UPDATE: THE POLL IS CLOSED.

After an unfortunate event where certain people attempted to skew the results the first time, we are conducting a rematch between Nas and Tupac. With now only 5 MCs remaining, Round 6 is well under-way in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). This match up will lead the competition to its Final 4. Since the elimination, bracket-style tournament was launched in September of 2014, including more than 200 overall MCs, there have been five completed rounds, featuring contenders from all eras of Hip-Hop, including Wild Card series (with optional write-in’s). The 5 remaining MCs have been undefeated, and have been ranked according to their average margins of victory over the past rounds. The MC with the greatest average margin of victory is seeded at #1, the one with the narrowest average margin of victory is seeded at #6 (The Notorious B.I.G, who was defeated by #5 Tupac), and so on. The temperature’s rising, and the debates are getting hot.

Last week, Tupac Shakur defeated The Notorious B.I.G. 56% to 44%. Pac bested his real-life friend-turned-foe in a match-up that had dynamic results, and no shortage of lead-changes. Moving from one poetic storyline to another, ‘Pac now faces #4 seed Nas. Nearly 19 years removed from Shakur’s murder, these men also had a complicated real-life relationship, with diss records and run-ins. As legend has it, the beef was squashed in Central Park, New York City, just days before Tupac would be gunned down in Las Vegas. Notably, Nas has moved from the target of some of ‘Pac’s vitriolic lyrics, to one of the purveyors of the Shakur’s legacy. In life, these two thug poets did not record together. In death, their words have been combined for explosive impact, and great awakening to the dynamic talents of each. On paper, both artists are beautiful contradictions, making deeply personal reflections about their lives and times, sometimes producing violent glorification, and other times, guiding the innocent through the treachery. Each MC has revered albums, timeless hit songs, and tremendous range in their extensive catalogs. That makes this #5 vs. #4 match-up all the more complicated, as it will undoubtedly have Heads running to their music libraries, wracking their brains. Polls close at 5pm EST on 5/14. (CLICK ONE THEN CLICK VOTE)

Nas

(Fifth Round Winner, Against KRS-One 62% to 38%)
(Fourth Round Winner, Against Black Thought 75% to 25%)
(Third Round Winner, Against Ghostface Killah 77% to 23%)
(Second Round Winner, Against Big L 79% to 21%)
(First Round Bye)

From the first time his voice hit wax, Nas proved to be one of the most exciting, versatile, and skillful MCs of all time. Mentored by Large Professor and Kool G Rap, Nasty Nas possesses a rawness in his delivery, imagery, and approach to songwriting. In the earliest days of his career, the Queens, New Yorker ripped mics rapping about exploiting immigrants, brandishing guns at nuns, and tucking machine guns into his Army fatigues. Later in his career, Nas had insightful commentary about raising a young woman, unifying music with its pan-African origins, and properly honoring Coretta Scott King. In between those poles, Nasir Jones has been authentic, precise, and righteous no matter his message. The raspy-voiced MC bridged the gap between the ’80s and the 2000s as well as anybody, making him such a championed favorite.

In more than 11 albums, Nas has proven to be one of Hip-Hop’s most consistent-yet-evolutionary artists. Content-wise, Life Is Good has little in common with Illmatic, which plays to Nas’ ability to grow, and differentiate his works. However, the level of rapping, wordplay, and the dynamic lens to the world has always been steadfast. He takes risks, like 2008’s Untitled album (intended to be called “Nigger”), recording posthumous collaborations with nemesis 2Pac, and making a joint LP with Dancehall sensation Damian Marley. Along the way, Nas’ catalog is decorated with five #1s, and a hallway of gold, platinum, and multimillion selling LPs. Nas’ singles have never had the same magnitude of success, making the longtime Columbia/Sony Records artist feel like an underdog, “surviving the times” in the mainstream. Although he was once “too scared to grab the mics in the park,” Nas has risen into one of Hip-Hop’s leading GOAT contenders, touching the hearts, minds, and sound-systems everywhere.