Ether
Nas Lyrics

Fuck with your soul like ether
I deeply penetrate your psyche and spirit, leaving you emotionally wounded

Teach you the king you know you
I will educate you on the fact that you are not as powerful or influential as you believe

"God's son" across the belly
I expose the fact that you claim to be god-like, but in reality, you are inferior

I prove you lost already
I provide evidence that you have already failed and have no chance of success

Brace yourself for the main event
Prepare yourself for the most significant and impactful moment

Y'all impatiently waiting
You all eagerly anticipate this confrontation

It's like an AIDS test, what's the results?
The outcome of this battle will reveal who is the best

Not positive, who's the best? Pac, Nas and Big
There is no definitive answer on who the greatest is, as it could be Tupac, Nas, or Biggie

Ain't no best, East, West, North, South, flossed out, greedy
There is no ultimate champion, as every region has talented and extravagant artists

I embrace y'all with napalm
I engulf all of you in destructive and explosive criticism

Blows up, no guts, left chest, face gone
I deliver devastating blows that leave you metaphorically breathless and defeated

How could Nas be garbage?
You question how I, Nas, could be considered worthless or of low quality

Semi-autos at your cartilage
I threaten you with semi-automatic weaponry aimed at your vital organs

Burner at the side of your dome, come outta my throne
I have a gun pointed at the side of your head, ready to remove you from your position of power

I got this, locked since '9-1
I have been in control and dominant in the rap game since 1991

I am the truest, name a rapper that I ain't influenced
I assert that I am the most authentic and influential rapper, challenging anyone to prove otherwise

Gave y'all chapters but now I keep my eyes on the Judas
I provided you with valuable knowledge and lessons, but now I am wary of those who betray me

With Hawaiian Sophie fame, kept my name in his music
Jay-Z, with his Hawaiian Sophie persona, continued to mention and reference me in his songs

Hey yo, pass me the weed, pour my ashes out on these niggas man (no doubt)
I request to be given marijuana and have my ashes sprinkled on my adversaries to symbolize their defeat

Hey, y'all fagots, y'all kneel and kiss the fuckin' ring
I mockingly address my enemies, insulting them and demanding their subservience

I've been fucked over, left for dead, dissed and forgotten
I have been mistreated, abandoned, insulted, and overlooked by the industry

Luck ran out, they hoped that I'd be gone, stiff and rotten
My fortunate circumstances came to an end, and those who wished for my demise wanted me to fade away

Y'all just piss on me, shit on me, spit on my grave (uh)
You disrespect and degrade me, treating me with contempt and disdain even after my death

Talk about me, laugh behind my back but in my face
You gossip and ridicule me when I'm not present, but pretend to be friendly when we interact

Y'all some "well wishers," friendly acting, envy hiding snakes
You pretend to be supportive and kind, but secretly harbor jealousy and deceitfulness

With your hands out for my money, man, how much can I take?
You constantly ask for financial favors, exploiting my generosity to the point of exhaustion

When these streets keep calling, heard it when I was sleep
The streets constantly beckon me, even in my sleep, reminding me of the challenges and struggles I face

That this Gay-Z and Cockafella Records wanted beef
I heard rumors that Jay-Z and his record label, Roc-A-Fella Records, sought conflict with me

Started cocking up my weapon, slowly loading up this ammo
I began preparing my weapon, methodically arming myself with ammunition

To explode it on a camel, and his soldiers, I can handle
I plan to unleash my attack on Jay-Z, whom I compare to a camel, and his allies, confident in my ability to overpower them

This for dolo and it's manuscript, just sound stupid
I am embarking on this solo mission, and the logic behind it may seem nonsensical to some

When KRS already made an album called Blueprint
I criticize Jay-Z for using the term 'blueprint' in his album title, as KRS-One had already released an album with the same name

First, Biggie's ya man, then you got the nerve to say that you better than Big
You initially aligned yourself with Notorious B.I.G., but now audaciously claim to be superior to him

Dick sucking lips, whyn't you let the late, great veteran live
You are kissing up to people in power, refusing to acknowledge the legacy and influence of the deceased legends

"God's son" across the belly, I prove you lost already
I mockingly refer to Jay-Z's album title and proclaim that I have already defeated him

The king is back, where my crown at?
I confidently announce my return and demand to be recognized as the king of rap

I'll, will, Ill Will rest in peace, let's do it niggas
I pay homage to my fallen friend and collaborator, Ill Will, and urge everyone to engage in the battle

Y'all niggas deal with emotions like bitches
You handle your emotions in a weak and overly dramatic manner

What's sad is I love you 'cause you're my brother
Despite our rivalry, I still have affection for you because we share a bond as fellow artists

You traded your soul for riches
You have sacrificed your integrity and moral values in exchange for wealth

My child, I've watched you grow up to be famous
I have witnessed your rise to fame, as if you were my own offspring

And now I smile like a proud dad, watching his only son that made it
I feel a sense of parental pride seeing you achieve success, like a father witnessing his son's accomplishments

You seem to be only concerned with dissing women
Your focus appears to be solely on disrespecting and demeaning women

Were you abused as a child, scared to smile, they called you ugly?
I question if you experienced childhood trauma, causing you to be fearful and insecure, resulting in your abusive behavior

Well life is hard, hug me, don't reject me
Life is challenging for everyone, so offer me support and empathy instead of rejecting me

Or make records to disrespect me, blatant or indirectly
Instead of creating songs that insult and undermine me, whether done openly or subtly

In '88 you was getting chased through your building
In 1988, you were being pursued and frightened within your own residence

Calling my crib and I ain't even give you my numbers
You were desperately trying to reach me, calling my home, despite the fact that I never shared my contact information with you

All I did was gave you a style for you to run with
I merely provided you with a distinctive rap technique that you then adopted and claimed as your own

Smiling in my face, glad to break bread with the god
You deceitfully pretended to be friendly and willing to collaborate with me, enjoying the benefits of our association

Wearing Jaz chains, no TECs, no cash, no cars
You were emulating Jaz-O's style and appearance, lacking the material possessions and influence that you now boast

No jail bars Jigga, no pies, no case
You have never experienced incarceration, nor have you been involved in major drug trafficking operations

Just Hawaiian shirts, hanging with little Chase
Your image consisted of wearing casual Hawaiian shirts and spending time with insignificant figures like Young Chris

You a fan, a phony, a fake, a pussy, a Stan
You are an obsessed follower, a fraud, an imposter, a coward, and a hardcore fan

I still whip your ass, you thirty-six in a karate class
I can still defeat you in a battle, even though you claim to be a black belt in martial arts at the age of 36

You Tae-bo hoe, trying to work it out, you tryna' get brolic?
You are engaging in Tae Bo exercises, attempting to build up your physique and become stronger

Ask me if I'm trying to kick knowledge
You question if I am attempting to impart wisdom and knowledge through my music

Nah, I'm trying to kick the shit you need to learn though
No, I am aiming to deliver the harsh truths and criticisms that you need to hear and understand

That ether, that shit that make your soul burn slow
I am referring to the potent and scathing diss track that will deeply affect you and cause long-lasting emotional pain

Is he Dame Diddy, Dame Daddy or Dame Dummy?
I question your true identity and persona, whether you are Dame Diddy, Dame Daddy (a play on words related to P. Diddy), or simply a foolish individual

Oh, I get it, you Biggie and he's Puffy
I sarcastically grasp the connection, with you being compared to Biggie and Jay-Z aligning himself with Puff Daddy

Rockafeller died of AIDS, that was the end of his chapter
I highlight the demise of Rockefeller (referring to Bobby Rockefeller, who was diagnosed with AIDS), suggesting that his legacy came to an end

And that's the guy y'all chose to name your company after?
I criticize the decision to name Roc-A-Fella Records after someone who met such a tragic end

Put it together, I rock hoes, y'all rock fellas
I emphasize the stark contrast between my success with women and your success as businessmen

And now y'all try to take my spot, fellas?
You audaciously attempt to claim the top spot that I have rightfully earned

Philly's hot rock fellas, put you in a dry spot, fellas
The talented artists from Philadelphia dominate the rap scene, leaving you in a position of insignificance

In a pine box with nine shots from my Glock, fellas
I threaten to end your life, placing you in a coffin and shooting nine rounds from my gun

Foxy got you hot 'cause you kept your face in her puss
Foxy Brown's close relationship with you caused rumors and jealousy to escalate

What you think, you getting girls now 'cause of your looks?
Do you believe that your recent success with women is solely due to your physical appearance?

Ne-gro please
Please, don't be so naive and delusional

You no mustache having, with whiskers like a rat
You have no facial hair, and your beard grows in a scruffy, rat-like manner

Compared to Beans you wack
In comparison to Beanie Sigel, your rap skills are subpar

And your man stabbed Un and made you take the blame
Your associate stabbed Un Rivera, leading to your involvement and the subsequent blame being placed on you

You ass, went from Jaz to hanging with Caine, to Herb, to Big
You have transitioned from Jaz-O to affiliating with the notorious drug dealer Calvin Klein, then to Herb McGruff, and ultimately to aligning with Notorious B.I.G.

And, Eminem murdered you on your own shit
Eminem completely outperformed you on your own song, showcasing his superior skills

You a dick-riding fagot, you love the attention
You shamelessly follow and idolize others, seeking attention and validation

Queens niggas run you niggas, ask Russell Simmons
Rappers from Queens, New York, such as myself, have more power and influence than you, as confirmed by Russell Simmons

Ha, R-O-C get gunned up and clapped quick
Roc-A-Fella Records and its artists quickly become targets and victims of violence

J.J. Evans get gunned up and clapped quick
You, Jay-Z, will face the same fate as J.J. Evans from the television show 'Good Times'—death by gunfire

Your whole damn record label gunned up and clapped quick
All the artists affiliated with Roc-A-Fella Records will meet a violent end

Shaun Carter to Jay-Z, damn you on Jaz dick
I mockingly compare your evolution from Shaun Carter to Jay-Z to your previous association with Jaz-O

So little shorty's getting gunned up and clapped quick
Even your protege and close associates will face a similar fate

How much of Biggie's rhymes is goin' come out your fat lips?
You have borrowed heavily from Notorious B.I.G.'s lyrics, so how much of your own originality will emerge from your plump mouth?

Wanted to be on every last one of my classics
You desired to be featured on all of my classic songs, hoping to gain credibility and respect

You pop shit, apologize, nigga, just ask Kiss
You talk aggressively but then offer apologies, as evidenced by your actions towards Jadakiss