Even though this debate is hella old, I'll drop my change also.
What made the disses both valid, is that both songs accomplished their mission: tore into the other's ego.
Jay: Dude tore into dude with the facts. No need for jokes. And he spoke on everything everyone else shied away from stating.
Nas: He would've taken a L if he decided to defend his albums. They did suck. So he went on Jay's weakness: the truth of his past. Jay put his soul into his albums. Nas, to me, was a reporter---seemed to keep his business out of his music. So, playing dude on what he already admitting was a win. I think teasing was his card even though his lyrics were forced. Aside from the rhyme scheme and chorus, those were his worst lyrics (one of them--he got garbage also).
What made the disses both valid, is that both songs accomplished their mission: tore into the other's ego.
Jay: Dude tore into dude with the facts. No need for jokes. And he spoke on everything everyone else shied away from stating.
Nas: He would've taken a L if he decided to defend his albums. They did suck. So he went on Jay's weakness: the truth of his past. Jay put his soul into his albums. Nas, to me, was a reporter---seemed to keep his business out of his music. So, playing dude on what he already admitting was a win. I think teasing was his card even though his lyrics were forced. Aside from the rhyme scheme and chorus, those were his worst lyrics (one of them--he got garbage also).