It was mostly the mysterious aura that NAS portrayed when he first debuted as an artist which drew comparisons to Rakim
Along with his 5% mystique mixed with gritty NYC street realities that drew strong parallels to Rakim
"New york metropolis, the bridge brings apocalypse
Shoot at the clouds feels like, the holy beast is watchin us" -NAS
"I learn to relax in my room and escape from New York then return to the womb of the world as a thought...thinking how hard it was to be born..me being cream with no physical form"- RAKIM
Its those mystical urban based rhymes which had many like myself looking at NAS as "The Second Coming" of the God Mc (rakim)
Even though the OP is right Nas is more similar to G rap in terms of lyrical delivery as displayed on NEW YORK STATE OF MIND....
Along with his 5% mystique mixed with gritty NYC street realities that drew strong parallels to Rakim
"New york metropolis, the bridge brings apocalypse
Shoot at the clouds feels like, the holy beast is watchin us" -NAS
"I learn to relax in my room and escape from New York then return to the womb of the world as a thought...thinking how hard it was to be born..me being cream with no physical form"- RAKIM
Its those mystical urban based rhymes which had many like myself looking at NAS as "The Second Coming" of the God Mc (rakim)
Even though the OP is right Nas is more similar to G rap in terms of lyrical delivery as displayed on NEW YORK STATE OF MIND....