Illmatic was a critically acclaimed bestseller and is widely considered one of the greatest rap albums of all time. He married R&B singer Kelis in 2005, they have one son together, and she filed for divorce on the 29th of April 2009. Nas was also a part of hip hop supergroup The Firm, which released one album.
In the years following the release of Illmatic, Nas pursued a more commercial direction, which resulted in wider success but decreased artistic credibility among critics and hip-hop purists. Furthermore, Nas' increased commercial success was accompanied by stylistic changes that fostered accusations of "selling out". Nevertheless, the LP Stillmatic is often credited for restoring Nas' credibility among fans. Since the success of Stillmatic, Nas continues to maintain a high profile within the hip hop community, and has pursued a decidedly progressive and personal aesthetic. While Nas' current artistic direction differs greatly from his most successful work, it has ensured that he remains one of the most respected and acclaimed contemporary rappers.
1973–1992: Childhood and early career
Nas was born in Brooklyn, New York, as the elder of Olu Dara and Fannie Ann Jones's two children; his brother Jabari (nicknamed "Jungle" because he was born in the Congo) is the younger of the two. The family lived for a time in Brooklyn, before moving to Queensbridge, the largest public housing project in the United States. Olu Dara left the household in 1986, when Nas was 13, and Ann Jones raised her two boys on her own. Nas dropped out of school in the eighth grade and began selling drugs on the streets of New York. He educated himself, reading about African culture and civilization, the Qur'an, the Bible and the Five Percent Nation. He also studied the origin of hip hop music, taping records that played on his local radio station. As a child, Nas had wanted to be an instrumentalist (at the age of three, Nas played his father's trumpet on the step of their Brooklyn home) and also a comic book artist. Shortly after his parents separated, Nas began to write short stories as he immersed himself deeper into hip-hop culture.
By his preteen years, he had settled on pursuing a career as a rapper, and as a teenager enlisted his best friend and upstairs neighbor Willie "Ill Will" Graham as his DJ. Nas first went by the nickname Kid Wave before adopting his more commonly known alias of Nasty Nas. Nas and Graham soon met hip-hop producer and Flushing Queens resident Large Professor, who introduced Nas to his group, Main Source. In 1991, Nas made his on-record debut with a verse on "Live at the BBQ", from Main Source's LP Breaking Atoms. Despite the substantial buzz for Nas in the underground scene, the rapper was rejected by major labels and was not signed to a recording deal. Nas and Graham continued to work together, but their partnership was cut short when Graham was shot and killed by a gunman in Queensbridge on May 23, 1992.
1992–1995: The recording and release of Illmatic
In mid-1992, Nas was approached by MC Serch of 3rd Bass, who became his manager and secured Nas a record deal with Columbia Records the same year. Nas made his solo debut on the single "Halftime" from Serch's soundtrack for the film Zebrahead. The single increased the buzz surrounding Nas and when MC Serch’s solo album is released later in the year, Nas’ standout appearance on "Back To The Grill" only intensified interest in his upcoming album, amid immense anticipation. Hailed as the second coming of Rakim, his rhyming skills attracted a significant amount of attention within the hip-hop community. However, many were concerned that Columbia, being a major label, would try to dilute his New York based style.
In 1994, Nas' debut album, Illmatic was finally released. Critically acclaimed and widely regarded as one of the premier rap albums ever created, Illmatic featured lyrics that portrayed stunning visual imagery and production courtesy of several producers . The album featured production from Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip (of A Tribe Called Quest) and DJ Premier, as well as guest appearances from Nas' friend AZ and his father Olu Dara on the song "Life's a Bitch", Illmatic was immediately hailed as a masterpiece by critics, and is still highly regarded as one of the definitive hip-hop albums of all time. Notable songs on the album included "NY State of Mind" (produced by Premier), "The World Is Yours" (produced by Pete Rock), "One Love" (produced by Q-Tip) and "It Ain't Hard To Tell" (produced by Large Professor and featuring a sample of "Human Nature" by Michael Jackson). However, due in part to extensive bootlegging, the record sales fell below expectations.
Following Illmatic, Nas appeared on AZ's Doe Or Die album, and collaborated with his Queensbridge-associates, Mobb Deep, on their album, The Infamous. One notable achievement during this period was Nas' verse on "Verbal Intercourse" on Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. After this appearance, Nas received a Source Quotable as he had the distinction of being the only non-Wu-Tang Clan member to be featured on one of the group's solo albums.
1996–1998: From It Was Written to The Firm
Columbia began to press Nas to work towards more commercial topics like the rapper The Notorious B.I.G., who had become successful by releasing street singles that still retained pop-friendly appeal. Nas traded manager MC Serch for Steve Stoute, and began preparation for his second LP, It Was Written, consciously working towards a crossover-oriented sound. It Was Written, chiefly produced by Poke and Tone of Trackmasters Entertainment, was released during the summer of 1996. Two singles, "If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)" (featuring Lauryn Hill of The Fugees) and "Street Dreams" (a remix features R. Kelly) were instant hits. These songs were promoted by big-budget music videos directed by Hype Williams, making Nas a common name among mainstream hip-hop. Other notable tracks on the album included "The Message" and "I Gave You Power," which tells a story from the perspective of a gun. It Was Written also featured the debut of The Firm, a supergroup consisting of Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown, and Cormega. The album also introduced Nas's Mafioso-inspired character "Nas Escobar", who lived more of a Scarface/Casino-esque lifestyle. On the other hand, Illmatic, which, while having numerous references to Tony Montana and the theatrical hit featuring Al Pacino, was more about Nas' life as a teenager in the projects, hustling and smoking marijuana.
The Firm signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment label, and began working on their debut album. Halfway through the production of the album, Cormega was fired from the group by Steve Stoute, who had unsuccessfully attempted to force Cormega to sign a deal with his management company. Cormega therefore became one of Nas' most vocal opponents, releasing a number of underground hip-hop singles dissing Nas, Stoute, and Nature, who was Cormega's replacement in The Firm. The Firm's The Album was finally released in 1997 to mixed reviews and lackluster sales and the members of the supergroup went their separate ways.
At about this time, Nas became a spokesperson for the Willie Esco urban clothing line, but had no other connection with the clothing line. He stopped promoting Willie Esco in 2000, dissatisfied with the company's operations. During the same period, Nas co-wrote and starred in Hype Williams' 1998 feature film Belly, which also featured DMX, Taral Hicks, and T-Boz of TLC among its cast.
1998–2000: I Am... to Nastradamus
In 1998, Nas began work on a double album to be entitled I Am...The Autobiography, which he intended as the middle ground between the extremes of Illmatic and It Was Written. The album was completed in early 1999, and a music video was shot for its lead single, Nas Is Like, produced by DJ Premier and featuring vocal samples from "It Ain't Hard to Tell". However, much of the LP was leaked in MP3 format onto the Internet, and Nas and Stoute quickly recorded enough substitute material to constitute a single-disc release.
The second single for I Am was "Hate Me Now," featuring Sean "Puffy" Combs (now "Diddy"), was used as an example by Nas' critics for moving towards commercial themes. Hype Williams shot an allegorical video for the single, which featured Nas and Puffy being crucified in a manner similar to Jesus; After the video was completed, Combs, a Catholic, requested his crucifixion scene be edited out of the video. However, the unedited copy of the "Hate Me Now" video made its way to MTV, and was premiered on April 15, 1999 on TRL. A furious Combs and his bodyguards allegedly made their way into Steve Stoute's office and assaulted him, at one point apparently hitting Stoute over the head with a champagne bottle. Stoute pressed charges, but he and Combs settled out-of-court that June.
Columbia had scheduled to release the pirated material from I Am under the title Nastradamus during the latter half of 1999, but, at the last minute, decided Nas should record an entirely new album for release. Nastradamus was therefore rushed to meet a November release date. Though critics were not kind to the album, it did result in a minor hit, the Timbaland-produced "You Owe Me," featuring R&B singer Ginuwine. The only pirated track from I Am... to make it onto Nastradamus was "Project Windows," featuring Ronald Isley. A number of the other bootlegged tracks later made their way onto The Lost Tapes, a collection of underground Nas songs that was released by Columbia in September 2002. The collection saw decent sales and received glowing reviews.
2000–2001: The Nas vs. Jay-Z rivalry and Stillmatic
The highly publicized rivalry between Nas and Jay-Z began as a rivalry between Nas and Jay-Z's protege, Memphis Bleek. On his debut album Coming of Age, Bleek made a song entitled "Memphis Bleek Is", which was similar in concept to Nas' single "Nas is Like". On the same album, Bleek recorded "What You Think Of That" featuring Bleek's mentor Jay-Z, which contains the refrain, "I'ma ball 'til I fall/what you think of that?". In retaliation, "Nastradamus", the title track from Nas' second 1999 album, featured a reference to "What You Think Of That". The lyrics state, "You wanna ball till you fall, I can help you with that/You want beef? I could let a slug melt in your hat." Memphis Bleek perceived the reference on "Nastradamus" as a diss, and therefore dissed Nas on the lead single for his The Understanding LP, My Mind Right".
QB's Finest was a compilation album that featured Nas and a number of other rappers from Queensbridge, including Mobb Deep, Nature, Littles, The Bravehearts (which included Nas' younger brother Jungle among its members), and Cormega, who had briefly reconciled with Nas. The album also featured guest appearances from Queensbridge hip-hop legends Roxanne Shante, MC Shan, and Marley Marl. Shan and Marley Marl both appeared on the lead single "Da Bridge 2001", which was based on Shan & Marl's 1986 recording "The Bridge". "Da Bridge 2001" also featured a response from Nas to Memphis Bleek, in which Nas called out most of the Roc-A-Fella Records roster, including Bleek, Damon Dash, Beanie Sigel, and Jay-Z.
Jay-Z responded to Nas' songs with an onstage swipe during the 2001 Hot 97 Summer Jam concert in New York City, when he premiered his song "Takeover." Initially, the song was to only be a Mobb Deep diss, only including one line about Nas near the end. Nevertheless, Nas recorded the "Stillmatic Freestyle," an underground single which sampled Rakim and Eric B.'s "Paid in Full" beat, and attacked Jay-Z and his Roc-A-Fella label. On his 2001 album, The Blueprint, Jay-Z rewrote "Takeover," dedicating half of the song to dissing Nas, claiming that he had a "...one hot album every ten year average" record (referring to Illmatic) that his flow was weak, and that he had fabricated his past as a hustler.
Nas responded with "Ether", the track begins with gunshots and a repeated, slowed-down sample of Tupac rapping "Fuck Jay-Z." (taken from Tupac's "Fuck Friends") In "Ether," Nas accuses Jay-Z of stealing ("biting") lyrics from The Notorious B.I.G. and brown-nosing Nas and other rappers for fame. Ether was included on Nas' fifth studio album, Stillmatic, released in December 2001. Stillmatic managed to be not only a critically-acclaimed comeback album, but a commercial success as well, albeit not on the level of It Was Written and I Am...; the album debutted at #7 on the Billboard album charts and featured the singles "Got Ur Self A..." and "One Mic." In terms of commercial success, Jay's The Blueprint was certified double-platinum, while Stillmatic went platinum.
Jay-Z responded to "Ether" with a freestyle entitled "Supa Ugly." going into detail about how he had sex with Carmen Bryan, the mother of Nas' daughter Destiny. Nas dismissed the track by claiming that he was no longer with Bryan during the time the affair took place. In a recent interview, however, New York radio station Hot 97 settled the battle taking votes comparing "Ether" and "Supa Ugly," and Nas won with 58% while Jay-Z got 42% of the votes. By 2005, the two rappers had eventually ended their feud without violence or animosity. During Jay-Z's I Declare War - Power House concert, Jay-Z announced to the crowd, "It's bigger than 'I Declare War'. Let's go, Esco!" Nas then joined Jay-Z onstage, and the two then performed "Dead Presidents" together, which Jay-Z had sampled from Nas' song "The World is Yours."
2002–Present: From God's Son to Street's Disciple and beyond
In December 2002, Nas released the God's Son album. and its lead single, "Made You Look". The album debuted at #18 on the Billboard charts despite widespread internet bootlegging. Time Magazine named his album best hip-hop album of the year. Vibe Magazine gave it 4 stars and The Source gave it 4 mics. The second single, the inspirational "I Can", which reworked elements from Beethoven's "Fur Elise", became Nas' biggest hit to date during the spring and summer of 2003, garnering substantial radio airplay on urban, rhythmic, and top 40 radio stations, as well as on the MTV and VH1 music video networks. God's Son also includes several songs dedicated to memory of Nas' mother, who died of cancer in 2002. In 2003, Nas was featured on the Korn song "Play Me", from KoЯn's Take a Look in the Mirror LP.
Nas released his seventh studio album, the critically acclaimed double-disc Street's Disciple, on November 30, 2004. The album's first singles were "Thief's Theme" and "Bridging the Gap", which features his father Olu Dara on vocals. The album also includes "These are Our Heroes", which accuses prominent sports stars and actors such as Kobe Bryant, Lenny Henry, Tiger Woods, and Cuba Gooding, Jr. of neglecting their heritage and background in favour of white values. The videos for "Bridging the Gap" and "Just A Moment" received moderate airplay on MTV and BET. Although the album went platinum, its commercial profile was relatively low compared to the rapper's previous releases.
Nas was featured on Kanye West's album Late Registration on a song titled "We Major". West said the song was Jay-Z's favorite on the album, but West was unable to get Jay-Z to record a vocal for the final mix of the song. He also appeared on Damian Marley's song "Road to Zion" (which also featured newcomer The Game in the video, widening Nas' still growing universally appreciated raps) and several other songs such as "Death Anniversary" and "It Wasn't You" (featuring Lauryn Hill). In addition, Nas was most recently married to the R&B singer Kelis, who is mostly known for her work internationally, but nonetheless released great hits in the U.S. The couple wed on Jan. 8, 2005 in Atlanta, GA, after a two-year engagement.
During this time, Nas announced that his next album would be entirely self-produced and feature no other rappers, and would be titled Nasir, and later that the project would feature other producers after all and would be called Nasdaq: Dow Jones. Neither of these albums ever materialized.
At a free concert in Central Park, New York, Nas made a statement regarding the quality of 50 Cent's music. "this is the real shit, not that 50 Cent shit!" In response, 50 Cent included a stab at Nas by speaking negatively of his wife Kelis on his single "Piggy Bank," implying that Kelis was promiscuous and calling Nas a "sucker for love." Nas was quoted as saying that he feels no obligation to retaliate, remarking "[50 has] got a good five to six more albums before I can really respond to him." Nas eventually decided to retaliate, and in July 2005 released "Don't Body Ya Self (MC Burial)", a song which taunts 50 Cent and his G-Unit crew, stating that 50 was "a sucka for death if I'm a sucka for love." However, despite all of this, Nas still claims to "have a lot of love towards 50," claiming 50 didn't understand his moves when they both were together at Columbia Records.
In January 2006, Nas signed a label deal with Jay-Z's Def Jam, further emphasizing the Jay-Z/Nas truce and raising expectations for a collaboration even higher. His album due in fall of 2006 will come out in a joint deal with this imprint and Columbia Records. He recently announced to MTV News that his album is to be named, "Hip Hop is Dead...the N," the N being a play on the word the "end." The title is supposed to reflect what some would term the current low quality of rap music. The highly anticipated album is due out in December 19th, 2006.
Musical style and Technique
Nas has long been famed for his creativity and storytelling prowess, which has earned him acclaim from both the hip-hop community and critics. In his early stages, from his first appearance on the Main Source's Breaking Atoms and throughout the recording of Illmatic, he was perhaps best known for his street-oriented topics, complex lyrical schemes (which often incorporated multi-syllabic internal rhymes), and witty phrasing and imagery. As he progressed and matured, Nas began to branch out into different subjects and developed a richer voice and slower rapping technique.
Following Illmatic's release, Nas developed a penchant for hyper-visual storytelling and topical creativity. For instance, "Undying Love" (featured on I Am...) is a tale of his wife's betrayal told in first person, "Rewind" (featured on Stillmatic) is a narrative in which a story is recited backwards, while on "I Gave You Power" (featured on It Was Written), Nas assumes the role of a gun who recounts brutal tales of murder and violence. Over the years Nas' style has changed significantly. In contrast to his previous work, Nas’ most recent material is distinctively socially aware and often politically inflammatory. Songs such as "I Can" (featured on God's Son) convey moral messages of black youth empowerment, while "These Are Our Heroes (Coon Picnic)" accuses several African-American celebrities of being Uncle Toms. Furthermore, controversial songs such as "My Country" and "A Message to the Feds (Fuck The Police II)" (which are featured on Stillmatic and Street's Disciple, respectively) question the conduct of the American government. Nas' views in his lyrics throughout his career have made references to Islam and the Five Percent Nation..
Back When
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing like them 80s summer N.Y. days
Hop on the NB5 days
Mopeds, Pro Keds, city split five ways
How it all started, fifth floor apartment
A jigsaw puzzle aerial view of the projects
A kid saw struggle, buried a few of his partners
Now chill in resorts, enjoying massages
Nas, I'll rise the deads by thousands
I remember seeing Shan chilling near his Audi
Hollis Ave. running them, but I probably
Put a poster up of Shan and Marley, that was art, kid
You love to hear the story how it started
The bubbly I'm pouring wasn't popped yet
Before there was a audience to watch us
I assure you, there was a process
"You love to hear the story, how it all got started"
How it all got started, yeah
"You love to hear the story, how it all got started"
How it, how it all got started
"You love to hear the story how it all got started"
Hear the story, how it all started off
Started off, started off, started off
How it all got started
"Back when, back when, back when, back when
Back when, back when, back when, back when"
To call them fake today is hate, real niggas extinct
Pac left me inside a rap world with niggas that's weak
And other rappers, undercover niggas spit every way
Won't be surprised if all their rides have federal plates
Let alone their wardrobes are Studio 4 flow
It was real when I appeared, it would've been some jaws broke
Nas, my real name, stage name, same thing
How could you let these claim king? I'm so ashamed, man
I light a L for Vernon, for niggas who would burn in Hell
For Vernon, 10th Street, 12th Street, Nightmare on Elm Street
Pimps creep, delve deep inside the editorials
Of the ghetto queens, kings, stories true
Who possesses the testicular fortitude
To blow away myths that's a hindrance to all of you?
You blame your own shortcomings on section, race
The mafia, homosexuals and all the Jews
It's hogwash point of views, stereotypical
Anti-Semitic like the foul words Gibson spewed
And it's pathetic, I don't get the credit I deserve
That's why I hate doing interviews
But I don't sweat it, study long, study raw
My man Deon said "Nas over-think the songs he writing"
I'm not a wack performer standing behind a corny hype man
I got the Donism, I'm here to enlighten
"You love to hear the story, how it all got started"
How it all got started, yeah
"You love to hear the story, how it all got started"
How it, how all got started
"You love to hear the story how it all got started"
Hear the story, how it all started off
Started off, started off, started off
How it all got started
"Back when, back when, back when, back when
Back when, back when, back when, back when"
In the song "Back When" by Nas, the rapper reminisces about the good old days in New York City in the 80s. He talks about riding the NB5 train and wearing Pro Keds, reflecting on how different life was compared to now. He acknowledges that he's come a long way since "burrying a few of his partners" and now he's enjoying resorts and massages. Nas also pays homage to other legends in the rap game, including MC Shan and Biggie Smalls. He talks about the struggle to be recognized as a real rapper in a world where fake ones overshadow the true artists. He also touches on the social issues of the time, including racism and anti-Semitism.
One interesting fact about the song is that it features a sample from the 1970s classic "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Nas was paying homage to the old-school rap pioneers in this track. The song was also co-written by Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas. Another notable fact is that the song was not included on Nas's album "Hip Hop Is Dead" but rather on a compilation album called "The Academy" released in 2008.
In terms of the chords, they are not known as this is a rap song that primarily relies on samples and beats rather than instrumentation.
Overall, "Back When" is a reflective and thought-provoking song that looks back on the history of hip-hop and how far it has come. Nas takes us on a journey through the struggles and triumphs of the genre, reminding us of the true essence of true hip-hop culture.
Line by Line Meaning
The ill reminisce and think about the fly days
Those who were there remember and long for the good times
Nothing like them 80s summer N.Y. days
Summer days in New York City during the 1980s were special
Hop on the NB5 days
Riding the bus line NB5 was a common activity
Mopeds, Pro Keds, city split five ways
Mopeds and Pro-Keds shoes were popular items for getting around New York City, which was divided into five boroughs
How it all started, fifth floor apartment
The beginning of it all took place in a fifth-floor apartment
A jigsaw puzzle aerial view of the projects
An overhead view of the housing projects was like a puzzle with pieces that didn't quite fit together
A kid saw struggle, buried a few of his partners
A young person witnessed the challenges and buried some of their friends who died in the struggle
Now chill in resorts, enjoying massages
Nowadays, life is more relaxed and luxury is attainable, with the ability to relax at resorts and enjoy massages
Check out the oracle bred from city housing
Witness the success stories that have grown out of the city's public housing projects
Nas, I'll rise the deads by thousands
Nas's music has the power to evoke strong emotions in listeners and make them feel alive
I remember seeing Shan chilling near his Audi
I have fond memories of seeing Shan relaxed near his Audi
Hollis Ave. running them, but I probably
Hollis Avenue was a popular spot for hanging out, but I may have also spent time there
Put a poster up of Shan and Marley, that was art, kid
Adding a poster of Shan and Marley to a wall was a creative expression and an art form
You love to hear the story how it started
People enjoy hearing the story of how things began
The bubbly I'm pouring wasn't popped yet
The celebratory drinks weren't opened yet
Before there was a audience to watch us
Before anyone paid attention to our music
I assure you, there was a process
There was a method and a path that was taken to reach success
To call them fake today is hate, real niggas extinct
Labeling people as fake these days is harsh, and it seems like genuine people are hard to come by
Pac left me inside a rap world with niggas that's weak
After Tupac's death, I was surrounded by other rappers who were not as strong
And other rappers, undercover niggas spit every way
Some rappers pretend to be something they're not and rap about anything and everything
Won't be surprised if all their rides have federal plates
It wouldn't be surprising if some of these rappers were secretly involved with the government
Let alone their wardrobes are Studio 4 flow
Their clothes are not authentic; they come straight from Studio 4
It was real when I appeared, it would've been some jaws broke
Things were serious when I first entered the rap game, and people would have gotten physical if they didn't like my music
Nas, my real name, stage name, same thing
My given name and my stage name are one and the same
How could you let these claim king? I'm so ashamed, man
How could people allow others to claim the title of king when it rightfully belongs to me? It's embarrassing
I light a L for Vernon, for niggas who would burn in Hell
I smoke a joint in memory of Vernon and other people who have passed away and gone to Hell
For Vernon, 10th Street, 12th Street, Nightmare on Elm Street
I'm remembering specific people and places where bad things happened
Pimps creep, delve deep inside the editorials
Pimps are a corrupt force in the community and influence what is written in the media
Of the ghetto queens, kings, stories true
The stories of the good and bad people in the ghetto are real
Who possesses the testicular fortitude
Who has the courage and strength to speak out
To blow away myths that's a hindrance to all of you?
To dispel harmful misconceptions that stop everyone from moving forward?
You blame your own shortcomings on section, race
You blame your lack of success on where you come from and the color of your skin
The mafia, homosexuals and all the Jews
People also blame the mafia, LGBTQ+ people, and the Jewish community for their problems
It's hogwash point of views, stereotypical
These are ridiculous and stereotypical ways of thinking
Anti-Semitic like the foul words Gibson spewed
These views are similar to the anti-Semitic comments that Mel Gibson made
And it's pathetic, I don't get the credit I deserve
It's frustrating that I'm not recognized enough for my talent and work
That's why I hate doing interviews
I don't like participating in interviews because of this lack of recognition
But I don't sweat it, study long, study raw
I don't let it get to me and instead focus my energy on studying and improving my craft
My man Deon said "Nas over-think the songs he writing"
My friend Deon thinks that I overthink my writing process
I'm not a wack performer standing behind a corny hype man
I'm not a subpar rapper relying on a lackluster hype man
I got the Donism, I'm here to enlighten
I have the charisma and presence of a boss and am here to share knowledge and wisdom
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, LIBRARY GOLD APM
Written by: NASIR JONES, BARRY FORGIE, SHAWN LEIGH MOLTKE, MARLON LU'REE WILLIAMS, ERNEST DION WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ads254
This track is pretty addictive. Lyrics, smooth beat. Everything is right with this one. Probably my favorite track on this album out of many.
Jared Candelaria
Such a nostalgic sounding song. Life is Good is definitely one of Nas' best albums
Marc NY
Number 5 on my list... Top 5 album for sure
CHRISTOPHER. M
Marc NY 3rd on mine mabey 2nd just depends on my mood
Troynoss Marvel
In this moment in time it's better than Jay Kenny j cole
redcomic619
Easily his most underrated
redpiller12
Cristopher Martinez it's top four definitely. Illmatic , It was written, lost tapes, life is good
forbidden_msfts
"I don't get the credit I deserve that's why I hate doin' interviews, but I don't sweat it study long study raw. My man Deon said nas overthink the songs he writing. I'm not a wack performer standing behind a corny hype man, I got the Donism in me I'm here to enlighten" Nas is the king.
W _
The most played song in my car since. Sometimes I play it on repeat just driving location to location.
Akin Okunola
It took me a few days (too long) to realize Nas went in hard on this album. Trust is deep to the core and then he can flip it on the 3rd verse of Bye Baby to Angry Nas. True poet! Thank God he is still alive!