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.
1973β1992: 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.
1992β1995: 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 Serchβs solo album is released later in the year, Nasβ 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.
1996β1998: 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.
1998β2000: 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.
2000β2001: 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."
2002βPresent: 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 KoΠ―n'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, Nasβ 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..
Flyest feat. AZ
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Peace, king)
(Peace, king)
(Listen, if they wrote a book on your life)
(Right)
(You think anybody'll read it?)
(No fucking doubt)
(Let's make history, homie)
(You know we brought the hoes clothes and money rolls to the table)
(No fucking doubt)
(It's time to manifest this)
(Shit, we the flyest, nigga)
(Bring it to a whole, y'know?)
(Gangsta, nigga)
Niggas better watch ya back, it's so cold
Pinky rings shining, so act like you don't know
Bitches in heat for niggas that got dough
We the flyest gangstas
What you don't got is my natural glow
Counting out stacks and macking out hoes
Pushing big dicks and packing our chrome
We the flyest gangstas
Follow, I'm like a Lamborghini green Diablo
Coupe VT, it's like DVD when I flow
Feel me, I'm loved like the great late Malik Sealy
The one the player haters hate dearly, but can't near me
Homicide can't scare me
I obide by the laws of these streets sincerely, a real nigga
The type that can build with ya
Verbalize bring life to a still picture, it's God-given
Been blessed with Allah's vision, strength and beauty
Truly my only duty is to dodge prison
Play wit' me, I'm modest 'til them strays hit me
Regardless the circumstances I'ma stay filthy
Dough forever, the live stay low forever
And fuck niggas, 'cause it's hard to keep them close together
One dependent, no wife, one co-defendant
No forms of weakness, I flow with vengeance
Niggas better watch ya back, it's so cold
Pinky rings shining, so act like you don't know
Bitches in heat for niggas that got dough
We the flyest gangstas
What you don't got is my natural glow
Counting out stacks and macking out hoes
Pushing big dicks and packing our chrome
We the flyest gangstas
I do what I can do, when I can do it
Feel how I feel, when I feel what I'm feeling
Live how I live it's only 'cause I been through it
Learn to try it like to eat it and shit it's nothing to it
Burn it, light it, weed it, and off the liquor, while driving outside
I'll never catch a vehicular homicide
My music is a description of my vibe of course
My life, my sights, my thoughts, what I like on my fork
'Cause you are what you eat, you eat what you can
You pray to bless the food but first you wash your hands
To wash away them bad spirits, don't bring it in your home
Once you let them in they staying, evil be gone, say it
I'm proud I'm ace but giving himself to the Lord
Wanted his Faith, think about Big anymore
Of course, my nigga, Horse got married, see shit is changing
We ain't these little niggas no more, running dangerous
I like to bone, I'm a peaceful brother
Eat up so much, the girls call me seafood lover
Be having they legs shaking, stab 'em, break 'em
I'm Hercules Hercules when having relations, the flyest
Niggas better watch ya back, it's so cold
Pinky rings shining, so act like you don't know
Bitches in heat for niggas that got dough
We the flyest gangstas
What you don't got is my natural glow
Counting out stacks and macking out hoes
Pushing big dicks and packing our chrome
We the flyest gangstas
We put this on the, soul of our born
As we hold the Qu'ran
Kamikaze style
Older cats coachin' us on
Yo, it's kill or be killed
Understand, real'll be real
A forty-shot spectrum make your whole embassy kneel
Identity sealed, protected by
Our energy shield
And fuck a drop, 'cause that's that shit that got Kennedy killed
Close the books
Was taught never expose a crook
Between the knight and the bishop
Want to knock ya rook, I'm a rare breed never had a fair to lead
I ain't light, niggas recite
Too impaired to breathe
We both hard hit just like Camacho and Vargas, who's the target?
Now watch how we close the market, motherfuckers
Niggas better watch ya back, it's so cold
Pinky rings shining, so act like you don't know (act like you don't know)
Bitches in heat for niggas that got dough
We the flyest gangstas
What you don't got is my natural glow (oh yeah)
Counting out stacks and macking out hoes (oh yeah-yeah)
Pushing big dicks and packing our chrome (oh)
We the flyest gangstas (gangstas)
Niggas better watch ya back, it's so cold (gangstas)
Pinky rings shining, so act like you don't know (ooh)
Bitches in heat for niggas that got dough
We the flyest gangstas (the flyest gangstas)
What you don't got is my natural glow
Counting out stacks and macking out hoes (ooh)
Pushing big dicks and packing our chrome
We the flyest gangstas
"The Flyest" by Nas featuring AZ is an extravagant rap song that talks about the glory of being a gangster. The song starts with the rappers discussing their lives and whether anybody would read a book written about it. They agree that they are unstoppable and have what it takes to make history. The rest of the song unfolds with braggadocios and boastful lyrics about their wealth, power, and their fearlessness.
The lyrics of the song glorify the lifestyle of a gangster and the perks that come along with it. The rappers talk about hoarding money, luxury cars like a Lamborghini green Diablo Coupe VT, macking on beautiful women, and carrying a firearm. Nas's lyrics are uncompromising and unapologetic. He asserts that he is loved like the late basketball star, Malik Sealy, and nothing can scare him from living life to the fullest. His words also imply that he is not afraid to use violence as a means of self-preservation.
In contrast, AZ's lyrics are less confrontational, but he still depicts his gangster lifestyle with relish. He talks about being a rare breed who has never had a fair to lead; he boasts that he's not like the lightweights who can't keep up. He ends his verse with an assurance that he and Nas are a force to reckon with, capable of closing the market with a single move.
Line by Line Meaning
Geah
Opening shout of agreement
Peace king
Greeting friend and respecting their royalty
Listen, if they wrote a book on your life
Consideration of one's life story
Right
Affirmation
You think anybody'll read it?
Doubting the audience's interest
No fucking doubt!
Confident response
Let's make history homey
Collaborative planning to create an impactful legacy
Alright then
Agreement to plan
You know we brought the hoes clothes and money rolls to the table
Bringing material goods to the partnership
No, fucking, doubt
Reiterating confidence
It's time to manifest this
Belief in bringing plans to fruition
Shit we the flyest nigga
Celebration of being the most stylish and impressive
Bring it to a whole, y'know?
Elevating their level of grandeur
Gangsta nigga
Self-proclaimed coolness and toughness
Niggas better watch ya back, it's so cold
Warning of danger and suspiciousness of others
Pinky rings shining, so act like why'don't know
Displaying wealth and demanding respect
Bitches in heat for niggas that got dough
Women attracted to men with money
We the flyest gangsters
Self-proclaimed title of being the most stylish and impressive gangsters
What you don't got is my natural glow
Praising their inherent coolness
Counting out stacks and macking out hoes
Counting money and seducing women
Pushing big dicks and packing our chrome
Boasting about their sexual prowess and weapons
Follow, I'm like a Lamborghini green Diablo
Comparing oneself to a flashy car
Coupe VT, it's like DVD when I flow
Boasting about the smoothness and quality of their rap style
Feel me, I'm loved like the great late Malik Sealy
Feeling universally respected and admired like the basketball player Malik Sealy
The one the player haters hate dearly, but can't near me
Being confident and popular despite some haters
Homicide can't scare me
Not afraid of violence
I o-bide by the laws of these streets sincerely, a real nigga
Following street code and being authentic
The type that can build with ya
Able to create and collaborate
Verbalize bring life to a still picture, it's God-given
Able to bring words to life in a vivid way and seeing it as a special gift from the divine
Been blessed with Allah's vision, strength and beauty
Grateful for divine blessings of insight, power, and attractiveness
Truly my only duty is to dodge prison
Avoiding jail time is their top responsibility
Play wit me, I'm modest 'til them strays hit me
Being humble but becoming aggressive when necessary
Regardless the circumstances I'ma stay filthy
Staying rich no matter the situation
Dough forever, the live stay low forever
Money and lifestyle is of the utmost importance
And fuck niggas, cause it's hard to keep them close together
Disdaining unreliable associates
One dependent, no wife, one co-defendant
Being responsible for one partner but not having a wife
No forms of weakness, I flow with vengeance
Showing no vulnerability and acting with power
I do what I can do when I can do it
Doing what they can with what they have at the time
Feel how I feel when I feel what I'm feeling
Acting on their emotions
Live how I live it's only cause I been through it
Their lifestyle is a result of their past experiences
Learn to try it like to eat it and shit it's nothing to it
Demonstrating that something is easy and not a big deal
Burn it light it weed it and off the liquor, while driving outside
Using drugs and alcohol while driving recklessly
I'll never catch a vehicular homicide
Confident that they won't cause a fatal car accident
My music is a description of my vibe of course
Their music is a reflection of their personality
My life, my sites, my thoughts, what I like on my fork
Their opinions and preferences are expressed in their lyrics
Cause you are what you eat, you eat what you can
You become what you consume
You pray to bless the food but first you wash your hands
Taking a moment to cleanse oneself before asking for blessings
To wash away them bad spirits, don't bring it in your home
Removing negative energy from oneself and environment
Once you let them in they staying, evil be gone, say it
Declaring the power to banish negative energy
I'm proud I'm ace but giving himself to the Lord
Proud of being asexual but also being devoted to God
Wanted his Faith, think about Big anymore
No longer idolizing Biggie Smalls but focusing on spirituality
Of course my nigga Horse got married, see shit is changing
Recognizing that friends and situations evolve
We ain't these little niggas no more, running dangerous
Acknowledging growth and maturity
I like to bone, I'm a peaceful brother
Enjoying sex but still considering themselves non-violent
Eat up so much the girls call me seafood lover
Eating large amounts of food, often seafood
Be having they legs shaking, stab 'em, break 'em
Satisfying women sexually and boasting about it
I'm Hercules Hercules when having relations, the fliest
Performing sexually like a Greek god and being the most impressive
We put this on the, soul of our born
Making a solemn vow
As we hold the Qu'ran
Swearing on the holy book of Islam
Kamikaze style
Going all out
Older cats coachin us on
Receiving advice and guidance from older and more experienced people
Yo it's kill or be killed
Extreme survival mentality
Understand, real'll be real
Recognizing authenticity
A forty-shot spectrum make your whole embassy kneel
Capable of causing damage and destruction with a large amount of weaponry
Identity sealed, protected by
Hiding one's true identity and being protected by
Our energy shield
Using their power and influence to stay safe
And fuck a drop, cause that's that shit that got Kennedy killed
Refusing to use drugs, as it has caused problems in the past
Close the books
Ending a situation
Was taught never expose a crook
Not revealing illegal activities of oneself or others
Between the knight and the bishop
Strategy in the game of chess
Want to knock ya rook
Planning to defeat one's opponent in chess
I'm a rare breed never had a fair to lead
Being special and unique, never following others
I ain't light niggas recite
Taking rap seriously and not just rhyming words
Too impaired to breathe
Overwhelmed by emotions
We both hard hit just like Camacho and Vargas, who's the target?
Tough and aggressive, comparing themselves to boxers and trying to identify their enemy
Now watch how we close the market, motherfuckers
Controlling the market and defeating competitors
Lyrics Β© MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: Anthony Cruz, Leshan Lewis, Nasir Jones, Shelene Thomas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
So_Wavy Cody
[Intro: Nas & AZ]
Yeah
Peace king
Peace king
Listen, if they wrote a book on your life
Right
You think anybody'll read it?
No fuckin' doubt!
Let's make history homie
Aight then
You know we brought the hoes, clothes and money rolls to the table
{*laughing*} No, fuckin', doubt
It's time to manifest this
Tuu, we the flyest nigga
Bring it to a whole, y'know?
Gangsta nigga
[Chorus: Shelene Thomas]
Niggas better watch ya back, it's so cold
Pinky rings shinin', so act like y'don't know
Bitches in heat for niggas that got dough
We the flyest gangsters
What you don't got is my natural glow
Countin' out stacks and mackin' out hoes
Pushin' big dicks and packin' our chrome
We the flyest gangsters
[Verse 1: AZ]
Follow; I'm like a Lamborghini green Diablo
Coupe VT, it's like DVD when I flow
Feel me, I'm loved like the great late Malik Sealy
The one the playa haters hate dearly, but can't near me
Homicide can't scare me
I o-bide by the laws of these streets sincerely, a real nigga
The type that can build with ya
Verbalize bring life to a still picture, it's God-given
Been blessed with Allah's vision, strength and beauty
Truly my only duty is to dodge prison
Play with me, I'm modest 'til them strays hit me
Regardless the circumstances I'ma stay filthy
Dough forever, the live stay low forever
And fuck niggas, 'cause it's hard to keep them close together
One dependent, no wife, one co-defendant
No forms of weakness, I flow with vengeance
[Chorus: Shelene Thomas (Nas)]
Niggas better watch ya back, it's so cold
Pinky rings shinin', so act like y'don't know
Bitches in heat for niggas that got dough
We the flyest gangsters
What you don't got is my natural glow
Countin' out stacks and mackin' out hoes (hoes)
Pushin' big dicks and packin' our chrome (ha)
We the flyest gangsters
[Verse 2: Nas]
I do what I can do when I can do it
Feel how I feel when I feel what I'm feelin'
Live how I live it's only 'cause I been through it
Learn to try it like to eat it and shit, it's nuttin' to it
Burn it light it weed it and off the liquor, while drivin' outside
I'll never catch a vehicular homicide
My music is a description of my vibe of course
My life, my sites, my thoughts, what I like on my fork
'Cause you are what you eat, you eat what you can
You pray to bless the food but first you wash your hands
To wash away them bad spirits, don't bring it in your home
Once you let them in they stayin', evil be gone, say it
I'm proud of Mase for givin' himself to the Lord
Wonderin' does Faith, think about Big anymore
Of course my nigga Horse got married, see shit is changin'
We ain't these little niggas no more, runnin' dangerous
I like to bone, I'm a peaceful brother
Eat up so much the girls call me seafood lover
Be havin' they legs shakin', stab 'em, break 'em
I'm Hercules Hercules when havin' relations, the flyest
[Chorus: Shelene Thomas (Nas)]
Niggas better watch ya back, it's so cold
Pinky rings shinin', so act like y'don't know
Bitches in heat for niggas that got dough
We the flyest gangsters
What you don't got is my natural glow (uhh)
Countin' out stacks and mackin' out hoes (hoes)
Pushin' big dicks and packin' our chrome (ha)
We the flyest gangsters
[Verse 3: Nas, AZ & Bothβββ]
We put this on the, soul of our born, as we hold the Qur'an
Kamikaze style
Older cats coaching us on
Yo, it's kill or be killed
Understand, real'll be real
A forty-shot spectrum make your whole embassy kneel
Identity sealed, protected by our energy shield
And fuck a drop, 'cause that's that shit that got Kennedy killed
Close the book
Was taught never expose a crook
Between the knight and the bishop
One'll knock ya rook
I'm a rare breed, never had a fear to lead
I ain't like niggas with sight, too impaired to read
We both hard hit just like Camacho and Vargas, who's a target?
Now watch how we close the market, motherfuckers
[Chorus: Shelene Thomas]
Niggas better watch ya back, it's so cold
Pinky rings shinin', so act like y'don't know
Bitches in heat for niggas that got dough
We the flyest gangsters
What you don't got is my natural glow
Countin' out stacks and mackin' out hoes
Pushin' big dicks and packin' our chrome
We the flyest gangsters
Niggas better watch ya back, it's so cold
Pinky rings shinin', so act like y'don't know
Bitches in heat for niggas that got dough
We the flyest gangsters
What you don't got is my natural glow
Countin' out stacks and mackin' out hoes
Pushin' big dicks and packin' our chrome
We the flyest gangsters
Warren London
I swear to God this was and still is one of the greatest hip hop albums EVER! Can easily listen to it from start to finish without skipping any tracks! STILLMATIC! π₯π―ππ
Misled
This album had some skip tracks on this joint.But AZ Nine Lives (zero) Honestly Stillmatic had like 5-6 quality joints on there. π
DukeZo22
I miss these days so much itβs unreal you had to have skills to be recognized as a real one ask future how hard it was to compete with these real MCs
A A RON
Got this album literally day 9/11 hit from record store
Warren London
@Misled
Speak for yourself mate. Lol
Bako the great
@Misled no skips
Ronald Baker
Their flows and chemistry is undeniable!
bigman20
2 kings doing it!!π£π―πππ―
Humphking
This whole album was on point.
Steve Adamo
Yeah it was