In a new Rolling Stone interview, Nas gave Kendrick Lamar his flowers — and the way he put it might just be one of the best compliments you can give a rapper.

When a legend like Nas speaks, the hip-hop world listens. In his latest Rolling Stone interview, the Queensbridge icon was asked about Kendrick Lamar, and his response couldn’t have been more poetic. “We all as artists love this art form and have our opinions on it,” Nas said. “Kendrick is one of the brightest stars we’ve ever seen — and I don’t only mean superstar, I mean like the North Star. I think he’s one of those.” Coming from one of the genre’s greatest lyricists ever, that’s more than just praise — it’s a coronation.

It’s wild to think that Nas and Kendrick have never actually dropped a track together. You’d assume two of hip-hop’s sharpest pens would’ve collided by now, but maybe they’re waiting for the right moment — or the right message. Either way, the respect is mutual. Kendrick has cited Nas as a huge influence over the years, and Nas just confirmed that the admiration goes both ways.

Now, if Kendrick is Nas, that naturally begs the question — who’s Jay-Z in this modern parallel? The easy answer: Drake. It makes perfect sense. Both Kendrick and Drake dominate the game in totally different ways, just like Nas and Jay did in their primes. The comparisons might be playful, but the legacies are just as profound.

At this point, the only thing missing is that long-overdue Nas x Kendrick collaboration. When (not if) that happens, it’ll be one for the history books. Until then, we’ll take Nas calling Kendrick “The North Star” as a sign the universe might already be aligning.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.