J. Cole is giving longtime music executive Mark Pitts his flowers for playing a major role in ending one of hip-hop's most legendary feuds between Jay-Z and Nas.
During a conversation with GQ's Frazier Tharpe at chef Kwame Onwuachi's Maroon restaurant in Las Vegas, Cole and Pitts reflected on their longstanding relationship and the executive's involvement in bringing the two New York rap legends together.
Pitts, who has worked with artists including The Notorious B.I.G., Usher, and Chris Brown, said his reputation for trustworthiness helped him accomplish what others had previously struggled to pull off.
The former RCA Records president recalled being told that Jay-Z and Nas were willing to hear him out because they understood his intentions.
Cole, who credited Pitts with helping him land his deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation, praised his mentor for being the person who finally got both rappers to put their differences aside following a vicious early-aughts battle.
"Mark was the unsung hero like behind doing that. This man brought them together," Cole said.
The Dreamville rapper explained that both artists needed someone they could trust to make sure neither side took advantage of the situation.
Pitts admitted he was nervous about approaching Jay-Z with the idea of reconciliation.
"Oh, I was scared to death," Pitts said.
According to Pitts, he had rehearsed what he wanted to tell Jay-Z, but the Roc Nation founder immediately understood what he was proposing.
When the meeting finally happened, Pitts accompanied Nas to Jay-Z's Baseline Studios in New York City.
He recalled feeling increasingly anxious as they made their way upstairs, unsure how the reunion would unfold.
However, the tension quickly disappeared once the two rappers began talking.
Pitts said Jay-Z and Nas discussed their past disagreements, even bringing up specific lyrics they had exchanged during their feud.
"‘You said this. That was hard.’ ‘You said this. That hurt,’" Pitts recalled hearing.
Once the rap titans addressed their differences, Pitts recalled that Jay-Z began discussing potential collaborations and future projects.
"He had the plan already," Pitts said. "So I was the vessel, ‘cause the plan was already there."
The reconciliation eventually led to the rappers publicly reuniting onstage in 2005 and collaborating on records including "Black Republican."
Cole expressed amazement that Pitts had kept such an important piece of hip-hop history largely to himself for two decades. He noted that despite helping orchestrate the reunion, Pitts never sought public recognition for his involvement.
