Nas recently shared his thoughts on the current wave of Hip-Hop hitmakers and reflected on one that we lost way too soon. During an interview with Financial Times, Nas was asked about contemporary rap stars and feeling the need to compete with them.
“I appreciate what’s out there, but there’s no one keeping me up at night,” Nas said. “I hear a new rap record and think it’s great, but I don’t listen to it the next week.”
He talked about the late Pop Smoke as a young artist he was eager to see succeed. Pop Smoke was killed in February 2020.
“We were happy to see that young king come up,” Nas said. “He was a breath of fresh air. The drill movement in London, Chicago and New York is really exciting.”
The interview also featured the Queens legend discussing his diverse business investments.
“The business is hard and not many artists make it,” he explained. “But as long as you keep your soul, so long as you are happy knowing you contributed something positive to the atmosphere, then you can’t lose. No one gets out unscathed, you know. There’s going to be some turbulence, but you’re here to make music, change lives and help people.”