Rap-Up.com || Common: Nas Is the Best Rapper Alive

Common had an early morning wake-up call with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” to promote his new book One Day It’ll All Make Sense. The Chicago MC opened up about the reservations he had when penning his memoir, the therapeutic writing process, lessons from his mother (“She’s just one of the coolest people ever, she’s definitely my best friend in the world”), being labeled a “socially-conscious rapper,” the controversy surrounding his performance at the White House, and why he thinks his “Ghetto Dreams” collaborator Nas is the best rapper alive—aside from himself, of course.

“Nas is so poetic with it and I feel like his lyrics, you can write ‘em down on paper and they will last for time. It would be like literature that we read,” said Common, whose new album The Dreamer, The Believer is due November 22.

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69 Comments

Yeah
September 22nd, 2011 at 9:21 am
debatable, but I can somewhat agree…

[Reply]
Tiago
September 22nd, 2011 at 9:39 am
Really, Nas sings the true rap.

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YUNG Reezy Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 1:58 pm
@Tiago, Nas, Eminem and Jay-Z have been the best in this generation. 2Pac and Biggie was the in the Last Decade.

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CoolR Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 4:06 pm
@Tiago, @YUNG Reezy
I feel ya’ll…

[Reply]
Husky
September 22nd, 2011 at 9:47 am
Lmfao… are u kiding Me? Clearly you havent heard of Eminem

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uhuh Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 9:52 am
@Husky, Would you please stfu. God’s son Nassir Jones is the illest to ever grab the mic Since B.I.G.

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Mike504 Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:52 am
@Husky, Nas and Eminem are my two faves, so it’s a toss up.

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Sol-Power Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:10 am
@Husky, You must be 15 years old. Sit down.

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huh? Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 12:20 pm
@Husky, shut that shit up with eminem’s overrated meth looking azz lol

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Husky
September 22nd, 2011 at 9:53 am
and im the President!

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Humz Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:02 am
@Husky, I would have said the same thing a couple years back. When I didn’t listen to Nas.
LOL
:)

[Reply]
Common Sense
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:10 am
@Husky clearly you don’t know hip hop, dumbass..smh.

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Husky
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:22 am
and clearly ur ugly #sitsdown

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Chris
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:26 am
eminem is nowhere near Nas .

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LOLO Reply:
October 14th, 2011 at 7:11 am
Thank you, Eminem is ignorant and overrated. He once called Lauryn Hill a racist. A woman many consider a gifted poet and lyrical genious.

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key
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:29 am
EMINEM,rapper? are we talking about hiphop? its like saying nikki minaj is the best female mc,FLMAO plz, we talking about hiphop guys not HIPOP

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P
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:30 am
with Em. yes agree.

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dooom777
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:38 am
Is Nas better than Wayne and Em.. i dont listen to him..

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gmix
September 22nd, 2011 at 10:52 am
Em is a shock rapper be say stupid shit for effect he can’t fuck with nas!!

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WatchTheThrone Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 12:05 pm
@gmix, you think it’s just for shock value because you don’t understand that shit. there’s deeper reasons behind it.
anyways nas may be the greatest but eminem’s still amazing.

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maya Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 2:49 pm
@gmix, Shock? Yes almost dying, domestic violence, hardly with his daughter, losing his bestfriend, being poor is all for shock. Absolutely!

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bknyhustle
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:00 am
if i have to agree its mainly cussa “Illmatic” – Even though “Ready To Die” is my favorite rap album. ILLmatic is definately the album cover that needs to be under “Rap” in the dictionary. This is rap. Plain and simple, if you don’t like this album, you probably aren’t a fan of rap.

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young
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:05 am
I agree with dude. I think nas hov and em have been the best mc over the last ten years in hip hop.

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otis
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:08 am
JIGGA HANDS DOWN AND IT’S NOT EVEN CLOSE……………….

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maya Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 2:50 pm
@otis, lmfao goodbye.

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Sol-Power
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:11 am
Dead @ these fools. He’s right.

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P
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:23 am
Nas and Em.

hands down.

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Jorge
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:56 am
To be the best you have to change the game, so I agree with Nas being the best, I will also put Jay, Ye, Em, Common, and Lupe up there as well. These dudes still kill it and really never dissapoint! That’s truly Hip-Hop.

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maya Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 2:52 pm
@Jorge,I agree with your list.

[Reply]
pitulica
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:56 am
WORD!!!
NaS is the truest in the Game…always was & always will…he changed the Game and he will do it again !!!

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dededededede
September 22nd, 2011 at 11:57 am
Nas, if you say otherwise then you clearly haven’t listened to him spit.

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B.o.B.a
September 22nd, 2011 at 12:02 pm
He’s a legend!

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kaka
September 22nd, 2011 at 12:04 pm
No one had bigger impact on hip hop over the last decade then hov. so yes Jay-z is the greatset rapper alive pay homage fuckers

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street dreams Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 3:10 pm
@kaka, but nas kill im on ether hahaha nas are the greatest lyricist too

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sabrina
September 22nd, 2011 at 12:05 pm
I LOVE Common and Nas. Eminem too.

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kaka
September 22nd, 2011 at 12:30 pm
What about lil fayne? lmao

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TRIXx
September 22nd, 2011 at 12:52 pm
NAS and em are both ill in their own way… Its like comparing michael jackson 2 elvis hahaha… Seriously, they both amazing lyricists and great emcees but they both have a completley differernt style!!! In my opinion 2pac is still the greatest emcee of all time!!! He is one of the biggest inspiration for not only them but most members of the hip hop community and even beyond!!!

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smh
September 22nd, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Wayne the best that ever do it bitch!

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P Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 1:59 pm
@smh, lmao

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ashley
September 22nd, 2011 at 2:40 pm
gotta agree with common… NAS and Tupac has ALWAYS been the best rappers alive. thier rhymes are so poetic and deep…. these mainstream kids dont understand or know the real definition of rap/hiphop thats why the industry is rewarding these clowns now. smdh

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maya
September 22nd, 2011 at 2:45 pm
Nas & Em > the others.

Thank You Common! Someone with a brain. I’m tired of hearing Wayne & Jay-Z as the best, NOT EVEN!

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street dreams
September 22nd, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Nas is the rap himself and lyrically he beats tupac at the time pac was alive and biggie didn’t was at they level so Nas is the best mc of all time not just alive and every body forgot Rakim ? rakim was one of Nas inspiration that means lot of thing.

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Hip Hop is Alive/Dead
September 22nd, 2011 at 4:20 pm
best rapper by era 1987 – 1991 : Rakim and Eazy-E 1992 – 1993 : Snoop Dogg 1994 – 1997(best times of rap): Nas, Tupac and Biggie 1998 – 2001 : Nas, Jay-Z and Eminem 2002 – 2004 :Nas, Eminem and Kanye West 2005 – 2010 : The Game and Lupe Fiasco We are looking for next generation maybe J.cole and Drake.

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Macson Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 3:38 am
@Hip Hop is Alive/Dead, overall I agree with you

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C94B
September 22nd, 2011 at 4:36 pm
It’s arguable. If someone says Nas is the best alive, all may not agree, but I don’t think you can say that this is a crazy and wrong point of view.

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JAngel
September 22nd, 2011 at 4:37 pm
Not knocking Nas, but ppl up here sound stupid talking about Eminem….just because he’s a hip-hop artist who collaborates with mainstream pop artists, doesn’t make him pop. Em is hip-hop. He isn’t overrated, he just comes back better everytime & stays relevant doing it & is definitely real, deep, & clever with his lyrics. Dude did change the game. Best selling hip-hop artist of all time (do the research); First hip-hop artist to win an Academy Award. BET (a black entertainment channel) named dude best hip-hop artist in the last decade lol. Opened doors for white rappers as well. Sorry but neither Nas, Jay, Common, Ye or any rapper is touching Shady.

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Khanye Reply:
September 23rd, 2011 at 11:47 am
@JAngel, He sells because he is white,…why did people vote 4 Obama?….. and vanilla ice was there b4 Em,But i love him though.But NaS definitely changed the rap game.Illmatic and Announcing the Death of Hip Hop….NAs is the G.O.A.T

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LOLO Reply:
October 14th, 2011 at 7:23 am
Thank you for your intelligence.

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Soaring
September 22nd, 2011 at 6:56 pm
Nas is one of my favorite rappers. I’ve always felt that he’s way underrated. I also like Lupe Fiasco and Common. I’m NLT saying these are the best rappers tho I’m just saying they’re my favorite MCs.

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Soaring Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 6:57 pm
not* Dumb smartphones

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sah313
September 22nd, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Dropping the greatest album in hip hop history does give you claim to greatest alive

not knocking thess dudes but not em, jay, nor any other cat has a better album than illmatic

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Still D.R.E
September 22nd, 2011 at 9:52 pm
Been listening to illmatic lately didn’t really pay attention to Nas untill i got a hold of his old stuff Common is right put that shit in a book and it could be literature taught in schools, mind provoking stuff! As for the best rapper alive its between him(Nas), Jay-z and Eminem have to go with Em dude is awesome.

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brown
September 23rd, 2011 at 1:30 am
wayne is the best

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Hugh
September 23rd, 2011 at 7:02 am
I love my moms too!

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Baxy
September 23rd, 2011 at 7:32 am
Illmatic, It was written and Stillmatic are the 3 best album of hiphop.

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hovibaby
September 23rd, 2011 at 4:07 pm
The bluprint is the best rap album in years!!!!!!!

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yes
September 23rd, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Nasir Olu Dara Jones IS THE BEST RAP ARTIST ALIVE!

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Fan Of A Fan
September 23rd, 2011 at 7:42 pm
i dont really listen to nas “/
well he was hot back then.
but jay z, kanye west, eminem and j.cole are my fav rappers so far

[Reply]
jb
September 24th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Nas is the best!!!!Commmon is too

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M-LIFE
October 13th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Eminem this, Wayne that who next bow wow the greatest rapper to eva live? Its clear most of yoll eardrums are clouded 2 much wax in those ears, yoll eva heard of q-tip, blu, talib kweli, black thought, phonte and posdnous naming a few representing what’s real, guess yoll cool with whack attacks forever trapped in dogmas.

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djbirch
November 30th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
eminem is the best rapper ever…

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here and now Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 1:49 pm
@djbirch, not in this lifetime

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Karl
February 28th, 2012 at 12:01 am
Ok look NaS has the best rap album in history and is one of the best top 3. But number one should be Rakim. He is the god father. You have to pay omage to the people who started rap. Their the reson theirs a Nas and jay z. And eminems favorite rappers were the beastie boys. and nad was before em. He is one of the reson emimen is even in the game. But Nas and jay and pac and big are in the game cause of guys like Rakim,LLCoolj,Mc shan,Big daddy cane. Ect…. So watch out when you say the greatest. Eminem cant ever be named neither can lil wayne….. GZA is a hell of a rapper tho love his stuff

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Karl
February 28th, 2012 at 12:05 am
Nas will always be in the mix tho, cant look over illmatic ever…. Look it up lil wayne fans learn what these rappers should sounds like. Hip hop is dead tho. Im 15 know whats real and know my hip hop…. I DJ and im white… And i rap and right lyrics my idol rappers are Nas,Rakim,GZA,Big L. DJ premo is my idol DJ

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ashley
July 20th, 2012 at 8:46 am
Tupac is with out a doubt the best taper alive!

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SDK
October 1st, 2012 at 6:19 pm
WTF NAS IS THE GOAT HE WAS KING BACK IN 94,THEN 95 WAS NAS AND BIGGIE
WTF TRUE KING KIDS

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happy
December 12th, 2012 at 11:37 am
No rapper in the past or future will touch Nas. Plain and simple. World’s An Addition just listen to it. No rapper, I mean no rapper can even come close to the dude. He is a lyrical monster.

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stillred Reply:
February 15th, 2013 at 10:54 pm
@happy, happy you felt wat i felt when i listen to nas and i start out listening to tupac. he is a mic GOD….

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cyril godson
March 14th, 2013 at 7:43 am
nas easily iz the best and greatest mc the game has ever seen!!!!

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