The Kendrick Lamar versus Drake feud had Hip-Hop tradition in a chokehold in 2024. In 2001, JAY-Z versus Nas was the most-talked-about rap battle of that period.
Damon “Dame” Sprint had a firsthand viewpoint of his Roc-A-Fella Data co-founder JAY-Z’s rivalry with Nas. In line with Sprint, the tense back-and-forth between the 2 legendary MCs didn’t generate concern of the state of affairs turning violent.
“There was no concern of us getting damage when it got here to Nas. In no way. Or anyone else we have been battling,” Dame Sprint declared on a current episode of the Moguls Within the Making podcast.
He continued, “There was no concern of any violence when it got here to that. There was no concern when it got here to us. Of any battle that we had, when it got here to violence, we have been by no means nervous about that.”
JAY-Z included the Nas-directed “Takeover” on his 2001 album The Blueprint. Nas fired again with the Stillmatic observe “Ether.” Many rap followers take into account “Takeover” and “Ether” two of the best diss information in Hip-Hop historical past.
Whereas JAY-Z and Nas each averted bloodshed throughout their lyrical battle, different rappers did lose their lives amid pressure between their respective crews. The tragic Nineteen Nineties deaths of The Infamous B.I.G. and 2Pac function probably the most well-known instance of that attainable violent end result.
“Now, Pac and Biggie, n##### bought killed,” Dame Sprint said. “However n##### get killed in Hip-Hop now. They be battling, they be banging on the factor, after which they find yourself useless. It’s a little bit extra critical now.”