Defsounds

I’ll do my best to explain this as clearly as possible. I’ve been stewing on this for quite some time now, observing, and asking questions everywhere I go, and to various people I meet, and I have come to a semi conclusion on my original hypothesis. The theory is as follows:

Jay-Z fans and Nas fans follow two primarily different paths in life, one hungering for the limelight and riches, while one takes a more conservative, non materialistic approach to living. Simply saying, does the average Jay-Z fan desire a little more out of life than the average Nas fan? Before you start your rants, hear me out, you just may learn something about yourself.

Jay-Z and Nas, by all accounts, are two completely different people. While Jay has been straight-forward since 1996, aiming for the good life, women, business, and wealth, Nas on the other hand has primarily gone the conscious route, not necessarily advocating the finer things, and emphasizing a more conservative, righteous lifestyle. This leads me to believe that their fans coincide with this, and with all of my research this has generally proved to be correct.

Jay-Z fans listen to him because he signifies their goal in life - a wealthy businessman/woman from the ground up. They are motivated by his words, and his persistence, along with his arrogance, and “Fuck you, Pay me” persona. Nas may interest them as an artist, but he is far from someone whose life model they would follow. Most would view the life that the other side lives a failure.

On the flip side of the coin, Nas fans latch onto him because he is, well, everything Jay-Z is not, from a different perspective. The atypical Nas fan nearly opposes most materialism, and usually hungers for the knowledge that he expresses in his music. They are not caught up with trying to be rich and famous, they don’t care about the hot car of the moment, and the like. The simple things in life are the most important to this person, and they feel they have lived a successful life by doing this.

Which leads me to ask - What exactly defines “Success”? Is it a definite, clear-cut institution, or is it in the eye of the beholder? Is it adding massive funds to your bank account, and standing atop the social stratosphere, or is it the man with a great job, a wife, and a healthy family? Meaning, is it the Jay-Z fan, with the hot girl, and the Range Rover, or the Nas fan, in the less expensive vehicle, with the love of his life?

Just to remind you, I do not intend to create some type of Jay-Z Vs Nas debate here, because this has very little to do with them as artists, and more to do with our connection to them. This is also not me calling Nas fans “inferior” and Jay fans “superior”. This is me doing a general sweep of the goals/mindsets of them.

Take a good look at your life, and see where you fall into this theory. There are always exceptions, but if you’re able to be objective, you just might agree with what I’ve said.