Roc-A-Fella Co-Founder Says Nas’ ‘Ether’ Didn’t Outdo Jay Z’s ‘Takeover’ [Video]

Former Roc-A-Fella Records co-owner Kareem “Biggs” Burke is riding behind Jay Z‘s “Takeover” and said the hard-hitting diss record edged Nas‘ infamous “Ether” song.

In a new interview, Biggs weighed-in on the now-infamous Jay and Nas early 2000’s battle rap.

“I was like ‘Yo, ‘The Bridge Is Over.’ He was like, ‘Yeah, that’s it.’ But when we called down to the studio, the [‘Super Ugly’] song already went to Hot 97. So, they already started playing it so it was already, you know, too late – Takeover’ is better than ‘Ether,’ but ‘Ether’ probably would be better than ‘SuperUgly.’ But, that’s not the battle. The battle really is ‘Takeover’ ‘Ether.'” (VLAD TV)

A couple years ago, Nas talked about looking past the epic Jay battle.

“It’s just old. I mean, I don’t feel anything from it,” Nas said in an interview. “It’s old. It’s so old. It’s another chapter. It’s old. Classic for sure. History even – I don’t listen to that. That or the other thing. He knows that. I told him ‘I can’t listen to this.’ I mean, it’s great. It’s great times, but that was then. But that’s my dog. So, that was a different time. That’s my dog. It’s too good right now. Everything is right. History is history. Can’t change history. It is what it is, but it’s love.” (Power 105.1)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=A9xWoXzBqew

In 2011, The LOX’s Jadakiss compared both diss records adn said Nas ultimately had a better anthem

“I didn’t really like the “Takeover” beat. But the words–you know what the words are! It’s like the Declaration of Independence on the battle tip. What he’s saying is crazy. I like the laaaaayyyyymmmmme part. It was heavy, but Nas’ “Ether” sits on the mantle when it comes to battle songs. From the production, to the way he formatted it, to what he was saying–he touched everything. It was an A-Plus grade.” (VIBE)

Rap veteran Rah Digga previously told SOHH Nas’ “Ether” was one of his biggest records to date.

“Supernatural was also a big battle rap artist back in the day. I was up on him. It’s really just a little bit of everybody. I really liked a lot of the rap battles that took place in hip-hop. You also have Jay-Z and Nas. Although I don’t know if I would technically call that a rap battle, I like when there’s competition. It just brings something out of people that you don’t get in typical songs. “Ether” is one of the best songs that Nas ever made. It just brought out a whole other animal [in Nas].” (SOHH Guest Star)

“Ether” producer Ron Browz previously said Jay had an opportunity to snag the beat.

“It was just one of them beats that I let everybody hear,” Browz explained in an interview. “Whoever came to the house, I was like, ‘Yo hear this.’ One of Jay’s A&R’s actually came to the house to hear that beat too. He said he was gonna give it to Jay, but I guess it never got in his hands. I went through a travel agent to get to Nas, and it got in Nas’ hands. I guess it got to him at the perfect time. Nas was like, ‘Come to the studio and hear what I did’.” (This Is 50)

When asked about the “Takeover” and “Ether” comparisons in the past, Jay said he felt his record outdid Nas’ response.

It’s been nine years and the great debate over Jay-Z vs. Nas still isn’t over. Earlier today (November 15), Hov appeared on Peter Rosenberg and Cipha Sounds’ podcast, “Juan Epstein,” and during the interview, the Brooklyn legend said, despite popular opinion, that his 2001 diss record towards God’s Son, “The Takeover” is better than Nasir’s response track, “Ether.” “I think in the history when we look back, and I don’t mean no disrespect to Nas, I think when we look back it’s not even close,” he shared, adding, “I just think it was a better record.” (XXL Mag)