When word first broke out about Nas collaborating with Eminem for the first time ever and his reunion with Lauryn Hill, fans were salivating that real hip hop was ahead with the release of King’s Disease II.
During what is a memorable time in rap history, Nas teamed up with Lauryn Hill during the heat of the “East Coast West Rivarly” that ended up taking rap legends Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. At the time, many people wanted to be the king of rap and when Nas teamed with Lauryn Hill of The Fugees at the time period, the single “If I Ruled The World” was quite telling of the environment.
It was this timeline that saw a future iconic rapper in Eminem release his failed project entitled “Infinite”. It was just not his time as rap kings, Biggie, Nas, Mobb Deep, Snoop, Tupac, and more were the talk of the town. That would all change however by the year 1999 when Eminem would eventually break through the glass ceiling of the underground Detroit rap scene to be a mainstream hip hop star.
A couple years later, hip hop would once again see a beef that could have turned fatal similar to Tupac versus Biggie in New York rap giants in Jay-Z and Nas as “Takeover” & “Ether” reminded fans of “Hit ‘Em Up” and “Brooklyn’s Finest” war of words. The men would fortunately end the rivalry with no no fatalities, but fans til this day would notice a little competition with Jay-Z dropping music deliberately on the same day as Nas. It was no different with the release of “King’s Disease II” as Kanye West once again worked with the Marcy Projects icon with the single “Jail” on “Donda” during the album release party in Atlanta.
Regardless, fans took notice of the return of Lauryn Hill on Nas’ new album that dropped on August 6th. The two made a single that had an old school hip hop vibe that is not prevalent today, but as Jadakiss portrayed at Verzuz, lyricists still matter. The artist explained a few things that had fans pondering on their minds about the former Fugees member.
Lauryn Hill details not trying to be popular by turning herself into shell of her former self stating, “let me give it to you balanced and with clarity. i don’t need to turn myself into a parody. i don’t do the shit you do for popularity.”
“let me give it to you balanced and with clarity. i don’t need to turn myself into a parody. i don’t do the shit you do for popularity.” – lauryn hill
— nadirah (@hinadirah) August 6, 2021
And it was excellent…
— Douglas Menefee (@DouglasMenefee) August 6, 2021
Check out the reactions to Lauryn Hill going back to her roots with lyricism joining her peer Nasir Jones below.
I keep trying to leave hip hop, but Nas won't stop making albums. Now he's adding Lauryn Hill! #Helpless.
— Blkisenuf (@Name70733690) August 6, 2021
I used to think that, but then I realized she dropped the perfect album, said what she needed to say and dropped out leaving the audience wanting more. Best mic drop ever
— Felix Sulla (@jbbubba10) August 6, 2021
nah why she out rap nas like dat on nobody 🤧
— 🏁 (@itsjustTaj_) August 6, 2021
That's what a Female Rapper should sound like in 2021 especially A Legend like Lauryn
— B Mack (@MILANO_MOBBBB) August 6, 2021
Happy that Nas keeps bringing back iconic female rappers on his albums. Last time it was Foxy and now he got Lauryn Hill for this record she still got it! pic.twitter.com/WApOujT6J7
— Anthony (@discarnick) August 6, 2021
The highly anticipated collaboration with Eminem also received trending treatment on Twitter. One of the quotables that is trending is, “I just pray for the day when I’m able to say that I’m placed with the greats / And my name’s with the kings and the Waynes and the Jays and the Dres and the ‘Yes and the Drakes and the J Dillas…”
50 Cent woke up early in the morning to let his followers know he co-signs the lyricism of Slim Shady once again.
This is all I have to say: pic.twitter.com/IsGs3j8xaC
— ⪓ℍigђpØweЯ⪔ 🧪 (@xkid518x) August 6, 2021
we waited 20 years for this Nas x Eminem and it didn’t disappoint 🥲 pic.twitter.com/fcGk9yDcca
— elsa🔪 (@MurderARhyme) August 6, 2021
I prefer em verse but Lauryn still the Queen of this
— Haze🦇 (@uptownhazek) August 6, 2021
.@NAS and @HIT_BOY at the “King's Disease 2” album release party listening to @Eminem's part in ‘EPMD 2’. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/CSljXSRURk
— “EPMD 2” OUT NOW! 🐐 (@BookOfShady) August 6, 2021
Check out the singles below and see what social media is talking about and decide if you agree with the above posts.
