JAY-Z and Nas are set to see a previously unreleased collaboration land on streaming platform thanks to NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal.
Over 20 years ago, an unmastered track called “No Love Lost” which featured the two rap legends, as well as Shaq and Lord Tariq, floated around the internet but fans were unsure if the collaboration was real given the heated feud between Hov and Nas at the time.
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Now, fans will be able to listen to the actual song, which was Nas and JAY-Z’s first-ever collaboration, when Shaq’s third album You Can’t Stop the Reign is released on streaming platforms for the first time this Friday (June 28).
A version of the track did appear on the original album but did not feature Nas. At one point, the song was also supposed to feature The Notorious B.I.G.
Shaq’s third album ‘You Can’t Stop The Reign’ FINALLY comes to DSPs this Friday, June 28th…
And for the first time ever, the previously unreleased original version of “No Love Lost” featuring both Nas & Jay-Z will be included (their first-ever collab) 🌧️🌧️🌧️ pic.twitter.com/hPncEqP7uR
— Andrew Barber (@fakeshoredrive) June 26, 2024
Shaq talked about the song not turning out as intended during his appearance on Drink Champs in 2022.
“People didn’t clear it, but I didn’t take it personal,” he said. “Me being in the studio with Nas, I’m happy. I get to call my boy and say, ‘Come over, Nas here.’ I get to call my boy and say, ‘Jay in here.’ I get to call my boys and say, ‘Yo, Biggie at the house, he ’bout to jump in the seat.’ That’s what it’s all about.”
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He added: “And not to disrespect you guys, it wasn’t enough money in that for me. I went platinum, right? And they showed me the check, and I was like, ‘This some bullshit.’”
The former NBA MVP also opened up about spending time in the studio with Biggie shortly before the rapper was murdered.
“He’s like, ‘Ok big dog, that’s tight, that’s tight.’ And then I said, ‘Ok, he likes it.’ I’m going to let him and Lil Cease do their thing,” he recalled during the same interview.
“I said, ‘Here you go Big, here’s the pad and pen. Hit this button right here, I’m going to be in the house.’ And he’s like, ‘No, I’m ready now.’ And I said, ‘What you mean ready right now?’ And he starts smiling, and he went in there, and he killed it.”
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Shaq continued: “And the first verse, I’m the only one that got it, and I’ll never play it. He went off, and I damn near had a tear in my eye ’cause I had to press that button and I’m like, ‘Umm Big.’
“And he’s like, ‘Yeah, yeah, for the kids, for the kids. My bad, Diesel.’ And then he did the verse in the song. I got it, but I’m not going to play it.”
