JAY-Z and Nas‘ long-shelved “No Love Lost” collaboration has finally received an official release courtesy of Shaquille O’Neal.
The NBA legend, who enjoyed a successful rap career during the height of his basketball-playing days, released his third album You Can’t Stop the Reign on streaming services for the first time on Friday (June 28).
The 19-track project is stacked with an all-star supporting cast that includes the late Notorious B.I.G., Mobb Deep, Rakim, DJ Quik and Bobby Brown.
But the song that many fans will be flocking to first is “No Love Lost,” newly updated and mastered to boast guest verses from JAY-Z, Lord Tariq and Nas.
The Trackmasters-produced joint originally appeared on Shaq’s third LP with features from only the former two. Nas’ cameo was only known to fans through a leak that surfaced in the early 2000s when Hov and Esco were feuding, leading many to believe it was fake.
“No Love Lost” also holds the unique distinction of being the first song that the two rap legends recorded together, although it wouldn’t be long until they would begin taking subliminal shots at each other (such as on Nas’ “The Message,” which also came out in 1996).
Listen to “No Love Lost” below and stream You Can’t Stop the Reign in full here.
As if having JAY-Z and Nas on the song wasn’t enough, “No Love Lost” was also supposed to feature another Hip Hop heavyweight: Biggie.
Shaq shared this revelation during his appearance on Drink Champs in 2022, chalking up the failed collaboration to sample clearance and publishing issues.
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“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.”
The four-time NBA champion 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.’”
