Tony Yayo has shed light on what it was like touring with Nas on his Nastradamus promo tour, explaining it wasn’t what he expected from the legendary Queens MC.
In the latest segment from his conversation with VladTV, the former G-Unit soldier described how Nas handled himself on the road. While Yayo expected the Illmatic rhymer to be partying all the time, it turned out to be the complete opposite.
Nas asked 50 Cent to join him on his promo tour for his 1999 album Nastradamus, and Yayo came along for the ride. Instead of getting to smoking some of the best marijuana and turning up with Nas, Yayo saw the rap legend constantly buried deep in books.
“I thought it was going to be a lot of weed smoking, like bitches on the bus, but Nas was reading books and shit,” Yayo said. “I’m going up for Illmatic, ‘I‘m a addict for sneakers, 20’s of Buddha and bitches with beepers,’ so I thought we was going to be smoking hella weed and bitches going to be running through that shit.
“But he was kind of like a laid-back cat reading books and shit, so I was just like, ‘That’s Nas, this muthafucka is reading books, and shit.’ [He] really wasn’t smoking too much weed on the bus that was more of Jungle and them thing, but Nas is one of them smart muthafuckas, and I see how he come with the lines.”
Check out Tony Yayo’s chat with Vlad below:
50 Cent also spoke about touring with Nas in an interview with MTV. According to the G-Unit boss, Nas was the first artist to do something for him without expecting anything in return.
“Nas was the first person to do something for nothing for me,” 50 recalled. “He allowed me to go on his promo tour for Nastradamus [in 1999]. He said, ‘The way you came out with that record [‘How to Rob’], it felt like when I came out [with Illmatic].’ He wanted me to be out there. Me and Tony Yayo, we went on that promo tour. At that point, me and Nas was cool.”
In his latest interview with Billboard, Fif revealed he’s going to collaborate with Nas. The publication noted that in addition to working on a new solo album with Eminem and Dr. Dre, the G-Unit general is set to feature on Nas’ forthcoming King’s Disease 4 LP. Further details about the project, however, remain scarce.
The Queens, New York natives have released only two songs together: “Too Hot” and “Who U Rep With,” both of which appeared on 50 Cent’s 2002 mixtape Guess Who’s Back? The pair briefly clashed in 2005 when 50 mocked Nas on “Piggy Bank” for getting a tattoo of his now-ex-wife Kelis (“Kelis said her milkshake bring all the boys to the yard/ Then Nas went and tattooed the bitch on his arm.”)
However, any lingering tension was diffused in 2014 when the pair shared the stage at Hot 97’s Summer Jam. 50 later gave Nas his flowers during an interview with Hot 97 last year, saying: “I love Nas. He’s really the one. He is the guy, the lyrical — we was figuring out how to do it.”
And the book’s title was “How to handle with idiots”
“Yea Dawgs, dat nigga read books n shit, he one dem smart mufuckas, NAH MEAN?”. Dude sounds like that rapper that reminds of DMX in the boondocks, part of Thugnificents crew hahahaha. This is ist so much of a stereotype it hurts.
There’s nuthin regular about the legend Nas. His lyricism and the way he carries his self show it. Yayo’s point comes as no surprise. Being well read, travelled and rich in life experience probably one of the ways he stay a top notch MC. Respekk
Well said
Nas a smart dude, fact. The point Yayo missin is, by reading books the God MC was prolly sending a message to youngins that was wildin like him and Fif to smarten up so they don’t get caught jammed up running around them streets without saying it. It did happen anyway but at least they became a success story in the end.
Godson n Fif need to end the speculation about this new track. The fans bin waitin n they know it. Just thinking how crazy would it be if they dropped it as a single. OMG!
It’s gonna be on the next Nas Album that his working on already along HitBoy , so we might not hear it soon, and I don’t think they have recorded anything regarding that record, Nas just told fif he needs him on a song for his next album…
Nas always said he was worried whether Fif would make it coz of the way dude was running wild on tour. It’s clear they had a bond coz you can even see it in the way Fif talk about Nas in his interviews. Nice to see the beef end and them put it on wax.
There’s some funny stories that came out of that tour. Would love to hear them backstage stories. Reckon Fif and Jungle the main suspects. LMAO
Dat tour line up was straight up Queens. Nas, The Bravehearts (Jungle, Wiz, Horse, Nashawn), Fifty, Yayo, Overlordian. Can’t say The GOAT didn’t put on for the hood.
This year poppin off. First NY State of Mind Tour with the Wu. Then KD4 finna drop with Fif feature on it. Bring it on!
Fif could see thru the Kelis situation so whilst it seemed like he was taking shots at Nas, he was really looking out for him on a street tip.
Nas was already 6 years in releasing music by the time Nastradamis dropped. Nearly 10 years if u count pre-Illmatic stuff. He prob wasn’t hype from the touring by that point.
Factz
Fif always been in Nas corner even when they was beefin. He one of rappers that openly said Nas won the beef with Jay. Real talk
Everyone says Nas won. That’s history no matter who likes it or not.
Vlad probably angling for a Nas interview coz he ain’t had one. Funny part about it is, Nas don’t like doing them n he.picky about them.
and that’s why 50 came out with 50 Laws of Power, after reading and studying 48 Laws of Power, no yayo
That’s the problem. Brothers always expect the same thing…bitches..weed etc. We not all the same. Nas is smart because he likes to learn. He educates himself. We should all be raising our levels of understanding things. We would all be better people. Instead a lot choose to stay ignorant. It is a choice many make in life. Then blame the world when things don’t work out.
Nas juz a fake always been this is why new York lost the rap world they was pushing fake niggas like nas who ain’t bout no of that shit never was south still running it because other then DMX and 50cent them new York rappers wasn’t living they raps the south rapper was
Nas juz a fake nigga trying to be hard and very overrated he’s got bars tho but dat it it ain’t shit u got here it don’t feed yo soul because Nas don’t spit his reality well
You an idiot
Come on man, no need to compare North and South. You say 50 and DMX are the only real rappers out of New York. You got Big L laughing at you from a different dimension. Too many names is geeking out over what you wrote. If you get a chance… Travel and experience. All directions have hardcore shit. But really man 50 and DMX you use as examples. RIP X…but you can’t say. Guru wasn’t real. And 100 other people from New York. Or Philly, even CT and Jersey. But hey Detroit if even further north west then that. How about Chi, the South side of the Windy City? Please travel before you tall about areas. I wish you well.
You gotta be smoking Crack bro, call Nas a fake nigga, you must be a young dude thinking that all these rapper’s street life bars is how they are really living, BS. Take it from a real G ,the rappers spitting about there real life doing street shit die young or get locked up period. Feds is always listening yall just to dumb to know that. So you comparing NY rappers to southern rappers is ignorant as fuck. IMO Nas is the best to ever do it all you have to do is look at the Entire catalog. On top of that he’s an intelligent entrepreneur that we all can take notes from.
Y’all name drop Illmatic way too damn much in every Nas article Jesus Christ get the fuck off that album
There are actual people out there, black people even, who do things OTHER than smoke their brains out, get drunk, chase women, and worship violence. I know that may seem weird to some people. It’s crazy how it’s ‘shocking’ to see a black man reading a book, but commonplace to see them smokin weed and brandishing guns.
Yo fam Nas when are we going to do your album done with God Almighty gods son we want forgiveness I had to forgive myself and the love is there I’m basically learning off of stress the streets and music I got ADHD anxiety PTSD Asperger’s but Im very intelligent in my own ways as we all are I’m working on some things and preparing myself when we meet and that’s Nasir Jones my favorite artist of all time very encouraging and influential I respect and love you I believe I and all of us have connections in our spirits minds energies and soul I just want the best for all of us when God makes it we all made it I’m like an extension of the greats meaning how long you guys grinding in the studio i uplift the best songs I love all y’all I block what could potentially harm us we all rise above I just want all of us to get along I can’t go against nobody it’s like going against myself but sometimes I wanna give up but I can’t I gotta stay strong for all you because my heart is with all you strong love brave hearts i have dreams of collaborating with of course Nas lil Wayne the game wu tang logic Boosie 21 savage Cole 50 cent spice 1 ti I would love it God bless your hearts and souls much love tone.
Yo fam Nas when are we going to do your album done with God Almighty gods son we want forgiveness I had to forgive myself and the love is there I’m basically learning off of stress the streets and music I got ADHD anxiety PTSD Asperger’s but Im very intelligent in my own ways as we all are I’m working on some things and preparing myself when we meet and that’s Nasir Jones my favorite artist of all time very encouraging and influential I respect and love you I believe I and all of us have connections in our spirits minds energies and soul I just want the best for all of us when God makes it we all made it I’m like an extension of the greats meaning how long you guys grinding in the studio i uplift the best songs I love all y’all I block what could potentially harm us we all rise above I just want all of us to get along I can’t go against nobody it’s like going against myself but sometimes I wanna give up but I can’t I gotta stay strong for all you because my heart is with all you strong love brave hearts i have dreams of collaborating with of course Nas lil Wayne the game wu tang logic Boosie 21 savage Cole 50 cent spice 1 t.i. ybn cordae drake I would love that it would be dope asf to go on tour with y’all and we all get along God bless your hearts and souls much love tone.
No body reading that shit..
Real Talk