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..
Gimme yours
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I had the joint out
Nigga gon' ask me "what [I] want?"
Know what I'm sayin'?
I'm like
Gimme, just gimme, for the NYC
Gimme what you can't get back
Gimme, why don't you gimme the world
Yo, it's hard to show resistance when money getting niggas
Need my assistance to stack figures, beyond non-existence
Fuck keepin my distance, cos bein poor produced persistence
Plus plea's, a hundred G's, I had me blockin out of jail sentence
I'm recognized by the illest of individuals
Killers and criminals, even willies that's really into jewels
But still skeptic on who I cling to
Cos every single nigga that swing through ain't my man just cos we mingle
Too much snake shit, even females be feedin off that fake shit
Filled with envy and hatred but my high helps me escape it
Temporarily, though it don't worry me
The wise verbally nourish me, properly with that inner city, urban GC
I fuck with those beyond my age bracket
Cos they analyze and map it, get the papers and stack it
Leavin no trace to track it, kingpin thinkin tactics is accurate
That mack shit, livin the lifestyle, we feel relaxed with
Just gimme (Pimp lines and dollar signs)
Just gimme (Rollin trees, stackin G's)
Gimme what you can't get back (True dat, I thought you knew that)
Just gimme (Money getters, the high bidders)
Why don't you gimme the world (rollin wit us)
Gimme what you can't get back, for the five burroughs
So in God I trust, I lust for a 850-deluxe
And until I touch a million-plus, ain't much to discuss
Diamonds and double-digits, Gianni Versace down with lizards
It's realism so I visualize it to live it
Movin cleverly, with intentions of longevity
Strong pedigree got me touchin papers, others would never see, G
So do the crest in my claw, flourescents
Symbolises the essence, you're sailin in a sweppervescence
Drug investments, a street thug's plug, the insurance, but informers
They had you wanted for warrants 'fore you get enourmous
Life's a performance so players play with endurance
Cos for more cents, any villain's willing to get more intense
They tried to break us but all it did was just make us
Travel across acres for papers, bonafide money takers
Cause though we know somehow we all gotta go
As long as we're leaving thieving, we'll be leaving with some kind of dough
So
Just gimme (Pimp lines and dollar signs)
Just gimme (Rollin trees, stackin G's)
Gimme what you can't get back (True dat, I thought you knew that)
Just gimme (Money getters, the high bidders)
Why don't you gimme the world (rollin wit us)
Gimme what you can't get back (It's real, NYC)
Just gimme (QB)
Just gimme (B-K, VT)
Gimme what you can't get back (See me, AZ y'all, representin)
Just gimme (Yeah, the street life is trife life)
Why don't you gimme the world (Representin)
Gimme what you can't get back (Life's a bitch and then you die)
The lyrics of Nas's song "Gimme yours" reflect his mindset as a hustler living in the streets of New York City. He starts by expressing his desire for what he deserves, what he can't get back. He wants the world and all its possibilities, but specifically for the five boroughs of New York. Nas acknowledges the challenges he faces, such as the pressure to make money and the need to be cautious of the people around him. Despite the negativity that surrounds him, he finds solace in his own ambition and the wisdom he receives from those who understand the streets. Nas focuses on the materialistic aspect of his aspirations, from luxury cars to expensive clothes, believing that achieving wealth is necessary for survival in his environment.
The song showcases Nas's determination to escape poverty and make a better life for himself. He recognizes the pitfalls and dangers of the streets but sees money as the ultimate goal. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and the relentless pursuit of success in a harsh and unforgiving world.
Line by Line Meaning
Word-up A
Listen up and pay attention
I had the joint out
I had my ideas and plans ready
Nigga gon' ask me 'what [I] want?'
Someone asked me what I desire
Know what I'm sayin'?
Do you understand what I'm trying to convey?
I'm like
I respond
Gimme, just gimme, for the NYC
Give me, simply give me, for the city of New York
Gimme what you can't get back
Provide me with something valuable that cannot be reclaimed
Gimme, why don't you gimme the world
Grant me the opportunity to possess everything
Gimme what you can't get back, for the five boroughs
Offer me something irreplaceable, specifically for the five boroughs of New York City
Yo, it's hard to show resistance when money getting niggas
It's difficult to resist the influence of individuals focused on making money
Need my assistance to stack figures, beyond non-existence
They require my help to accumulate substantial amounts of money, surpassing a state of insignificance
Fuck keepin my distance, cos bein poor produced persistence
Forget about maintaining a distance from them since experiencing poverty instilled determination in me
Plus plea's, a hundred G's, I had me blockin out of jail sentence
Moreover, making pleas and acquiring a hundred thousand dollars prevented me from serving a prison sentence
I'm recognized by the illest of individuals
I'm acknowledged by the most dangerous and respected people
Killers and criminals, even willies that's really into jewels
Murderers and lawbreakers, as well as individuals highly interested in expensive jewelry
But still skeptic on who I cling to
Despite that, I remain doubtful about who I associate myself with
Cos every single nigga that swing through ain't my man just cos we mingle
Because not every person who comes around is truly my friend just because we spend time together
Too much snake shit, even females be feedin off that fake shit
There's too much deceitful behavior, even women engage in it
Filled with envy and hatred but my high helps me escape it
Envy and hatred consume people around me, but my sense of euphoria enables me to evade their negativity
Temporarily, though it don't worry me
Only for a short period, yet it doesn't concern me
The wise verbally nourish me, properly with that inner city, urban GC
Knowledgeable individuals provide me with valuable advice, specifically related to the inner city and urban environment
I fuck with those beyond my age bracket
I associate myself with individuals older than me
Cos they analyze and map it, get the papers and stack it
Because they analyze the situation, strategize, make money, and accumulate wealth
Leavin no trace to track it, kingpin thinkin tactics is accurate
They leave no evidence to trace their actions, and their strategies as drug leaders are precise
That mack shit, livin the lifestyle, we feel relaxed with
That suave attitude, living a certain way that makes us feel at ease
Just gimme (Pimp lines and dollar signs)
Provide me with extravagant and luxurious experiences
Gimme what you can't get back (True dat, I thought you knew that)
Give me something irreplaceable, and it's true that you should already know that
Just gimme (Money getters, the high bidders)
Give me individuals focused on making money, the ones who engage in high-stakes transactions
Why don't you gimme the world (rollin wit us)
Why not give me the opportunity to possess everything while being associated with us
Gimme what you can't get back, for the five burroughs
Provide me with something irreplaceable, specifically for the five boroughs of New York City
So in God I trust, I lust for a 850-deluxe
Therefore, I trust in God, and I desire a luxurious 850 model car
And until I touch a million-plus, ain't much to discuss
And until I reach a net worth of over one million dollars, there isn't much to talk about
Diamonds and double-digits, Gianni Versace down with lizards
Precious gemstones and large sums of money, wearing clothing from Gianni Versace adorned with lizard patterns
It's realism so I visualize it to live it
It's a realistic goal, so I imagine and envision it in order to experience it
Movin cleverly, with intentions of longevity
Operating intelligently, with the goal of sustaining success for a long time
Strong pedigree got me touchin papers, others would never see, G
Having a solid background enables me to handle large sums of money that others can't comprehend
So do the crest in my claw, flourescents
I display a symbol of power in my hand, glowing brightly
Symbolises the essence, you're sailin in a sweppervescence
It represents the core of who I am, while you are immersed in an overwhelming atmosphere
Drug investments, a street thug's plug, the insurance, but informers
Investing in drugs, serving as a connection for street criminals, acting as protection, but also being wary of informants
They had you wanted for warrants 'fore you get enourmous
They had arrest warrants issued for you even before you became successful
Life's a performance so players play with endurance
Life is like a stage, so individuals must exhibit persistence and stamina
Cos for more cents, any villain's willing to get more intense
Because when there's more money involved, any villainous person becomes more aggressive and determined
They tried to break us but all it did was just make us
They attempted to destroy us, but it only strengthened and motivated us
Travel across acres for papers, bonafide money takers
We travel great distances in pursuit of wealth, genuine individuals who know how to make money
Cause though we know somehow we all gotta go
Because we are aware that eventually, we all have to leave this world
As long as we're leaving thieving, we'll be leaving with some kind of dough
But as long as we depart while acquiring wealth through illicit means, we'll have some form of financial security
Just gimme (Pimp lines and dollar signs)
Provide me with extravagant and luxurious experiences
Gimme what you can't get back (True dat, I thought you knew that)
Give me something irreplaceable, and it's true that you should already know that
Just gimme (Money getters, the high bidders)
Give me individuals focused on making money, the ones who engage in high-stakes transactions
Why don't you gimme the world (rollin wit us)
Why not give me the opportunity to possess everything while being associated with us
Gimme what you can't get back (It's real, NYC)
Provide me with something irreplaceable, and it's authentic, specifically in New York City
Just gimme (QB)
Provide me with what I desire (Queensbridge)
Just gimme (B-K, VT)
Provide me with what I desire (Brooklyn, Vinegar Hill)
Gimme what you can't get back (See me, AZ y'all, representin)
Give me something irreplaceable, see me, AZ, all of you, representing
Just gimme (Yeah, the street life is trife life)
Provide me with what I desire (Yes, the street life is a difficult life)
Why don't you gimme the world (Representin)
Why not give me the opportunity to possess everything while representing
Gimme what you can't get back (Life's a bitch and then you die)
Provide me with something irreplaceable, because life is unpredictable and eventually ends
Lyrics Β© MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: A PHILLIPS, ANTHONY S CRUZ, R RUDOLPH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@EarvGotti
This is the song you play when you in the zone plotting your moves and analyzing your situations in order to reach a higher level.
@iracox3211
EarvGotti this is ya boy RA-RA hailing from da 513cincinnati Ohio and I feel what you saying. since I found this song on YouTube I have been getting up every morning to meditate and listen to GOD listening to this beat .and it gives me motivation to keep doing what I'm sopposed to do in my day to day dealings with this world.ya see, I can live in this world but I don't have to be of it.and this song takes me away from all the drama that I have to endure in this corrupt world.and to THANK GOD I have a outlet to him to keep myself in check when obstacles come my way.i'm a true hip-hop head.hold it down.ya boy RA-RA hailing from da 513 I'm out 100!
@israeltindal5845
#FACTS!
@cameroncorneliusesterross6082
I'm in a place feeling stuck and like I'm bumping this plotting harder than a mofucka right now. I can't be the nigga stuck in complacency like this.
@JuanLopez-ty9bt
Cameron Cornelius Ester Ross you're not. I been feelin the exact same thing and have had this on repeat
@Mateo.7777
Word up
@MainEvent628
Pete Rock is a genius, and AZ is one of the most underrated MCs ever!
@truskool1971
The break is Minnie ripperton's - adventures in paradise ...pete ACED it
@groove4179
+Tyrone Smith THat is foreal genius to put those two songs together like that. Meaning Here we go by minne. WOW
@samrothstein6278
MainEvent628 Pete rock is perfect for az smooth flow. Wish he would of done all az albums with large pro