Jordan Allen
15 March 2021
Where were you when you first heard Nas? I was sitting in my living room surfing YouTube when I first heard him get on Illmatic. All I cared about was getting a glimpse of what it was like to grow up in that era. What Queens and Brooklyn were like for a rapper and a hustler at the time, what the energy was like when he was beefing with Jay, and anything else I could pick up from just listening to every bar. A lyricist on Nas level will do that to you. He would tell stories that made you feel present. Make you feel emotions as if you’re the one going through it.
That’s the man that finally had his moment on Sunday. Nasir Escobar himself. The only man that could be mentioned in the same breath as Jay Z when Jay was in his prime. Nobody else was touching Jay back then but Nas.
And this wasn’t a lifetime achievement award. Closer to a Victory Lap on an illustrious career. The album was worthy. If you haven’t listened yet, don’t sleep. Nas shines through in a way that Jay doesn’t anymore, and that’s not a diss to Jay. It just highlights their differences. Jay was always versatile and could make a hit in his sleep, while still giving you bars. Nas has always been a purist. He embodies the phrase, “staying true to self.” His flow, lyricism, and style have been incredibly consistent since the beginning. He’s like a master craftsman who’s aged like a wine fine with his talent. On King’s Disease Nas gave us young Kings some free game and paid respect to all the black Queens in the same breath. He did it with a style and grace that delivers in any era of rap. After 20 plus years, all that’s left to say is, Thank you.
