Popular YouTube channel HipHopMadness takes a look at “How Kanye West Almost Destroyed Nas’ Career.”
The video was narrated by Spencer Pearman, written by Robert Blair, edited by Roman Bill, and music is by Josh Petruccio. You can reach the HHM team via [email protected].
From HipHopMadness:
“Longevity is one of the scarcest commodities in hip-hop and for every rapper that has steadfastly clung to their place in the audience’s affection, there have been trusted advisors, producers, and other forces who’ve helped to keep them there. Whether it’s Young Guru’s impeccable mixing keeping Jay-Z on course or the OVO camp serving as a hit factory for Drake, everyone needs people that they can rely on to bring the best out of them and compensate in those moments when their own inspiration is running dry.
But while Nas has retained his spot and, if anything, solidified it in recent years, there’s an argument to be made that Kanye West nearly torpedoed his glorious new era before it ever got off the ground. In fact, going one further, it could even be argued that he had to claw his way back from the brink after entrusting a crucial moment in his career to such a divisive, and easily preoccupied creative mastermind.
In 2018, the news that Ye would be overseeing a new project from the legendary QB MC was enough to send hip-hop heads into a frenzied state. A proposition that was once confined to our dreams, the idea of such a visionary producer teaming up with one of hip-hop’s most profound and skillful lyricists was nothing short of fascinating, particularly those who’d felt that the one longstanding obstacle in Nas’ career has been a tendency to ply his trade over sub par beats.
Soon, speculative articles were penned breaking down their complementary qualities and hypothesizing over what sort of classic could await us in early June when it was set to drop. Instead, what we got wasn’t just underwhelming, but considering that it was Nas’ first project in six years, placed his entire future as a culturally resonant artist in jeopardy.”
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