Hip-Hop DX's The Breakdown - J. Cole: Nas Without Illmatic

[Deltron]

If we were to match top rappers of this generation to their predecessors in previous Generations, I always imagined that Drake is the best paired with Jay Z. Drake is this generation’s top selling rapper, he owns a sports team, he releases new music relentlessly, all much like Hov in his prime. Kendrick Lamar spoken often about his love and respect for Tupac, but he’s probably closer to an Andre 3000 type artist—not afraid to take sonic risks, his music goes over a lot of people’s heads. Future’s definitely the evolution of Lil Wayne. Then there’s J Cole. J Cole is undeniably this generation’s Nas. Let’s break it down.[/quoe]

 

[ManBearPig]

nah not at all

 

[Long Live The Kane]

Nope...damn, I can't believe this writer let nas down

 

[Piff Perkins]

This guy makes some of the dumbest videos. From his "is such and such the greatest ever" to everything else. Only good vid I've seen was on Lupe's label problems.

If anything, Cole shares some of Nas' worst attributes but none of his best. Specifically Cole has rapped over worst production than his closest peers (Kendrick, Cole) and raps about women in very tone deaf ugly terms. That's it. Overall he's not an evocative, introspective lyricist like Nas. Nor does he have a classic album like a Nas does even without Illmatic.

 

[Deltron]

yeah, listening to clip, his reasonings are surface level at best

 

[Kilgore Trout]

 

[prophecypro]

Oh he thinks Jay thought Nastradamus was ehhh and It was Written was doo?
I mean that would make Takeover less credible and factual so go ahead and cook with that
And Nas was copying Resonable Doubt with It Was Written when they both came out at the same time?
Argues the game is about innovation when everyone mentioned in the video was inspired by someone else

I honestly dont know if saying J Cole is Nas without Illmatic is either a high compliment to Cole or an insult to Nas. Cause even without Illmatic Nas got IWW, God Son, Stillmatic, Lost Tapes, Untitled and Life is Good and I would argue most of that is better than Cole's albums.

One thing I will say is I dont think either has terrible beats as much as people say, they dont just go for the standard popular ones when everyone else does. But to me that's still good Hip Hop beats. Its not like we're talking Eminem type production.

 

[JayBaldacci]

But nas has an illmatic though. Hes more like nas without the lyrical ability and street appeal.

 

[ManBearPig]

if anything imma give Kendrick Lamar the crown as the new Nas

GKMC paints pictures of what its like growing up in Compton kinda like how Nas did in Illmatic in QB

Sing About Me kinda gave me that feeling I had when I first heard One Love talking about folks that he know who were victims of the society they were brought up of in the song rather they are real or not
and Kendrick Lamar got his own Lost Tapes album


and that shyt was called Untitled Unmastered. Nas gotta Untitled album as well

 

[Deafheaven]

Blasphemous. cole isn't a tenth of the mc nas is

 

[ManBearPig]

This guy makes some of the dumbest videos. From his "is such and such the greatest ever" to everything else. Only good vid I've seen was on Lupe's label problems.

If anything, Cole shares some of Nas' worst attributes but none of his best. Specifically Cole has rapped over worst production than his closest peers (Kendrick, Cole) and raps about women in very tone deaf ugly terms. That's it. Overall he's not an evocative, introspective lyricist like Nas. Nor does he have a classic album like a as does even without Illmatic.

that's that got me before even clicking that video. What's Cole's IWW and Stillmatic?

 

[IllmaticDelta]

Oh he thinks Jay thought Nastradamus was ehhh and It was Written was doo?

yeah, dude doesn't know wtf he's talking about when jayz was actually talking about IWW as the ehh album

And Nas was copying Resonable Doubt with It Was Written when they both came out at the same time?

that and that nas was doing full blown mafioso since 1995 and early hints of it on his illmatic demo

I honestly dont know if saying J Cole is Nas without Illmatic is either a high compliment to Cole or an insult to Nas. Cause even without Illmatic Nas got IWW, God Son, Stillmatic, Lost Tapes, Untitled and Life is Good and I would argue most of that is better than Cole's albums.

facts

One thing I will say is I dont think either has terrible beats as much as people say, they dont just go for the standard popular ones when everyone else does. But to me that's still good Hip Hop beats. Its not like we're talking Eminem type production.

truth

 

[B!tchuoffendingme]

I think Cole is a more comparable to guys like Common and Kweli, if Im honest. Cole isnt rugged enough to be compared to Nas, Nas would convey the sound, smells, and views from the streets in a gritty type of way, Cole isnt like that.

 

[10:31]

Lol.....

What is he talking about

@spliz breh click that link

 

[dirty_yo]

:sadye:these comparisons for real?

never mind that they dont rap anything alike, j cole doesnt have a single memorable song. they both market themselves as realhiphop so i guess thats somethin

nas worst song > coles best