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..
Can't Fade Me feat Quan & Cassidy
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A vision of God's Son Nas. That nigga Cass rules. Whattup baby
[Chorus]
Y'all niggas is crazy
(To think) y'all niggas can't fade me
(Trick these) From the bottom to the top, from the booth to the block
Anyway I got to get it, I'm givin' it all I got
(No Way) And y'all don't want to zone me
(Want it your way) So when I get, I'm gon' get it, in my life how I live it
And whips I be whippin', smokin' on the exquisite
In the crib, two bricks of coke, liquor and dope
Pretty Hawaiian bitches who eat choch and deep throat
Same niggas that get down, remember them
California style, yeah I went back again
But much wiser, 'cause these guys are
Leave you up shits creek and won't lose sleep
So while we pack the heat, I got the heckler and koch
My man got the dot, five-oh block
It's like the movies shots as niggas watch
But the American version
East coast, west coast as we connect these curtains
'Cause we ain't scared to buck, step on the Timbs and Chuck's
Is gonna happen, gun clappin', remember that
Now we on the southern part of the map
Houston, party of the year, everybody there
Texas, no guest list, only real players allowed
Me and my dudes make out rounds
Y'all must be crazy
[Chorus]
VA game spittin', platinum grill grinnin'
Chrome rims spinnin', with wood grain glistenin'
Any amount we sippin', passion for thugs livin'
Free, fresh and out of prison
Flexin' that new edition
Good grain gettin', shit and lovin' the feelin'
Bobby Womack singin', Marisa Rings gleaming
Hat cocked duce, puffin the quarter loosely
Poppin' the bottle and tippin' fifth of that to goosey
Shinnin' for Swill and Halle, smokin' for Lil' Shawney
Still reppin' Bad Newz, and all my soldiers for me
Enjoy some better days, dispute burdens I carry
See cousin hookin' money, for God momentary
Floss every chance I get, spread love freely
Still spittin' gangsta shit, 'cause the streets need me
Still got that mack with me, for niggas actin silly
Still pimpin' gangsta pretty, reppin' in every city
[Chorus]
Yeah, I pray every day for a better life
I think it's gon' get better but it's like I'm never right
Make about it Christ, I'm on both of my knees
There's no hope, that why I'm smokin' the trees
Damn, all for the chees, I lost both of my mans
That's why this toast is in the both of my hands
Damn, and I'll sell coke and birds 'fore I go to work
I go to the Range more than I go to church
My whole mentality twisted, but this reality isn't it
I ain't tryin' to be fatality listed
And yo reverend, gettin dough is like goin' to heaven
And goin' to jail, like goin' to hell
But before I go in the grave, I'll go in the cell
Just send my son mo' dough in the mail
Oh well, but I got god on my side so I'm beatin' the case
This life crazy but I'm keepin' the faith
The song "You Can't Kill Me" by Nas is a powerful and introspective look into the life and mindset of the rapper. The lyrics are filled with references to the darker side of life, including violence and death, but Nas manages to weave these elements into a compelling narrative that draws the listener in and keeps them engaged throughout.
At its core, the song is about survival, both physical and emotional. Nas presents himself as a survivor who has seen and done it all, and who refuses to be taken out by anyone or anything. He is a man who has faced his demons head-on and emerged on the other side stronger and more resilient.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah yeah yeah yeah y'all, New York City,
The song opens with Nas excitedly describing the famous New York City, emphasizing his love for it.
Tryna to see where I'ma go tonight,
Nas is deciding where to go for the night, which represents his freedom and enjoyments as an artist in the city.
The most famous town in the whole fuckin' world,
Nas emphasizes that New York City is globally known and the most famous place, hence the importance of being active and successful in the city.
The other night, nigga was at Lotus,
Nas recalls an incident in which he was at a nightclub called Lotus, where he socialized and enjoyed with friends.
I hit P and them I was Dom P'ed up in there, you know,
Nas expresses that he partook in drinking Dom Perignon champagne at the nightclub, which represents his lavish lifestyle as a successful artist.
But I found this new spot we went to the other night, yo
Nas describes discovering a new place to hang out, indicating his exploration of the city and enjoyment with his friends.
It was just cool like, smooth night wit' my jewels bright
Nas describes his night as perfect and smooth, complementing the occasion with expensive and luxurious jewelry.
Goons left goons right, coupe wit' blue lights
Nas describes being surrounded by his protectors or 'goons' while driving a car that has blue lighting, once again emphasizing Nas' lavish lifestyle.
Bad girls in black pearls, gave us cat calls
Nas and his friends were noticed and hit with cat calls from attractive women wearing black pearls, demonstrating their appreciation and admiration for Nas and group's lifestyle.
Took 'em back to the crib to break they ass off
Nas and his friends took the women back to their house to engage in sexual activity.
In the loft mixin' hash and 'dro
Nas explains that they were making a drug concoction of hashish and marijuana in the house's loft.
Honey spreaded that asshole like a wide mouth bass
Nas describes the women performing anal sex, illustrating the explicit nature of Nas' lyrics
Sippin' wine out the glass, Teddy Pendergrass blast
They were drinking wine out of a glass and listening to Tedddy Pendergrass' music at the house, emphasizing the relaxed and sensual environment they were in.
When the phone ring, the house lights flash
Nas' house has a security system where the lights flash when the phone or person tries to come in, showing the intensity and importance of his safety measures.
Turned down the sound, let's get down to bidness
Nas turns down the volume on the music, indicating that something vital and serious needs his attention.
Shit about to go down wit' some foul niggaz
Nas suggests that he is about to engage in a problematic situation with some bad people.
What the voice said, "what up pop? Who want it?"
A voice on the phone asks Nas what is going on and identifies him as "pop" with the implication on possible upcoming danger or threat for him or someone else.
I put the guap up, get the boy popped
Nas is placing his money or efforts to make someone commit a crime and get back at those bad people.
He say "son stop, it's dudes you feedin'/Who feedin' other dudes, but they really not eatin'"
The voice on the phone warns Nas that he is indirectly helping others who are benefiting from his assistance, but they are not sharing the rewards.
Dog, why you callin' me? This our food
Nas is confused about why he is being warned and states that this is what they agreed to do in the first place or it's their mutual problem.
You, handle the mouths that it trickles down to
Nas is asked to continue helping the beneficiaries even if their loyalties are uncertain, indicating he needs to accept the fact that his business associates may take advantage of their working relationship.
Niggaz want beef, I want some of that cow too
Nas suggests that while he wishes he could indulge in "beef", ie. the drama,/problems, etc., but he can't as a man of wealth and importance
But I'm in my princely robe, simply rich
Nas emphasizes his luxurious and princely lifestyle as someone who is simply wealthy and important.
Don't bother me wit' silly shit, call Rico
Nas emphasizes that he has bigger problems to deal with and not bothered with trivial things, hence his referral to someone else to handle it
He said "it IS Rico, of all people
Nas is surprised that Rico, the person he referred to, is already involved or knowledgeable about this situation.
Gave his moms furs, called up the mayor
Someone tried to appease Rico by buying fur coats for his mother and also trying to have his pending criminal charges pardoned.
To get his crime pardoned, his son's godfather"
The same person allegedly became a godfather to Rico's son, emphasizing the nature of their shady and corrupt deeds.
Said the nigga shot up my cars
Nas is speaking about someone who shot his cars.
Last night he laid for me to come out my doors?
Nas is questioning the attackers' intentions, wondering if they were waiting for him to come out of his house's door to take more severe action.
[Chorus]
Nas repeats the song's catchy chorus, emphasizing the prominence of the issue and the importance of holding your ground and being confident.
High, fly, send a fella loaf or glass?
Nas is rhyming while confusingly asking the relevance of the other person's question or request that seems irrational and unfounded.
Fold up cash, you ain't heard the soldier's half
Nas is folding up cash and alludes to his previous success and influence as a skilled rapper and also to the fact that he is still a powerful figure in the industry.
You speakin' hogwash, silly shit, ??? to dash
Nas is framing the other person's question as nonsensical, and irrelevant where he can't understand the point and just wants to end the conversation.
I got the live sparked, Phillies lit, smoker's jacket on
Nas is describing getting high off marijuana and smoking Phillies, a brand of cigar, while wearing a jacket commonly worn by smokers.
The son of a Cap-ricorn, my dad's a don
Nas references his zodiac sign and his father's ranking as a 'Don', indicating his connection to a powerful and influential family.
What you think that he spawned? A slacker? Nah
Nas emphasizes that his father didn't raise a lazy or unproductive son, hence proving his worth and work ethic in the entertainment industry.
Packed the nines, yo this nigga's asinine
Nas is equipping himself with a firearm for protection and emphasizes the idiocy of whoever ridicules or disregards him.
Smack ya mom, relaxed and calm, then mack ya mom
Nas is using obscene language and references the practice of pimping to assert his dominance over his opponent.
In a casket, you'll get ya fashion on
Nas is expressing his dominance over his potential enemy, suggesting that he will personally prepare the clothes and other details of his enemies once they end up dead.
You'll be in a suit and tie, you'll die
Nas is foreshadowing the death of whoever he is speaking about and predicts that they will be buried in a suit and tie.
You'll make maggots turn to flies, fuckin' wit' Nas
Nas threatens his opponent that he is so powerful that even the maggots from his dead body will turn into flies once it starts decomposing.
Remember anyone can get it at anytime
Nas reiterates that everyone is at risk from him and his peers, irrespective of their wealth or status.
Lames'll swear by ya name, when they lie
Nas is indicating that ignorant people are likely to swear by the person's name he is speaking about, even if their words deceive or mislead him.
Get hit wit' the lone star, ripped where ya bones are
Nas is predicting violent action against his enemies, which will render them severely injured or dead.
So tell me how yo' ass gon' run, from a C-Z-P-O-1?
Nas explains that he doesn't understand how someone can run from a weapon or equipment such as an automated gun
In the midst of real steel movers, you a loser
Nas places his enemy among a powerful, rich crowd and implies that he is only a small and negligible figure in comparison.
Merk you wit'cha own shooters
Nas suggests that his enemy's own bodyguards or protection may turn and kill him.
All you want is a name, pissed and insane
Nas is ridiculing his enemy's ambitions and encouraging him to follow more meaningful aspirations instead of just seeking fame.
My security system, my playspot a fireplace, listen
Nas is explaining the safety features of his house, stating that he has installed modern security systems and his spot is a safe location, and he urges others to listen and learn from him.
Then it goin' off, start spittin'
Nas describes the retaliation of his security system and detailing the effects that an encountered problem or danger could provoke to his security system.
Niggaz try to bring it where I live in
Nas is claiming that people are trying to harm him physically and are targeting where he resides.
Trustin' you, knew where all of the cribs at
Nas is disappointed in the trust he once placed in people he thought he knew, who now turn against him and target things related to him.
So we waited wit' the cigs blat, blat, blat!"
Nas' armed protection takes action, counterattacking against their attackers with gunfire to protect him and his area.
"You can't kill me" [to fade]
Nas ends the song by repeating confidently that he knows and believes that he is untouchable and cannot be killed.
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, MUSIC COPYRIGHT CONSULTANT GRP, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BARRY REESE, BARRY A. REESE, GEORGE SPIVEY, GEORGE L. SPIVEY, OSCAR JR (US 2) BROWN, OSCAR BROWN JR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind