The past 5 years he's done extensive touring overseas which has probably helped his profile. He never did that pre-2003. Already in the past 8 months he's toured Europe 4 times and he's headling a stage at Glastonbury (Not the mainstage but the Village Stage is a key one).
So the argument that he only does a few shows doesnt work, he's actually in demand and thats why he keeps coming back.
Part of the reason he toured with Damian for 2 years was because they kept getting festivals and venues overseas wanting. Same deal even with Untitled and HHID. He was doing too many shows to a fault. Part of it is because he has Rock the Bells but also to his credit, he has been trying to build an overseas profile.
I dont think 50 is as big as he once was overseas though, like I dont hear him doing festivals like he once did. Now part of that is that he hasnt released an album in years now but its not like he's coming to do shows off hand anyway. He went from doing Wembley Arena when Get Rich or Die Trying to doing the HMV Apollo (think Best Buy Theater in NYC) when Curtis came out (Heck 50's last album sold about the same as Untitled and lets compare the commercial prospect and gaps of both albums)
Its interesting you bring up Jessie J and Rita Ora because I think for some people in the US they are big enough even without the album sales or a US distirbution to relase an album. That's part of the argument about how its hard to define whats popular anymore. They stay on the radio and can eat off or like rappers can tour because they are demand.
Its probably better for them to still be big overseas seeing as most popular music in the US seems to be imported back to the states at all time now (Dubstep, Indie rock, UK soul etc)
I havent seen the numbers for Life is Good worldwide but if hes gone gold overseas thats a good thing (Heck even 400k is a good look in 2013
) because usually the bulk numbers for worldwide album sales are from the US (btw try even finding a record store overseas in 2013
its fukked up whats happened in the UK after HMV closes they wont be any and thats considered a big music market)
Jay and Kanye are Jay and Kanye though. No one's arguing they're not bigger. They culturally huge, frankly Im surprised they havent sold 5 million and they would be diamond in the everyone eats era. But this is more about how Nas has been able to still be in demand and relevant without needing mainstream US outlets (Radio or big sales). You gotta admit, its impressive for Nas to still be a headliner in 2013.
Like I wish Chuck D, BDK, Rakim had preserved this kind of legacy. Wu-Tang SHOULD be doing this too, Snoop kinda does. So I think for Nas still get big shows like he does overseas and still being on best of lists still is pretty impressive.
I was expecting a typical Coli "fukk you & jay-z, nas is the GOAT, music is garbage now, fans are retarded" type of response... it's rare that posters have real debates as opposed to replies of 
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