Nas has praised newcomers Drake, Jay Electronica and Nicki Minaj.
The veteran rapper has claimed that artists such as Drake, Minaj and Jay Electronica are the new wave of emcees who will lead the genre in years to come.
The 36-year-old said: "We love them, all of them. Jay Electronica, J Cole, Drake, Nicki Minaj, everybody. We love them. They're extended family right there.
"I think J Cole is fire. I think Drake is fire too. Those are the next ones up, we just have to see, have to see what they do, get to the plate and hold that bat up and knock it out the park."
In February, Drake that he studied Nas to prepare for his debut album Thank Me Later.
