Nas

Street's Disciple

Separate and Unequal

Review Score:

(10/10)
Jay-Z or Nas?

Typically, this is a discussion designated for those hot air personalities that gauge the authenticity, credibility and overall success of an artists' music by record sales. This very sad fact further illustrates why most radio booths have no sharp objects. Further punctuating this painful proof is that fact that Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt [released Jan `99] and NAS' Illmatic [released Apr `94] is the best pieces of work by either artists' admittance and neither was their top-seller.

Now, whether you are riding with Marcy's Man child or Queens Bridge's Qur'an quotable-both are boiling at the top of their game. Jay says he's done, but he said that before NAS dropped this last one-which may be his best yet and the inspiration behind this note. Should Jigga hold onto his promise and hang up the mic for good, there will be no doubt these feuding foes fight would have ended in a NAS victory. Of course I thought the battle track "Ether" from the very, underrated Stillmatic sealed that debate, but some diehard JZ fans were just unconvinced. NAS Street Disciple should put another nail in that coffin.

It is so ironic that both Jay-Z and NAS spent a great deal of time and energy defending `Pac and Big-and in some many ways are just like the slain rap icons. Big had a (well) big street presence that transformed into the business of show (just like Jay-Z). While 2Pac was destined for showbiz, but his music lit up the streets (just like Esco).

In battles and in general, most fans of hip hop prefer poetic genius over commercial corniness-and (in my opinion) Jay-Z spent too much of his career trying to justify both. For the record, I think The Black Album; along with Reasonable Doubt are classics--everything in-between underscores my point. Conversely, NAS spits reverberating lyrics which challenges the spirit, regardless of the target. He attacks the soul and expects the knowledgeable to understand. The weak can call the morning shows.

---Advantage NAS

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