Nas premiered the song’s music video on September 25th, 2023, giving fans a look into his legendary 50th birthday party.
The song interpolates the chorus of “Represent”, a cut from his 1994 Hip-Hop bible, Illmatic.
Fever
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cunning as the father of the twelve sons of Jacob
Shake up the world, cake crumbs
Cover my gold teeth, cufflinks, waiters
Lobster sauce on aprons
Pardon, that's the chef
Burgundy on the breath
Uncertainty when I step
Singin' to Stevie Wonder Happy Birthday
Celebratin' years of flows and crazy wordplay
Season, I'm leaving my 40's, I'm a griot
Deep as Deepak Chopra
Dress socks and loafers
Family only, I'm holdin' hands with a cold piece
Bow to the old me, I'm officially OG
Might throw a roast me, wonder what will the jokes be
Watchin' 'em imitate my crude demeanor
It's a new decade, I'm in a whole new arena
Roll the dice in this life and I hit the fever
Get it
Wolf out of NYC
This is prophecy
Know this is meant to be
Evolve constantly
Half a century
Put your glasses up
Represent for me
Represent, represent
Represent for me
Represent, represent
Represent for me
Fly from infancy to half a century
Ah-ha, represent
Cryin' faces for the double agents watchin' my every move
Go tell em I can't sit still, I never do
Let them think of all the places I led them
Go look at it through an all age spectrum
Still winnin', never a better move
Who they claim to be today?
Man, they can never choose
We all got a set of tools we gotta use to push through
Like I did, and Esco is my nom de plume
Party in the penthouse, live
Fill all the rooms with beautiful vibes
That's the way to calm the goons
Champagne flutes, my cigars pop balloons
Bowties get untied when the clock hit 2
A '73 baby
I say a speech maybe
Besides the Littles and Joneses, hip-hop made me
Born in New York, I hope the most high keeps you
I wish at least fifty on all my good people
Fever
Wolf out of NYC
This is prophecy
Know this is meant to be
Evolve constantly
Half a century
Put your glasses up
Represent for me
Represent, represent
Represent for me
Represent, represent
Represent for me
Fly from infancy to half a century
Ah-ha, represent
In the song "Fever" by Nas ft. Scarface, the lyrics delve into themes of self-reflection, growth, and celebration. Nas begins by comparing himself to the cunning father of the twelve sons of Jacob, suggesting that he possesses a sharp wit and intelligence. He then references his wealth and status by mentioning his gold teeth, cufflinks, and waiters wearing aprons with lobster sauce. Despite his success, there is a sense of uncertainty as he steps into the next phase of his life.
Nas continues by mentioning his love for music, particularly Stevie Wonder's song "Happy Birthday," which he sings as a way of celebrating his years of success and his skillful wordplay. He likens himself to a griot, a West African poet and storyteller, highlighting his deep storytelling abilities akin to Deepak Chopra. Nas also mentions his attire, with dress socks and loafers, signifying a sophisticated and mature style.
As the song progresses, Nas reflects on his journey, acknowledging that he is now considered an OG (original gangster) and is curious about the jokes and criticisms he might face. He observes others imitating his crude demeanor, but he recognizes that he has entered a new decade and is now in a whole new arena. The lyrics convey his willingness to take risks and embrace the fever of life.
Scarface's verse adds to the narrative, reinforcing the theme of growth and representing for Nas. He mentions how people watch his every move as if he is a double agent, but he refuses to sit still and constantly evolves. Scarface acknowledges that everyone has a set of tools to push through life's obstacles, just like he and Nas did. He reflects on his journey from infancy to half a century, expressing gratitude for the experiences and the people who have shaped him.
Overall, "Fever" is a reflective and celebratory anthem, where Nas and Scarface recognize their achievements, embrace their maturity, and continue their evolution as artists.
Line by Line Meaning
Early on the wake up
Waking up early in the morning
Cunning as the father of the twelve sons of Jacob
Being as clever as Jacob, who had twelve sons
Shake up the world, cake crumbs
Making a big impact and leaving a trail of success
Cover my gold teeth, cufflinks, waiters
Hiding my flashy accessories and appearing sophisticated
Lobster sauce on aprons
Messy and extravagant behavior, perhaps in the kitchen
Pardon, that's the chef
Apologizing for the chef's behavior
Burgundy on the breath
Having a taste for expensive wine
Uncertainty when I step
Feeling unsure about my actions
Dancin' to every song like it's a contest
Enjoying and passionately dancing to every song
Singin' to Stevie Wonder Happy Birthday
Celebrating and singing along to Stevie Wonder's 'Happy Birthday'
Celebratin' years of flows and crazy wordplay
Recognizing and appreciating my years of skillful rapping
Season, I'm leaving my 40's, I'm a griot
Entering a new phase of my life and becoming a storyteller
Deep as Deepak Chopra
Having profound thoughts and insights like Deepak Chopra
Dress socks and loafers
Wearing formal attire
Family only, I'm holdin' hands with a cold piece
Staying loyal to my close ones and carrying a weapon for protection
Bow to the old me, I'm officially OG
Respecting my past self and acknowledging my status as an original gangster
Might throw a roast me, wonder what will the jokes be
Considering the possibility of people making fun of me
Watchin' 'em imitate my crude demeanor
Observing others trying to copy my raw attitude
It's a new decade, I'm in a whole new arena
Embracing the change of a new decade and entering a different stage
Roll the dice in this life and I hit the fever
Taking risks in life and finding success
Get it
Understand and grasp the concept
Wolf out of NYC
A powerful and dominant figure from New York City
This is prophecy
This is a predicted future event
Know this is meant to be
Knowing that this destiny is preordained
Evolve constantly
Continuously growing and changing
Half a century
Fifty years old
Put your glasses up
Raise your glasses in celebration
Represent for me
Stand in my place and support me
Fly from infancy to half a century
Living a long and successful life
Ah-ha, represent
A phrase expressing pride and identity
Cryin' faces for the double agents watchin' my every move
People pretending to be on my side while secretly monitoring me
Go tell em I can't sit still, I never do
Inform them that I'm always active and restless
Let them think of all the places I led them
Allow them to contemplate the paths I've taken them on
Go look at it through an all age spectrum
Examine it from a wide range of perspectives, regardless of age
Still winnin', never a better move
Continuously succeeding and making the right choices
Who they claim to be today?
Questioning someone's current identity and authenticity
Man, they can never choose
They can never accurately decide or define themselves
We all got a set of tools we gotta use to push through
We all possess skills and resources that help us overcome challenges
Like I did, and Esco is my nom de plume
Similar to how I did it, and I use 'Esco' as my pen name
Party in the penthouse, live
Having a lively celebration in a luxurious penthouse
Fill all the rooms with beautiful vibes
Creating a positive and uplifting atmosphere in every room
That's the way to calm the goons
Using positive energy to pacify aggressive individuals
Champagne flutes, my cigars pop balloons
Celebrating with champagne and bursting balloons with my lit cigars
Bowties get untied when the clock hit 2
Loosening formal attire at 2 o'clock in the morning
A '73 baby
Born in the year 1973
I say a speech maybe
Possibly giving a speech
Besides the Littles and Joneses, hip-hop made me
Acknowledging that hip-hop heavily influenced my upbringing
Born in New York, I hope the most high keeps you
Being from New York and wishing for divine protection for others
I wish at least fifty on all my good people
Wishing a minimum of fifty years of life for my loved ones
Fever
Intense passion and enthusiasm
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nasir Jones, Steven Duboff, Chauncey Hollis Jr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anmoldamathia4692
Lets just all agree that Nas is the Greatest Rapper of all time 🐐.
@TransKidsMafia
My toddler came out as trans
@iliketocomment8144
Definitely better than Jay-Z.
@jasontoussaint1081
Hov the goat , nas comes after
@jasontoussaint1081
Hov the goat , nas comes after
@jasontoussaint1081
Hov the goat , nas comes after
@KingZevon
50 years of hip hop and 50 years of Nas
Nas IS hip hop, no question
@jameshawkins343
Where. what the fuck bro. How do you honestly think that.
@blackhat5169
factos
@topbackpodcast2615
It’s almost poetic how that’s the case