Nas vs Jay-Z. Who's the better rapper?

[Mr. Sinister]

Nas by a landslide. Illmatic is the greatest hip-hop album of all time.

Jay "I dumbed down for my audience and doubled my dollars" Z can take the popular vote, but true hip hop heads will always know the truth.

Although I won't go as harsh as that, I'll definitely agree that he has just become nothing more than a complacent businessman than a pure artist these days. I admittedly still listen to pretty much all of his stuff even now, but it is nowhere near the level of stuff that he put out 7-8 years ago. He is more "Mainstream wine and cheese" now than Nas, who still maintains nearly all of the grittyness that he came out with.

I know Jay kinda sounded off on that in "On To The Next One," but it's the truth.

[Sticksboi05]

And on a side note if you have not listened to Mecca and the Soul Brother, I will stop you in your tracks if you tell me you're a diehard hip hop fan. Cause you ain't. I mean I know so-called hip hop fans that haven't gone through Illmatic or Enter the Wu. It's like...what.

[Mr. Sinister]

And on a side note if you have not listened to Mecca and the Soul Brother, I will stop you in your tracks if you tell me you're a diehard hip hop fan. Cause you ain't. I mean I know so-called hip hop fans that haven't gone through Illmatic or Enter the Wu. It's like...what.

You can't front on me...

[Sticksboi05]

You can't front on me...

Swimmin' in beats like a Dolphin, so call me Don Shula or a Raider, well, like Art Shell, crazy defense, a Pro Bowl with soul for local events.

[Mr. Sinister]

QUOTE=Sticksboi05;9000113]Swimmin' in beats like a Dolphin, so call me Don Shula or a Raider, well, like Art Shell, crazy defense, a Pro Bowl with soul for local events.

I doubt most dudes around our age have even heard that song before. Pete Rock is Legend.

[Sticksboi05]

QUOTE=Sticksboi05;9000113]Swimmin' in beats like a Dolphin, so call me Don Shula or a Raider, well, like Art Shell, crazy defense, a Pro Bowl with soul for local events.

I doubt most dudes around our age have even heard that song before. Pete Rock is Legend.

Would estimate of hip hop fans well over 75% our age have never gone through MATSB and it's a damn shame.

[StoutEE308]

Ive never been a Nas fan. Ive tried to make myself like/listen to him, and I just cant. I like the usual three songs everyone likes (Ether, Got Yourself A Gun, and Hate Me Now ) but thats it. Team HOV all day. But, to each his own.

...Get it? More in Carmen...

[tone_dubbz]

Maybe "Reasonable Doubt" Jigga could have F'd with Nas. But Lyrically, God Son would smash Jay Z any day of the week.

[Clutch03]

It's a classic debate however no one is either right or wrong. It's a matter of taste and who really speaks more to you. It's like asking who is the best football, baseball or basketball player. Everyone will have a different answer for valid reasons. Or even who is the sexiest woman, we will never agree because people like different things.

I remember arguing with a friend of mine back in the day about who the best was between Biggie and Tupac. We argued for hours when we finally realized we weren't going to convince the other person because we valued different things in a rapper. I was always Team Biggie because I believe his word play was flawless. While my friend was Team Tupac because he felt like he was a voice for the people.

[skins1206]

I used to always say Nas, and now I say Jay-Z. But, Illmatic and It Was Written are better than any Jay-Z albums. While most Nas albums recently have been decent, they have nothing that makes you go back to them.

Early Nas > All Jay-Z

Jay-Z > Nas post It Was Written

Biggie > All.

Most people who don't say Biggie argue he didn't have enough music...thats garbage. Dude was the best rapper hands down. Flow, word play, story telling, the man did it all.

[Mr. Sinister]

Biggie's verse in Let's Ride on Life After Death still gives me the chills. I personally think he's the best ever,

[MattFancy]

I like Jay-Z, don't get me wrong, but I've always thought he's a tad overrated. I still think he's one of the better rappers right now, but I'd take Nas and Eminem over him.

[Sticksboi05]

Ive never been a Nas fan. Ive tried to make myself like/listen to him, and I just cant. I like the usual three songs everyone likes (Ether, Got Yourself A Gun, and Hate Me Now ) but thats it. Team HOV all day. But, to each his own.

...Get it? More in Carmen...

That may explain everything because none of those are on Illmatic.

[Warpath11]

This is silly, Nas all day everyday over Jay-Z not a shred of doubt in my mind on that one.

edit: I didn't look but i wonder if there is an age breakdown in this poll.

[RonArtest15]

Lyrically - Nas...not even a question

*That being said, I prefer Jay-Z, though..

[Enter Apotheosis]

As far as I'm concerned, Nas runs away with it courtesy of Illmatic.

[CrypticVillain]

I'm not going to vote in this poll because I feel that both are good at doing their thin own thing. With that being said...

Before I stopped listening to secular rap, the last album I listened to was American Gangster by Jay Z. The album was a classic imo. The flow, the beats, and the storytelling was all there.

But like I said, I am not voting. It's too close to call.

[Mr. Sinister]

American Gangster is what make sme believe that if Jay- Z really wanted to tear **** up, he still could. I think that it is by far his best album since Blueprint ll

[dreamshatterer]

Nas is better than Jay. Not a lot, but is better. Hell, Nas was featured in a song with Jay - "Success". Nas comes so much better. As for the top 3 albums of all time debate, for me its:

Biggie - Ready to Die

2Pac - All eyes on me

Nas - Illmatic

[Pick6]

To me a song like 'Rewind' takes a lot of talent most guys don't have.

[skinsfan07]

there are a thousand different candidates for the other 2, but going by my own personal preference, I would put "Mecca And The Soul Brother" in the 2nd slot.

I think The Main Ingredient is Pete Rock & C.L's best album IMO.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

As I've said before, I think Illmatic is the greatest hip hop album ever made. And I'm a West Coast guy for the most part.

[sacase]

And on a side note if you have not listened to Mecca and the Soul Brother, I will stop you in your tracks if you tell me you're a diehard hip hop fan. Cause you ain't. I mean I know so-called hip hop fans that haven't gone through Illmatic or Enter the Wu. It's like...what.

I still listen to T.R.O.Y. Actually I listen to a lot of older stuff, it has a lot more meaning that the crap that is put out today. Hell, I still got Mobb Deep, Hell on Earth in my CD changer in my car.

I got to go with NAS on this one. I feel that he doesn't even really try and the stuff he puts out is great. When he decides to get serious, it goes to a whole new level. He's the best to me.

[Thinking Skins]

Nas has higher highs and lower lows.

Illmatic beats anything Jay did or can ever do. Its just that good. NY State of Mind. Life's a *****, Whose World is This, Halftime, One Love, It Aint Hard To Tell. Jay can never touch that.

But I AM. Complete Crap.

Um, Streets Disciple? I think not.

Even HipHop is Dead wasn't anything special.

Jay tried to be like Nas and realized that he's got to stay in his lane cause people don't like teh introspective Jay-Z.

But neither could touch Pac. Nas is only great cause he's doing what Pac can no longer do because he's no longer here. And Pac called him on that in Against All Odds.

[skinsfan07]

I still listen to T.R.O.Y. Actually I listen to a lot of older stuff, it has a lot more meaning that the crap that is put out today. Hell, I still got Mobb Deep, Hell on Earth in my CD changer in my car.

I got to go with NAS on this one. I feel that he doesn't even really try and the stuff he puts out is great. When he decides to get serious, it goes to a whole new level. He's the best to me.

I have a Pete Rock & CL Smooth mix CD that I just made last week bumpin in my car now. So many classic tracks. The beats and storytelling are second to none.