Credit: Mikamote

To be accused of employing a ghostwriter as a rapper is a big deal. Hip-hop fans want their favourite artists to be original, so the idea that somebody else writes their words for them does not at all sit comfortably.

It feels like a betrayal somehow, like the audience has been tricked. This isn’t necessarily a fair way to view the situation, but it’s definitely a common one. So when rumours started to spread that one of rap’s ostensible greatest wordsmiths had secretly used writers, fans were devastated—angry, even.

Back in 2012, a post appeared on a website called Rappers I Know claiming that Nas, widely seen as one of history’s greatest rappers, used ghostwriters on no less than six of the songs on his Untitled album from 2008. The post’s author, Frank William Miller Junior, was responding to a tweet by hip-hop writer Dream Hampton claiming that Nas’ record “was largely written by stic of Dead Prez and Jay Electronica.” Miller’s blog post added fuel to the fire by claiming that he’d had a phone call with Jay Electronica himself, in which he informed Miller that the album’s opening track ‘Queens Get the Money,’ which Electronica produced, had been ghost-written by him, too.

Nas was soon forced to address the claims, speaking about them on radio host Big Boy’s show. “You know who my ghostwriters are?” Nas said on air. “My friends, people I meet on the street. Things I read… Somebody will say something that sparks something in me.”

Later stic.man, too, addressed the claims on his Facebook page. “As far as the rumors about myself and Jay Electronica ghostwriting for Nas, let me say this: Nas is one of, if not the most prolific original lyricists to EVER do it,” he posted. “My contributions to his album were a collaboration and an honour, and under his direction of what he wanted to convey and say. Haters can’t discredit that man’s genius. Nas is the Don.”

Electronica then tweeted, “Nas is one of the Greatest Ever. Never has and never will need a ghostwriter. That man’s pen and legacy is without question.”

The suggestion from all involved seemed to be that, as part of collaborating together, ideas were exchanged, but that did not constitute ghostwriting. But still, the rumours never really left Nas, and, in 2022, they resurfaced again. This time the furore was started after Quentin Miller appeared on the New Rory & MAL podcast, where he spoke about ghostwriting for Drake—and several others. “I’ve done worked with Nas,” he claimed. “Big Sean, G-Eazy… Jeremih, Ty Dolla $ign, a bunch of other people.” 

That sent the rap-focused side of the internet into meltdown, so Miller, who has a songwriting credit on Nas’ track ‘The Pressure,’ was soon forced to clarify what he’d meant. His explanation was similar to what stic.man had said—he had been present for an exchange of ideas with Nas. “I’m in the room, I bounce some ideas out, there we go,” he said. “Clear it up. I just bounced some ideas, a couple ideas win. That’s it, that’s all that happened with the Nas shit.”

It seems likely that Nas didn’t formally employ “ghostwriters,” but that, rather, he was inspired by the people he worked alongside. He may even have used some lyrics that these people came up with, but that is hardly the same thing as using a ghostwriter. It’s how collaboration works, and, if the people involved are happy that this is what happened, we should probably take them at their word. Nas remains one of the best.