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..
Beef
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything be going good, but then y'all pull me in
And mess everything up
Why y'all always let me win?
Uh
I be tryin' to find the best way they can stop me cold
Another body and guess who the cause, and why they foes?
Some question, why do I always come to take souls?
I'm everywhere in the hearts of men
Jealousy and envy my right hands, them is my mans
I'm what happens on mad blocks, I'm the jabs takin' in talks
The arguments between the women in the crab leg spots
That behind the back shit complex and multifaceted
Lesson to the real, I be decimal subtracting shit
The devil is a lie, I could confuse a genius
Have him movin' real dumb over nothin' at my convenience
When empires fall over women, I am the reason
USA and Al-Qaeda, I'm the tension between 'em
I'm the words that get misinterpreted
I'm the get back, I'm the first to hit
I'm the worst of it, lurkin' on your premises
I am your nemesis
Parents of every slain rapper wish I didn't exist
But I'm alive and I thrive on your ignorance
I'm a thousand foot fence that keep you from getting rich
Get around me
I be tryin' to find the best way they can stop me cold
Another body and guess who the cause, and why they foes?
Beef is my name, my story is age old
Some question why do I always come to take souls
I be tryin' to find the best way they can stop me cold
Another body and guess who the cause, and why they foes?
Beef is my name, my story is age old
Some question, why do I always come to take souls? (Take souls)
I'm the invasion of personal space
Fake smiles on your face, just servin' 'em hate
All that internet beef, that shit a virgin to me
I been here before the Bible it's murder I speak
The energy creepin' 'round the blocks and the streets
Take his guys with him shoppin', they side-eyeing to please
Everybody's impossible, it don't stop in the P's
I'm eternal, I'm everywhere the action at
I'm always where the guns are blazin', attractin' that
The grimiest places is my natural habitat
In all the jails and all the parties I be
Drive-bys with kids that killed accidentally
That's the type of shit they try to pin to me
Tragic situations give me my identity
Then beef, cut off the fat, add sizzle and grease
Love to many deceased over me
I be tryin' to find the best way they can stop me cold (Beef)
Another body and guess who the cause, and why they foes?
Beef is my name, my story is age old
Some question, why do I always come to take souls?
I be tryin' to find the best way they can stop me cold
Another body and guess who the cause, and why they foes?
Beef is my name, my story is age old
Some question, why do I always come to take souls? (Take souls)
People got me in some shit everyday
Over this, over that
Over nothing, over something
Either way, it's on
Why it's always gotta be resortin' to me?
I ain't asked for this power, it's torture, it forced me to see
People drainin' themselves, some pull off some horrible deeds
Rumors turnin' into a monster, lies always mislead
By the time you hear what somebody said
It's stretched out, they expanded and made it worse
Now you all stressed out
You wish you got it straightened out
But it's too far gone
From "Who Shot Ya?" to "Hit 'Em Up," the 2Pac song
The lyrics to Nas's song "Beef" explore the pervasive presence and destructive nature of conflict and beef in society. The song personifies beef as a force that interferes with people's lives, causing discord and tension. Nas reflects on how beef infiltrates various aspects of life, from personal relationships to international conflicts. He highlights how it can lead to misunderstandings, violence, and even death. Nas acknowledges that even though many people wish beef didn't exist, it continues to thrive due to ignorance and the desire for power. In the final verses, he mentions the notorious rap beefs between artists like 2Pac and Biggie, emphasizing how beef can escalate to the point of fatal consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
It's like y'all can't do nothin' without me
You rely on me for chaos and disruption, unable to function properly without my presence
Everything be going good, but then y'all pull me in
Things are going well, but you deliberately involve me to create conflict and ruin everything
And mess everything up
I bring destruction and turmoil to any situation
Why y'all always let me win?
You constantly allow me to succeed and thrive in causing harm
I be tryin' to find the best way they can stop me cold
I constantly search for ways to prevent anyone from putting an end to my influence
Another body and guess who the cause, and why they foes?
I am responsible for causing conflicts and turning people against each other, leading to violence and death
Beef is my name, my story is age old
My name is synonymous with conflict, and my destructive nature has been present throughout history
Some question, why do I always come to take souls?
Many wonder why I consistently bring about death and destruction
I'm everywhere in the hearts of men
I exist within the deepest parts of people's emotions and desires
Jealousy and envy my right hands, them is my mans
Jealousy and envy are my loyal allies, always by my side
I'm what happens on mad blocks, I'm the jabs takin' in talks
I am the source of conflicts in violent neighborhoods, fueling arguments and fights
The arguments between the women in the crab leg spots
Even in seemingly harmless places like restaurants, I am the cause of disputes and disagreements
That behind the back shit complex and multifaceted
I thrive on behind-the-scenes deception and manipulation, using complex tactics to cause harm
Lesson to the real, I be decimal subtracting shit
I teach the harsh realities of life, constantly subtracting from people's happiness and well-being
The devil is a lie, I could confuse a genius
I possess the ability to deceive even the most brilliant minds, distorting their thoughts and actions
Have him movin' real dumb over nothin' at my convenience
Through my influence, I can make someone act foolishly and irrationally, solely for my own benefit
When empires fall over women, I am the reason
I am often the catalyst for the downfall of powerful entities, especially when it involves conflicts over relationships
USA and Al-Qaeda, I'm the tension between 'em
I am the source of tension and conflict between even the most unlikely adversaries, like countries and terrorist organizations
I'm the words that get misinterpreted
I am the cause of misunderstandings and miscommunication, leading to further conflicts
I'm the get back, I'm the first to hit
I represent revenge and retaliation, always being the first to strike back in conflicts
I'm the worst of it, lurkin' on your premises
I embody the darkest aspects of conflicts, always lurking and ready to cause harm
I am your nemesis
I am the ultimate enemy, constantly opposing and working against you
Parents of every slain rapper wish I didn't exist
The parents of deceased rappers deeply regret my existence, knowing that I played a role in their children's demise
But I'm alive and I thrive on your ignorance
Despite the desire for my nonexistence, I continue to thrive and prosper through the ignorance and susceptibility of others
I'm a thousand foot fence that keep you from getting rich
I act as an impenetrable barrier, preventing you from achieving prosperity and success
Get around me
Try to overcome and surpass my influence
I'm the invasion of personal space
I metaphorically invade and disrupt the personal lives and relationships of individuals
Fake smiles on your face, just servin' 'em hate
Despite outwardly appearing friendly, I cause individuals to harbor hidden animosity and ill will towards each other
All that internet beef, that shit a virgin to me
The conflicts and arguments that arise on social media platforms are insignificant to me, as I have existed before their existence
I been here before the Bible, it's murder I speak
I have been present since ancient times, advocating and causing acts of violence and destruction
The energy creepin' 'round the blocks and the streets
My negative influence and disruptive energy permeate throughout neighborhoods and communities
Take his guys with him shoppin', they side-eyeing to please
Even during seemingly innocent activities like shopping, the presence of conflict and tension is evident among accompanying individuals
Everybody's impossible, it don't stop in the P's
Conflicts and disagreements are pervasive and seem insurmountable, extending from personal interactions to larger social structures ('P's' referring to both people and power dynamics)
I'm eternal, I'm everywhere the action at
I am timeless and exist wherever conflicts and confrontations occur
I'm always where the guns are blazin', attractin' that
I gravitate towards and incite violence, creating the conditions for gunfire and chaos
The grimiest places is my natural habitat
I thrive in the most depraved and corrupt environments, making it my natural dwelling
In all the jails and all the parties I be
Whether in prison or celebratory events, I am present and responsible for conflicts arising
Drive-bys with kids that killed accidentally
I enable and influence even young individuals to commit unintentional acts of violence, such as drive-by shootings
That's the type of shit they try to pin to me
Such incidents are often attributed to me, attempting to hold me responsible for the consequences of my actions
Tragic situations give me my identity
I derive my existence and purpose from the unfortunate and devastating circumstances that occur as a result of my influence
Then beef, cut off the fat, add sizzle and grease
I am synonymous with conflict ('beef'), cutting off any unnecessary elements, and intensifying it with excitement and aggression
Love to many deceased over me
Countless lives have been lost due to the conflicts and violence I bring about
People got me in some shit everyday
I am involved in and responsible for conflicts and troubles on a daily basis
Over this, over that
Conflicts arise over every possible matter and issue
Over nothing, over something
Regardless of the significance, disputes and disagreements occur
Either way, it's on
Regardless of the circumstances, conflict and hostility are inevitable
Why it's always gotta be resortin' to me?
Why is it that conflicts consistently turn to me as the cause and solution?
I ain't asked for this power, it's torture, it forced me to see
I never sought this destructive influence, but now I am forced to witness the havoc it wreaks upon the world
People drainin' themselves, some pull off some horrible deeds
Individuals become consumed and depleted by conflict, resulting in them committing terrible actions
Rumors turnin' into a monster, lies always mislead
Rumors grow and distort, creating a monstrous entity that perpetuates falsehoods and misleads people
By the time you hear what somebody said
By the time you receive information from others
It's stretched out, they expanded and made it worse
The information has been distorted and exaggerated, making the situation even more dire
Now you all stressed out
Now you are overwhelmed and burdened by the conflict
You wish you got it straightened out
You desperately desire to resolve and clarify the situation
But it's too far gone
But it has already escalated beyond repair
From 'Who Shot Ya?' to 'Hit 'Em Up,' the 2Pac song
From infamous rap beefs like the conflict between Biggie's 'Who Shot Ya?' and 2Pac's 'Hit 'Em Up,' I have been present throughout history in disputes between artists
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Chauncey Hollis Jr., Nasir Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DrugBa642
I gave you power in perspective of gun
Fetus in perspective of unborn baby
Shine on in perspective of diamond
Last words in perspective of prison cell
Rewind talks whole story backwards
Undying love
Memory Lane
I mean so many great different concepts
No one has catalogs like Nas
@jasonsweet5972
He rapped as a gun, a prison cell, a roach and now beef.......genius 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥G.O.A.T.
@Jed-i
Real fans knows what's up !!!!!👌✊️
@savakirilov5263
Wait , what's the prison cell song? Haven't heard that one
@bolder2009
@Sava Kirilov Last Words
@iraford5788
Also don't forget fried chicken on the untitled album.
@dannydavis1038
U forgot fried chicken on untitled and money on I I'm
@pagola
What we don't realize..Nas is inspiring other rappers of his generation to keep going and stick to their style and be themselves...the man is keeping a lot alive
@jokedok8044
We? Are u mental ? Are all americana mental?
@karl-oskar2026
Honestly, this might be the best hiphop song I've heard in atleast 5 years. Big up Nas!
@TalkNiceToMe
Definitely my favorite Nas song now. This song will be timeless.