Here’s the thing: they are contradictions. Nas fans cheered when Nas refused to play the games, went to war with NY radio, refused to put out pop rap singles etc. They celebrated when Nas released questionable concept albums that didn’t have memorable songs anyone cares about a decade later. Meanwhile Hov played the game, satisfied every audience (mainstream, streets, women, etc) and kept adding memorable songs to his catalogue on nearly every album he dropped from 2001 to now.
So how do you cheer as the cake is being made but then get mad at the results? Fans want the media to celebrate Nas as if he didn’t ignore them for years. They want Nas on the radio as if he cares about radio singles; truth be told he hasn’t had a song that even charted in a notable way since 2002 (I Can). They get mad when young athletes don’t know who he is, as if Nas has given young people a reason to know who he is.
He’s about to release his first full length album since 2012. That’s a lot of time that could have been spent releasing albums, working with guys like Kendrick and Cole, being more in tune with the up and coming producers. Basically...all the stuff Hov did. Maybe things are going to change with this album but man I wish this direction was in place in 2014...2016...etc.
I know, someone is going to tell me how many high charting albums Nas had since 2001, how he’s still getting looks today, how he doesn’t care about xyz. I get it. But I don’t want to see people hand wringing over Hov’s position as the undenied king since 2001, when Nas didn’t even compete for the crown.
