To be fair, Jay-Z takes it further than just paying homage. When you've got videos like that, 6 minutes long, and he's taking discreet 4's and 8's he's not taking well known phrases or one liners he's lifting actual bars, then it's past paying homage to be honest.
Ether was better. The idea of a diss is to humiliate the opponent surely?
[AUDIO] Jay-Z Crying On Hot97 After Hearing Ether!! Nas WON - YouTube
"Wow, like... wow"
"It's, it's far man"
Jay-Z was f
ucking upset. Nas won, he had him on radio stuttering and crying about it.