Bas was born in Paris, France, in 1987, to Sudanese parents. At the age of 8, his family moved to New York City. He attended St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, New York.
In 2011, Bas released his debut mixtape titled Quarter Water Raised Vol. 1. In 2013, his second mixtape was released entitled, Quarter Water Raised Vol. 2.
In 2013, Bas was featured on J. Cole's "New York Times" along with 50 Cent from Cole's album Born Sinner, and then on DJ Khaled's "Hells Kitchen" from Suffering from Success. He then appeared on the Dreamville compilation mixtape Revenge of the Dreamers. That mixtape was released in celebration of Dreamville's partnership with Interscope Records, resulting in Bas being signed to Interscope. Two weeks prior to the release of his debut album Last Winter, Bas released a free EP titled Two Weeks Notice.
Last Winter was released on April 29, 2014, by Dreamville Records/Interscope Records. The album was a conceptual project that touches on the cold days in New York City recording the album. The album was supported by the single "My Nigga Just Made Bail" produced by GP808 and featured guest appearances by J. Cole. Last Winter would debut at 103 on the Billboard 200 with 3,601 copies sold in its first week.
Following its release, Bas went on a 10-city nationwide tour titled after the album. Bas followed his own "Last Winter" tour by going on a 24-city nationwide and international tour with TDE rapper Ab-Soul. In 2015, Bas supported J. Cole on the '2014 Forest Hills Drive' Tour alongside Omen, Cozz, Jeremih, YG, and Big Sean.
Bas released his second album, Too High to Riot on March 4, 2016. The album also includes guest appearances from his labelmates J. Cole and Cozz, as well as the Hics. The album would debut at 49 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 10,965 copies in its first week. He also later released a music video for each song on the album. Bas went on tour after the album in June 2016 with Cozz and EarthGang. It included 26 cities in North America and 10 cities in Europe. On January 29, 2017, the documentary highlighting the tour was released on Tidal.
On April 10, 2018, Bas released the one-off single "Pinball II", featuring Correy C. The first single for his third album "Boca Raton" was released on June 19, and featured ASAP Ferg. On August 22, he released the second single "Tribe" featuring J. Cole. Bas released his third album, Milky Way on August 24, 2018. The album debuted at number 35 on the Billboard 200, selling 13,150 album-equivalent units in the first week. Bas announced a 43-city tour to support the album, which began in November 2018 and concluded in February 2019. In late 2018, Bas announced he was working on an album with frequent collaborators, The Hics, the album is due out in late 2021 to early 2022.
Diamonds
Bas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Either way you go about it, I'ma stay me
Livin' out my dreams don't be tryna wake me up
You ain't go for yours, niggas divin' waist deep
Every damn day, dog, my diamonds HD
That's for everyday that I had to think cheap
Now we on the road and the commas go for eons
You ain't go for yours, niggas divin' waist deep
I'ma take leaps, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'ma take leaps, yeah, yeah
I'ma take leaps, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'ma take leaps, yeah, yeah
Shorty tryna give me mine
But I needed more space (I need room)
I was sittin' courtside (shit clear)
I seen her there both days (who you know here?)
Bitch, who the fuck you know here? (You not low)
I never fold or fall for your ways or reasons
I'm so resolves in my ways
I chart a course with thoughts, got no flares or beacons
I hope you saw it my way
Wonder where the day goes?
I been outta line, if love is all you need then
Let me spend my pain
Young nigga make it rain on
Hunnid on the wrist just to make it rain on
Look at all the whips spick and they span
And you feel like you the man
But you cannot rub the stain off
No, you cannot rub the stain off
Nothin' you could do about it, I'ma stay free
Either way you go about it, I'ma stay me
Livin' out my dreams don't be tryna wake me up
You ain't go for yours, niggas divin' waist deep
Every damn day, dog, my diamonds HD
That's for everyday that I had to think cheap
Now we on the road and the commas go for eons
You ain't go for yours, niggas divin' waist deep
But-
I'ma take leaps, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'ma take leaps, yeah, yeah
I'ma take leaps, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I'ma take leaps, yeah, yeah
The lyrics of Bas's song "Diamonds" convey a sense of confidence and determination to stay true to oneself and pursue dreams, despite any obstacles or doubters. The opening lines, "Nothin' you could do about it, I'ma stay free, Either way you go about it, I'ma stay me," assert that the artist will remain authentic and unyielding in the face of external pressures. The metaphor of diamonds represents the artist's success and achievements, shining brightly and unapologetically.
Bas reflects on his journey from humble beginnings, mentioning how he had to think cheap in the past, but now he's on the road and his wealth is limitless. The lyrics capture the notion of perseverance and the rewards that come from hard work and dedication.
In the second verse, Bas addresses a potential love interest, asserting his need for personal space and independence. He refuses to be swayed by her attempts to manipulate or change him. He emphasizes his firm resolve and self-assurance, stating that he charts his own path and doesn't rely on external guidance or validation.
Overall, the lyrics of "Diamonds" convey a powerful message of self-belief, resilience, and staying true to one's ambitions. It is an anthem of empowerment and a reminder to never settle for less.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothin' you could do about it, I'ma stay free
There is nothing anyone can do to change my freedom and independence
Either way you go about it, I'ma stay me
No matter how you approach it, I will always remain true to myself
Livin' out my dreams don't be tryna wake me up
I am fully engaged in pursuing my dreams, don't try to disrupt my journey
You ain't go for yours, niggas divin' waist deep
You haven't been putting in the effort, diving too shallow and not fully committing
Every damn day, dog, my diamonds HD
Each day, my accomplishments shine brightly and are of high definition
That's for everyday that I had to think cheap
I appreciate my current success because of the days when I had to make do with less
Now we on the road and the commas go for eons
Now that we are achieving success, the commas in our bank account are multiplying endlessly
But-
However,
I'ma take leaps, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I will continue to take bold and daring steps forward
Shorty tryna give me mine
Someone is trying to give me what belongs to me
But I needed more space (I need room)
But I require more freedom and personal space
I was sittin' courtside (shit clear)
I had a prime seat at a basketball game (clear and obvious)
I seen her there both days (who you know here?)
I noticed her presence on both occasions (questioning the familiarity of others)
Bitch, who the fuck you know here? (You not low)
Hey, who do you actually know in this place? (you're not being discreet)
I never fold or fall for your ways or reasons
I never give in or submit to your tactics or justifications
I'm so resolves in my ways
I am steadfast and unwavering in my approach
I chart a course with thoughts, got no flares or beacons
I navigate my path using my own thoughts, without relying on outside signals or guidance
I hope you saw it my way
I hope you can understand and see things from my perspective
Wonder where the day goes?
I ponder where the time passes and how quickly it flies by
I been outta line, if love is all you need then
I have been going against the norm, and if love is truly all you need then
Let me spend my pain
Allow me to cope with my own struggles and challenges
Young nigga make it rain on
A young individual is making it rain in a show of wealth
Hunnid on the wrist just to make it rain on
A hundred thousand dollars on the wrist just to flaunt and show off
Look at all the whips spick and they span
Observe all the luxurious cars that are pristine and brand new
And you feel like you the man
And as a result, you feel powerful and superior
But you cannot rub the stain off
However, you cannot erase the underlying flaws or guilt
No, you cannot rub the stain off
No, it is impossible to remove the blemish or wrongdoing
Lyrics ยฉ Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Abbas Hamad, Joe Harrison, Linden Jay Berelowitz, Lydia Kitto, Paul Castelluzzo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Zach Miller
Every Bas song I swear makes me want to get in my car and go drive w my windows down and just love life. Thank you for the art, Bas.
Will Mil
Love this comment. I never heard him before now๐
Solutions3000
@Will Mil I heard Bas for the 1st time, today, 02-17-2023. CBS Mornings (Nate) brought me here.
Owen Sullivan
I cannot wait for his next album. It will be his best yet. This man keeps putting out good music time and time again
KD better
agreed, this already sounds so well thought out. feels like i could easily put this on 10-15 years from now
SAHIL THE BIG HILL
Fr. Such an underrated artist. Too high to riot, last winter and milky way are masterpieces
Katleho Malekele
I agree actually. too high to riot was some beautiful. The sound is so fire. Love it when he sings
C
Hopefully cuz milky way was kind of disappointing
[DSG] AESTHETICSofJAcKBLacK
I love the composition of this. The combination of the major and minor7's create something both melodic, happy* and haunting at the same time. Even with the ethereal backing vocals not present, the synth strings still give that same vibe. And then because it's in a higher key, it invokes a feeling of melancholy, even though the tempo is more on the upbeat side. I'm excited to see what Bas brings next.
Victor Walls III
Bro you used music theory to describe what I feel when I listen to thisโฆ woah๐ช๐พ