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..
Ghetto Reporter
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen, listen, listen
They give niggas time like it's lunch down there
You go down there looking for justice that's what you find, just us
It's comedy, it's hilarious
Look yourself in the mirror, tell me times ain't the scariest
For me droppin' album after album, like it's a various artist compilation
Niggas know I don't drop this often, so cherish it (so cherish it)
Like your daughter's graduation, kid's marriages
When the culture vultures swooped down, they start exploitin' the sound
They drew up contracts for our niggas, Dru Hill to drew down
And I'm prayin' they set
Instead, most artists don't live as good as the execs
And they end up depressed
Scarred by A&Rs, the music be changin'
And the culture be shiftin', so you gotta move with it
Call me the party crasher, that plan spoiler
That Malcolm C and Maya Angelou and God are holdin' a camcorder
Ghetto reporter, live from 40-Side, you know my storyline
First project rapper, triple platinum with New Yorker pride
King's Disease
Most of us catch it at one point or another
But evolve
Find a new formula
One that takes everything in you to make
The audacity, masterfully crafted these classics, so naturally
Had to be nasty back at it
They argue KD1, KD2, and Magic, what's harder when?
KD3 go harder than all of them
Back in the 9-0's, barely rubbed elbows with CEOs
I was dolo, I bet it shocked y'all to see me grow
And the 0-0's, I still ain't attend much industry dinners
Had to tend to my business, go past the sky's limit
The hate gon' rise quicker, so how could I manage this disadvantage?
Niggas Planet Hollywood, I came from a different planet
Leave it up to me to break the news you won't see on the screen
Chuckle at you motherfuckers, we the last of the kings
Shout to the real ones like us, it's a shortage, it seems
I'm underground and overground and it's never been seen
Real council my streams
Got real people tappin' in, so that's what that means, indeed
It means I got nothin' but the real checkin' in
We locked in, all the way
Just applaud this, yeah
Trappin' about, you know what I'm sayin'?
Like, I couldn't get out if I wanted to
All us rappers are trapped in it
We can't get out, you know what I'm sayin'?
'Til we over, 'til it's dead, 'til we in the dirt
When I'm fifty years old, I wanna have fifty-year-old fans
Sixty-year old fans and sixteen-year old fans
In "Ghetto Reporter," Nas addresses various themes and experiences related to the rap industry and his personal journey. The opening lines speak to the systemic injustice prevalent in society, particularly in marginalized communities. Nas suggests that seeking justice in such environments often leads to disappointment, as the system seems to serve "just us" instead of providing equal treatment.
He then delves into his own career, referring to the challenges and pressures he faces as an artist. Nas compares himself to a compilation album, implying that he consistently releases music and maintains his artistic integrity alongside his collaborator HB. He emphasizes the rarity of his output, urging his audience to cherish and appreciate his albums just as they would significant life events like a graduation or a marriage.
Nas also criticizes the exploitation of artists by record labels and the changing dynamics of the music industry. He refers to the "culture vultures," who profit from appropriating and commercializing the sounds created by black artists. The resulting contracts can be detrimental to the artists' well-being, contrasting with the luxury enjoyed by executives. Nas highlights the need to adapt and evolve with the shifting culture in order to survive and thrive.
Throughout the lyrics, Nas positions himself as a disruptor and truth-teller, likening himself to important figures like Malcolm X, Maya Angelou, and God with a camcorder, capturing the unfiltered reality. He self-identifies as a "ghetto reporter," conveying his commitment to shedding light on the experiences of his community, particularly those from 40-Side (referring to Queensbridge). Nas also proudly represents his New York roots and acknowledges his success as a rapper emerging from a public housing project.
Line by Line Meaning
Close your eyes
Take a moment to focus and listen carefully
Listen, listen, listen
Pay close attention and be receptive
They give niggas time like it's lunch down there
In the ghetto, people are given prison sentences casually, as if it's a routine
You go down there looking for justice that's what you find, just us
When seeking justice in impoverished neighborhoods, you often only find fellow marginalized individuals
It's comedy, it's hilarious
The situation is ironic and absurd
Look yourself in the mirror, tell me times ain't the scariest
Reflect on the current times and acknowledge the fear they bring
For me droppin' album after album, like it's a various artist compilation
Releasing multiple albums consecutively, similar to a diverse collection of artists collaborating
But it's just me and HB and this shit take concentration
However, it's only me and my close collaborator, and it requires intense focus and dedication
Niggas know I don't drop this often, so cherish it (so cherish it)
People are aware that I don't release music frequently, so they should value and appreciate it
Like your daughter's graduation, kid's marriages
Comparing the significance of my music release to personal milestones such as a daughter's graduation or a child's marriage
When the culture vultures swooped down, they start exploitin' the sound
Once opportunistic individuals took advantage of our art and began profiting from it
They drew up contracts for our niggas, Dru Hill to drew down
They created unfair contracts for fellow artists, including the group Dru Hill
And I'm prayin' they set
I hope they establish fair terms
Instead, most artists don't live as good as the execs
Unfortunately, many musicians do not enjoy the same level of success and wealth as the executives
And they end up depressed
This often leads to sadness and despair
Scarred by A&Rs, the music be changin'
Artists are emotionally and mentally affected by the actions of A&R representatives, and the music industry constantly evolves
And the culture be shiftin', so you gotta move with it
The culture undergoes transformations, and one must adapt accordingly
Call me the party crasher, that plan spoiler
Consider me the disrupter, the one who interferes with their agenda
That Malcolm C and Maya Angelou and God are holdin' a camcorder
Symbolically, I am documenting the truth like powerful historical figures and a divine presence
Ghetto reporter, live from 40-Side, you know my storyline
I am a journalist providing firsthand accounts from the ghetto, specifically the 40-Side neighborhood
First project rapper, triple platinum with New Yorker pride
As a rapper starting from humble beginnings, I achieved immense success and take pride in representing New York
King's Disease
Referring to the metaphorical illness that affects many, hinted as a social condition
Most of us catch it at one point or another
The majority of individuals experience this condition at some stage
But evolve
However, we must progress and develop
Find a new formula
Discover a different approach or strategy
One that takes everything in you to make
A formula that requires your utmost effort and dedication
The audacity, masterfully crafted these classics, so naturally
With confidence and skill, I have artistically created timeless pieces
Had to be nasty back at it
I had to assert myself and deliver exceptional work once again
They argue KD1, KD2, and Magic, what's harder when?
People debate which of my previous albums, Kings Disease 1 or Kings Disease 2, is more challenging or impressive
KD3 go harder than all of them
Kings Disease 3 surpasses its predecessors in terms of intensity and quality
Back in the 9-0's, barely rubbed elbows with CEOs
During the 1990s, I had limited contact or connection with chief executive officers of companies
I was dolo, I bet it shocked y'all to see me grow
I was alone in my journey, and witnessing my growth may have surprised many
And the 0-0's, I still ain't attend much industry dinners
Even in the 2000s, I avoided participating in numerous industry events and gatherings
Had to tend to my business, go past the sky's limit
I needed to prioritize my own ventures and aim for success beyond what seems possible
The hate gon' rise quicker, so how could I manage this disadvantage?
As animosity grows rapidly, I question how to handle this unfavorable situation
Niggas Planet Hollywood, I came from a different planet
While others conform to mainstream ideals, I originated from a unique space
Leave it up to me to break the news you won't see on the screen
I take on the responsibility of revealing unreported information to the public
Chuckle at you motherfuckers, we the last of the kings
I laugh at those who underestimate us because we are the remaining rulers of this domain
Shout to the real ones like us, it's a shortage, it seems
Acknowledging the scarcity of genuine individuals like myself and praising them
I'm underground and overground and it's never been seen
I exist in both the underground and mainstream scenes simultaneously, a phenomenon that is unprecedented
Real council my streams
Authenticity influences the streams and support I receive
Got real people tappin' in, so that's what that means, indeed
Genuine individuals connect with my music, validating its meaningful impact
It means I got nothin' but the real checkin' in
This signifies that only authentic individuals follow and appreciate my work
We locked in, all the way
We are fully committed and united
Just applaud this, yeah
Simply show your admiration and support
Trappin' about, you know what I'm sayin'?
Rapping honestly about my experiences and perspectives, do you understand?
Like, I couldn't get out if I wanted to
I am deeply ingrained in this lifestyle and cannot easily escape it
All us rappers are trapped in it
Every rapper is caught in this situation
We can't get out, you know what I'm sayin'?
We are unable to break free from it, do you understand?
'Til we over, 'til it's dead, 'til we in the dirt
We remain entangled in this industry until we retire or pass away
When I'm fifty years old, I wanna have fifty-year-old fans
Even when I reach the age of fifty, I desire to maintain a loyal fan base consisting of individuals of the same age
Sixty-year old fans and sixteen-year old fans
Additionally, I aim to appeal to fans in their sixties and even teenagers
Lyrics © EMPIRE PUBLISHING
Written by: Chauncey Hollis Jr., Jesse Blum, Nasir Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GoodxJ
This deserved the Grammy, although Killer Mike made a good project with ‘Michael’ , KD3 is on another level! 🏆
@lightVs.DarkBalance
Escobar season has returned once again
@Y.A.K.
👌🏾
@minalove6582
Lmao sure has!
@frankagyemang7251
❤👌🏿🍾🥂🥳😎
@xjusticegamingchannel9783
Puff voice
@epbailey761
Heat 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@iraford5788
This album will be on repeat for me for the rest of this year.
@chriselizondo7183
amen
@Mic-100
On repeat forever