S. Samuel
Grammy-nominated rapper Nas recently co-signed rap up-and-comer Jay Electronica's recent buzz.
Nas also shared his views on the status of hip-hop.
“Ah man, it’s love man,” Nas said about rappers co-signing him as a main influence in their music. “It never ceases to amaze me, I’m just happy that I’m here and I’m happy that all the other dudes are out there. I’m inspired by all the guys you’re probably talking about. I’m inspired by them too…It’s all good, there’s all kinds of things going on now, it’s always shifting. One area of the world will dominate rap music and then Mid-West and The South and The West, it just rotates and everybody gets their say. [For new artists?] Jay Electronica, I’m really, I’m digging him right now.” (Young Hollywood)
Roc Nation’s J. Cole recently highlighted Nas as an influence when he writes rhymes.
“The more lyrical rappers. I gravitate toward the classic and more lyrical rappers,” he explaind in an interview. “Sometimes when I’m in the studio we spend an hour on YouTube watching old rap and freestyle. For a while there it was really lyrical and witty and was always personalized. I’m drawn toward storytellers like Nas and Tupac. I’m realizing my own work in this day is generally not something that is out there. There is a lot of talent, but they just aren’t putting out what I am. The whole game is exciting but nobody in a long time has come out with the skills for lyrical writing that I am coming out with.” (Spinner)
Fellow rap newcomer Drake recently talked about Nas having an influence on his music.
“It’s gonna be bigger, it’s gonna sound happier,” Drake said comparing his debut album to So Far Gone. “Yeah, it’s gonna sound bigger, it’s gonna sound victorious because that’s where I am in my life — I really studied Nas to be honest, Nas was like somebody that I used to listen to his raps and not really understand ‘how’ he did it, I always wanted to understand how he painted those pictures and his bar structure and all of that. I went back and really studied Nas, studied Andre 3000 [for this album] and I hope you like it.” (IM Flashy)
New York rapper Fabolous said he wanted Nas to make a strong rap comeback earlier this month.
“Nas, Nas, like Nas is so ill,” Fab told reporter Karen Civil. “I think this younger generation of hip-hop really don’t know, like, I got a dude who rolls with me, he’s like 21, 22, he don’t know any of the ill Nas, he don’t know Illmatic, you just don’t know that Nas that I grew up with. I wish Nas would just let these young boys know he’s that dude.” (Karen Civil)
Check out Nas’ interview below:
