U have to bring up side collaboration albums with Linkin’ Park and R. Kelly (which only strengthened Jay’s crossover appeal and discography) to make your case.
BP2 and MCHG may have not been great albums but they have good recognizable songs.
And yeah Nas lacks hits. There’s threads here on hypothetical Verzuz with Nas against guys like Jay, LL, 2Pac and stans struggle to list songs. Nas never been a hit maker and hasn’t had one since 2002. It plays a role in his perception because he don’t got the same amount of single undeniable records as other artists.