1Xtra's DJ Semtex caught up with the legendary Jay-Z and Nas during their visit to the UK.

Find out what two of hip hop's most revered MCs had to say about joining forces and the direction of the culture.

JAY-Z INTERVIEW
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Semtex: What do you need to get to your position?

Jay-Z: God-given ability and talent, as far as being an artist. It takes drive. I didn't get signed to a major label when I started out. I could've very easily quit right there.

You need luck and a work ethic. I work hard to enjoy the spoils of my life.

Sem: Is hip hop dead?

Jay: Hip hop is lacking creativity. That's why I think people say it's dead. Before everyone was different, everyone was hot at one time.

Tribe was hot, Ice Cube was hot, Rakim was hot. You know? Different types of music.

Right now it seems everyone follows a formula and that's not hip hop. Hip hop is about saying 'okay, you're doing that, I'm gonna go over here and do this'.

Sem: Are you back in the game for a minute?

Jay: I don't wanna put a limit on it. When you have something and you love it, you wanna do it for as long as you can at a high level.

If I don't think the album I make is great - not good but great - I don't have no reason to put it out.

NAS INTERVIEW
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Semtex: What made you work with Jay-Z?

Nas: It was inevitable. After the storm it got calm. There was a great deal of respect between each other musically and it seemed like the perfect time to take this leadership role.

Sem: Men don't wanna admit they're wrong (laughs) so what made you squash your beef?

Nas: Jay and myself aren't rappers who need diss records to make us who we are, like so many other rappers who have to talk about people. That's how they got in the business, that's how they're gonna go out the business.

We didn't have to battle - so when it happened, if we weren't gonna kill each other right there and then (laughs), after it was over it was completely over. We weren't friends after it, no, but I was good, he was good.

At this point of the game what is there left to do? We won't know what's left to do until we show there world where to go.

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