were able to appeal to the masses by knowing how to spit lyrics in a decent song format. This day in age self proclaimed lyricists come a dime a dozen, on every street corner in the United States, their visions of whos hot and whos not doesn’t translate into them being better. It’s just a matter of opinion.
That’s like saying Mcdonald’s make the best food because they ain’t trying to cook like Wolfang Puck or Mario Batali.
I can see where he coming from, I’ve never really checked for this guy so I can’t speak on his material But as far as Jay, it’s not just about the word play, a lot of niggaz can flip metaphors and quadruple entendres but their lyrics aren’t relatable, Jay gives you emotion he gives off a certain feeling or vibe through words, it’s not about being able to put the words together as much as the meaning behind the shit you saying, a lot of niggaz can rap but they don’t have shit to say,Papoose himself is a perfect example, Cassidy can rhyme his ass off but what’s his story? This is why we have a Rick Ross. I fuck wit Ross, it may not be his story but he telling it so well, telling the fuck out it. Ps correctional officers aren’t cops, they are babysitters and it’s decent honest work. Beats working at Mcdonalds.
dude jay has no emotion in his music its all fucking bragging and shit.
You spelled SAMBO wrong. Cassidy does have a story and conscious material, bring up RR killed your whole point too.
SAMO lives: Good point and well said buddy. Jay is the man point blank.
I do agree with him for sure about Jay being way overrated lyrically. But I DISAGREE with Krs one being a great lyricist cuz hes not that nice either wit lyrics cmon
he is but not every song is lyrical. he flexes when he feels its needed.
which one? Cuz I agree with Anon that both of them arent that nice lyrically. altho jay is overall better than krs one only 1980s old school dudes would cry and try to detest that
Dude…. KRS-One is the BEST MC EVER!
Nobody will deny that, even Nas said so himself on a skit on KRS-One album.
KRS-One doesnt live in our Wordly Dimension, he’s on a whole another frequency
^nigga shut the fuck up, u soundin like a MAJOR dick rider right now
I don’t think he’s better, but I think lyrically they are at the same level. Is pap an overall better emcee? I don’t think so
Pap is better than Camel, lyrically. Jay-z flow is stupid retarded now.
Hell, even Jay Electronica is better than Camel.
Camel came off very wack on that new Jay Elec track.
When Camel stops talking about his money and wealth, then we can talk about a real lyricist.
PAPUSSY!!!
This is my take:
Jay in my opinion is the best overall. I do believe Jay won that battle with Nas. I witnessed and lived that moment and Jay came out with facts and went at a few people in one song. Nas has always been one of my favorites but ether to me was not that strong. I remember everyone making a big deal but also saying saying jay got him good. twice with takeover and super ugly.
As for Papoose, I never enjoyed his music. For me, he sounds like he’s always off beat and I cant get over that. Music in my opinion is always better when it moves you in some way. Papoose never made a real impression and the only way he can stand out is if he claims he’s better then the guy everyone respects the most. It’s like that jay-Z line…
“Dark Knight feeling, die and be a hero
Or live long enough to see yourself become a villain
I went from the favorite to the most hated
But would you rather be underpaid or overrated?”
I just think Papoose feels underpaid. Hopefully things work out for him but burning bridges is not the smartest thing to do. Oh well, let’s see how his career unfolds.
Nas kilt jay n his whole squad jay knows this that’s why he only does subliminal sneak disses or one liners after ether cause he got bodied n it hurt his bitch ass fuck jay n all his money cause that’s all ppl talk about he been spitting trash since the black album Nas still as good now as when illmatic came out
Nas >>>>>>>>>>Jay by a lot
^^yup camel joe got bodied
You hit it right on the nail!!! Pap is 8X outta 10 off beat and can’t move a damn unit that isn’t free. He’s nice, lyrically, but he always comes off as bitter because he can’t cater to the mass market. He is in no way on Jay-Z’s level and that’s not talking about finances. He not better than any member of Slaughterhouse for sure.
Richman: Your 100 percent right, Slaughterhouse is on a whole other level as well. Pap should just focus on trying to make music to feed his family.
Lox all day: I can tell your not on my level but I’ll try and explain so you understand. I can tell your young but someone needs to help you. You can think Nas won the battle, that’s your opinion. If you were around at that time, you would know more about that battle and both Nas and Jay’s impact at that time. Nas had a bunch of albums and none of them were doing well and to be honest it wasn’t his best work. Matter of fact, people were saying he’s albums were garbage. In my opinion it was still 100 times better then all the new stuff. He has two maybe 3 solid albums but overall it doesn’t matter. He’s a great artist and I prefer his music over 95% of the new artist.
suck ass comments…go listen to PAP,S alphabatical slaughter and tell the world WASUP…,,nigas brains is backward, listen to the ether that shit was A club hit,,,we moved to that beat heavy ..enjoyN the lyrical slaughter
Papoose is a great lyricist but that Nacerima Dream album was a fuckin letdown i was mad at how wack it was.I aint no jay fan anyway all he talk bout is money n bullshit the last 10 years MCHG was one the worst albums of last year
Nas
Eminem
styles p
jadakiss
ghostface killah are just 5 that are better than pap
PAP NIGGA! Lyricism at it’s finest! BK STAND THE FUCK UP!
Seriously? Now I’ll be the first to say that Jay-Z is average…but Papoose seriously thinks his work is unrivaled? Better lyrically than Jay-Z? Ok sure I’ll give you that. But Papoose isn’t even remotely close to sniffing Pharoahe Monch or Ras Kass’ level of Lyricism. Qwel & RA Scion are also leaps and bounds above Papoose. He may not be making music that I like right now, but as far as lyricism is concerned, what Lupe Fiasco has done with metaphors in his catalog is also way ahead of Papoose. Hex One & Tek-Nition of Epidemic are better than Papoose. Blu is better lyrically than Papoose (although his stage show is kinda weak). Black Thought is just all around better. Qwazaar is a better lyricist. Elzhi is a better lyricist. Homeboy Sandman is far more clever. I could go on. No hate against Papoose…he does have some talent…but let’s not get too crazy here. And that last album wasn’t that great at all. Entirely forgettable.
Seriously I don’t want to know what most niggaz here listen too and I definitely don’t want to be in their state of mind cos it’s so delutional and backward.. No rapper is better than Jay Z and they know that it’s just that they feel humping on his dick in every interview will get em bread or some stuff out there… Hov is lines had been and will ever be the most used lines for many rappers. I don’t come here saying who’s better just telling you how hard work, perfection and smartness will take you to the next level but the problem is that hip hop and it’s consumers are lame so it’s hard to be Hov when the consumers are fixed to a low life menterlity state and can’t get out of it. It’s so plan to see Jay don’t reply when low life’s tries to get lame and all because he’s mastered his fellows and sees he can’t be backward like them so he moved on to a point most fellows just want to throw dirt in him name just to know how he did it all. Fuck lames
brave One Pap ,,u much better than jAY,,,,lyrically jay aint got shit,comeone “me and my girlfriend”is that a rap song wit B,,,
Please don’t tell me we are talking about singles here?
Have you heard a JayZ album? Likely Not. Samo is pronounced same ol,like same ol pussy ass niggaz that think they know everything.
UNLIKE MOST I HAD THE PLEASURE OF HEARING PAPOOSE EARLY IN LIFE IM 29 I HAVE TO SAY I FIRST HEARD HIM WHEN I WAS LIKE 11 OR 12 IN AN APARTMENT WITH HIS FIRST DJ NAMED EDUBB AND I THOUGHT HE WAS GOOD ITS WHERE I FIRST HEARD ALPHABETICAL SLAUGHTER AND A BUNCH OF OTHER FREESTYLES BUT IT WAS WITH NO BEAT DIDNT HERE THE FINISHED PRODUCT UNTIL EDUBB MIXTAPE CAME OUT BUT HE WASNT ON BEAT AND THAT SAME MUSIC I THOUGHT WAS GOOD DIDNT HAVE THE SAME SUBSTANCE THEN IT HIT ME THIS DUDE JUST WAS GOOD WITH WORDS NO SUBSTANCE NO ENERGY THEN I LISTENED SOME MORE AND IT WAS THEN CLEAR THAT HE WAS HORRIBLE. HE IS A NURSERY RHYMER WITH BIG WORDS
I THINK JAY SPOKE ON THIS PUMP IT UP FREESTYLE
WHOS THE NICEST/LIFE OF LIFELESS/ON THESE MIC DEVICES AND I DONT WRITE THIS/I JUST MIGHT THIS/I WILL IT TO HAPPEN ONE TAKE HOV/ IM REAL AT THIS RAPPIN/ MY NEW NAME IS JUST THE FACTS/WHILE THE REST OF YALL ADJUST TO FACTS/PUT WORDS TOGETHER JUST TO MATCH/I SAY WHAT I FEEL YALL ADJUST TO THAT! MY MAN PEEP THIS DUDE IN ADVANCE FOH WACKPOOSE.
This is what happens when u smoke cheap blunts, u become delusional and start thinking that them raps u been throwing at yo homiz are lyrically unrivalled. Nigga I know more than 10 rappers that will leave PAP in the dust lyrically, I mean son u cant even come close to Pharoah, Black thought will eat that ass for breakfast, even Rass Kass is miles ahead of papoose the mixtape rapper, Elzhi is a better lyricist than Papoose. this guys has a few good punchlines and lyrical twists but that dont mean u r “unrivalled”. What r u smoking!!!!!!! No wonder u still broke delusional mixtape rapper.