Russell Simmons may have made one of the biggest missteps in his career when he curved the opportunity to sign Nas early on in his career.
During a recent visit to Drink Champs, Large Professor discussed how industry heads used to front on signing Nas — now regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time — at the very beginning of his career, apparently because his sound was too familiar.
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“From the start. When they brought Nas’ demo to Russell [Simmons], Russell was like ‘Nah, he sound too much like [Kool] G Rap,” Large Professor recalled.
“It was crazy. We was in the same camp though. That’s what he wasn’t seeing — it was like, ‘Yo, Nas is actually a descendant of G, so… you should you know, accept a new generation type shit. But, Russell ain’t know that Force.”
Large Professor’s comments come as Nas released his new album, Magic 2, on Friday (July 21) — once again teaming up with producer Hit-Boy and including features with 50 Cent and 21 Savage.
But despite only just dropping off his fifth project in three years, God’s Son has revealed that he’s already “halfway through” recording his next one.
Making the revelation on the second verse of new track “Abracadabra,” Nas spits: “I’m a magician, you should listen, it’s never the same tricks/ 2020 when we did the first one, five-album run, not a cursed one, it’s a blessed one/ By the time y’all hear this, we be halfway through the next one/ Bless up, all the rappers we lost, I’m hopin’ they rest up.”
It’s unclear if God’s Son is plotting a third installment in the Magic series, a fourth installment of the Grammy-winning King’s Disease, or going in a completely new direction entirely. But whatever he decides to do, he’s in the midst of an impressive run.
Earlier in Nas’ second verse on “Abracadabra,” he takes aim at those making end of year rap lists and the Queensbridge icon is demanding his respect.
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“Y’all should be ashamed of your list (A plus), I put some pain into this/ I put my veins, blood, bones, soul, I put my brain into this/ Y’all movin’ brainless, anything to be famous,” he testifies.
This could possibly be a shot at Rap Radar‘s Brian “B. Dot” Miller who left Nas completely off his Best Rappers of 2022 list but did have King’s Disease 3 at No. 7 on the Best Rap Albums of 2022 list.
