Album Intro
Nas Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey Nas, hey, hey, boy
You see what they done did to Jimmy and Lee?

Mmm-hmm, damn, man

I can't take it, man

Sho' can't

You think this is gon' ever change?

Man, damn, this place, man
Damn these chains, these damn chitlins every damn night

This cotton

Shit

I can't take it, man

Harriett done left the night befo'
It's time we go
Ain't no place for black folk here
Man, promise land callin' me, man

It's callin' me too

It's time we go

Yeah, I'm with you

Ayy, man, ayy, damn these chains, man
Damn you, master, you ain't my master, man

You ain't nothin', you ain't nothin'

Ayy, Randy, Randy, get the dogs
Get the hounds, we gonna have ourselves a hangin' tonight

1996 (yeah, dunn, what the deal, nigga?)
Back up in this nigga (haha, 199-)
The right way, though, you know?

(Double-tre son, you know ain't nothin' coincidental or accidental, dunn)

No doubt

(You know how it's goin' down, man)

It was all written

(No question, I'm sayin', man, I mean, how we playin', man?
You know what I'm sayin'? They dealt us in, son
They playin' with a 54 deck, you see with the
Jokers in and everything, you know what I'm saying?)

Son, I'm playin' with the 52

(You wanna stress on how I used to play, that's how I play)

But, yo, they takin' us into this next millennium, right now

(I'm sayin' law, you know what I'm sayin'? We gotta lay the law
'Cause without law ain't no order, you know what I'm sayin'?
That's why these cats are slippin' through
You know what I'm sayin'? They got the rules missin', though)

True

(Word up, though, you know what I mean?)

Son, these niggas look faker than the new hundred dollars, son

(Yeah, you see that they look Monopoly money, right?)

Word, with the big ass face on it

(Yo, what I'm sayin', we see through all that, though
You know what I'm sayin'?)

No question

(All eyes seein', son, you know it was written, no question)

Yo, no doubt




In the Qu'ran it says Nas, the men
Nesa's the woman, you know? It was written

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Nas's song 01 Album Intro paint a vivid picture of the racial tensions and injustices that African Americans faced in the past. The opening lines indicate that Jimmy and Lee, two unnamed individuals, have been subjected to violence or some form of injustice due to their skin color. The following lines express the singer's frustration with their situation and the unbearable living conditions they face. They are tired of being chained and eating chitlins (a cheap, low-quality cut of pork), and the mention of cotton alludes to the history of black people being forced to pick cotton as slaves.


The singer reflects on the fact that Harriet (presumably Harriet Tubman) left the night before, suggesting that they too need to escape and find a "promise land." The last few lines of the song feature a conversation between characters discussing the current state of things and the need for a change. The reference to the "next millennium" foreshadows the idea that despite progress, these issues are still ongoing, as are the injustices that come with them.


Overall, the lyrics in this song highlight the importance of recognizing and understanding the historical and ongoing oppression and struggles of Black Americans.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey Nas, hey hey boy, you see what they done did to Jimmy and Lee?
The singer is asking Nas if he is aware of the treatment that Jimmy and Lee have received.


Man damn this place man! Damn these chains! These damn Chitlins every damn night. This cotton. Shit!
The singer is expressing frustration with their situation and uses several examples to emphasize the discomfort they feel. They feel trapped and in bondage.


Ain't no place for black folk here. Man, promise land callin' me man. It's callin' me too. It's time we go.
The singer acknowledges that their current location is not a place where black people can thrive, and they hear the calling to move to a better place. They decide it is time to leave.


Hey man, hey damn these chains, man. Damn you master, you ain't my master, man! You ain't nothin', you ain't nothing.
The artist is declaring their freedom from their oppressor and making it clear that they owe them nothing. They refuse to be bound by anyone's chains.


Hey Bandit, Bandit, get the dogs! Get the hounds, we gonna have ourselves a hangin' tonight!
The artist is summoning someone to bring the dogs so they can carry out a hanging. They are taking justice into their own hands.


It was all written.
The singer believes that everything that has happened and will happen has already been predetermined.


Yo, word up, though, you know what I mean? Son, these niggas look faker than the new hundred dollars, son.
The singer is commenting on the phoniness of others and compares them to the new hundred-dollar bills, which they think look fake.


Yo, what I'm sayin', we see through all that, though You know what I'm sayin? No question.
The artist is declaring that they are immune to the phoniness of others and can see right through it. They have no doubts about their perception.


In the Qu'ran it says Nas, the men. Nesa's the woman, know? It was written.
The artist is referencing the Qu'ran and points out that Nas means 'men' in the text while Nesa means 'women.' They believe this was predetermined and is meant to be.




Lyrics © JELLYBEAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jean Claude Olivier, Nasir Jones, Samuel J Barnes

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions