Reddit AMA with Nas

[JohnnyChavello]

Scrolled down to find this:

How was it working with the Beastie Boys? Has anyone been offended by Too Many Rappers?

TheRealNASVerified - Legendary. Those guys are legends. Rest in peace Adam. Told me a lot of old school stories that day about grimy New York clubs when they were starting.

Don't really understand the second part of the question - I have no idea who (other than crab rappers) would be offended by TMR - but a strong shout out from the greatest MC alive.

[Jiberish]

Scrolled down to find this:

How was it working with the Beastie Boys? Has anyone been offended by Too Many Rappers?

TheRealNASVerified - Legendary. Those guys are legends. Rest in peace Adam. Told me a lot of old school stories that day about grimy New York clubs when they were starting.

Don't really understand the second part of the question - I have no idea who (other than crab rappers) would be offended by TMR - but a strong shout out from the greatest MC alive.

The way you wrote that out I thought both lines were from Nas. Nice answer regardless.

[JohnnyChavello]

The way you wrote that out I thought both lines were from Nas. Nice answer regardless.

I see. Yeah, the second part are my thoughts on the controversial nature of Too Many Rappers.

[Jiberish]

Yeah it was funny. It made me laugh that Nas would say that. Oh well. It's still funny that you said it.

[MCScoobyT]

TheRealNASVerified - Legendary. Those guys are legends. Rest in peace Adam. Told me a lot of old school stories that day about grimy New York clubs when they were starting.

That day must mean the video shoot... no accounts of them be in the studio together (right?).

[JohnnyChavello]

That day must mean the video shoot... no accounts of them be in the studio together (right?).

Yeah, not as far I know.

[Brass Monk]

Chavello, could you possibly re-type what the actual quotes were from the interview?
It's a little confusing the way you wrote it, and I am very interested in this.....

[Nerd Fight]

Someone wrote this in the AMA :

[–]bluetick_ 61 points 17 hours ago

I think about MCA a lot man. Never met the guy but I just fucking miss him whenever I listen to their music. You can't help but miss him. More so than any other artist that passed away too soon. I felt like I lost a good, good friend. He had this certain light about him and it was turned off way too soon. He was a kind man and did a hell of a lot of good for many people, including me, unknowingly.

I'm sorry for his family, for Adrock and Mike. He really is missed. RIP Adam.

The comment really hit me, I feel the same way.

[Nerd Fight]

Chavello, could you possibly re-type what the actual quotes were from the interview?
It's a little confusing the way you wrote it, and I am very interested in this.....

redditor: How was it working with the Beastie Boys? Has anyone been offended by Too Many Rappers?

NAS : Legendary. Those guys are legends. Rest in peace Adam. Told me a lot of old school stories that day about grimy New York clubs when they were starting.

- that's yer lot.

[Brass Monk]

redditor: How was it working with the Beastie Boys? Has anyone been offended by Too Many Rappers?

NAS : Legendary. Those guys are legends. Rest in peace Adam. Told me a lot of old school stories that day about grimy New York clubs when they were starting.

- that's yer lot.

So they actually asked "Has anyone been offended by Too Many Rappers?"

I really don't understand that question....

[Micodin]

So they actually asked "Has anyone been offended by Too Many Rappers?"

I really don't understand that question....

Probably because the theme of the song is that there are too many rappers but not enough MC's. And they are taking shots at the garbage rappers that are polluting hip-hop.

It's an ongoing theme in hip-hop before Sucker MC's...

[gumkojima]

"I hear Russian blonde's the wettest"... that line?

[Brass Monk]

Probably because the theme of the song is that there are too many rappers but not enough MC's. And they are taking shots at the garbage rappers that are polluting hip-hop.

It's an ongoing theme in hip-hop before Sucker MC's...

I am very familiar with that Hip Hop tradition. But with respect, I still don't understand what that question means.
But screw it, maybe I'm looking too much into it. The question was probably just a poorly worded question pulled off twitter....

[Micodin]

But screw it, maybe I'm looking too much into it.

(y)

[JoLovesMCA]

Great quotes by Nas.

Thank you for posting.

[3stooges]

I am very familiar with that Hip Hop tradition. But with respect, I still don't understand what that question means.
But screw it, maybe I'm looking too much into it. The question was probably just a poorly worded question pulled off twitter....

Sometimes people hear something and think they are being dissed indirectly. Or their friends say, "did you hear that? they're dissing YOU." A lot of times people are just being insecure and imagining things.

The question is just asking Nas if he had heard of anything like that.

But as far as I know the song doesn't call any names out directly, or indirectly. It is really just a general commentary on the current scene. So yeah, it is kind of a stupid question. Which is probably why Nas didn't give any answer to it.

[Jiberish]

Sometimes people hear something and think they are being dissed indirectly. Or their friends say, "did you hear that? they're dissing YOU." A lot of times people are just being insecure and imagining things.

The question is just asking Nas if he had heard of anything like that.

But as far as I know the song doesn't call any names out directly, or indirectly. It is really just a general commentary on the current scene. So yeah, it is kind of a stupid question. Which is probably why Nas didn't give any answer to it.

There is the "so get your holographs up off of wolf blitzer" line. People have pointed out that Will.I.Am appeared on Wolf Blitzer as a holgraph.

[YoungRemy]

rappers,
perpetrators,
crab rappers rapping like crabs

shot callers, mobsters, drug dealers,
slug peelers,
Mafioso, (no)
beginners,
snitches and rats,
bullshit rappers (Too many to shake a stick at)
weak raps,
crab rappers,
hackers,
circuit benders tweaked on Splenda,
biters all up in my crotchspace
Sniffin', buffin', huffin', mean muggin' with the Blimpie Bluffin
suckers who ain't sayin' nothin'

the competition



all of the above were offended.

[Brass Monk]

rappers,
perpetrators,
crab rappers rapping like crabs

shot callers, mobsters, drug dealers,
slug peelers,
Mafioso, (no)
beginners,
snitches and rats,
bullshit rappers (Too many to shake a stick at)
weak raps,
crab rappers,
hackers,
circuit benders tweaked on Splenda,
biters all up in my crotchspace
Sniffin', buffin', huffin', mean muggin' with the Blimpie Bluffin
suckers who ain't sayin' nothin'

the competition



all of the above were offended.

Actually on the track, Nas was clearly taunting opposition for NOT being shot callers, mobsters, drug dealers, slug peelers or mafioso. Thus I don't those aforementioned groups would feel offended.

[JohnnyChavello]

I think the circuit benders took it the hardest.

[Jiberish]

I think the circuit benders took it the hardest.

(y)

[LuciferHam]

What exactly is a crab rapper (besides someone that's rapping like a crab)? And do we know any said crab rappers?

[Micodin]

What exactly is a crab rapper (besides someone that's rapping like a crab)? And do we know any said crab rappers?

A Crab Rapper is an MC that talks a lot of shit on the mic but will run and hide when someone retaliates.

[Kid Presentable]

I still really like the song. The New Reactionaries version.

[JohnnyChavello]

FYI - Biz makes an appearance in the hook of a really good remix of It Ain't Hard to Tell that (I think) Q-Tip produced. It's on Illmatic XX.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzcYRjudZRA

They'd rip on this. Not sure if that's Beastie enough for general discussion, but there it is. Enjoy.

[beasties#1fan]

Yo I'm glad someone asked him about the beasties, thats hella cool. Asking Q's on reddit to celebs is hard. I tried with Chris Cornell but I guess I was way to late. Point is- kudos to the MF who asked him about the boys and his response is perfect. *legends*