Peace to Vintage Hip-Hop Seattle on the upload.

In the third and final segment of Black Thought’s time on The Combat Jack Show, The Roots lead man speaks on his early days in battling, Nas’ Illmatic and meeting Supernatural.

PREVIOUS: Black Thought Talks Rakim, Mos Def & Eminem On The Combat Jack Show (Video) | Black Thought Talks ?uestlove, Beefing w/ Nas On The Combat Jack Show (Video)

Forbes’s e-site announced this morning that one Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones has “invested a six-figure sum” in Mass Appeal magazine, which recently relaunched after a five-year suspension, and is now the publication’s Associate Publisher.

“I always liked what they represented,” says Nas. “They invested into the culture… I saw their vision for what they planned and I thought I could add value across the board.”

Nas explained that he’d been dismayed at the lack of options for readers interested in all aspects of hip-hop culture, particularly on the newsstands. He considered starting his own publication, as Jay-Z did, but figured he’d have better luck using an existing brand as a launching pad.

“Mass Appeal has a legacy and respect,” he says. “It already has a foundation … I just feel like I can add on because I can lend my kind of cultural expertise and my professional acumen, and develop the business.”

You can read the rest of the piece – which has mentions about Magic Johnson, Rocawear and more, over here.

PREVIOUS: Kendrick Lamar Wanted Nas On “Sing About Me”

Damn look, there goes a black girl lost.

After landing a Hov verse for the “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe (rmx)“, Kendrick Lamar revealed to VIBE that he originally planned to have Nas on “Sing About Me”.

I never really got a chance to reach out to him. I was so wrapped up in getting the music done, samples cleared and mastered – there was so much going on. I didn’t really wanna rush the process. I actually wanted to sit in the studio and vibe with him. [It was] the only thing that I had a vision for but in due time, God willing, for sure.

I just wanted to play him the record. Whatever inspiration he drew from it, I’d just have him there and he would go. He’s a genius. The record is self-explanatory but he may hear something a little different that might take it to the next level. That’s what makes a great feature for me – somebody that could take the song to the next level from where it was at. He would have did just that. It’s a great record now but to have his expertise on it would have been crazy.

Remix? Or a whole other collaboration? Let’s hope so…

Now that MTV’s Hottest MCs in the Game list has been revealed (#1: Kendrick Lamar | #2: 2 Chainz | #3: Rick Ross | #4: Nas | #5: Drake | #6: Big Sean | #7: Kanye West | #8: A$AP Rocky | #9 & #10: Future & Meek Mill), we’d like to get y’all opinion! Based on the past year, how does their list compare to yours? Who would you remove, add, switch, etc. Let us know in the c-section with your own Top 10.

Not only did Nas drop potent stick-to-your-rib singles like “Daughters,” “The Don” and “Bye Baby,” he went to great lengths to craft memorable story-driven videos to match. ” ‘The Don’ was a great visual, ‘Daughters’ was a great visual, ‘Nasty’ was great and I think with this record coming off of Distant Relatives, nobody expected this,” pointed out MTV Programming VP Yomi Desalu while referencing the mixed reviews surrounding Nas’ Damien Marley collaboration album in 2010.

PREVIOUS: #5: Drake | #6: Big Sean | #7: Kanye West | #8: A$AP Rocky | #9 & #10: Future & Meek Mill

In this interview with Montreality, Ron Browz speaks about: His relationship with fellow Harlem artist Big L (having produced “Ebonics” for him), producing “Ether” & “Last Real Nigga Alive” for Nas, wanting to work with Rihanna & Beyoncé.

And while we’re on the topic of Big L, Big L >>>

PREVIOUS: Ron Browz – Rollin’ f. N.O.R.E. aka P.A.P.I.

Speaking with MTV, J. Cole speaks on how he lost out on the No I.D.-produced “Stay” instrumental which he has before Nas George Bush’d the button and gave it a home on Life Is Good.

We did the most incredible songs in one week. We did ‘Not Too Late,’ ‘Stay,’ ‘Never Told’ and a few more joints that haven’t even come out yet. ‘Stay’ was towards the end of the process — he just looped up this sample, and while he’s looping up the sample, I’m writing the words, and before you know it, I have the song. ‘Stay’ was my favorite song that was absolutely going on my first album, but I guess I’ll just chalk it up to my inexperience in the game. As time goes on, I’m not solidifying it, which basically means I’m not locking down the beat from No I.D. Long story short, I didn’t buy that beat from No I.D., and Nas bought that beat. He didn’t even know I did a joint on it either. I don’t even know if he knows, but I had that shit first.

That taught me a lesson real quick: If you want a record, you have to put some money down on it. Honestly, I heard Nas’ joint one time, and I can’t listen again. It’s hard for me. It’s rightfully his record, he put it out first, and he killed it too, but I can’t listen.

He also reveals that he missed out on Rick Ross’ “Tears of Joey” as well.

The same thing happened with ‘Tears of Joy.’ I smacked myself. That’s two classics that was supposed to be mine. But ‘Tears of Joy,’ I couldn’t have did what Ross did on that, because [I] was in a bad place. Me and No I.D. was in the studio, but the label was on me about some hits, so it was a bad session. I squeezed out a verse on ‘Tears of Joy,’ but I was not in a good place to do anything close to what Ross did on that. But I still smack myself about those.

J. Cole’s new project Truly Yours — which includes his version of “Stay” from 2009 — is available now. As well as his new single “Power Trip” featuring Miguel.

Nas talks 18 GRAMMY nominations (yet not winning a single one) and rap beefs with Nirvana co-founder and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl on Chelsea Lately.

PREVIOUS: Nas Performs At Hennessy Super Bowl After Party (Video)

Presented by 2DBZ & Classic Material

The big homies Petey Cologne (Halftime / WNYU) and DJ J-Smoke of the legendary turntablism clique The Allies have been working on this project for some months now, and it’s finally here for your listening pleasure. Presented by yours truly (The Dopehouse) and Classic Material NY, this mixtape takes you on a journey through some of the rarer side of Nasir bin olu Dara cuts, including demos, B-sides, non-album cuts and original samples. You need this in your life! Peep the tracklist and stream after the jump. Download will be added and updated once it’s available. UPDATE: Added download link.

Nasir performs at New Orleans’ Republic for Hennessey’s Super Bowl after party Sunday night following the Ravens big win against the Niners. Watch him perform “The Don” and more after the jump.3