I just read through the last 6 pages of this thread and endured the god damn Mook arguments. I don't understand how it's generating so much discussion and debate. nikkas in rap revere Jay-Z because of the moves he made and the business he generated for himself. There are very few who will ever say he was the best at any single part of the actual music.
Mook (a harlem nikka) makes his moves in the obvious interest of generating buzz to build up that potential bread (like a harlem nikka). He "ducks" battles that on paper, would hurt is stock and takes very few to keep the buzz alive... and the shyt works. It's not complicated. The nikka makes smart moves with respect to his legacy. The actual rapping is a far second to that.