AceShowbiz - Nas doubled down on his support for Kendrick Lamar on Saturday, November 23, emphasizing his respect for Lamar's artistry. "Always inspired by my brother KL. Keeping the essence of this sh*t alive and at the forefront. Salute King!" Nas wrote.

The commendation came in response to Lamar's reference to Nas on the intro track "wacced out murals" where he raps, "Got the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulate me, all these n****s agitated I'm just glad it's on they faces."

Lamar's lyrics not only honored Nas but also subtly called out fellow rap icon, Lil Wayne. K. Dot rapped about being a fan of Weezy and feeling disheartened when his idol criticized his being selected as a headliner for Super Bowl halftime show. "I used to bump 'Tha Carter 3', I held my Rollie chain proud. Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down...," he rapped.

This evidently stirred Wayne, who took to X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, "Man wtf I do?! I just be chillin & dey still kome 4 my head. Let's not take kindness for weakness. Let this giant sleep. I beg u all. No one really wants destruction, not even me but I shall destroy if disturbed. On me. Love."

The fan reaction to Nas's supportive words has been overwhelmingly positive. "Love seeing an OG show flowers to the next generation, hope it continues with these rappers under 30 that deserve the same love!!!!" remarked one user in the comment section. Another fan applauded Lamar's new project, adding, "I just listened to this album with open ears and this is a really good album and the ppl that's saying it's a** are lying to themselves."

"GNX", Lamar's surprise sixth studio album, dropped on Friday afternoon to considerable acclaim. Featuring his collaborations with heavyweight names like Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Mustard, SZA, and Roddy Ricch, the album cements Lamar's place as a vanguard in contemporary hip-hop.

This public gesture of respect between Nas and Lamar is a refreshing beacon of unity in a genre often punctuated by rivalry. While Lil Wayne's response indicates continued tensions, moments like these, where legends pass the torch with grace and acknowledgement, are vital for the genre's evolution.