Why is Nas so underrated?

[Westbama Heartthrob]

It seems nas used to be a guaranteed member of every top 5 list

But within the last couple years it's like he keeps dropping lower and lower in rankings

Now, I may be a certified black belt in Jay z slander, but I don't see how anyone can honestly say Jay is significantly better than nas. No matter who you got over the other, I can't be the only one that thinks that sounds insane

Lowkey, I feel like these rap corporations have given kendrick nas' spot within the ranks. Which I'm cool with someone putting him in top 5. But if you gonna drop somebody, why pick him when there's other highly touted rappers who could go first?

 

[Sauce Dab]

You hate Jay but love Nas so you’re already biased but it’s not surprising that people don’t have Nas in their top 5’s. It may be surprising to the Booth since he’s the favorite rapper in this sub forum but outside of here that don’t surprise me much

 

[Stick Up Kid]

ehhh.. he still is... these blogs always use Nas or Jay as slander to go viral.

He was just ranked #3 by Billboard

and Illmatic was ranked # 1 album of all time by Apple

KD3 was highest rated album of 2022

Nas‘ ’King’s Disease III’ Album Rated The Best Rap Release Of 2022

Nas' King's Disease III' album is rated as the best rap release of the year and briefly had a higher score than his debut album 'Illmatic.'

www.vibe.com

 

[ba'al]

Outside of Jim jones and a few others everyone got nothing but praise for Nas

 

[Westbama Heartthrob]

ehhh.. he still is... these blogs always use Nas or Jay as slander to go viral.

He was just ranked #3 by Billboard

and Illmatic was ranked # 1 album of all time by Apple

KD3 was highest rated album of 2022

Nas‘ ’King’s Disease III’ Album Rated The Best Rap Release Of 2022

Nas' King's Disease III' album is rated as the best rap release of the year and briefly had a higher score than his debut album 'Illmatic.'

www.vibe.com

If Jim Jones can set narratives, why can't I

 

[Amestafuu (Emeritus)]

Nas is not underrated. Not anymore. His perception and appreciation has been adjusted to where it should have been over time.

Jay, Em, Nelly, 50 cent, Snoop, DMX. All types of people who were regularly ranked above him are no longer. There was a time when ever rap list out Em Jay Pac Big above Nas. That's not happening anymore. Regardless of how anyone feels about hitboy. What Nas showcased with that run was that even amongst his peers he is elite. You have people like thought who can deliver outer body experiences with verses, Lupe, Hov, Jada but they can't drop 6 consistent projects like that with substance. And have some of those records stand with their best.

 

[VegetasHairline]

Going from the Aubrey and Kendrick beef in 2024 to recycled Nas/Jay-Z and Jim Jones threads in 2025.

 

[UpNext]

His beats are trash outside of the extreme niche that likes them. The albums that are universally praised are praised moreso because they have beats that don't turn people away than anything.

 

[2ATMsYouSteppinOrWhat]

he watered himself down with that sorry ass hitboy run

they said Magic 1 & kd2 are classic

NASeous fans

 

[King Harlem]

This could've been a little interesting, if you could've hidden your Jay-z hate.

 

[Yecht]

He is an unquestioned legend and has fathered the style of many rappers that came after him. His place in the Top 10 of all time is solidified and only fools would not acknowledge this

That said, he has put out nothing but weed plates consistently since Stillmatic

 

[AnonymityX1000]

Yeah, I think Nas is the best and I think his legacy is improving as time goes on. Seems he is getting more props now than ever.
He's not underrated, you got a large contingency that says he's the best.

 

[Freshology]

The fact that there's a conversation about Jim Jones comparing himself to Nas kinda disproves the OP's comment.

 

[DaPresident]

he watered himself down with that sorry ass hitboy run

they said Magic 1 & kd2 are classic

NASeous fans

KD2 was FIRE

 

[Ziggiy]

Nas isn’t underrated. He’s been ranked no lower than number 5 on pretty much every professional list of rappers going on the last half decade. He won a Grammy during his last musical era. Billboard placed Illmatic at number 1 on their top rap albums of all time list. Hell Rolling Stone, which once gave It Was Written 2 stars, reversed course and added it to their top 500 greatest rap albums list like two years ago. He was inducted into Billboard’s Music Hall of Fame two years ago.

The entire internet has taken Jim Jones to task over his foolishness comparing himself to Nas. Ebro just said publicly that NO ONE has done more for Hip Hop as a genre than Nas.

Legends like Raekwon, Ghostface, and SLICK RICK are signing to Nas’s label. They didn’t go to Roc Nation, or Def Jam, Aftermath. They went to Mass Appeal because of their respect for Nas. Remember back in the 90’s-early 2000’s when people were saying Nas wasn’t an astute businessman? All of that has been put to bed in the last decade. Nas gets props from everybody except anti-cultural entities like Pitchfork.