Early '90s Tension: Jay-Z's Gun Threat to Nas

The epic rap beef between Nas and Jay-Z simmered for years before escalating, with their initial encounter in the early '90s setting a tense precedent. According to Large Professor, a mentor to Nas, a young Jay-Z brandished a firearm on a tour bus.

Jay-Z later alluded to this event on his track "Takeover," referencing showing Nas his first TEC on tour with Large Professor. Large Professor confirmed the incident, stating Jay-Z pulled out a gun during a tense situation. At this time, both artists were on the periphery of the rap scene, though Nas was already a highly anticipated prospect.

By 1993, Nas was New York's most hyped rapper, with a bootleg of his debut album, "Illmatic," circulating. Released on April 19, 1994, "Illmatic" established Nas as a groundbreaking MC, presenting him as a poet of the streets with unparalleled linguistic skill.