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.
1973โ1992: 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.
1992โ1995: 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 Serchโs solo album is released later in the year, Nasโ 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.
1996โ1998: 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.
1998โ2000: 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.
2000โ2001: 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."
2002โPresent: 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 Koะฏn'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, Nasโ 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..
Blue Benz
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Things we purchase is- is, what the value of it is
Is it really worth it?
I used to be at The Tunnel twenty deep in a huddle
Razors on us that'll make skin bubble, Moet, we guzzle
Chris Lighty let me in a few times with nines
That's on God, wish you woulda walked by
My chain on, try to book me, you gone
Goons, Italian leathers, couple bottles of Dom
Took risks, this ain't what you want, there's rules to this
Don't get it misconstrued, my suit game was crisp
Silk, linen, chiffon, Dior to Diadora
But I rock custom more, that hustler aura, tap in
Razor cutter, nineties, eighties lover, raised in gutters
Raised above it, they made it up out the hood subject, I made you love it
Crazy, I knew this chick, she had a blue Benz
A Jersey penthouse, she used to pimp girls that would turn rich men out
Her coke habits was so savage
She hear voices and see ghosts on the average
Of her stepdad, he raised her from a carriage
She was twelve when he passed, she's been in hell since that
Her grandma raised her, I met her in Kingston, Jamaica
Where veteran kingpins bought acres, rest in peace Louie Rankin
Original Don Dada
Man a Jamaican rude bwoy
Uno waan ramp with bomboclaat me
Come, come on
I murder people fi fun
Murder uno bomboclaat fi fun
Peace signs in the air for son
Put his name on the street sign there where he from
Whenever we hear his bangers, flare up a blunt
And praise God, and pray we all prepared when He come for us
Just opened my new office, West Coast branch
Place my teacup on the saucer, it's Esco, man
Bossed up, nothing feels better than doing deals with my brothers
It's surreal, how I feel, y'all should love us
Life is a test so congratulations to your success
For having patience, you deserve the best
You know they do niggas, the IRS
People I ain't even met take it out my check
They the biggest gangster, I respect the jooks
We buyin' big boy mansions, they respect the crooks
This for my project niggas and blue Benzes
Mercedes emblems with they bitch with 'em
The lyrics to Nas's song "Blue Benz" explore themes of materialism, power, and the complexities of street life. Nas reflects on his experiences in the past, mentioning moments spent in The Tunnel, a popular New York City nightclub known for its vibrant hip-hop scene. He reminisces about carrying razors for protection and drinking Moet champagne with his crew. He also mentions encounters with Chris Lighty, a prominent music executive, highlighting his gratitude for the opportunities he was given. Nas emphasizes the importance of respecting the rules of the streets and showcases his fashion sense, describing his eclectic mix of clothing brands.
The song takes a darker turn as Nas introduces a character, a woman he knew who owned a blue Benz. He reveals that she operated a prostitution ring, exploiting girls to profit from wealthy men. He delves into her troubled past, including the influence of her stepfather and her struggles with drug addiction and mental health. Despite the grim narrative, Nas's lyrics also pay tribute to the late actor and musician, Louie Rankin, known for his role in the Jamaican film, "Shottas," portraying a ruthless gangster named Teddy Brukshot.
The song transitions to a Jamaican patois section, where Nas embodies a Jamaican "rude bwoy" character, referencing Jamaican slang and asserting his dominance and dangerous nature. He contrasts this with the peace signs and positive reverence he associates with fallen friends. Nas celebrates his accomplishments, mentioning his new office on the West Coast and the satisfaction of doing business with his brothers. He acknowledges the challenges of life, especially dealing with financial obligations such as taxes, but also acknowledges the power structures that exist within society by acknowledging the respect he has for those who navigate illegitimate means to acquire wealth. The song ends by giving a shout-out to those from his neighborhood who drive blue Benzes, a symbol of success for many.
Line by Line Meaning
As we go through life, one of the big questions about
While navigating life, we face the important question of
Things we purchase is- is, what the value of it is
The worth and significance of the things we buy
Is it really worth it?
Is it truly worth the investment?
I used to be at The Tunnel twenty deep in a huddle
I used to be surrounded by a large group of people at The Tunnel
Razors on us that'll make skin bubble, Moet, we guzzle
We carried dangerous weapons and indulged in drinking Moet Champagne
Chris Lighty let me in a few times with nines
Chris Lighty allowed me entry with firearms on several occasions
That's on God, wish you woulda walked by
I swear to God, I wish you had walked past me
And bumped me hard or just looked at me wrong
And physically confronted or disrespected me in some way
My chain on, try to book me, you gone
If my chain is on and you try to provoke me, you will face consequences
Goons, Italian leathers, couple bottles of Dom
I surrounded myself with a crew, dressed in luxury Italian leathers, and enjoyed expensive bottles of Dom Perignon champagne
Took risks, this ain't what you want, there's rules to this
I took risks and lived a dangerous lifestyle, but this is not what you desire, as there are strict rules to this game
Don't get it misconstrued, my suit game was crisp
Do not misunderstand, I always dressed impeccably in my suits
Silk, linen, chiffon, Dior to Diadora
I wore luxurious fabrics such as silk, linen, chiffon, and designer brands like Dior and Diadora
But I rock custom more, that hustler aura, tap in
But I prefer to wear customized clothing that reflects my hustler mentality. Connect with it.
Razor cutter, nineties, eighties lover, raised in gutters
I was a person who carried a razor blade, embraced the style of the nineties and eighties, and grew up in poor and rough neighborhoods
Raised above it, they made it up out the hood subject, I made you love it
Despite my challenging background, I overcame it all. Others who also escaped the hardships of the hood can relate, and I captivated and gained your admiration
Crazy, I knew this chick, she had a blue Benz
Ironically, I was acquainted with a woman who owned a blue Mercedes-Benz
A Jersey penthouse, she used to pimp girls that would turn rich men out
She lived in a luxurious penthouse in New Jersey and forced young girls to engage in prostitution, targeting wealthy men
Her coke habits was so savage
Her addiction to cocaine was extremely intense and destructive
She hear voices and see ghosts on the average
On a regular basis, she experienced auditory hallucinations and visualized supernatural entities
Of her stepdad, he raised her from a carriage
Her stepfather took care of her since she was a baby
She was twelve when he passed, she's been in hell since that
When she was twelve years old, her stepfather died, and her life has been filled with turmoil and suffering ever since
Her grandma raised her, I met her in Kingston, Jamaica
Her grandmother took over her upbringing, and I encountered her in Kingston, Jamaica
Where veteran kingpins bought acres, rest in peace Louie Rankin
In Kingston, experienced drug lords purchased vast amounts of land, and we pay homage to the late Louie Rankin, a renowned Jamaican artist
Original Don Dada
A true and respected leader in the Jamaican underworld
Man a Jamaican rude bwoy
I am a Jamaican rude boy
Uno waan ramp with bomboclaat me
You want to mess with me, you idiot
Come, come on
Come, let's go
I murder people fi fun
I kill people for enjoyment
Murder uno bomboclaat fi fun
I murder you idiots for fun
Peace signs in the air for son
We raise peace signs in honor of my loved one
Put his name on the street sign there where he from
We commemorate him by placing his name on the street sign of his hometown
Whenever we hear his bangers, flare up a blunt
Whenever we listen to his songs, we light and smoke a marijuana joint
And praise God, and pray we all prepared when He come for us
We express gratitude to God and pray that we are ready for when He calls upon us
Just opened my new office, West Coast branch
I recently inaugurated a new branch of my business on the West Coast
Place my teacup on the saucer, it's Esco, man
I elegantly place my teacup on the saucer, signifying my presence as Esco, the man in charge
Bossed up, nothing feels better than doing deals with my brothers
I have elevated myself to a position of power and fulfillment, and there is no greater satisfaction than conducting business with my trusted allies
It's surreal, how I feel, y'all should love us
The emotions and sensations I experience are beyond ordinary, and you all should show us love and admiration
Life is a test so congratulations to your success
Life is a challenging journey, so I congratulate you on your achievements
For having patience, you deserve the best
Your ability to remain patient deserves recognition, and you deserve the finest things in life
You know they do niggas, the IRS
You know they do us dirty, referring to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
People I ain't even met take it out my check
Strangers, whom I haven't even encountered, deduct money from my earnings
They the biggest gangster, I respect the jooks
The government bodies and institutions are the most powerful and influential criminals, and I acknowledge their methods
We buyin' big boy mansions, they respect the crooks
We are purchasing large, luxurious mansions, and the authorities have no choice but to respect our criminal activities
This for my project niggas and blue Benzes
This is dedicated to my friends from the projects and those who own blue Mercedes-Benz cars
Mercedes emblems with they bitch with 'em
They proudly display the Mercedes emblems while accompanied by their partners
Lyrics ยฉ Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Nasir Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marc B
Before this world blow up, Nas dropped another classic ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
Kevin Burke
Nas is still at the top of his game. As someone who bought his CDs in the late 90s I don't see a difference. I didn't know he dropped a new album and I caught his new tracks while listening to Spotify. I figured these were unreleased tracks from back n the day another lost tapes. Couidnt believe it was new shit. Amazing.
Bandit Da MC
Nas better get a grammy for restoring sanity to the ๐
Real Talk
He doesnt need it
iBOXR
Five stars โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
Mike B
@Real Talk he may not need it but I want him to get it. He's been nominated so many times and when I listen to his discography I still cant believe he doesn't have one.
Ivery Lasiiter
Right!!!
Daily Hunter
Grammy award goes to Nas๐๐ฏ.
Jainoriss Olney
Nas story telling remains superior. I can't wait to have this CD on repeat on a long ride. 25th comment from me, fan #2.
Mr. Al
haha. CD my guy ! You a real one