Rakim explains to TheUrbanDaily that he originally had mixed feelings and felt funny about Nas’ Streets Disciple record. Stating that Nasir has still (to this day) not reached out about the record (or anything for that matter). Interesting.
Rakim Speaks on Nas’ Unauthorized Biography (Video)
Hip Hop, Video
i always wondered
I love Nas’ music to death, but i never stop hearing disappointing shit about him.
I’m surprised it wasn’t brought up at that “Classic” video shoot. I’m not sure how often Nas and Rakim see each other but it seems like if he feels that way he’d bring it up when he sees him.
Whoah…. Dam Nas what were you smokin on… Holla at the R….
umm I remember an interview they did together where they talked about that track. I also remember in that same interview Rakim asked Nas to do a full LP with him and Nas agreed.
wow – never thought of it this way…
and to think the biography could have been authorized..
leave Nas alone…he did something we call paying homage same thing Ill Bill did with Slayer. {biting i mite add}……plus its “unauthorized” meaning not official…..Nas still better than most rappers 2day
uhh what chuck said. Plus theyve been on stage together since then.
this gets a WTF?
DynamicShots made a good point. How come this wasn’t brought up during the shoot for “Classic”. They probably wasn’t on the set a the same time or something. And if what Chuck said is true, then, forgive me for saying this, Ra is tripping. Hopefully this gets patched up cause that was a favorite track of mines on Street’s Disciple.
@Chuck
You’re right, they Rakim and Nas did a long interview together and they talked about this track. Rakim said he was blown away and honored, and that he remembered when Nas was coming up he knew he was gonna be great. Nas said he did the track as a tribute and did a lot of research on him, and Rakim was surprised that Nas knew that much. I don’t get what Rakim is saying in this interview, I already saw them talk about this song.
I doubt Nas had an ulterior motive. But pretty much all rappers are paranoid.
I found the link http://www.mtv.com/bands/n/nas/news_feature_050206/index3.jhtml
QUESTION: Rakim, Nas paid you the ultimate compliment in 2004 by recording “U.B.R. (Unauthorized Biography of Rakim)” [on Street's Disciple]. What was it like when you heard that song breaking down your whole life?
RAKIM: That kind of puts things in perspective. You got this far and somebody that you respect, somebody that’s on a high plateau, took time and showed you love. And to hear a lot of it, I was like, “Where did he get that from? How did he know that?” He does put things in perspective, man. He kind of opened my eyes, like, “OK, people’s watching. People really know about Rakim.” It kind of let me know where I was in the world.
NAS:Thanks, man. I always wanted to know how you felt about that, ’cause if somebody made a song talking about me and stuff like that, I wouldn’t know how to react. I just had to make a song about Ra ’cause if we in there making songs in the studio, let’s make songs about things that are important. The dude is important right now, so I made a song about how he inspired [people] a great deal. I used to look at Ra like, “This dude’s an alien. He’s an alien. He’s not from here.” That’s how I feel to this day.
http://screwheadsonly.blogspot.com
Great song, nothing else to discuss.
I swear this aint new, this is years old interview.. maybe jus the same Q with the same A. hmm
but the ending of the track was a lil weird.. “umm i think he did 18th letter, then the master..” lol
but nas is right, he really is the most loved/hated person in hip hop period.
Paying homage is fine. Making a record talking about another mans kids and business is not acceptable amongst the African race. On the fact Nasir didn’t even tell the GOD he was speaking on it. Not acceptable. NAS sold out just like the rest of them. Sad , some are still going backwards. These times- i’d watch out for whose behind you. Ashe to all my African, RBG, PBC Brothers In Arms. Hotep
So what the f is Ra talkin’ about?
I was just on the phone with Mike Brinkley, Nas’ former A&R who handled Street’s Disciple. He was saying that Nas is a private person … then i log on 2Db and see this video up … wtf, irony is a mutha. Called Brinks back and he was surprised too, thought this was settled already.
What’s so hard about picking up the phone and making a phonecall to the guy you’re making an autobiography about? Yeah. To me, Rakim has the right to feel aggrieved. Shit is too personal, sure he’s that big of an influence but come on.
In front of the cameras on MTV there’s gonna be a little PC going on. Rakim and Nas on the same stage, I’m quite sure he didn’t want to embarass Nas by saying he had funny feelings or didn’t like it, so he played it cool. Even the ones you respect as emcees are still human.
I think the track was fucking genius. Niggas don’t even pay homage the way Nas did on this joint unless the dude they’re rapping about had died. And Rakim’s so called reaction is exactly why niggas don’t pay as much homage as they should to guys they look up to cuz they always turn around and use it against you. Eric B & Rakim’s beef with EPMD was well documented way before Nas mentioned it. Rakim has mentioned his wisdom’s name on several of his own records (FeFe). That’s like Jay getting mad cuz someone said Beyonce’s his wife. Nas calls you William Griffin The Great as if saying your government name was blowing up your spot when its plastered on the back of all his albums. He ran down all your contributions and influence to the game. he gave you credit for “inventing a new style”. I guess KRS-1 should be mad at Nas too for saying he would dedicate his next Unauthorized Biography to him. This is such bullshit. Again, this is why the young MCs coming up are so disrespectful to living legends cuz when a nigga pay homage they get spit in their face.
I feel like Rakim should have reached out to Nas to thank him for reppin so hard in his name. Thats like you sending someone a gift and the recipient gets mad cuz you didn’t call to make sure that they got the gift instead of reaching out to thank the person who sent it.
…..and what is Rakim taking about Nas said his kid’s name in the song? He just said “Ra had his first born” WTF?
Everyone knows your wisdom’s name is FeFe, you said it all in your rhymes!
Aight but if he is gonna say some shit in one interview, then when he has a chance to confront Nas in another interview he get shy and plays it cool? If true that’s a bitch move on Rakim’s part. I don’t get it, what’s the big deal, this song wasn’t a hit or anything, neither was the album. People need to chill, everyone bites Rakim’s lines without him saying shit, and he catches feelings when someone makes him a tribute track? For the record, I think the song was weak, Nas should have done it better, but that isn’t important.
I found the link http://www.mtv.com/bands/n/nas/news_feature_050206/index3.jhtml
QUESTION: Rakim, Nas paid you the ultimate compliment in 2004 by recording “U.B.R. (Unauthorized Biography of Rakim)” [on Street's Disciple]. What was it like when you heard that song breaking down your whole life?
RAKIM: That kind of puts things in perspective. You got this far and somebody that you respect, somebody that’s on a high plateau, took time and showed you love. And to hear a lot of it, I was like, “Where did he get that from? How did he know that?” He does put things in perspective, man. He kind of opened my eyes, like, “OK, people’s watching. People really know about Rakim.” It kind of let me know where I was in the world.
NAS:Thanks, man. I always wanted to know how you felt about that, ’cause if somebody made a song talking about me and stuff like that, I wouldn’t know how to react. I just had to make a song about Ra ’cause if we in there making songs in the studio, let’s make songs about things that are important. The dude is important right now, so I made a song about how he inspired [people] a great deal. I used to look at Ra like, “This dude’s an alien. He’s an alien. He’s not from here.” That’s how I feel to this day.
YougotRondo’d said this on October 27th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
^^^ What he said… Maybe Rakim was high as fuck and didnt realize that it was a moot question…
Ra is buggin. I love him, but I can’t believe he doesn’t understand NAs was giving him props. He was just trying to keep Ra’s legacy alive for the young fans that weren’t around for the 80’s.
Co-sign what #Queenz and #YougotRondo’d posted… but I am gonna rant anyway
Rakim is being stupid. And for the idiot talking about not saying people kids name “Amongst the African Race”, I am of the “african race” if there is such a thing….. WTF are you smoking!!
1) Go actually listen to the song, “with next part Imma be easy.. his wisdoms name was FeFe”. He said he had a kid, wow… Nas basically says I aint mean no disrespect, dude had a kid. He didnt get into details.
2) the “business” Nas is putting out there is basically Ra’s career which as a recording artist is already out there… exactly what did Nas “sellout”.
3) Nas (or any body else for that matter) shouldnt have to call anyone to GIVE THEM PROPS…Rakim shouldnt be HAPPY that a contemporary artist of Nas’ stature (within Hip-Hop) mentioned him at all. I remember Rakim talking about the Jay song “Blue Magic”, he was loving that. I am pretty sure Jay didnt call him and say “hey Ra I am gonna copy your steez a little on this joint, is that ok?”
Anyway the MTV interview says it all, I am more disappointed in Rakim for bringing this up than for Nas not calling him. All these emcees including my favorites new or old all act like bitches on their period….WAY TOO SENSITIVE. For me I stick strictly to the persons artistic work, couldnt care less about their personality off the mic, but the one thing that I hate is how sensitive these dudes are. I am a black MAN and have a very thick skin. People have called me all kinds of things, I dont even care unless its taking food off my table or unless it means physical danger, but this dude is getting upset over something that probably actually made him money by exposing his story to some people who would never have cared until it came out of Nas’ mouth.
Ahhh that feels better.
in my post above it should read “Rakim SHOULD be HAPPY”
Fuck Rakim
SOME of ya’ll dont understand…. these cats are from the Streets, and there is a certain level of respect you show by keeping another man’s name out your mouth… especially when you delve into the man’s history. I admit, I liked the track, and i dont think Nas was directing any malice towards Rakim… but on a man to man level, you gotta reach out to somebody before you put all that informaiton on record. In the streets, niggas would come see you at your door and ask you why you talkin…. Rakim being an wise cat in the game has every right to speak on what nas had to say Good or Bad. he is a man first.