In a recently started series with Rolling Stone, Nas takes some time out to list off hip hop’s best lyricists (or something).
When I said ‘hip hop is dead’ a few years ago, I felt we’d gotten away from the great wordplay and storytelling. There’s a place for the party shit and a place for the gangster shit. I focus on the guys that are always pushing themselves forward.
01. Notorious B.I.G. – My Downfall (1997)
The lyrics are about how he’s acing the shadows of death, despite all of his success, and he’s giving it to you in a way that makes it seem so real.02. 2Pac – If My Homie Calls (1991)
He’s just saying to his boys that he’s going to be a friend no matter how big he gets.
03. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – Road To the Riches (1989)
The way we’re rhyming now? He was already doing it then .04. Ice Cube – A Bird In the Hand (1991)
05. Eric B. & Rakim – Paid In Full (1987)
06. Lil Wayne – I’m Single (2010)
I’m recently divorced, so I feel what he’s saying.07. Rick Ross – Tears of Joy (2010)
Ross is at the pulpit here.08. Slick Rick – The Moment I Feared (1988)
It’s cinematic. He’s at a hip-hop show and ices this girl who played him, then he’s in prison getting violated by some dude. This was unheard of.09. Jay-Z – Empire State of Mind (2009)
This song is huge. It sounds like Broadway. It’s New York’s modern anthem.10. Lil Kim – Queen Bitch (1996)
At the time, females rappers didn’t appeal to the street, but Kim came with the vulgarity, sexuality and gangster shit.
I’m scratching my head at a few of these. Dah well, shouts to HHDX on the find.
Good list Nas, but #10 was B.I.G. again.
he got paid to list a few on there
He was high..that’s my only explanation for a couple of those songs
Thats his playlist, yours may differ, no need to get whiney because your fave rapper nas has wayne and ross listed there smh
Nas is doing all these promotions and interviews just to create revenue since he is so broke (Example: Hawaii 5-0 appearance) I don’t trust this last as how he truly feels
:S
Nas forgot to add Chino XL to the list!
Horrible list by Gnozzir…
“they been after me before my Birth My ultra-sound picture was on a most-wanted poster” – K rino Book number 7 intro
I guess having an opinion is wrong? Smh. I’m sure all your lists would be perfect and
No one would disagree
This was Nas’ list of 10 lyricists songs in his IPOD right now! I like his list!
I love Nas, but man, I just can’t mess with this list.
big pun? nope???
This list was based on storytelling, dont get ur panties in a bunch
among other things, but that is y Wayne and Ross r there
@corleon
I wil never understand how doing an interview for Rolling Stone or a cameo in Hawaii 50 equals to being broke. To be a hater means you are hopeless. The only reason why anyone would hate is if they feel disempowered. Therefore when you hate, you expose your lack of inner stability.
Hey Nas, what about AZ?
@please Your last three sentences are the realest talk I’ve seen in the c-section…ever.
I tell you anything Nas saids or does turns into a hating game. The man can’t wipe his ass without the haters worrying about his money. That is how you know that you are importnat to people when they hate on anything you do…like appearing on major television show or doing an interview for a major magazine. There is nothing wrong with Nas’ list especially not to the point were ignorant motherfuckers have to hate about it!
love it. Thank you Nas for contributing this-I love to hear people’s, especially great MCs’, thoughts on what music they feel the most…
lil wayne & rick ross, wtf naz ?
fuck notorius too
Still “Hip-Hop Is Dead” word.
rolling stone doesnt matter
@NephewOfUncleRuckus
Real talk haters expose themselves all the time. It’s not Nas that they hate it’s the fact that Nas is living a more stable and productive life than they are and the haters feel disempowered because Nas is putting his power/gift to great use while they sit on the internet to temporary relieve themselves of their hopelessness by reflecting their negativity onto Nas or whoever they feel they can at the time.
What?!
Lame list is lame.
His commentary (when it was there) was pretty lame as well.
I agree with @Kapono. This is HIS list. I understand alot of you “hip hop” heads want to kill yourselves when someone like Nas likes Rick ross and wayne but get over it. Everyone has their own taste in music and you gotta respect that.
illmatic is the goat.. but jesus Im not sure whats going on in this list
I wonder if anybody who uses the word “hater” realizes that they are a “hater” of something in their own lives………..doesn’t have to be only in regards to something a rich person says or does………ahh probably not
“06. Lil Wayne – I’m Single (2010)
I’m recently divorced, so I feel what he’s saying.”
*in Jay-Z voice* This can’t be life…
I agree with @Kapono. This is HIS list. I understand alot of you “hip hop” heads want to kill yourselves when someone like Nas likes Rick ross and wayne but get over it. Everyone has their own taste in music and you gotta respect that.
DP said this on November 29th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
so shouldn’t you respect what the “hip hop heads” are saying and their own opinion?
Lol @please and his theories…all hate is is an ignorant opinion, keyword “opinion” how you perceive it is up to you but don’t act like your perception is a fact as if you know the person that is “hating” personally..anyway I think Nas sometimes would rather say the “right” thing than offend people by being honest..for example, when he got asked about his opinion of J. Cole and Drake lol
What magazines, websites, or opinions really matter? It’s easy for people to say “this is wack” or “fuck Nas” but Nas a legend in the game and he got that credibilty to know what he’s talking about, something ya’ll can’t say for ya selves, ya dig? I’d love to see the list/examples of tracks of ya’ll who saying this list is wack while keeping relevent to the purpose of the list.
Adn I’m not even a Wayne or Ross fan, but but I feel both of those joints he listed here too. Get past the name…pay attention to the content.
I was thinking… Why wouldn’t you have the GOATS that are still in the rap game make a hottest MC list for 2010. Obviously it would eliminate themselves from the list, and show who REALLY deserves the spot.
I find I’m Single to be more funny than anything else. Is it supposed to be funny I can’t even tell?
IMO, as dope as Illmatic is, Nas 1991 Demo Tape gets more play on my iPod.
um wtf @ 6,7,9, and 10
nas should just stick to rapping
I’m a Nas fan, doesn’t mean I have to like this list. It also doesn’t make me a “hater” for disliking this list. People just look for any excuse to throw that overused and overrated word around.
I guess Nas isn’t allowed to have a personal opinion? Just because his list isn’t the same as some of your lists you wanna bash him? Give it a break. He has an opinion and thats it… respect it. you don’t have to like it, he never said you did.
JAY Z not top 5 , Damn WHAT MORE CAN HE SAY ?… Black Album.
red im single is actually a good track lyrically.
go relisten n tell me what u think on a bar for bar type listen
TOP TEN WORST RAPPERS
1. Wacka Flocka Lame
2. Soulja Boy
3. Gucci Man
4. Yung Joc
5. Lil Boosie
6. Roscoe Dash
7. Birdman
8. Plies
9. OJ the Doucheman
10. You
anybody disagree?
LOL @ I’m Single being a good track
If y’all read his first statement up there where he mentioned Storytelling & Great wordplay y’all would understand the list more. — He didn’t say anything about those being the best songs ever or anything. — I’m sure his lists of GOATs are totally different.
Eminem is sad at this list
No andre 3stacks?! o.O
Agreed with @sman661 and @Germ Soulja Boy said “Word around town my dick taste like ribs so he gets knocked down to 9 for the sheer comedy in that
I see too many hating on one of the G.O.A.T
eLZhi???
correct mE if iM wrong he forgot someone. yous know who Im talkiN about. thE king of wordplay. and i bet you know who. hmmmM lol
Erm Me Is Now Extremly Mad at this bad list hahaha
HATE ME IF U WANT BOO HOO
yo im pretty sure its HIS list.
make your own if u want, damn.
I’m almost certain this isn’t his list, magazines need to sell so Wayne and Ross need to be included.
@Ralph 44
Word. Nas ’91 Demo Tape is dope, but they get even play by me.
Nas made an appearance on Ricks album..
SHakes madd his favorite artits aren’t on the list
Germ < you forgot to add wiz kahlifa to ur worst rappers list
#not expecting any rebuttls wiz fanz r flakier than a crack addict
#all wiz fans left after he made Bad Guy
Its what he’s listening to now…look at his explanation for including I’m Single…he’s recently divorced so he can relate…doesn’t mean its the top 10 greatest lyrical songs of all time, just means he can feel the lyrics
lmao @ wayne, rick ross, & kim being on this list!
rolling stone doesn’t know shit about being lyrical!
Knock off all of the conspiracy theories.Its been said 100 times already…THAT IS HIS LIST!!What Esco likes should have no bearing on your own personal lists. SMDH..
Everyone knows who should be & who shouldn’t be on here. Lil Wayne & Rick Ross are terrible choices & Rakim should be over Ice Cube no doubt!
how are rick & weezy on this list?
Guys, he’s only human.
If this is waht he likes thats it, and im sure this isnt a 100% perfect list even to him, i mean shit its 10 songs…
Best story imo is Dance with the Devil by Immortal Tech.
nas wins for having bird in the hand on here, that song trumps any and everything.
Im scratching my head too, but Im gonna go out on a limb here and say he doesnt mean best lyricists or best lyrical performances. Looks much more like ‘Nas’s Playlist’ right now then the aforementioned title.
only agree wit 1-5
louis T
yea i think this is wat nas is listening to right now
not his best 10 songs of all time….and its ROLLING STONE! THEIR OPINIONS/EXISTENCE DOESNT HOLD WEIGHT
No LUPE, Eminem or Andre 3000
who the fck cares….how can Nas’ opinopn be wrong? he can put whateva he wants on the damn list lol
@BillyClint
I’ve heard I’m Single a million times, and every time I hear it I break out laughing.
Maybe it’s because I’ve never dated a crazy bitch.
Maybe it’s because for every coherent thought Lil Wayne makes I have about 100 more.
Also, I’m sure most fans have completely forgotten about Bad Guy.
It’s not very offensive to say that Wiz Khalifa isn’t lyrical, especially considering that no one ever said he was lyrical.
His music is for fun, not for introspection.
Every rapper has their own lane, I don’t like Soulja Boy or Gucci Mane but I understand the appeal.
no Stan-em? no story-bun b?
Everyone get off Nas’ Dick about it… Its his Personal favorite list.. let him breathe..