By D.L. Chandler, with reporting by Rahman Dukes
After declaring hip-hop dead back in 2006, Nas now agrees that the genre has since been resurrected.
The Queensbridge spitter sat down with MTV News recently and shared his thoughts on hip-hop's current landscape and how contemporary stars like Kanye West, Drake, Nicki Minaj and Rick Ross are keeping the genre relevant on main street.
"Nicki Minaj, Drake, Ross and Kanye just came to just kill it off," a subdued Nas said. "You know, they did they thing. They kept this thing alive."
The rapper also spoke about his reigning influence on the rap game some 17 years after the release of his 1994 debut Illmatic, which many deem a classic. West counts the veteran as an influence and Nas co-signed the Chicago MC and producer on his success as well.
"Man, you know, if that’s not happening then I didn’t do what I was supposed to do. I know what I did," Nas said with confidence. "People like Kanye is brilliant, so when Kanye is out there doing his thing, he’s entertaining all audiences and he’s keeping it hip-hop at the same time. Nobody does that but him."
Speaking of Mr. West, the rumor mill is abuzz with the news that the Untitled MC may join Yeezy’s growing army of G.O.O.D. Music artists including Mos Def and Pusha T. Nas, Lil Wayne, Mack Maine and the Windy City star were all in the studio last weekend working on track according to a tweet from a Young Money team mate. Should rap fans expect another G.O.O.D. Friday song or the start of something bigger?
Do you think Nas would be a G.O.O.D. fit with Kanye West's imprint? Tweet us at @MTVRapFix or tell us in a comment below!