So many people pump the brakes and stutter step when asked for a list like a top 10 albums list, understandably so. When you have the kind of influence Nas does, you don’t want to leave anyone out. But I really respect that Nas didn’t hesitate at all. He just Steph Curry-style pulled up from 40 and took his shot.

• Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

• Erik B & Rakim Paid in Full

• KRS-One Criminal Minded

• LL Cool J Bad

• Kool G Rap Wanted: Dead or Alive

• Big Daddy Kane Long Live the Kane

• Ice Cube Death Certificate

• Slick Rick The Great Adventures of Slick Rick

• Scarface Mr. Scarface is Back

• A Tribe Called Quest People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

Nas goes on to say that he appreciates what a lot of new artists are doing – including Future, Kendrick, Cole, Drake, Meek Mill, Chance the Rapper, Yo Gotti and his Mass Appeal artists – but it’s great to hear him so unabashedly rep late ’80s and early ’90s hip-hop (and have Ice Cube sneak in there to represent for the west coast). After all, that’s the hip hop that surrounded him and inspired him to be great.