Director of Britain's Royal Shakespeare Company Says Jay-Z, Nas, and Eminem Are The Inheritors of Shakespeare

The Royal Shakespeare Company director appreciates what the rappers are doing.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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When Micheal Boyd, the director of Britain's Royal Shakespeare Company, visited Charlie Rose last night, the two had an in-depth conversation revolving around William Shakespeare and the influence that his work still has today. Rose asked who the inheritors of Shakespeare are, and Boyd answered:

"I think contemporary filmmakers, I think contemporary rappers, in terms of verse—someone like Jay-Z, or Nas, or Eminem. They inherit one part of it: that extraordinary, quick-fire, highly organized, very sharp, very witty, metrical rhyming language. Brilliant."

Watch the full, hour-long interview here.

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