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In 2001, what maybe considered one of Hip-Hop’s greatest battles was form when Jay-Z went on Hot97’s Summer Jam. Feeling on top of the world, he took shots at his peers on the track was called… Takeover. It was Jay-Z’s claim of the title King of New York/ Hip-Hop’s anthem. The world was a bit stun and taken back, not because of him dissing the likes of Mobb Deep, nor was it his claims of being the best. But one line in particular. A line dare I say was heard around the Hip-Hop world “ask Nas he don’t want it with Hov…NO!!!”. People where shocked that he would got after Nas who was out of the lime light for a minute dealing with some personal issues.

Well not to be “left for dead, stiff and rotten”, Nas return fire with a freestyle called “Stillmatic” that forced Jigga back into the studio to drop an 3rd verse for Takeover in time for the release of The Blueprint. Jay mockingly broke down Escobar’s career stating that the ‘Chipped Toothed Golden Child” had fallen off “Had spark when you started, but now you just garbage”. People were going nuts, DJ’s bananas, cats screaming “Yo It’s OVER!!! There’s no coming back for Nas!”. Well someone had forgotten to tell that to Nas.

Equipped with a vocal sample of 2Pac saying “Fuck Jay-Z”, Nas dropped a bomb that rocked the foundations of Hip-Hop. Going all out hard, Nas damn-near destroyed not only Jay-Z but Roc-A-Fella Records as a whole with “Ether”. GOT DAMN! I still remember the day I heard that. I live in fucking West Palm Beach, Florida and the streets were crazy, people pulling over jumping out there cars yelling “DAMN!!!”. Nas called Jay out on everything from his seemingly biting lyrics “How much of Biggie’s rhymes gonna come out your fat lips” to flipping Hov and his label name to “Gay-Z” and “Cock-A-Fella”. I still trip over the “Rockefeller died of aids that was the end of his chapter/ and that’s the guy you chose to name your company after”.

This war was over! Even Jay’s response “Superugly” couldn’t hold weight to what Nas dropped. Make it worst, Jay’s mom told him to remove ‘Superugly’ from shelves because of how personal the content was “Me and the boy A.I. got more in common the just ballin’/ get it ‘More In Carmen”. Lord have mercy that was a low blow. That was that, everyone and their momma knew these two could never be friends. It was a shame that we’d never get to see these two legends together performing or on a track. It’s settled they’re forever mortal enemies…..right?

Fast forward four years, Roc-A-Fella now broken up, Jay-Z is now the President of Def Jam records and retired. When in responses to the slick comments he’s been hearing from rappers Jay decides he wants War. He makes the announcement that Power 95.1 annual Powerhouse show is now the “I Declare War” show. Hip-Hop is again in a frenzy, everyone is making assumptions and predictions that on October 27, 2006 whose he was going to diss. Rumors circulated that he would aim at Dame Dash (his former partner), Dipset (who were throwing tons of subliminals) or The Game ( who had not only dissed his artist Young Gunz and close friend Memphis Bleek but also took sub shots at Jay). Shit, even 50 Cent was later reported saying he was prepared in case Jay aimed in his direction.

The rumors grew and grew, some where even saying that there were plans of bringing out special guest. One even declared a possible appearance from……..Nas. Of course many (like myself) ruled that out as impossible. There’s no way he’d bring out his arch-nemesis on stage with him…right? Well the rumors were seeded in truth seeing that Nas had appeared on the Kanye West Track “We Major”. Not only was Kanye signed to The Roc (Jay’s label for those that are slow), but he also produced ‘Takeover”.

Well Oct. 27, 2005 finally comes, its time for war. Everyone’s ready for the verbal Kamikaze attack to spark the battles. Yet something else happens, suddenly “I Declare War” is now transformed into “I Declare Peace”. Artist from P.Diddy and the Lox, Jeezy and T.I., to Beanie and Jadakiss came together and deaded their beefs. It was a momentous night, there’s no way it could get better….right? Then Jay walks on to the stage saying “I had to do this for ya’ll, you know what I did for you, you know what I did for Hip-Hop?” The anticipation of what may happen next grows feverishly high! He comes to the middle of the stage and yell’s “Let’s Go Esco!”. And out of the doors, coming the steps is none other than Nasty Nas himself. The crowd is hysterical, history is made as Jay-Z and Nas perform together “Dead Presidents”.

So you think this is crazy…till you hear Nas signs to Def Jam a few months later. Some fan’s felt Nas took a lost for signing under his old enemy. Others were just excited that Nas would finally be somewhere where he could get the attention he deserved. The new rumor amongst the talks of Jay’s return to the mike was that the two would collaborate together on a track. Something everyone craved but thought wouldn’t, couldn’t ever happen. Well a few nights ago History was Made AGAIN! Nas and Jay-z collaboration track “Black Republican” debuts on the Gomez Brothers show. Though you could barely hear a word, thanks to the ‘Lame Ass’ Brothers screaming all over the song ( I felt like rolling to the station and killing the DJ) you still felt excitement.

Finally the No annoying DJ version leaks all over the internet. Over a sped up sample of the “God Father” (fitting sample) the two spit raw fire rhymes. Something I did notice about Hov’s verse is that it does seem geared towards his old pal Dame Dash. Jay refers to himself as a Black Republican, and Nas a Black Militant stressing that though they‘ve both come so far they can‘t leave behind what form them… the Hood. Now on the eve of Jay-Z’s new album “Kingdom Come” and Nas Def Jam debut “Hip-Hop Is Dead” following suit in December. The Hip-Hop World is waiting to see what more can the two who sit at the forefront of Hip-Hop can do to make more history and take the culture further. Only time will tell, but as of right now we sit on the edges waiting to see.

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