Dura-Cell says:

@ BLAZEdaCANNONz

It always kills me when people refer to Jay-Z’s beginning as “hard core” You name me ONE hardcore track off RD. Just ONE. He was a drug dealer, so he rapped about drug dealing. He’s not a drug dealer anymore so at best the only thing he can do is make references here and there.
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Sorry to disappoint you but RD was not his debut as a artist, yes it was his debut album, but if you were truly a fan of Jay-z (as i WAS) u would of remembered him rapping along side children of the corn which was a “hard-core” rap group consisting of young harlemites that spit lyrics with raw passion.

I would like to argue that 22-2s was a ‘hard-core’ rap song on RD which he talked about killing, murdering, and other such ventures that he doesnt no include in his lyrics anymore. Hell, he even had a track on that album that took place in a underground club, and eventually the show got shut down cause they was smoking the ‘refer’….i think thats pretty hardcore in its self…i mean to put that on a album.

How is that a relevant comparison? Stevie Wonder’s commercial and historical success and significance outstrips that of Nas’ by a considerable margin to say the least.

In terms of large-scale touring, Nas is indeed b-list, if that, as evidenced by his placement on this tour, or any other multi-genre tour he might have done/do.

And you’ve already contradicted your own point:

“IMO when you do a show where the majority of the audience doesn’t know or care about your music, you’re selling out.”

Let me get this straight – the Bonnaroo crowd has no interest in Jay, but they’re lining up for Nas? lol.

hey you get no argument from me there. But that attribute to the “catering music to his new pop fans” stance that yall have taken.

I didn’t say he “evolved” as an artist. I did say that he’s atleast honest about where he’s at. I said he cant rap about the same things in the SAME ways.

He will forever make hustler music because no matter what position he’s in, he still considers himself that. I also never said that his growth would justify him doing the show. I said that he’s an entertainer and its his job to do shows. Its how artist make the bulk of their money. And you know what…in over 24 hours you still haven’t named me ONE artist that wouldnt do the show. SMH….

But thats all he raps about drugs, the benefits and credibility it gave him, IN EVERY SONG. You brought up AG, which casts him as Frank Lucas. Thats proving my argument against his “growth” and “evolution” as an artist. Said growth would justify him headlining this venue.

@AEI Nas is not B-List, A-List or whatever, he’s an artist, not on the level but similar to Stevie. Is Stevie B-List, too?

It always kills me when people refer to Jay-Z’s beginning as “hard core” You name me ONE hardcore track off RD. Just ONE. He was a drug dealer, so he rapped about drug dealing. He’s not a drug dealer anymore so at best the only thing he can do is make references here and there.

When he came into the industry, he came in as and exec. Look it up. He did sign to priority as an artist, he brought them Roc-a-fella. I’m sorry to break yours and Chuckys heart but he’s been that business minded artist since day one.

lol, and what soft music has he release now that he’s selling out? His last singles were “On to the next one”- which is just another chest thumping song that rappers do all the time. Empire State of Mind – it has pop success but in what way was it catered to his new disconnected fan base? Run this Town- Another pretentious rap song. And DOA which instead of jumping on the ban-wagon of auto tunes success like a real sellout would, he disses the idea. His album before that…American Gangster.

The only thing you can really draw a line and say ‘he’s different from this rapper is’… he acknowledges that he’s older and can’t rap about the same things in the same ways anymore.

Now you two seem to be stuck in some sorta box and I can’t help that shit. But let me help u out…you gotta let go of that ‘keep it real’ mantra that yall seem to be carrying. To me keeping it real, is about telling the most truthful things , instead what you may feel someone may want to hear.