Nas and 21 Savage had been on the heart of a minor controversy earlier this month. In a dialog hosted by Jay-Z on the audio chat app Clubhouse, 21 shared ideas on Nas’ place inside the trendy rap panorama: “I don’t really feel like he’s related. I simply really feel like he bought a loyal fan base. He nonetheless makes good music.” This in flip led to a comparability between Nas and Jay-Z’s standing inside present popular culture, whereby each new Jay verse is met with microscopic consideration and rhapsodic reward whereas new Nas music doesn’t transfer the needle the identical means.
Though 21 possibly ought to have chosen a much less loaded phrase than “related,” he offered a reasonably correct abstract of the place Nas stands immediately, nearly 30 years on from Illmatic (and greater than 20 years previous “Ether,” so long as we’re speaking about Jay vs. Nas). However as a result of individuals on-line will soar at any alternative to interpret a press release in dangerous religion, a predictable and obnoxious outrage cycle started. It led to 21 clarifying on Twitter, “I’d by no means disrespect nas or any legend who paved the way in which for me y’all be tryna take stuff and run with it.”
Now Nas and 21 have put a cease to the web histrionics by collaborating on a brand new single. Upon asserting “One Mic, One Gun” on Instagram, Nas wrote, “Solely means we shifting is with love, respect and unity. The foundational rules of hip hop. Excited to collaborate with my younger brother and I hope extra artist use turbulent moments and switch them right into a time to make new artwork. That’s what it’s about.”
“One Mic, One Gun” is produced by Nas’ frequent collaborator Hit-Boy, and you’ll hear it beneath.
