Nas drops surprising shoutouts in new De La Soul snippet

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2025 is a standout year for hip-hop, and Nas continues to solidify his legacy as a highly respected rapper. While fans are still enjoying his classic collaborations, he recently surprised everyone with unexpected appearances on the new album by De La Soul.

When an iconic artist like Nas releases new music, everyone in the rap community takes notice, and this verse is already prompting discussions about where the genre is headed.

This moment is a great example of how hip-hop grows and changes while still respecting its roots and the artists who innovate. When a respected, established rapper uses their verse to support up-and-coming artists, it demonstrates a strong link between generations in rap. It also shows how committed Nas is to preserving and strengthening the art form.

This article explains the meaning behind Nas’ recent lyrics, discusses why his mentions of specific artists are significant, and explores how Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, and SZA are influencing modern hip-hop. For serious rap fans, this verse is definitely noteworthy.

Nas surprises fans with shoutouts to Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, and SZA

Nas makes a guest appearance on the eleventh song of De La Soul’s latest album, Run It Back!, and immediately stands out by giving shout-outs to some surprising artists. HipHopNMore, which got an early preview, reports that the acclaimed rapper from Queens shows love to three currently popular musicians in his verse.

““Since the 80s, 90s, and 00s? How sick it was, how did it slip? / Now it’s just Doechii, Dot, and SZA with the most powerful hits / Leon Thomas, Shaboozey… only Black artists on top of the charts.””Nas

For dedicated hip-hop and rap fans, Nas mentioning an artist is a big deal. He doesn’t offer praise lightly, so a shout-out from him shows genuine respect. Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, and SZA have each made a unique mark on music, and having a rap legend acknowledge them further solidifies their influence.

As a huge fan of both artists, I’ve always seen the connection between Kendrick Lamar and Nas. It’s there in Kendrick’s incredible storytelling and how detailed his lyrics are. When he dropped “Man at the Garden,” it really felt like a new take on Nas’s iconic “One Mic.” Even now, in 2025, the mutual respect they have for each other continues to shape what’s happening in hip-hop, which is amazing to see.

Doechii is enjoying a remarkable year, becoming only the third female rapper to win Best Rap Album. Her hit song “Anxiety” propelled her to success, and being recognized by a legend like Nas highlights her growing impact on the music scene.

SZA continues to be a leading artist in today’s R&B and hip-hop scenes. She and Kendrick Lamar finished the European part of their hugely successful Grand National Tour in August, quickly becoming one of the most popular musical pairings of the year.

Nas continues to push hip-hop culture forward

Nas’s verse feels current and really captures what’s happening in rap today. The three artists he mentioned are all leaders in shaping the sound of 2025, and he’s intentionally highlighting them as the future of the genre.

Man, listening to Nas’ new verse, it’s so clear he still gets hip-hop at its core, but he’s also totally aware of what the younger artists are doing. As a fan, it just reinforces what I already knew – Nas is still one of the most important voices in the game, constantly pushing things forward.

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2025-11-24 16:00