Nas says the spirit of HipHop is alive

[mcZu]

In a recent interview with Music News Daily, they asked Nas what he thought about the current state of Hip Hop today and this is what he had to say:

I know you probably been asked this a million times but do you think Hip-Hop is still dead?

Yeah, yeah it is. Yeah, but the new artists that I’m loving they coming from the UK, they coming United States, they coming from all over the world and a few in particular are J. Cole, Jay Electronica. I’m really into them and I’m excited for Lupe Fiasco’s new album ‘Lasers’ and Raekwon’s new album so the spirit of Hip-Hop is alive and well. The spirit is, can’t kill the spirit.

The full interview is an interesting read.

Full interview.

[xxTrigger1989xx]

Great read, nice find.

I suppose it still is alive. With new artists coming and bringing different things to the table, I guess Hip Hop isn't so bad off.

[dead prez]

He never thought Hip Hop was dead to begin with.

[KillahBee]

I have to say, fuck Nas for setting off this "hip hop is dead" trend, disgraceful that he said it in 2006 when 2004-2006 was one of the best streches for hip hop since the 90's, it was just a marketing gimmick for himself to be honest

A Piece of Strange
Beauty and the Beat
Late Registration
The Mouse and The Mask
BE
The Minstrel Show
S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M
Hellz Winter
Monkey Barz
Documentary
Carter 2
The Further Adventures of Lord Quas
Grandmasters
Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having
Hell Hath No Fury
Fishscale
Game Theory
Servents in Heaven, Kings in Hell
Donuts
Mood Muzik 2
Food and Liqour
Dedication 2
The Shining
King

All released within a year of Nas' bullshit

[Mahmoud48]

HIP HOP WAS DEAD
but then eminem came bk

[stillmatic]

I have to say, fuck Nas for setting off this "hip hop is dead" trend, disgraceful that he said it in 2006 when 2004-2006 was one of the best streches for hip hop since the 90's, it was just a marketing gimmick for himself to be honest

A Piece of Strange
Beauty and the Beat
Late Registration
The Mouse and The Mask
BE
The Minstrel Show
S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M
Hellz Winter
Monkey Barz
Documentary
Carter 2
The Further Adventures of Lord Quas
Grandmasters
Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having
Hell Hath No Fury
Fishscale
Game Theory
Servents in Heaven, Kings in Hell
Donuts
Mood Muzik 2
Food and Liqour
Dedication 2
The Shining
King

All released within a year of Nas' bullshit

I think you failed to understand the concept of Hip Hop is dead. Completely.

It seems to me you read the title and that's where it started and ended for you.

The grand irony here is that the majority of those albums you listed are proof of why Nas made Hip Hop is dead. Read recognition.

[dead prez]

I agree with killahbee in a way, but we shouldn't be too mad at Nas. The reason he did it was also for playing Devil's Advocate, as a way to encourage other rappers to put out quality material. Hip Hop was never dead, but the mainstream at the time was looking bleak, so he decided to spark controversy.

I mean would you have wanted him to write this


Roll to every station and firmly inform the djay of his poor choice of music.
Roll to every station and firmly inform the djay of his poor choice of music

I mean I agree with you on the notion that Hip Hop was never dead just in a decline (the mainstream anyway), but I also disagree in that Nas' didn't ttuly believe Hip Hop was dead.

[KillahBee]

I have to say, fuck Nas for setting off this "hip hop is dead" trend, disgraceful that he said it in 2006 when 2004-2006 was one of the best streches for hip hop since the 90's, it was just a marketing gimmick for himself to be honest

A Piece of Strange
Beauty and the Beat
Late Registration
The Mouse and The Mask
BE
The Minstrel Show
S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M
Hellz Winter
Monkey Barz
Documentary
Carter 2
The Further Adventures of Lord Quas
Grandmasters
Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having
Hell Hath No Fury
Fishscale
Game Theory
Servents in Heaven, Kings in Hell
Donuts
Mood Muzik 2
Food and Liqour
Dedication 2
The Shining
King

All released within a year of Nas' bullshit

I think you failed to understand the concept of Hip Hop is dead. Completely.

It seems to me you read the title and that's where it started and ended for you.

The grand irony here is that the majority of those albums you listed are proof of why Nas made Hip Hop is dead. Read recognition.

No I understand the concept completely, but it was his bullshit that got people saying hip hop WAS dead, and some people still believe it (check the 1st reply in this thread)
One of the main reasons people start dismissing mid 2000's rap music was because of this, when where people saying it before Nas did? (even if Nas was being tongue in cheek, the masses BELIEVED him)

The whole thing was a gimmick for himself in my opinion

[dead prez]

No I understand the concept completely, but it was his bullshit that got people saying hip hop WAS dead, and some people still believe it (check the 1st reply in this thread)
One of the main reasons people start dismissing mid 2000's rap music was because of this, when where people saying it before Nas did? (even if Nas was being tongue in cheek, the masses BELIEVED him)

The whole thing was a gimmick for himself in my opinion

I blame it more on people Nostalgic Sacred Cowing the 90s, people would still believe 90s Hip Hop was better and that 00s Hip Hop was inferior regardless if Nas made the album or not.

[TheGreatest]

I have the utmost respect for Nas and his music but that opinion is rather erroneous. Hip-Hop has never been dead and it hopefully never will be.

[KillahBee]

No I understand the concept completely, but it was his bullshit that got people saying hip hop WAS dead, and some people still believe it (check the 1st reply in this thread)
One of the main reasons people start dismissing mid 2000's rap music was because of this, when where people saying it before Nas did? (even if Nas was being tongue in cheek, the masses BELIEVED him)

The whole thing was a gimmick for himself in my opinion

I blame it more on people Nostalgic Sacred Cowing the 90s, people would still believe 90s Hip Hop was better and that 00s Hip Hop was inferior regardless if Nas made the album or not.

That is true, ha sorry I'm in a bad mood and am just ranting on here, I honestly don't believe "Hip Hop Is Dead" helped change peoples perspective about the genre at that time though, but yeah interest was declining regardless

On the OP, he's right - there are A LOT of promising emcees coming through

[dead prez]

Ha no problem

Other great albums from 04-06

Madvillain-
Joyful Rebellion-K-os
The Dusty Foot Philosopher-Knaan
True and Livin- Zion I
City Lights Volume 1.5- Nicolay
Open- Q tip
Evolution Flight- Cyne
Absence-Dalek
When This is over-Shad
The Game Theory- Roots
Servants in heaven kings in Hell
The Blast Radius- Insight

Quality hip hop was just harder to find and no longer on the radio, and makes it look bad for non Hip Hop fans. It's a pride thing if anything.

[Bistnal]

Quality hip hop was just harder to find and no longer on the radio, and makes it look bad for non Hip Hop fans. It's a pride thing if anything.

Very true statement. I'm sometimes reluctant to tell people that I listen to mostly hip hop because of their image of it as stupid 'crap' that's all about how stupid rappers talking about how gangsta and rich they are and how many hoes they fuck, etc. .

Interesting interview though, too bad he's never heard of Lowkey

[Raids-God]

I have to say, fuck Nas for setting off this "hip hop is dead" trend, disgraceful that he said it in 2006 when 2004-2006 was one of the best streches for hip hop since the 90's, it was just a marketing gimmick for himself to be honest

A Piece of Strange
Beauty and the Beat
Late Registration
The Mouse and The Mask
BE
The Minstrel Show
S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M
Hellz Winter
Monkey Barz
Documentary
Carter 2
The Further Adventures of Lord Quas
Grandmasters
Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having
Hell Hath No Fury
Fishscale
Game Theory
Servents in Heaven, Kings in Hell
Donuts
Mood Muzik 2
Food and Liqour
Dedication 2
The Shining
King

All released within a year of Nas' bullshit

Mood Muzik 2 = Best Mixtape of all time

[Bistnal]

I have to say, fuck Nas for setting off this "hip hop is dead" trend, disgraceful that he said it in 2006 when 2004-2006 was one of the best streches for hip hop since the 90's, it was just a marketing gimmick for himself to be honest

A Piece of Strange
Beauty and the Beat
Late Registration
The Mouse and The Mask
BE
The Minstrel Show
S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M
Hellz Winter
Monkey Barz
Documentary
Carter 2
The Further Adventures of Lord Quas
Grandmasters
Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having
Hell Hath No Fury
Fishscale
Game Theory
Servents in Heaven, Kings in Hell
Donuts
Mood Muzik 2
Food and Liqour
Dedication 2
The Shining
King

All released within a year of Nas' bullshit

Mood Muzik 2 = Best Mixtape of all time

damn budden stans
lol I'm one too.