But THATS NOT SELLING OUT. Selling out is kind of a myth in hip hop. Selling out is what lame backpack fans say when their favorite artists finds a new strategy or method and subject matter to discuss. People are soooo difficult to adapt i notice. I just digged up You Owe Me. Noone can tell me that song wasnt fire and that was viewed as Nas "selling out" My question for all of you lame elitist backpack chewstick fans, why would you want your favorite rapper to rap the same if it is a detriment to his success? And why would you want your favorite rapper to rap about things he isnt around anymore? You want Nas to rap about the hood and street shyt when he's a rich rapper traveling the world not seeing any hood shyt he saw before? Then that means all in all that your selfish and control freaks who think the world should revolve around what you think is best when you dont even know shyt. Nas didnt sell out, Jay didnt sell out, Kanye didnt sell out, LET IT GOOO. A true fan will like their fave artist whether they rap about sand or salads. As long as the lyricism stays why does it matter what they talk about? You nikkas want Jadakiss ass rappers and not even realize Jadakiss hardly eats anymore. nikka had to go back to a corner in Yonkers to eat. WHy would any rapper want that? So they can look "real" to their fans? Real dont pay the bills.
Didn't say it was my opinion, just said that was a well-documented opinion. It's a double edged sword with Nas more than with anyone else, because like I said, that cloud of 'Illmatic' has done him some harm when it's come to moving on with his life and career. To THIS DAY, there's people who'll pitch a fit over him not working with Pete Rock or Premo anymore. In some ways, he's probably been the most criticized rapper ever- not that he hasn't made some shyt worthy of criticism, but he catches it from all sides. If a lot of his fans and critics had it their way, he'd have gone his whole career making 'Illmatic' over and over, and he'd probably be on Duck Down Records selling 7000 copies right now.