Is it fair to say that Nas is a better writer than Jay-z but Jay-z is a better rapper than Nas?

[spliz]

Incredible songwriting but still limited to connect on a mass level… chorus is weak and the tempo doesn’t move you. Jay def made better business decisions with singles lol

Doesn't mean he's a better songwriter tho. Nas makes better album cuts. Jay makes better singles. Pac was the GOAT at both. Biggie too. Biggie ain't a better lyricist than Nas or Jay tho.

 

[CrushedGroove]

Nas is better rapper and artist but Jay is the better marketer. Like Kendrick and Cole are better than Drake when it comes to rapping and the artistry of their music but Drake knows how to package that shyt and make you love it. The marketing is built into their music making it easier to digest and move to

 

[spliz]

Nas is better rapper and artist but Jay is the better marketer. Like Kendrick and Cole are better than Drake when it comes to rapping and the artistry of their music but Drake knows how to package that shyt and make you love it. The marketing is built into their music making it easier to digest and move to

Basically. I don't see how anyone can call Jay the better artist. That's a joke to me. Nas has taken so many more risks as an artist than Jay.

 

[jerzboy]

Doesn't mean he's a better songwriter tho. Nas makes better album cuts. Jay makes better singles. Pac was the GOAT at both. Biggie too. Biggie ain't a better lyricist than Nas or Jay tho.

I mean. And this is no knock to Nas cause he’s a great songwriter. But an incredible lyricist doesn’t equate to great songwriting. Like “Crazy” by gnarls barclay is an incredible example of brilliant songwriting. The fact that Jay was able to pen other artist biggest records is testament to his songwriting

 

[Budda]

all the above in addition to rapping on great production that fits you with a great/catchy hook. music is more than just simply lyrics. it's the reason someone like kanye who isn't a great rapper still has tons of classic albums (college dropout, LR, graduation, MBDTF, WTT) because the music composed was legendary regardless.

Kanye is different because he actually has a role in producing his songs which Nas and Jay do not.

In terms of making catchy hooks i don't think there is much difference in Nas and Jay..

But also in reality i feel like Nas actually takes more risks in terms of songwriting, he has a few hooks where he is actually singing mostly all the way through Jay doesn't. really do that.

Where Jay may win is his mind and business acumen when knowing who to bring in for hooks, who to align himself with both producer and singer wise, and having more uptempo bouncy songs. But i wouldn't necessarily say being more commercial makes you the better artist, i would say Mos Def is probably top 5 artists in rap history and he doesn't have the commercial appeal due to how isolated and eclectic he is.

 

[Pop123]

Yoooo I literally know 100

Jay is good at simplifying complex lines, because of this it allows him to be versatile as a writer.

Nas is capable of simplifying his lines but it doesn’t have the same impact of his more elaborate verses

Yooooo I literally know 1000% exactly what you’re saying and you’re exactly right, . Salute for this.

 

[Budda]

I mean. And this is no knock to Nas cause he’s a great songwriter. But an incredible lyricist doesn’t equate to great songwriting. Like “Crazy” by gnarls barclay is an incredible example of brilliant songwriting. The fact that Jay was able to pen other artist biggest records is testament to his songwriting

This is right but its not like his penning Rnb singles for other artists, he's just rapping and penning songs in their style, but Nas wrote for Foxy and Will Smith himself.

 

[Pop123]

Can we just merge this with the other Nas vs Hov civil war threads? It’s 2023.

It’s not vitriolic tho unlike most of those, just a comparison between the two greatest..

 

[JayBaldacci]

I mean. And this is no knock to Nas cause he’s a great songwriter. But an incredible lyricist doesn’t equate to great songwriting. Like “Crazy” by gnarls barclay is an incredible example of brilliant songwriting. The fact that Jay was able to pen other artist biggest records is testament to his songwriting

So you mean catchy songs? What exactly is "elite song writing"?

 

[spliz]

I mean. And this is no knock to Nas cause he’s a great songwriter. But an incredible lyricist doesn’t equate to great songwriting. Like “Crazy” by gnarls barclay is an incredible example of brilliant songwriting. The fact that Jay was able to pen other artist biggest records is testament to his songwriting

Nas wrote Gettin Jiggy Wit It and other shyt as well. Stay Schemin is actually a hook from Nas. So what u saying doesn't really hold weight to me.

 

[Budda]

Nas wrote Gettin Jiggy Wit It and other shyt as well. Stay Schemin is actually a hook from Nas. So what u saying doesn't really hold weight to me.

Nas has way more instances of actually singing on his hooks.

 

[HNIC973]

Nas wrote Gettin Jiggy Wit It and other shyt as well. Stay Schemin is actually a hook from Nas. So what u saying doesn't really hold weight to me.

didn't he help Will on that Men& Black song to? I know he's credited for 4 Will songs

 

[spliz]

When u got 2 nikkas as elite as these 2 its a very hard comparison.

 

[spliz]

didn't he help Will on that Men& Black song to? I know he's credited for 4 Will songs

Yessir. Miami as well

 

[Braman]

You’re leaving out content.

Jay’s super power, and the area he has an edge on Nas, is his story is more interesting and he taps into his ACTUAL life better than Nas. His stories are more consistently personal. And if you’ve followed him it’s like one big connected story

Perfect example is his feature on Love All. That’s not about lyricism or writing it’s about making you feel it bc you know it’s real.

nikkas wanted to kill me and y'all still with 'em
nikka, y'all chill with 'em, and y'all wonder why we not friends?
Best thing I can do is not build with you
When I could destroy you, that takes some fukkin' discipline

Gives me fukin chills. Any rapper could say a line like that, but it’s different with Jay bc you know it’s FACTUAL, 100% real, you know who it’s aimed at, you know that yes he could destroy him, etc…it makes it and him different