Looking back, it seems that Nas can appreciate what came of it. After all, rap is considered a competitive sport, despite how vicious things could get. During a recent interview on Rick Rubin's Broken Record podcast, Nas explained that it was a sobering moment for him realizing that these feuds could really come to life. The OGs before him did it, as well, like a rite of passage, but the stakes were high for Jay-Z and Nas at the time. "I was honored to have that part of my life happen because that's how I saw some of the greats do it coming up. I saw some of the greats do it," the King's Disease rapper explained.

Rubin pointed out that the outcome of Jay-Z and Nas' feud was mutually beneficial, largely because they both proved their greatness at that point. "Again, it's about the art of MCing and when you're trying to make the best stuff you can make and you bump heads with another MC, and then you guys have a war or whatever, that's what this art form was since the beginning," Nas added, listing off Double Trouble and Busy Bee as examples of the forefathers engaging in rap beefs. "That's what I like about hip-hop compared to other genres is that, they go at it in hip-hop," he continued. "Hip-hop will always be around because of how competitive it is.

Wow so humble

shoutout gay-z and cocafella records

Jay had to live with that shame and dishonor for a couple years

oh no

The greatest to ever do it

Post the pic

they both legends fr it makes sense

sme girl got you hot by keeping your face in her puss

Real hip hop s***. A story that will live forever

this the singh content we need

One of the best beefs in rap history

unleash the flutes on em guru Hov and nas are really the best to ever do it

It didn’t lead to anyone dying and both of their careers went on successfully regardless of which side of the fence you picked in that battle.

jay still not over this. Dude be f***ing his wife thinking how nas would've f***ed her in his position

nas won

Ether is just him throwing homophobic slurs because he couldn’t be creative enough to come up with a rebuttal. He lost and everyone know it