Looking back, why did mad people clown Nas and his overall outlook post-Stillmatic?

I'm listening to old interviews back after Nas TKO Jigga in late 2001/early 02, and mad people clowned him for being "kufi bright" and "Nas love the kids, I'm on that killa shyt" for growing up and dropping relevant topics on his songs. Even Uncle Murda and Maino took shots at Nas for "I Can" years after it dropped, simply cause he wanted a better outlook for black children. Now looking back nearly 2 decades later, why did Hip Hop accept that crabbish behavior?

@Ziggiy
@Wear My Dawg's Hat
@Illeye buckmatic

 

I mean I don’t see how “Hip Hop” accepted it when Uncle Murda and Maino are where they are and Nas is where he is.


Nas went on to sign a $10 Million dollar deal with Def Jam while Maino and. uncle murda went on to sign apartment leases

 

That was a couple of examples. A lot of rappers were legitimately pissed at Nas for simply expanding his subject matter and dwelling towards better things. Even those same people were worshipping Jigga and his fluff singles because "he was getting money". That was the first time I had the face when a black MC got clowned for simply growing up and no longer catering towards superficial singles Stillmatic onwards.

Same thing for Nelly and his comments about "I dont put politics or social commentary in my music"

 

I Don’t Remember Anyone Clowning Nas, Except For Dipset Giving Him shyt, Who Was Clowning Nas?

 

Most popular raps were about excess, fake dope stories, and living it up during that time. Not many artist, at that time, were strong at social commentary.

I remember when Lupe dropped “the cool”. I remember following a local rapper who was affiliated with a superstar artist at the time. I was a fan until he had the nerve to tweet that Lupe be preaching to much.

I may not be right but I feel as if music with depth makes people with none look at themselves on the mirror. It’s like it hurts them that they can’t do that or be truly creative and innovative. If that kind of music Came back in style it would destroy their meal ticket. Maybe they feel guilty because they know what they does cheapens the genre but they need that check.

I don’t get mad about it I enjoy different kinds of rap but I know and cherish the music that speaks to me and has longevity. It takes a special artist to do that. The rest, we’ve seen time and time again, can be replaced.

 

He was showing maturity in music early. All those dudes are fans of his now.

 

Yup people get defensive about conscious music but give violence and ignore the red carpet

 

I don't remember anyone clowning; the ones that did say something either had beef with Nas (Dipset) or was connected to someone Nas had beef with (Uncle Murda connection to 50cent).

 

What did Uncle Murda and Maino say?

 

Some people think they would never grow old, Nas was 23 rapping about political issues, while these nikkas are in their 40’s still rapping about drug dealing...

A lot of people thought I Can was corny though.

 

"Mad people" is a reach
"Clowning" is a reach

Nas be on that Murder shyt Street shyt Knowledge shyt Peace shyt Black Power shyt at the same damn time.

A lot of rappers can't effortlessly play both lanes without sounding disingenuous.

2pac could
Krs could
Scarface could

In a weird turn of events, Jay has also joined that select group

 

My generation loved that song.

 

seems you quoted the wrong guys breh lol

it was all having to do with jayz. nas won the battle but lost the war was the angle it was sold on.

jayz was bigger than life and this bled down to all the other artists and underlings

the magazines and radio shows slanted against nas

angie martinez staple NYC show for years was called the takeover

xXL and the source were anti nas until it was album cycle time

not that they explicitly dissed nas (XXL did all the time in they editorial by yellowman) but often took potshots sayin he fell off etc

maino is a bad example becuz he came out dissin everybody (badboy rocafella wutang etc)

but uncle murda first video is him in front QB dissin nas and mobb

so you had tons of major artists against nas (dipset, gunit etc

then nas had problens with former friends nore, foxy etc

that was sold as nas is unloyal and a betrayal act

but these narratives followed nas around till all those artists careers expired

essentially nas out lived all his adversaries

when big guys like lil wayne take a shot at nas

and then B side guys like sauce money doing the same thing

he had little room to maneuver

the underground was against him as well cuz all the soulquarians aligned wit jayz (roots mos talib common etc)

the anti nas sentiment was one of the worst times in hiphop and it lasted a long time, about ten years

 

I was really young around Stillmatic but even I remember the older dudes in my hood clowning Nas around this time saying he raps about "the moon and the stars" and leaning much more heavily towards Rocafella, State Property, Dipset, etc. In hindsight, Nas was becoming a much more serious artist with songs like One Mic and I Can. A far departure from Oochie Wally and You Owe Me from 1999/2000. I guess that's why.

 

uncle murda connection was thru jayz

he was signed to rocafella

and yea breh nas was a joke for a while