I don't understand Nas being compared to Rakim. He's basically Kool G Rap 2.0

[KENNY DA COOKER]

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....

 

[Ziggiy]

Nas has pretty much stated that his influences coming up were Rakim, MC Shan, and Kool G. Rap.

Rakim for the 5% Lingo and deep philosophical introspection

Shan beicause of the Queensbridge connection

G Rap because of the vivid street tales and imagery



It Ain't Hard To Tell....

 

[prophecypro]

In terms of lyricsm and poetry he was like Rakim
Flowwise, it was like G Rap

 

[H.S.]

Nas has pretty much stated that his influences coming up were Rakim, MC Shan, and Kool G. Rap.

Rakim for the 5% Lingo and deep philosophical introspection

Shan beicause of the Queensbeidge connection

R. Rap because of the vivid street tales and imagery



It Ain't Hard To Tell....

I'd throw Slick Rick in that conversation, too. He doesn't really sound like any of them though.

 

[IllmaticDelta]

Nas has pretty much stated that his influences coming up were Rakim, MC Shan, and Kool G. Rap.

Rakim for the 5% Lingo and deep philosophical introspection

Shan beicause of the Queensbeidge connection

R. Rap because of the vivid street tales and imagery



It Ain't Hard To Tell....

don't forget slick rick

Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
Slick Rick was like Jesus, G Rap wrote the Bible
Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin
Large Professor's my mentor, that's how the story end

 

[IllmaticDelta]

Especially the 2nd verse at 1:20




Does this song remind you of anything?












I can see why they used to call him Baby G Rap

Nas in G Rap mode pre-Illmatic...

 

[Art Barr]

Nas is nas.
Nas never assailed to being technically proficient or consistently add to his skill set to be compared to Ra or g rap.

Anyone trying to is more than likely a iww nas era fan and already behind the eightball in this discussion.


Art Barr

 

[UpAndComing]

Nas has pretty much stated that his influences coming up were Rakim, MC Shan, and Kool G. Rap.

Rakim for the 5% Lingo and deep philosophical introspection

Shan beicause of the Queensbeidge connection

R. Rap because of the vivid street tales and imagery



It Ain't Hard To Tell....

I must be the only person who doesn't see any correlation between Nas' and Rakim's styles. shyt, I even hear a more similar correlation with Nas and Shan, and I don't even think that comparison is close

 

[ISO]

Nas don't flow like G Rap, G Rap flowed much faster and Nas could do the multis but that was G Rap's style. AZ and Big Pun are more like Kool G Rap.

Nas is a hybrid of both to be honest and he had a similar lyrical style to Tragedy Khadafi.

 

[The_Third_Man]

Maybe if we're talking about pre-Illmatic Nas

 

[3rdWorld]

Speaking of G Rap, what he working on now.

 

[UpAndComing]

bump

 

[Ron Fox]

The streets gave Nas that title back in the day. U can do all the breakdowns u want but the streets gave Nas that title and they gave it to Nas because his appeal was remenicent of 80's Rakim.

 

[pointproven214]

Nas barley got any triple syllable rhyme schemes which Kool G is known for.

Everybody knows Rakim was Nas's template..

Dipped to the projects flashin my quick cash
And got my first piece of ass smokin blunts with hash

 

[WaveMolecules]

Tragedy doesn't get the credit he deserves. Dude was way ahead of his time.