Nas Co-Signs J. Cole & Drake, "[They're] The Next Ones Up, We Just Have To See What They Do" [Video]

Rap veteran Nas has given props to rap newcomers Drake and J. Cole.

Nas also pointed out other emcees that have caught his attention.

"We love them, all of them," Nas said referring to rap newcomers. "Jay Electronica, J. Cole, Drake, Nicki Minaj, everybody. We love them. They're extended family right there. I think J. Cole is fire. I think Drake is fire too. Those are the next ones up, we just have to see have to see what they do, get to the plate and hold that bat up and knock it out the park."
Coincidentally, Drake recently pointed out Cole's Nas characteristics.

"I'm at the starting line," Drake said in an interview. "Those guys are at home, putting on their tracksuits, getting ready to make their attack. When J. Cole gets it super-right, I think he's gonna have a place as a Nas-type character who really stands for hip-hop, but still makes ill records that everybody f*cks with."
However, Cole later turned down the Nas compliment.

"Comparisons are natural," Cole said in an interview. "But in this particular instance, and no disrespect to [Drake's] opinion, because that's how he feels, but I feel like it's too early. You can't call things like that, that early. You can't say I'm Nas because, look, Nas was in the game for 16 years. What if I'm not here next year? What if you're not here next year? I don't think you can say stuff like that this early, but I understand what people are saying. At his status right now, he's the most talked-about guy in the game. The Nas comparison is like, 'He gets a little bit beyond the surface,' but I feel like when it comes to those comparisons, it's way to early. And you never know, 10 years from now, I could be Jay."
Earlier this year, Cole said he was influenced by artists like Nas and the late Tupac Shakur.

"The more lyrical rappers. I gravitate toward the classic and more lyrical rappers," he explaind in an interview. "Sometimes when I'm in the studio we spend an hour on YouTube watching old rap and freestyle. For a while there it was really lyrical and witty and was always personalized. I'm drawn toward storytellers like Nas and Tupac. I'm realizing my own work in this day is generally not something that is out there. There is a lot of talent, but they just aren't putting out what I am. The whole game is exciting but nobody in a long time has come out with the skills for lyrical writing that I am coming out with."
Check out Nas speaking on rap newcomers below: