Analyze Dis: Is Nas Getting at Jay-Z on “Friends”?

Written by Rizoh. Posted in Shots Fired

Tagged: ,

Published on May 13, 2010 with 27 Comments">27 Comments

The first time I heard “Friends,” I was 90% sure Nas was getting at Jay. The second time I heard it, I thought it was a dis to 50. After 709 spins, I’m can’t tell if he’s talking to Jay, Curtis, AZ, or Mega. Am I reaching here? Well, peep the lyrics and audio below and decide for yourself.


Nas & Damian Marley – Friends [mp3]

Only talking with winners
A loser or two got my number still
They think they real
But they’re just really awfully bitter
Salty niggas hate the smarter ones
These are the doubters who’s sour about my run
I barely made it out the slums

My value’s high ’cause I do more than rap about a gun
I made money for niggas
Y’all never looking out for none
I helped millionaires get to that very position
Some real millionaires
See that’s ill cause look at the statistics
Real millionaires
And I ain’t talking ghetto riches
Thorough business
You mistreating niggas
Heard your folks bleed in prison
You ain’t a G and if you was I don’t recall
Who would roll with y’all
A bunch of fucking know-it-alls whose dough is small

Look what it’s come to
Our rapport is good no more
We was good before
Till I saw what type of dude you took me for
We had a chance to take paper down
What I took was moral
Because of hatred, opportunity’s wasted

Rizoh

Rizoh is the most powerful man in all the lands. He lives in Houston where he earned a BS in Nerf Herding. He's the founder of The Rap Up, the editor of Roc4Life.com, and is in the Grammy-awaiting band Pervertable Disciples.

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  • http://rockthedub.com khal

    sounds like he going at Jay. the lines about being “letting niggas bleed in jail” sounds like some remark on the Sigel situation.

  • http://rockthedub.com khal

    sounds like he going at Jay. the lines about being “letting niggas bleed in jail” sounds like some remark on the Sigel situation.

  • http://www.twitter.com/soulb esbee

    Don’t see the Jay dis AT ALL. A major reach imo.

    1. Jay has WAY more money than Nas right now so that makes no sense taking Jay to task or saying Nas made Jay money esp. now that Jay is no longer on Def Jam.

    2. The jail bar doesn’t hold water. Siegel got in jail on his own demerits.

    3. Why would Jay be bitter? Lol. I’m not one to joke about serious life situations but this album was recorded during his divorce fiasco, we all saw how that turned out? If this was 2002 maybe you could “try” to make it stick. keyword = try.

    This song would be more apt to suit mega most of all. I don’t even see the AZ reference except in the part abt “we could’ve made money” but then again AZ has ALWAYS (even till now) wanted to make money with Nas. Nas on the other hand hasn’t reached out..

  • http://www.twitter.com/soulb esbee

    Don’t see the Jay dis AT ALL. A major reach imo.

    1. Jay has WAY more money than Nas right now so that makes no sense taking Jay to task or saying Nas made Jay money esp. now that Jay is no longer on Def Jam.

    2. The jail bar doesn’t hold water. Siegel got in jail on his own demerits.

    3. Why would Jay be bitter? Lol. I’m not one to joke about serious life situations but this album was recorded during his divorce fiasco, we all saw how that turned out? If this was 2002 maybe you could “try” to make it stick. keyword = try.

    This song would be more apt to suit mega most of all. I don’t even see the AZ reference except in the part abt “we could’ve made money” but then again AZ has ALWAYS (even till now) wanted to make money with Nas. Nas on the other hand hasn’t reached out..

  • http://thomasthoughts.com thomas

    I hate to say it… but I think that’s about Cormega. I’m a big supporter of Nas & Cormega both, but I’ve been reading shit has not been right between them. Another chapter in the story of two brothers

  • http://thomasthoughts.com thomas

    I hate to say it… but I think that’s about Cormega. I’m a big supporter of Nas & Cormega both, but I’ve been reading shit has not been right between them. Another chapter in the story of two brothers

  • IT’S COOL FOR WHITE BOYS TO RA

    If Nas is going at AZ, he has no fucking business doing so. Whereas Nas fell the FUCK off years ago, AZ is still dope as a mother fucker.

  • IT’S COOL FOR WHITE BOYS TO RAP NOW

    If Nas is going at AZ, he has no fucking business doing so. Whereas Nas fell the FUCK off years ago, AZ is still dope as a mother fucker.

  • maggie

    Welcome to —–M-i-x-e-d-P-a-s-s-i-o-n-c–o-m—–
    All singles there are seeking interracial relationships. Interracial is not a problem there, but a great merit to cherish!

  • maggie

    Welcome to —–M-i-x-e-d-P-a-s-s-i-o-n-c–o-m—–
    All singles there are seeking interracial relationships. Interracial is not a problem there, but a great merit to cherish!

  • Smooth Da Hustler

    That’s why not saying a name in a diss is gay. If i was a rapper and someone dissed me without saying my name, I would never respond.

  • Smooth Da Hustler

    That’s why not saying a name in a diss is gay. If i was a rapper and someone dissed me without saying my name, I would never respond.

  • juxtapose

    I don’t take this as a Jay-Z diss at all. It seems like a big blanket statement, encompassing all of the BS he’s seen people do to their friends.

    If he’s really drawing from his own experience, I would say he’s talking about Cormega. After all, no one ever really thought Jay-Z and Nas were friends, even when things were kosher.

  • juxtapose

    I don’t take this as a Jay-Z diss at all. It seems like a big blanket statement, encompassing all of the BS he’s seen people do to their friends.

    If he’s really drawing from his own experience, I would say he’s talking about Cormega. After all, no one ever really thought Jay-Z and Nas were friends, even when things were kosher.

  • http://www.themathhattan@gmail.com eunum

    Sounds like mega.So body said he had money then the persom his talking didnt hear it .

  • http://www.cheap-beats.com Cheap Beats

    I think this track is about the situation generally, not to any particular rapper. If it was different, Nas would just mention a name.
    Still, a great track.

  • http://www.cheap-beats.com Cheap Beats

    I think this track is about the situation generally, not to any particular rapper. If it was different, Nas would just mention a name.
    Still, a great track.

  • http://www.alkalireaction.com Anonymous

    I’d agree with Cheap Beats, I think he is getting at the game… I had rewind it back a few times, however I think his second verse ties it all together.

  • http://www.alkalireaction.com Anonymous

    I’d agree with Cheap Beats, I think he is getting at the game… I had rewind it back a few times, however I think his second verse ties it all together.

  • whhaaaa???

    lol at ITS COOL FOR WHITE BOYS TO RAP NOW.

    congratulations, you’re the only person in the world who thinks that.

  • whhaaaa???

    lol at ITS COOL FOR WHITE BOYS TO RAP NOW.

    congratulations, you’re the only person in the world who thinks that.

  • naws

    no man its a diss to puff.

  • naws

    no man its a diss to puff.

  • http://therapup.net Baby Pa

    @Smooth Da Hustler, If that’s how you feel then you don’t know about the art of Hip-Hop. I think NaS is reflecting a bit about a lot of people situation in these verses. People we know(Jigga) and personal friends(Mega).

  • http://therapup.net Baby Pa

    @Smooth Da Hustler, If that’s how you feel then you don’t know about the art of Hip-Hop. I think NaS is reflecting a bit about a lot of people situation in these verses. People we know(Jigga) and personal friends(Mega).

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  • damon

    mobb deep

  • damon

    mobb deep