To me lot of it goes down to Nas being seen as this hero for backpacker types when Nas was just a street breh who was poetic and introspective but also liked the flashy stuff. He was never like them but they thought he should be.
And Nas was right to feel a way about the Roots for Unplugged. If they’re just playing the songs then fine but them playing the Oochie Wally instrumental made them a target
Nas is a jazz fan and the son of a jazz musician so he's prob seen this ideological battle play out up close for years, going back to his childhood. Fans who wanted Miles Davis to play ballads for his entire career. Execs who wanted Kind Of Blue, part 2 and 3 and 4 etc . There are people to this day who think Miles committed blasphemy by daring to touch electric instruments, or to implement rock guitars into his bands, synths, etc. Not to mention when Miles fully embraced hip hop on his last album, working with Easy Mo Be.
I think there's a difference between riding trends and looking for the next sound that inspires you. If you get it right, your shyt sounds timeless. It Was Written sounds fresh today, production wise, to the point even detractors have to admit they were wrong. If you praise Rick Ross or Drake for their production today as an old head, I need to hear your opinion on It Was Written because these are the people who hated in 96. Elliot Wilson being a MAJOR example. Even now with the Hit Boy stuff...you're gonna tell me you like Kings Disease/Magic but thought Street Dreams was corny in 1996? Brehs gotta admit Nas was ahead of the wave and give him credit for it.
But it goes back to what
@Ziggiy said years ago. Some people just wanted Nas to be OC. No disrespect to OC who is a legend, but these people never saw Nas as a superstar. They wanted him to remain Large Pro's little mans who they helped create a classic. The great rapper from Queens who you call up for shows when you need a rapper, at your House Of Blues show with 700 people capacity.
