Interesting comments from hip-hop legend Nas about Ye, better known as Kanye West, from a 2020 interview about their 2018 collaborative album NASIR have resurfaced.
During a 2020 interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, the Queensbridge icon reflected on Ye’s intense Wyoming recording sessions, where several albums were being completed simultaneously.
“This man is cranking out all of these albums,” Nas said. “And they’re going to come out every Friday.”
When Nas and Ye announced their 2018 collaboration album NASIR, hip-hop fans expected a landmark release. Ye’s soulful production style and Nas’ elite storytelling appeared destined to create a modern rap classic.
Instead, the seven-track project received a mixed response.
Many listeners praised moments throughout the album. Still, critics questioned its lack of cohesion, emotional depth, and creative chemistry. Years later, Nas revealed the rushed process behind NASIR may have shaped the final result more than fans realized.
At the time, Ye oversaw projects for multiple artists while also finalizing his own album. According to Nas, that workload left little time for the pair to fully develop NASIR together.
Hip-Hop Legend Nas Recalls Disappointment In His 2018 Collab Album With Ye (Kanye West), NASIR
“So I kind of had to wait till the last week before the album dropped,” Nas explained. “To really have him in the room.”
Nas said the compressed timeline forced the album together at the last minute. Even so, he spoke positively about the experience and credited Ye for bringing him to Wyoming during the sessions.
“I never been to Wyoming,” Nas said. “I thank him for bringing me out there.”
The rap legend never blamed Ye directly for the album’s lukewarm reception. Instead, he suggested timing and scheduling created obstacles neither artist could fully overcome.
“I don’t know what went wrong,” Nas admitted. “I did want to work more with [Kanye].”
Nas also revealed he entered the process later than Ye’s other collaborators, leaving limited room to refine songs or build stronger chemistry.
“We really did that album the week it was supposed to come out,” he said.
Despite the criticism surrounding NASIR, Nas made clear he still believes the partnership carried enormous creative potential. For many fans, the project remains one of hip-hop’s biggest what-if moments from the late 2010s.
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