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Dame Dash recently shed light on the iconic feud between JAY-Z and Nas, revealing that despite the intensity of their rivalry, there was never any fear of violence, Vibe reports. Speaking on the Moguls in the Making podcast, the Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder emphasized that he and JAY-Z were confident that their beef with Nas would not escalate into physical altercations.
“There was no fear of us getting hurt when it came to Nas,” Dash stated firmly. “I’m telling you right now, there was no fear of any violence when it came to that. There was no fear when it came to us of any battle that we had when it came to violence. We were never worried about that.”
He contrasted this with the notorious East Coast-West Coast feud between Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., which tragically ended in both rappers being murdered. Dash noted that rap battles today sometimes still result in violence, highlighting the heightened dangers in the current hip-hop landscape. “Now, ‘Pac and Biggie, n-ggas got killed. But n-ggas get killed in Hip Hop now. They be battling and then they end up dead. It’s a little more serious now,” he added.
The Legendary Feud and Its Aftermath
The feud between JAY-Z and Nas began in 2001, ignited by JAY-Z’s diss track “Takeover,” which took shots at Nas. Nas fired back with the blistering “Ether,” widely regarded as one of the greatest diss tracks in hip-hop history. In response, JAY-Z released “Supa Ugly,” but the track did not land as intended. The hip-hop community largely declared Nas the winner of the battle, a sentiment echoed by Dame Dash.
“Jay’s response was terrible,” Dash admitted during an appearance on the That’s F—ed Up Podcast last year. He recounted how the initial attack at Summer Jam, where JAY-Z performed “Takeover,” had set a strong tone, but Nas’s “Ether” delivered a powerful blow. “When [Nas] came with the ‘Ether,’ I was kinda hype because he said my name. I was like, ‘I guess I’m in a rap record.’”
Dash expressed frustration with the follow-up track “Supa Ugly,” criticizing Irv Gotti’s involvement in its production. “Irv Gotti f–ked that one up. Every time Irv Gotti got in my business, he f–ked shit up … He threw that ‘Ether’ on him. He had him apologizing. The rap that he did was wack — when I heard it, I was pissed,” Dash remarked.
Adding to the controversy, JAY-Z’s apology for “Supa Ugly” came during a Hot 97 appearance in December 2001, following a phone call from his mother, Gloria Carter, who disapproved of his crude lyrics. The track included claims that JAY-Z had slept with Nas’s baby mother, Carmen Bryan, and left condoms on her baby-seat. “Mom put in a call and said, ‘That went too far.’ And she’s never, ever called me about music,” JAY-Z told Angie Martinez on air. “So I was like ‘Okay, okay, okay. I’ll go shut it down.’”
Despite the heated exchanges and personal attacks, the beef between JAY-Z and Nas ultimately remained non-violent, much like the more recent rivalry between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Although there were rumors of shootings connected to the Drake-Kendrick feud, neither rapper suffered physical harm. This stands in stark contrast to the tragic outcomes of past hip-hop rivalries, underscoring the evolution of conflicts within the genre.
In reflecting on the JAY-Z and Nas beef, Dame Dash’s insights offer a glimpse into the dynamics of one of hip-hop’s most legendary battles. His comments highlight the importance of lyrical prowess and the competitive spirit that drives the industry, while also acknowledging the need for boundaries and respect in the art of rap.
