Flow, tone, and even beat selection are more important than lyrics. Fact

[Tuling]

Do you think Nas would have had way more success than Jay if he had better beat selection?

That has to do with Jay-Z appealing more to the mainstream audience and writing better pop songs, where Nas doesn't match up
hits aside, album by album I think I like Nasir beat selection just as much, barely but still yes to your question.
Jay-Z is also a top-tier lyricist so i dunno what you getting at in context of op

 

[notorious8562]

Not more important but important. A good delivery is vital, and I think that's been forgotten a bit amongst this generation.

 

[JuvenileHell]

Not more important but important. A good delivery is vital, and I think that's been forgotten a bit amongst this generation.

Yeah that aspect of rap is pretty underrated, yet so vital. If me and Nas rapped the lyrics to NY State of Mind, I would fail miserable why Nas raps circles around me. How you say shyt is just as important as what you say...

 

[NotaPAWG]

That has to do with Jay-Z appealing more to the mainstream audience and writing better pop songs, where Nas doesn't match up
hits aside, album by album I think I like Nasir beat selection just as much, barely but still yes to your question.
Jay-Z is also a top-tier lyricist so i dunno what you getting at

It was just a general question to compare a difference between two of the top mcs that get discussed in hip hop that is relevant to whats being discussed.

I think Nas is miles ahead of Jay lyrically, but I feel like Jays beat selection is largely a part of why he had that upper hand. I think if Nas chose better beats, it wouldn't of mattered if Jay could write better pop songs..

I do agree with you about him being more appealing, though.