Nas has weighed in on the chatter of fans comparing his victorious bid to bring a casino to Queens with JAY-Z‘s own bid to bring one to Times Square being shot down.
While speaking with Rolling Stone, the 52-year-old was asked about a segment of the public using his group’s successful casino bid as the latest measuring stick in the competitive rivalry that has long defined his relationship with Hov.
Nas attends the “Supreme Team” premiere during the 2022 Tribeca Festival at BMCC Tribeca PAC on June 19, 2022 in New York City.
Hippolyte Petit/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival
“It is just a thing that some people are going to talk about,” Nas said of the discourse regarding the respective outcomes. “No one has any control over things like that.”
He then likened the mystique and interest of his rivalry with JAY-Z to that of Rakim and Big Daddy Kane’s subtle duel for acclaim and popularity, which he reveals carries over to present times.
Rappers Jay Z and Nas attend The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the STAPLES Center on February 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS
“I still study Rakim and Big Daddy Kane,” the icon added. “Some rap fans just like to go off on those things from time to time. That’s it.”
In September, Nas and Resorts World NYC’s $5.5B casino bid was approved by New York’s Community Advisory Committee, marking the emcee’s latest achievement outside of music.
A native of Queens, Nas and his group’s goals for the casino include creating 24,000 new jobs and generating $1M in revenue within its first year of operation.
Jay-Z attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Sony Pictures’ “The Book Of Clarence” at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on January 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
On the other hand, the same advisory committee shot down a $5.4B bid made by JAY-Z’s group, which includes Caesars’ Entertainment and SL Green Realty.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. made sure to reference the competitive significance of Nas’ win, marking it as another victory over JAY-Z and Kings County. He said, “There’s a theme in Queens, and I know that Nas was a part of this: Queens get the money. Sorry, JAY-Z, we win again. You can let the Brooklyn borough president know that I send my regards to him.”
Rapper Nas attends Pandora Sounds Like You NYC featuring Nas, Young M.A, Dave East and Biz Markie DJ Set at Brooklyn Steel on July 19, 2017 in New York City.
Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Pandora
