21 Savage called Nas irrelevant last month, causing quite a stir among the hip-hop community and its fans.
However, it appears that the two have buried the hatchet and have decided to move on from the past to demonstrate “love, respect, and unity” through their surprise collaboration song, “One Mic, One Gun.”
According to reports, the song is about the rappers’ successful careers and legacy and the aforementioned themes.
Nas raps:
“No back and forth, I did it back then, I do it right now/I opened a lane for my era, I’m goated, they gavе me the crown/G.O.A.T. with all the succеss, the negative press, I’m watchin’ it pile.”
21 Savage on the other hand addressed his controversial statement by rapping:
“When you turn to legend, no such thing as relevance.”
The powerful collaboration follows 21 Savage’s remarks about Nas following the release of his joint album with Hit-Boy, “King’s Disease III.”
During a Clubhouse interview, he questioned Nas’ relevance and claimed that the rapper did not have “ride-or-die” fans dating back to his 1994 debut, according to TMZ.
“I don’t feel like he’s relevant. I just feel like he got fans. … He’s not relevant. He just has a loyal-ass fan base, and he still make good-a** music.”
Fellow rappers were outraged by 21 Savage’s claims and addressed the situation. One of them was Nas’ frequent collaborator Hit-Boy.
Hit-Boy said:
“How do you look at a Black Hip-Hop artist, legendary guy, who just won his first Grammy a couple years ago, right…just put out four critically-acclaimed albums.”
Fivio Foreign also supported Nas, saying:
“That n***a Nas did too much…to be disrespected like that. That’s the goat where I’m from. And I was just on his album, he just got a Grammy for the album I just was on.”
Despite the “disrespect,” the pair appears to have talked it out and come to an agreement.
Nas also took to Instagram to clear up the truce, if it was not obvious yet:
“Only way we moving is with love, respect, and unity. The foundational principles of hip hop. Excited to collaborate with my young brother and I hope more artists use turbulent moments and turn them into a time to make new art. That’s what it’s about.”