In 1995, Large was supposed to release his highly anticipated solo album The LP, but it was put on hold until 2003, when a website gave a copy of The LP with the purchase of his first solo hip hop album 1st Class. Although 1st Class did not receive mainstream acceptance, it gained favorable reviews by fans and critics. The album includes guest appearances by Nas, Busta Rhymes, and Q-Tip.
Large is a protege of legendary (now deceased) white hip-hop producer Paul C, with whom he credits for teaching him virtually everything he knows about record production, and the associated technology used for making music, samples, and 'beats'. Large's publishing company is named 'Paul Sea Productions' as a homage to his late mentor.
One Plus One Featuring Nas
Large Professor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's illmatic, (yeah!)
It's illmatic, huh
(Yeah, kick that shit)
(One time for your mind, one time)
Yeah, whatever
(One time for your mind, one time)
(One time for your mind, one time)
(Hey yo, Nas, (Whattup, Paul?) Kick that fuckin' rhyme)
Check it out
When I'm chilling, I grab the Buddha, get my crew to buy beers
And watch a flick, illin and root for the villain, huh
Plus, every morning, I go out and love it, sort of chilly
Then I send a shorty from my block to the store for phillies
After being blessed by the herb's essence
I'm back to my rest, ten minutes, some odd seconds
That's where I got the honey at, spends the night for sexing
Cheap lubrication, lifestyle protection
Picking up my stereo's remote control, quickly
Ron G's in the cassette deck, rockin' the shit, G
I try to stay mellow, rock, well, acapella rhymes'll
Make me richer than a slipper made Cinderella, fella
Go get your crew, Hobbes, I'm prepared to bomb troops
Got niggaz who's born, I shot my way out my mom dukes
When I was ten, I was a hip-hoppin shorty wop
Known for rocking microphones and twisting off a forty top, yeah
(One time for your mind, one time)
Yeah, whatever
(One time for your mind, one time)
It sound clever
(Hey, yo, Nas, fuck that, man, that shit was fat)
(But kick that for them gangstas, man, fuck all that)
Right, right, what up niggaz, how y'all? It's Nasty, the villain
I'm still writin' rhymes, but besides that I'm chillin'
I'm trying to get this money, God, you know the hard times, kid
Shit, cold be starvin', make you want to do crimes, kid
But I'm a lamp, 'cause a crime couldn't beat a rhyme
Niggas catching three to nines, Muslims yelling free the mind
And I'm from Queensbridge, been to many places
As a kid, when I would say that out of town, niggas chased us
But now I know the time, got a older mind
Plus control a nine, fine, see, now I represent mine
I'm new on the rap scene, brothers never heard of me
Yet I'm a meance, yo, police want to murder me
Heine(ken,) dark drinker, represent the thinker
My pen rides the paper, it even has blinkers
Think I'll dim the lights then inhale, it stimulates
Floating like I'm on the north ninety-five interstate
Never plan to stop, when I write my hand is hot
And expand a lot from the wiz' to Camelot
The parlayer, I'll make ya heads bop, Pah
I shine a light on perpetrators, like a cop's car
From day to night, I play the mic, and you'll thank God
I wreck shit so much, the microphone need a paint job
My brain is incarcerated
Live at any jam, I couldn't count all the parks I raided
I hold a Mac-11, and attack the Reverand
I contact eleven L's, and max in heaven
Yo, one time for your mind, one time
It sound clever
But one time for your mind, one time
Yeah, whatever
One time for your mind, one time
Yo, from ninety-two to ninety-nine
Yeah, that shit was greasy, fat Paul, know what I'm saying?
But check it, you gotta another verse for me?
I want you to kick it, you know what I'm saying?
Kick that shit from the projects
The lyrics to "One Plus One" are evocative of the daily life of Queensbridge residents, who are both steeped in a world of poverty and violence and find solutions in moments of artistic and intellectual contemplation. The opening to the song serves to introduce the raw and unpolished power of Illmatic, one of rap's most influential albums. Nas and Large Professor's opening lines, "Yeah, it's Illmatic, (yeah)/ It's Illmatic, (yeah!)/ It's Illmatic, huh," serve as a kind of warning that what follows will be an unfiltered view of the streets of Queensbridge. Nas's verse is a time capsule of daily life in the borough. He describes grabbing some Budweisers and hanging out with his crew and not shying away from rooting for the villain in a movie. The verse then takes a darker turn, as Nas describes his experience being born into a world where he had to shoot his way out of his mom's womb. He then reflects on his younger days, where he was known for rocking the mic and twisting off forty tops. Nas's voice is quietly frenetic on this track; he seems to be both relaxed and alert, as if he knows he's in the presence of greatness.
In contrast, Large Professor's voice is deep and powerful. He talks about trying to stay mellow while pumping up his rhymes without music, discussing his "lifestyle protection" and the intricacies of his stereo. He then turns his attention to New York City's hip-hop scene, describing himself as a "meance" while simultaneously acknowledging that the police want to murder him. Overarching both verses is a fundamental question: What's the ultimate value of the rapper's voice? Large Professor describes himself as being "incarcerated" by his thoughts, while Nas suggests that the mind is the only way he can singlehandedly sidestep the brutalities of life in Queensbridge.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, it's illmatic, (yeah)
This is a really great album.
It's illmatic, (yeah!)
This is a really great album. (repeated)
It's illmatic, huh
This is a really great album. (repeated with hesitation)
(Yeah, kick that shit)
Start the music.
(One time for your mind, one time)
I'm about to rap for you for a little bit.
Yeah, whatever
I'm indifferent about repeated encouragement.
(Hey yo, Nas, (Whattup, Paul?) Kick that fuckin' rhyme)
Hey Nas, start rapping now.
When I'm chilling, I grab the Buddha, get my crew to buy beers
I relax and smoke marijuana while my friends buy drinks.
And watch a flick, illin and root for the villain, huh
We watch a movie and enjoy rooting for the bad guy.
Plus, every morning, I go out and love it, sort of chilly
I enjoy the cool morning air.
Then I send a shorty from my block to the store for phillies
I send a young woman from my neighborhood to buy cigarettes for me.
After being blessed by the herb's essence
After smoking marijuana and feeling its effects,
I'm back to my rest, ten minutes, some odd seconds
I return to relaxing after a short while.
That's where I got the honey at, spends the night for sexing
I have a female partner who stays over for sex.
Cheap lubrication, lifestyle protection
I use a low-cost lubricant and condoms for safe sex.
Picking up my stereo's remote control, quickly
I grab my stereo remote quickly.
Ron G's in the cassette deck, rockin' the shit, G
I listen to the DJ Ron G's music and enjoy it.
I try to stay mellow, rock, well, acapella rhymes'll
I try to stay calm and can rap without music.
Make me richer than a slipper made Cinderella, fella
My rapping skills can make me more successful than a fairytale character.
Go get your crew, Hobbes, I'm prepared to bomb troops
Bring your friends and I'll perform for them too.
Got niggaz who's born, I shot my way out my mom dukes
I was born into a violent world and had to use guns to survive.
When I was ten, I was a hip-hoppin shorty wop
I was a young rapper when I was ten years old.
Known for rocking microphones and twisting off a forty top, yeah
I was known for rapping and drinking 40-ounce bottles of beer.
It sound clever
That sounds good.
(But kick that for them gangstas, man, fuck all that)
But now do something for the gang members.
Right, right, what up niggaz, how y'all? It's Nasty, the villain
Hey friends, it's Nas, the notorious rapper.
I'm still writin' rhymes, but besides that I'm chillin'
I'm still making music, but also enjoying my life.
I'm trying to get this money, God, you know the hard times, kid
I'm trying to make money because life can be difficult.
Shit, cold be starvin', make you want to do crimes, kid
Poverty can make people desperate and resort to criminal behavior.
But I'm a lamp, 'cause a crime couldn't beat a rhyme
I'm too talented to resort to crime.
Niggas catching three to nines, Muslims yelling free the mind
People are getting arrested and imprisoned, and some Muslim groups are advocating for their freedom.
And I'm from Queensbridge, been to many places
I'm from Queensbridge and have traveled quite a bit.
As a kid, when I would say that out of town, niggas chased us
As a child, people would chase us when we said where we were from.
But now I know the time, got a older mind
Now I'm older and wiser.
Plus control a nine, fine, see, now I represent mine
I have a gun, and I'm proud of my neighborhood.
I'm new on the rap scene, brothers never heard of me
I'm a new rapper and not well-known yet.
Yet I'm a meance, yo, police want to murder me
Despite being unknown, the police see me as a threat.
Heine(ken,) dark drinker, represent the thinker
I enjoy Heineken, a dark beer, and position myself as a critical thinker.
My pen rides the paper, it even has blinkers
My writing flows smoothly and avoids pitfalls or errors.
Think I'll dim the lights then inhale, it stimulates
I think I'll lower the lights and smoke some marijuana for inspiration.
Floating like I'm on the north ninety-five interstate
I feel high like I'm driving on the highway.
Never plan to stop, when I write my hand is hot
I won't stop making music, and I'm really into it when I do.
And expand a lot from the wiz' to Camelot
My music is popular everywhere from the ghetto to the fanciest places.
The parlayer, I'll make ya heads bop, Pah
I'm a talented rapper who will keep people moving to my music.
I shine a light on perpetrators, like a cop's car
I bring attention to bad people in the same way that a police car's lights do.
From day to night, I play the mic, and you'll thank God
I'm a great rapper all day and all night, and people are grateful for it.
I wreck shit so much, the microphone need a paint job
I'm so good that I'm damaging the microphone and it needs to be repaired or painted.
My brain is incarcerated
I have a lot of ideas that need to be expressed.
Live at any jam, I couldn't count all the parks I raided
I'm a popular rapper and have performed at so many places that it's difficult to remember them all.
I hold a Mac-11, and attack the Reverand
I have a gun and may use it to attack a religious leader.
I contact eleven L's, and max in heaven
I smoke some marijuana and feel 'heavenly' or euphoric.
Yo, one time for your mind, one time
I'm rapping for you one more time.
One time for your mind, one time
I'm rapping for you one more time. (repeated)
Yo, from ninety-two to ninety-nine
I've been rapping since 1992 and still going strong.
Yeah, that shit was greasy, fat Paul, know what I'm saying?
That was really good, Paul. (referring to Large Professor)
But check it, you gotta another verse for me?
Do you have another rap verse for me to perform?
I want you to kick it, you know what I'm saying?
I want you to start rapping.
Kick that shit from the projects
Rap about the struggles of growing up in the projects.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul Mitchell, Nasir Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Poetics
Nas and Large Professor never fail to render that "Illmatic" like poetry over majestic and sedated beats. Nas' verse is so originally refreshin and so elevatin that it sort of reminds me of "Stay Chisel" (also with Large Professor). Nas is the GREATEST emcee of all-time while Large Professor is one of the GREATEST producers of all-time.
Greg C
Imagine a whole album of these 2 would be so fucking epic
Byron
What a fucking masterpiece. From da lyrics to the excellent instrumental.
Leeko3000
I remember 96 in NY I was just glued to the radio waiting for it to come on. This verse made may realize Nas is the best lyricist of our time.
AztecRican93
Nas is my favorite to ever do it. This verse he lays down is my favorite verse he ever written! Goes perfectly with this beat that I never get to large pro’s part since I always start it over 🔥
Maal7
NaS's flow was so Godly on this song. Crazy lyricism and the beat is perfect. Wish he used Large Pro more.
Byron
Large pro used him here.
Vortex Multimedia
Byron 😂
Gabriel Mazariegos
Mmm nah large pro is godly too in the one fk u mean
94shotson
I had this on a DJ Clue tape back in ‘96….this is my favorite collaboration by them….beautiful production and flow💯