Now this is the fun part about being a hip-hop head: figuring out who is insulting who indirectly.  Nas has been known to diss people without mentioning a name for years.  So let’s look at some examples…

“There’s one life, one love, so there can only be one king” - The Message

This line is a dig at Biggie, who at the time was widely considered king of New York.  Nas only admitted it was aimed at Biggie years later.  2Pac originally thought the song was a diss towards him and recorded a response.  Nas clarified that it wasn’t about 2Pac and they squashed their beef, but Pac passed before the recorded lines could be removed.

“It used to be fun, makin records to see your response/But, now competition is none, now that you’re gone/And these n****s is wrong, using your name in vain/And they claim to be New York’s king?/It ain’t about that” - We Will Survive

Before they had their infamous beef, Nas took to baiting Jay-Z with subliminal disses such as this one.  Nas claimed Jay wasn’t on the same level as him and Biggie.

“My assignment since he said retirement/hiding behind 8 Mile and The Chronic/Gets rich but dies rhymin’/This is high science” - Queens Get the Money

This not so subtle diss is directed at 50 Cent.  I hope with all the recent baiting 50 Cent has done that Jay-Z and Nas will link up and just tear him apart.  If that does ever happen, good riddance.