So what you think Hov lost 92 bricks? You think Hov caught bodies? You think Hov ran '88?
Jay is a rapper nikka, in '88 he was on his godbody shyt working with Jaz-O. Jay was a street nikka but to think he was moving major work is stupid AF. He ducked out on an attempted murder case and his man Calvin Klein took the fall this was in '89 (allegedly Jay's wake up call), Jay been shot at and all that. Jay was a drug dealer and saved his money to the point where he could start his label. Early 90s Jay was already trying to come up you not battling LL Cool J and opening for Daddy Kane, and putting out tracks rapping like Das EFX and being a kingpin on the side.
Nas was a middle school dropout, living in the largest housing project in NYC. His brother Jungle was known for being a wild lil nikka, Nas had a crew legit and has name dropped them plenty of times in his music. Nas was a low level street dealer, and not a very good one which is why he quit. I seen Nas apartment in QB with a tour from Jungle, it's a bullet hole in the wall allegedly Nas was playing with a gun in the room.
Don't think Nas was this kid looking out his window, this is crack blitz projects in the late 80's. Have you heard the DJ Envy story, the barber shop story, him having the edge over NORE in a fight. Crazy how y'all try to paint Nas as some soft ass dude.