Nas

Nas is not a rapper... he's a lyricist. He's a poet. I mean by God he's one of those rappers who pours an emotion on you and you suddenly feel how he does. I like him cause I haven't heard one of songs not have some sort of message in it. His by far best work is the Illmatic which in my mind the greatest Hip-Hop album of all time. That album is straight hip-hop right out of the streets. It is true hip-hop and how it is performed in it's prime. Illmatic was a rap treasure, no features, no money and hoes, just him and a beat about his life. And it sucks cause he peaked at his first album. Sure he made some good songs after it and hell a good album, but nothing rose to what Illmatic was.

In his years he got into a "beef" with my favorite rapper Jay-Z. And when it comes down to disses... he won the battle. But Jay-Z won the war. Nas made Ether and H.O.M.O. that were devistating, while Jay-Z the most he did was sample off of his track. I think Jay saw in his future what happened to BIG and Pac. So he thought Hip-Hop already lost its 2 greatest so it shouldn't lose the next two. Jay-Z won the war for his success continued and is now the most successful rapper ever. So many Platinum albums, artists signings, and classic songs.

At first I didn't like Nas (As a loyal Jay-Z fan wouldn't) but then recently I realized how good he was. I may not be considered a loyal Jay-Z fan anymore, but I consider myself a loyal Hip-Hop fan now. He's incredible and to think he rapped about the most fucked up things at such a young age. Definitely top 5 rappers ever in my mind.

Here is Nas' classic "N.Y. State of Mind" off of Illmatic

And here is Nas' brutal diss to Jay-Z and all of  Rockafeller Records in "Ether"

Nas in "If I Ruled The World feat. Lauryn Hill" off of It Was Written

And my favorite Nas song, maybe my top 10 hip hop songs, "The World is Yours" off of Illmatic