During a recent interview with VLAD TV, Freeway revealed what led him to diss Nas while he was involved in a beef with JAY-Z, despite being a long-time admirer.
According to HipHopDX, the State Property rapper shared that he used to draw inspiration from Nas and even included his “If I Rule The World” lyrics in some of his early raps when he was still an up-and-coming artist. However, when tensions rose between the two New York rap giants, Freeway’s loyalty to his crew overpowered his admiration for Nas.
“I love Nas, I gotta just let y’all know that. That was painful for me. Cause when I was a young boul, they used to call me the Philly Nas. I had this song, and I had this hook. They love to hear the story how the thugs live on worry/ Ducking down the car seats, heat is mandatory.’ Like, I LOVE Nas.”
“But like I said, When it come time to ride for the team, I’m riding for the team. At that time, we in the middle of it. And it’s time to show and prove. And I’m letting people know what it is: I’m riding for the team. You got a problem with Big Homie, you got a problem with all of us.”
Following JAY-Z and Nas’ reconciliation and their public support for each other, Freeway took the opportunity to express his feelings to Nas as they left the set of the “Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)” music video. It was then that Freeway discovered that Nas had the same level of appreciation for him as an artist.
“When we got outside, I was like Look Nas, I know I dissed you; but I love your shit, I used to listen to your shit as a young boy. He was like, Free, I love your shit too, I ain’t even gon’ front, I be listening to you too.’ I was happy we had that moment and I got to tell him how I really felt. That was major for me.”
Even after many years have passed since the feud, Freeway still admires Nas just as much. He revealed that he was so thrilled when the Queens-born rapper followed him back on Instagram that he interrupted a recent studio session to celebrate the moment.
