while i don't think nas would be the clear-cut winner, i think he would win none-the-less. here are some of my reasons for my decision and some responses to things said previously on this thread.
reasons:
nas still rips it. granted, a lot of his stuff is weak now, but whenever he gets a real beat, he's *still* amazing. just listen to the tracks on his new disc that are produced by premiere and large professor. he is unquestionably one of the most talented lyricists to ever live. it should be no disrespect to black thought that i give nas the edge, it's just that i feel only a handful of lyricists have the skills to *possibly* give it to nas (big l(rip), rakim, krs-one, mos def).
responses:
"think common vs ice cube"... i wish this was the case, but i don't think ice cube has shit on nas lyrically.
"black thought is more consistent"... yeah, maybe he is, but we're talking about one track where the pressure is on nas. also, while black thought has consistency on his side, i don't think he's ever blessed a track like nas when he's motivated.
i think a lot of people on here are saying black thought is because they want him to win. i do too, but i don't think he would be. i totally agree what black thought and the roots stand for, and it bothers me that nasty nas is now nas escobar, but does this really matter? don't sleep on nas just because he's about what i'm guessing most of us on this message board are not... i'll end this with a fitting quote: "a dope mc, is a dope mc" -krs one.