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..
EPMD
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bucket on low like Erick and Parrish
Closed casket flow, all you niggas get deaded
They don't give you one single rose while you can smell it
So I pick from my own garden (garden)
Wanna go out in my garden like Godfather
Grandkids and a Rottweiler, got over the block trauma (yeah)
Thinkin' you the truth, really you not for real (EPMD)
Back to back with' it, the hardest shit of the year (Nasir Jones)
(Remix)
EPMD, we back in business
Ain't nobody fuckin' with us, come to your senses (uh)
P is the second coming of God something to witness
Piece of shit fly on your head like Mike Pence's
We in the trenches
I'm mad, better yet, I'm on a rampage
My people can't even get minimum wage
Fuck a stimulus (uh)
Give me some interest (uh)
Give me a loan
Give me a home
Get me that land you owe me so I can roam
So when you trespass, blaow, one in your dome
Best wishes, ghost 'em like he Tommy
Ain't worried bout nothin' 'cause Hit Squad behind me
EPMD, we back in business
I visualize what is it, not what is isn't
We at the mafia table next to the kitchen
Eatin' Michelin Stars, countin' a million
Dun
I let it go for the family, meetin's at Cote in Miami
Them wine bottles on maggie, extra large
Sign up for my masterclass, Escobar
Feet up at Mets Stadium at my restaurant (yerr)
Tied in from AZ to Dave East, you know my thoughts get crazy
My teachers, they couldn't grade me
I know some Haitians in Dade County, got choppers in Haiti
She booked a flight to Colombia, made her body amazin'
Just to post it on Tumblr, this that "fuck up the summer" shit
I don't care what you comin' with, me and Hit-Boy runnin' shit (runnin' shit)
Big gold, rope chains, but they flooded now (yeah, flooded now)
Pull up with the Ghost like a haunted house (haunted house)
Shit gettin' scary, blood on my hands like Carrie
Might walk through a cemetery to see where hip-hop is buried
I said it was dead, but it faked its death like Machiavelli
You see letters in red splatter, look like sauce and spaghetti
Yeah, ready?
EPMD, we're back in business (what?)
Livin' in cramped conditions, we'll give you ammunition
Stock them shelves, I got more shells like Taco Bell and I'm not gon' fail
I got no L's like Christmas, you don't wanna make the claws come out (nah)
Y'all should call yourselves Santa (why?) 'Cause none of y'all are real (nah)
Not a single one (like what?), Like a dollar bill (yeah)
It's like your bitch in appellate court, she's on a pill
We got her a bond and she'll
Never bail on me, not even outta jail
EPMD, but me, I gots no chills (you gotsa chill)
Just a lotta skrill
Lady, my paper's so crazy, I just tossed a mil' out the window
Of my mobile on the fuckin' freeway on the way here (yeah)
Like Rudolph and his homies when they pullin' the sleigh, yeah
That's a lot of bucks flyin' when I'm makin' it rain, dear
Green on me but no weed, shorty, just these, darling
A pocket full of pills, some are Tylenol 3s, prolly two or three Molly
So some are E which reminds me of rap summary, mami
My theme song, me and P
Always used to play that shit on repeat all day
So please call me "Big Daddy" (daddy)
Plus I got the 'caine and lean on me (yeah)
MCs, I'm eatin' you B-I-T-C-H's like tortilla chips
Me, I'm free of debt, yeah, green is on Chia Pet
This is the effects of my old neighborhood misery index
Poverty at it's peak, OCD and PTSD I guess
R.I.P. out to DMX, Stezo, E and Nipsey
Ecstasy and Prince Markie Dee, MF DOOM, I hit 50 via text
Told him that I love him 'cause I don't even know when I'ma see him next (nah)
Tomorrow could be your death (yeah, what?) (Bring that beat back)
Yeah, and this shit ain't for the faint
'Cause the brain's iller trained, killer, danger, deranged
And I drank all the DayQuil, I blank on the paper
Then wait 'til the page fill up
Hate spiller, shameful the strength of a pain pill or tranq'
I just pray for the day when I'm able to say that I'm placed
With the greats and my name's with the Kane's and the Wayne's and the Jay's
And the Dre's and the Ye's and the Drake's and the J Dilla's, Jada's, Cool J's
And the Ra's and amazin' as Nas is, and praise to the Gods of this
Shout to the golden age of hip-hop and the name of this song is
EPMD, we back in business
I visualize what is it, not what is isn't
We at the mafia table next to the kitchen
Eatin' Michelin Stars, coutin' a million
In the song "EPMD" by Nas, the lyrics describe growing older and the importance of looking after oneself and one's family. The line "bucket on low like Erick and Parrish" describes the humble beginnings of the rapper's life, while the reference to a "closed casket flow" hints at his role as a rapper and his influence over others. The next line, "They don't give you one single rose while you can smell it", highlights the idea that people often fail to appreciate something when they have it and only realize its worth when it is gone. Nas chooses to "pick from my own garden" and goes on to paint a picture of a peaceful life filled with grandkids and a loyal Rottweiler. The final lines, "So what you sayin' nigga? You gots to chill / Thinkin' you the truth, really you not for real", suggest that people should be more humble and self-aware, rather than thinking they are the best at what they do.
In the remix featuring EPMD, the lyrics take a more confrontational tone. The lines "My people can't even get minimum wage / Fuck a stimulus, give me some interest / Give me a loan / Give me a home / Get me that land you owe me so I can roam" express the frustration of the minority community with the government's attitude towards them. The following lines "So when you trespass, blaow, one in your dome / Best wishes, ghost 'em like he Tommy / Ain't worried bout nothin' 'cause Hit Squad behind me" show that despite the government's lack of support, the rapper is still confident in his own abilities and those of his community.
Line by Line Meaning
E.P.M.D., we back in business
Nas is back in the rap game and ready to do business as he refers to the iconic hip-hop duo EPMD.
I visualize what it is not what it isn't
Nas is focused on manifesting success and not letting negative thoughts deter him from his goals.
We at the mafia table, next to the kitchen
Nas is sitting and strategizing with the people in power and control, using the elements of organized crime and their influence to succeed.
Eatin' Michelin Star, countin' a million
Nas is enjoying the finest things in life while also counting his wealth, as he has reached a level of success that allows him to live like a king.
Look, hood theories
Nas is discussing and analyzing the theories that revolve around the street-based lifestyle, often overlooked or disregarded by the mainstream population.
Arnold Rothstein rigged the World Series
Nas references the infamous and confirmed scandal of Arnold Rothstein, who allegedly orchestrated the fix of the 1919 World Series, to illustrate how corruption and greed exist at all levels of society.
Gotti ran every union in the city
Nas is acknowledging and reinforcing the power and influence of John Gotti, a notorious New York mafia boss, who was rumored to have a say in every union in the city.
N-A-S do it B-I-G like Biggie
Nas compares himself to The Notorious B.I.G., showing his confidence and ego that his impact has been just as great and influential.
Leadin' like Huey Newton did
Nas compares his impact as a revolutionary leader to that of Huey Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, who led the fight against racial inequality and oppression.
Nigga, that's how official the revolution is
Nas emphasizes the importance and legitimacy of the revolution against oppression and his role as a leader in creating this change.
Feds holdin' cameras up and they zoomin' in
Nas is aware of the constant surveillance by the government and law enforcement, thus keeping his guard up and staying vigilant.
Don't be surprised when niggas show you they true intent
Nas warns to not be shocked by people who reveal their true intentions, as it has become commonplace in today's society.
Ruthless, they'll tie up your wife and kids
Nas describes how vicious and savage the streets can be, as people are willing to harm or threaten the families of those who stand in their way.
While you talkin' on Clubhouse, the guns out
Nas calls out those who boast about their accomplishments online rather than handling real-life situations, as the streets are unforgiving and require action.
This ain't a audio chat, boy, this audio crack
Nas emphasizes the seriousness of the streets and how it would not be fair to compare real-life situations to a simple online chat.
Social media platforms, they rattin' on
Nas is critical of social media and its lack of privacy, as people can easily use it as a tool to snitch or betray others for personal gain.
Facebook, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon
Nas lists powerful tech companies who have the capability of invading our privacy and exploiting personal information for their profit.
Some say it's Babylon
Nas references the biblical city of Babylon, which was known for its corruption and sinful behavior, as a metaphor for the current state of society.
Took the property over, since Hampton gone
Nas discusses how the government and those in power have taken over areas that were once dominated by Black communities, alluding to the assassination of Fred Hampton by the FBI.
Who said we couldn't get cash this long, last this long
Nas defies those who doubted him and his peers, proving that they can create wealth and maintain success over a long period of time.
Platinum cards with our ratchets on
Nas describes the luxurious lifestyle he leads, including owning platinum credit cards and always being armed with weapons for protection.
Laid back, ox blood seats with the hazards on
Nas luxuriates in his wealth by describing his expensive car and the plush leather seating, with the added detail of keeping the hazard lights on to appear cool and unbothered.
Murcielago mob flow
Nas compares himself and his crew to the Lamborghini Murcielago, a sleek, expensive sports car that represents wealth, power, and status.
'20 Chevy Tahoe's
Nas references the 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe, a more modest but still expensive car that represents the cars his crew may use for transportation or to blend in while still being luxurious.
And I'm sittin' low, I am not hidin' though
Nas is confident in his position of power and wealth, sitting comfortably in luxury vehicles, but is not afraid or ashamed to be visible or noticed by others.
Condos in different time zones
Nas has multiple high-end properties across various locations and time zones, emphasizing the extent of his wealth and success.
Way before y'all was double cuppin' the Styrofoam
Nas boasts that he was enjoying wealth and opulence long before the younger generation, who are focused on the fads of double cupping and syrup sipping.
Come on thug, had to lay it down in lamest terms, yeah
Nas is explaining issues in the simplest terms possible for those who may not be as knowledgeable or familiar with street life and its complexities.
Want me to turn up a notch? Just say the word, yeah
Nas is ready to escalate the conflict or situation if necessary, as he is confident in his abilities and unafraid of those who oppose him.
Hit told me to chill, just lay the verse
Nas is taking advice from producer Hit-Boy to stay calm and focus on his craft, only delivering his verses to maintain his status and success.
You know my thoughts get crazy, thinkin' 'bout shit from the '80s
Nas loves to reminisce and reflect on his past experiences and successes, and is determined not to let them go unnoticed or forgotten.
Buckin' like Tom Brady, ballin' like Kyrie and KD
Nas references successful athletes Tom Brady, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant, to describe how he is balling and thriving in his own right.
Will had the medallion, emblem of a Mercedes
Nas references Will Smith's character in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air who wore a chain with the emblem of a Mercedes, praising his own success and how he is living like the wealthy characters on the show.
Way before Mike Amiri when all the Nike's was Penny's
Nas had expensive designer clothing before the hype of the modern-day brand Mike Amiri, during a time when the most coveted sneaker to own was the Nike Air Penny.
Killin' niggas for sneakers, had to skate through the envy
Nas describes the dangers of the street life, where people will kill others over material possessions like shoes, and how he had to avoid these altercations to maintain his success.
Supreme sold for a few billi' (few billi')
Nas references the sale of Supreme, a clothing brand that he has been affiliated with, for billions of dollars. This shows the power and influence of streetwear brands in the current market.
If I sell my masters I need a trilli' (needa trilli')
Nas values his creative work and property rights, as selling his masters, the original recordings of his music, would need a large sum of money, one trillion dollars to be exact.
It was go get it, now it's gimme (run it)
Nas explains how he and others had to work hard and struggle to achieve their success and wealth, but now they have reached a point where it is almost handed to them.
And we ain't relyin' on no stimmies
Nas references the stimulus payments given by the government to support citizens during the pandemic, but emphasizes that he and his crew do not require any assistance or handouts to maintain their wealth.
Mob shit
Nas is affiliated with the streets and mob culture, using it to create art and succeed in his career.
Legitimate
Nas has earned his success and maintained it through legal means, proving that he can succeed without resorting to illegal or immoral actions to maintain his wealth.
You couldn't even calculate this shit
Nas's success and influence are so great that others cannot comprehend or estimate their value or impact.
Unsurmountable shit
Nas's success and influence are insurmountable and rise above all challenges or obstacles, making him a legend in the hip-hop community.
It's too serious
Nas emphasizes the importance and gravity of the issues discussed in his song, proving that he is not just creating entertainment, but rather making a statement about society and his place in it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Chauncey Hollis Jr., Erick Sermon, Marshall B Mathers III, Nasir Jones, Parrish J. Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidrichards6059
Think about it.......
In the last 5 years you've gotten albums from the likes of
Nas
Jay
Styles P
Jadakiss
The Lox
Redman
Black Thought
Pusha T
Royce
Em
Busta
And more.......
They're still here. People just have to support.
@massappeal
We back in business 🍷
@shahilanathan8067
Nice choice of servants...subtle but effective. 🍁
@cix8393
🤜🤛
@awareyah6146
PROVERBS 14:15 PROVERBS 15:14
@awareyah6146
That’s a song I dropped as well as JUST TRY TO UNDERSTAND
@djdela1313
Indeed!!!!
@williambarkus
Round of applause for whoever been barbering Nas all these decades. This dude is iconic
@aaronlove2623
Lol 😂 true
@sahiembrown714
Nas is my favorite rapper
@tupuhumuhumunukunukuapuaa3093
I believe that fade is trademarked.