Nas is hailed as one greatest rappers in hip-hop history. So when he gives flowers to other rappers, it holds major weight.
Speaking with Rolling Stone, Nas was asked about the similarities between his 2006 record “Hip Hop Is Dead” and Kendrick Lamar’s 2024 track “Watch The Party Die.” The Queen’s icon took the time to show love to Lamar.
“We all as artists love this art form and have our opinions on it. Kendrick is one of the brightest stars we’ve ever seen, and I don’t only mean superstar. I mean like the North Star,” he said. “I think he’s one of those. Out of all the artists in this business, there’s some that’s not here for the art. When we see those people that are not here for the art damaging it, you’re hurting the future of the art. So I think artists like Kendrick are going to speak out.”
Interesintly, Lamar noted that Nas was one of the few who congarlauted him on being selected to headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
“Always inspired by my brother KL,” Nas wrote on Instagram. “Keeping the essence of this sh*t alive and at the forefront. Salute King.”
‘Won the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulate me/ All these ni**as agitated, I’m just glad they showin’ they faces/ Quite frankly, plenty artists, but they outdated/ Old-a** flows, tryna convince me that you they favorite,” Lamar rapped on “Wacced Out Murals.”
Nas also spoke about fans trying resurrect a feud with him and JAY-Z over their casino ventures in NYC.
“It is just a thing that some people are going to talk about,” Nas said. “No one has any control over things like that. I still study Rakim and Big Daddy Kane. Some rap fans just like to go off on those things from time to time. That’s it.