E
Nas Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

L-O-V-E LOVE la...
I will not give you riches
Riches are not my wishes
I'll give the vow of my life
L-O-V-E LOVE la...
LOVE
L is for life and living
O is the oath of giving
V and E vow of enternity
L-O-V-E LOVE la...
Though the word may be simple
Yet the feeling is true and deep
Here's a pledge for you to keep
My true love L-O-V-E
I'll make your life worth living
I'll take and I'll be giving
Please take my vow of enternity
L-O-V-E LOVE la...
LOVE
Though the word may be simple
Yet the feeling is true and deep
Here's a pledge for you to keep
My true love L-O-V-E
I'll make your life worth living
I'll take and I'll be giving
Please take my vow of enternity




L-O-V-E LOVE la...
L-O-V-E LOVE

Overall Meaning

In Nas's song "E," the chorus addresses the derogatory term "nigger," and posits that despite being labeled as such, black individuals are much more than just that. The lyrics indicate that the history books neglect the achievements of black scholars and that despite being both slaves and masters, black people are still unrecognized in their rightful place in society. The first verse describes what it is like growing up in the ghetto, where black women talk about their sugar levels, and the schools are outdated, and there are photos of dead homies' funerals. However, despite all of this, black people still come together to make the best of what they have, as evidenced by the lemons they were given that they turned into lemonade.


The second verse projects a sense of self-assuredness as Nas spits about his background of both being an ancestor of slaves and being descended from kings, saying that it is necessary for him to bling and put rings on everything. He references the government cameras watching them and how paranoid he is, insisting that he has to get his car, home, and phone swept for bugs. Nas believes that his enemies are now at his doorstep, as he mentions that his backup has gone away. He implies that people are quick to run when things get tough, but he will always be there for his brother Jungle, who is always there beside him.


One interesting fact about Nas's song "E" is that it was produced by the famous DJ Premier, who was inducted into the Hip Hop Hall of Fame in 2019. Another interesting fact is that the "E" in the title refers to "Ether," Nas's response to Jay-Z's "Takeover" diss track. In "Ether," Nas famously dissed Jay-Z by saying he had "a camel face and an elephant ass." The song was also featured in the soundtrack for the video game Grand Theft Auto IV. Another fascinating fact is that the lyrics "Ancestry of slaves, descendant of kings" was inspired by African American poet and author Maya Angelou's famous quote, "I am the dream and the hope of the slave." The line "Take off the bracelets" is a reference to the ankle bracelets that people wear when they are on probation or parole.


The chords for "E" are not provided, as the song is predominantly rap and hip hop, and not typically played with acoustic instruments.


Line by Line Meaning

They say we N I - Double G E R
Society labels us with racial slurs


We - are - much more,
Our potential and capabilities go beyond what society expects of us


Still we choose to ignore,
We overlook our true worth and settle for less


The obvious.
Our true value and contributions have been disregarded and overlooked


Man this history don't acknowledge us,
History has not recognized our scholarly contributions


We was scholars long before colleges.
Our intellectual abilities existed long before formal education was available to us


We are much more,
Our value and potential surpass societal expectations


But still we choose to ignore,
We continue to undervalue our worth and potential


We are the slave and the master,
We have both been oppressed and have the power to overcome it


What you looking for?
What is your purpose and goal?


You the question and the answer.
You hold the responsibility of finding answers and taking action


We trust no black leaders,
We are skeptical of those in positions of power and their motives


Use the stove to heat us,
We use basic resources to survive


Powder eggs and government cheeses,
We rely on government assistance for food


The calendar was Martin, JFK, & Jesus,
We commemorate important figures in history


Gotta be fresh
Fashion and style are important in our culture


Go to school with fly sneakers.
We value fashion and style in all aspects of life


Schools with outdated books,
Our education system is underfunded and not up to date


We are the forgotten,
Our contributions and worth are overlooked and disregarded


Summers coolin' off by the fire hydrant.
We find ways to have fun and stay cool without luxurious resources


Yeah I'm from the ghetto,
I come from a low-income neighborhood


Where old black women talk about they sugar level,
Health concerns are prevalent in our community


It's not unusual,
It's a common occurrence


To see photos of dead homies' funerals,
We frequently mourn the loss of loved ones who died too soon


Aluminum foil on t.v. antennas
We use basic resources to enhance our entertainment experiences


Little TV sit on top the big TV eatin' TV dinners,
Our meals and entertainment are sometimes simple or basic


Girls die they hair with kool-aid,
We use unconventional resources for hair care


They gave us lemons we made lemonade,
We are resourceful and can make the most out of difficult situations


But this nigga's paid,
I have financial success


Ancestry of slaves,
My ancestors were enslaved


Descendant of Kings
Despite my ancestry, I am still royalty


It's necessary I,
It's important that I


Bling,
Display my wealth and success


Puts rings on every thing
I adorn various possessions with jewelry


Where Timbs on every scene.
I wear Timberland boots everywhere I go


Do I mean it like a slave master?
Am I treating others unfairly and inhumanely?


Nigger!
A racial slur directed at me


No!
I am not like a slave master


I'm gangsta
I have a tough and aggressive demeanor


Gotta eat rappers!
I am a successful rapper and need to stay on top


My abbreviation
My shortening of words


Was young when I caught the cases,
I was young when I got in legal trouble


That should mean the court could see my changes
The court should recognize my growth and improvement


Take off the bracelets,
Remove my legal monitoring devices


Savage when broke,
I become aggressive and determined when financially struggling


Smoke sour diesel
Smoke marijuana


Need no Bo-Flex
I don't need a fancy gym membership to stay fit


My chest still cut-up like a bag of dope,
My body is muscular and defined


Thought patterns consist of boss matters,
I think and prioritize like a successful leader


Spit Moses' "Lost Commandments"
I speak wisdom and knowledge


Like a gross sandwich out my mouth.
My words are powerful and blunt


Toast to government cameras
Acknowledge the presence of government surveillance


Peepin' us every week
Constantly observing and monitoring us


I must have my cars homes & phones
I prioritize and value material possessions


Squeaked for bugs,
Removing potential surveillance devices


But this is what I was dreamin' of,
I had aspirations of wealth and success


Between cutting hard coke with new razors
Dealing and preparing drugs


Slicing my fingers up,
Putting myself in risky and dangerous situations


They use to string us up,
Our ancestors were lynched and hung


We wanted everything,
We strive for success and prosperity


But the one bringing us cake be the snakes
Our so-called allies are actually our enemies


Like the...Like the New Jack City wedding scene
A reference to a scene from the movie New Jack City, where a wedding becomes a violent event


No time for mistakes trying to get it like 'marajuin'
I am determined to succeed and can't afford to slip up


My nig...
A reference to a friend or acquaintance


What up my nig?
What's going on, friend?


People afraid of criticism
People are uncomfortable with receiving negative feedback


But I always put myself in a sacrificial position!
I am willing to face criticism and take risks


They been know I ain't just rappin' for fame,
I am not only in this industry for fame and fortune


I got my old homie hashin' the father asking for change!
I am giving back to my community and helping those in need


Yep! I'd give this cash up
I am willing to part with my wealth for a good cause


This paper don't matter
Money is not my top priority


They seen me from skinny to fatter
They have observed my journey from struggling to successful


When I rap about war,
When I speak on social issues and struggles


They got the tendency to scatter,
People shy away from discussions on serious topics


They ain't my backup no more,
People who were once supportive have turned against me


So now my enemies are at my front door,
I am facing opposition and backlash


'Cause any time we mention
When we speak on


Our condition, our history or existence,
Our struggles, our past experiences, or just our presence


They calling it reverse racism,
They are accusing us of discriminating against them when we express our own experiences and existence


Still till today the street's torn,
Our communities are still facing issues and struggles


My brother Jungle always have a seat for 'em
My friend Jungle is always willing to help and support others


Not behind me - beside me
He is not just a follower, but an equal partner


You'll always know where to find me,
I am always present and available


On the road to riches, and diamond rings
My journey towards financial success


In the land of the blind
In a place of ignorance or confusion


The man with one eye is the king.
Those with even a little knowledge or power can become leaders in such a place




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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

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

More Versions