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.
“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.
“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.
Nah, def jam made the right choice to go with Jay Z over Nas
You’re such an idiot. They didn’t pick Jay-Z over Nas you clown. Jay-Z wasn’t aligned with Def Jam till roughly 20 years after all this happened. Shows your ignorance and lack of knowledge.
@Ahman While it wasn’t 20 years after, you’re right in that they didn’t go with Jay over Nas lmao. They coulda signed Nas way before Jay even released his first album which was Independently released by the way because nobody wanted to sign him.
Def jam could have bought out nas’s Columbia contract and choose to instead take a chance in jay z’s second album.
Timeline is messed up. They signed Jay all the way in 1997. Nas was already a star by then. They were shopping deals for Nas as early as 1991.
2 things can be true. Saying Russell didn’t sign Nas to Def Jam is like saying the Lakers didnt sign Jordan. Lakers always had a dope roster like Def Jam. Nobody knew Nas was gonna be NAS. Nas the best all time!!!
Hindsight is 20-20. Maybe Russell was just looking at who could sell more or who fit the Def Jam roster better for how he wanted to build it.
Hindsight is 20-20. Maybe Russell was just looking at who could sell more or who fit the Def Jam roster better for how he wanted to build it.