Ouch. This Source interview is probably the most telling of the crumbled Nas/Murder Inc. partnership, and offers a ton of insight into what was happening between these camps at the time. This interview exists only in print and on one single remaining Murder Inc. fan site, which thankfully transcribed it for us to revel in 15 years later.Chilling with P. Diddy and discussing the missed opportunity, Ja two-wayed Jay to ask, "Why the backpack nlggas and not me, your nigga?" Ja found Hova's answer to be disturbing. "[Jay-Z] said, 'I'ma tell you this one time, 'cause I feel I fucked up, but don't ever ask me my personal business again,"' Ja recounts in amazement.
It's now part of hip-hop lore. A dream team that never happened. A strange moment in time that, if executed, could've changed the course of hip-hop forever. Recently, during a great and in-depth Rap Radar interview with Bdot and Elliott Wilson, Irv disclosed some additional info on why the Nas/Murder Inc. deal fizzled. Which basically boils down to Nas thinking they were crazy. Gotti was ready to die over it, and Nas wasn't. Makes sense to me.Andrew Barber runs Fake Shore Drive, Chicago's premium source for hip-hop. Follow him on Twitter.I don't want this to come across like any Nas hate. That's my brother, I got love for him. But I'ma say this: He cried out when he did that thing with Hot 97. He cried out for help and for people to support him. He cried out for being a part of a family. He cried out for it openly, like, "Yeah, Yo—Murder Inc. This is as big as 'Pac joining Tha Row!" All the conversations we had. And then he just… I don't know. I don't know what happened. I don't know. He just disappeared. We did "The Pledge" joint, and that was it. He just disappeared. It was almost like he got what he got from it, and then just disappeared. He's a strange guy, but I guess he's happy with who he is.