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..
Halftime
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Right, right, right, right)
Check me out y'all
Nasty Nas in your area
About to cause mass hysteria
Before a blunt, I take out my fronts
Then I start to front, matter of fact, I be on a manhuntYou couldn't catch me in the streets without a ton of reefer
That's like Malcolm X catching the Jungle Fever
King poetic, too much flavor, I'm major
Atlanta ain't Brave-r, I pull a number like a pager
'Cause I'm a ace when I face the bass
40 side is the place that is giving me grace
Now wait, another dose and you might be dead
And I'm a Nike head, I wear chains that excite the feds
And ain't a damn thing gonna change
I'm a performer, strange, so the mic wonder warmer was born to gain
Nas, why did you do it?
You know you got the mad fat fluid when you rhyme, it's halftime
(Right, right, right, right) It's halftime
(Right, right, right, right) Ayo, it's halftime
(Right, right, right, right) It's halftime
(Right, right, right, right) Yeah, it's about halftime
This is how it feel, check it out, how it feel
It's like that, you know it's like that
I got it hemmed, now you never get the mic back
When I attack, there ain't an army that could strike back
So I react, never calmly on a hype track
I set it off with my own rhyme
'Cause I'm as ill as a convict who kills for phone time
I'm max like cassettes, I flex like sexIn your stereo sets, Nas'll catch wreck
I used to hustle, now all I do is relax and strive
When I was young, I was a fan of the Jackson 5
I drop jewels, wear jewels to never run it
With more kicks than a baby in a mother's stomach
Nasty Nas has to rise 'cause I'm wise
This is exercise 'til the microphone dies
Back in '83, I was an MC sparking
But I was too scared to grab the mic's in the park and
Kick my little raps 'cause I thought niggas wouldn't understand
And now in every jam, I'm the fucking man
I rap in front of more niggas than in the slave ships
I used to watch CHiPs, now I load Glock clips
I got to have it, I miss Mr. Magic
Versatile, my style switches like a faggot
But not a bisexual, I'm an intellectual
Of rap, I'm a professional and that's no question, yo
These are the lyrics of the man, you can't near it, understand?
'Cause in the streets, I'm well known like the number man
Am I in place with the bass and format?
Explore rap and tell me Nas ain't all that
And next time I rhyme, I be foul whenever I freestyle
I see trial, niggas say I'm wild
I hate a rhyme biter's rhyme
Stay tuned, Nas soon, the real rap comes at halftime
(Right, right, right, right) It's halftime
(Right, right, right, right) Exhale, check it, it's halftime
(Right, right, right, right) It's halftime
(Right, right, right, right) It's real in the field
Real life, check it
I got it going on, even flip a morning song
Every afternoon, I kick half the tune
And in the darkness, I'm heartless like when the narcs hit
Word to Marcus Garvey, I hardly sparked it
'Cause when I blast the herb, that's my word
I be slaying 'em fast, doing this, that in the third
But chill, pass the Andre and let's slay
I bag bitches up at John Jay and hit a matinee
Putting hits on 5-0
'Cause when it's my time to go, I wait for God wit the fo-fo
And biters can't come near
And yo, go to hell to the foul cop who shot Garcia
I won't plant seeds, don't need an extra mouth I can't feed
That's extra Phillie change, more cash for damp weed
This goes out to Manhattan, the Island of Staten
Brooklyn and Queens is living fat and
The Boogie Down, enough props, enough clout
Ill will, rest in peace, yo, I'm out
(Right, right, right, right) It's still halftime
(Right, right, right, right) To the Queensbridge crew
To the Queensbridge crew, you know it's haldftime
(Right, right, right, right) '92, it's halftime
(Right, right, right, right) Yo, police, police, man, yo, let's get ghost
Halftime
The song "Halftime" by Nas is a classic hip-hop anthem that was released in 1992. The lyrics are a tribute to his hometown of Queensbridge, New York and his love for hip hop music. Nas begins the song by saying "Nasty Nas in your area, About to cause mass hysteria," which reflects his confidence in his music and his belief that he is one of the best rappers around.
In the first verse, Nas talks about how he prepares for a rap battle, stating that he always has to have his "fronts" (gold teeth) removed before he starts rapping. He mentions how he loves smoking weed and compares it to Malcolm X catching the "Jungle Fever." Nas asserts his skills as a rapper, stating that he is "King poetic, too much flavor, I'm major." He also talks about his love for Nike sneakers and wearing jewelry that excites the police.
In the second verse, Nas talks about his humble beginnings as an MC in the park, where he was too scared to grab the mic. He then talks about rising to fame and becoming a successful rapper. He mentions his influences, such as the Jackson 5, and his love for hip hop. He talks about how he used to hustle but now all he does is "relax and strive." Nas also talks about his versatility as a rapper and his ability to switch up his style depending on the situation.
Overall, "Halftime" is a song that celebrates hip hop culture, Queensbridge, and Nas's success as a rapper. The lyrics are intricate and reflective, and the beat is classic '90s hip hop.
Line by Line Meaning
(Right, right, right, right)
Repetitive affirmations emphasizing readiness and excitement.
Check me out y'all
Listen up everyone, I'm about to share something significant.
Nasty Nas in your area
It's me, Nas, here to make an impact where you are.
About to cause mass hysteria
My music and presence are going to create a fervent reaction.
Before a blunt, I take out my fronts
Before I smoke, I take off my fake teeth, symbolizing raw honesty.
Then I start to front, matter of fact, I be on a manhunt
I begin to boast, and I'm searching for attention and recognition.
You couldn't catch me in the streets without a ton of reefer
I’m always accompanied by a significant amount of marijuana.
That's like Malcolm X catching the Jungle Fever
It’s an unlikely scenario, drawing a parallel to the unexpected.
King poetic, too much flavor, I'm major
I write with royal creativity, packed with style and significance.
Atlanta ain't Brave-r, I pull a number like a pager
I'm more significant than just local legends; I make my mark like important messages.
'Cause I'm a ace when I face the bass
I excel when it comes to performing with strong beats.
40 side is the place that is giving me grace
My neighborhood supports and uplifts my talent and career.
Now wait, another dose and you might be dead
Prepare for another powerful performance that hits hard.
And I'm a Nike head, I wear chains that excite the feds
I'm a fan of fashion, wearing flashy jewelry that attracts law enforcement attention.
And ain't a damn thing gonna change
Rest assured, my style and approach will remain constant.
I'm a performer, strange, so the mic wonder warmer was born to gain
As an unconventional artist, I thrive on the microphone's platform.
Nas, why did you do it?
People question my boldness in stepping into the spotlight.
You know you got the mad fat fluid when you rhyme, it's halftime
Your flow is impressive and heavy, making this moment pivotal.
(Right, right, right, right) It's halftime
We're reaching a significant juncture in the performance.
(Right, right, right, right) Ayo, it's halftime
Acknowledging this crucial moment for reflection and audience engagement.
(Right, right, right, right) It's halftime
Reiterating the importance of the current moment.
(Right, right, right, right) Yeah, it's about halftime
This point is crucial, calling attention to the climax of my message.
This is how it feel, check it out, how it feel
Let me express the essence of this experience to you.
It's like that, you know it's like that
That’s the vibe, confirming the truth of my sentiment.
I got it hemmed, now you never get the mic back
I've got skills that ensure my dominance; once I have the mic, it's mine for good.
When I attack, there ain't an army that could strike back
When I deliver my verses, my power is unmatched - unassailable.
So I react, never calmly on a hype track
I respond passionately and energetically to the beat.
I set it off with my own rhyme
I initiate the energy of the performance with my original lyrics.
'Cause I'm as ill as a convict who kills for phone time
I'm as skilled and determined as someone desperately seeking connection.
I'm max like cassettes, I flex like sex
I’m at my peak, showing off my talents as confidently as intimacy.
In your stereo sets, Nas'll catch wreck
When played, my music delivers a powerful punch.
I used to hustle, now all I do is relax and strive
I once struggled for survival, but now I focus on achieving my dreams.
When I was young, I was a fan of the Jackson 5
In my youth, I admired talented performers, inspiring my own artistry.
I drop jewels, wear jewels to never run it
I share wisdom through my lyrics while adorned with valuable accessories.
With more kicks than a baby in a mother's stomach
I possess a multitude of ideas and energy, ready to burst forth.
Nasty Nas has to rise 'cause I'm wise
I rise to challenges because of my acquired knowledge and experience.
This is exercise 'til the microphone dies
I continuously hone my craft until there’s nothing left to say.
Back in '83, I was an MC sparking
I started my journey in music back in 1983, igniting my career.
But I was too scared to grab the mic's in the park and
I hesitated to perform publicly, fearing judgment.
Kick my little raps 'cause I thought niggas wouldn't understand
I worried that my early verses wouldn't resonate with my audience.
And now in every jam, I'm the fucking man
Today, I command respect and recognition in every performance.
I rap in front of more niggas than in the slave ships
I perform for vast audiences, evoking historical struggles.
I used to watch CHiPs, now I load Glock clips
My childhood innocence has transformed into a gritty reality.
I got to have it, I miss Mr. Magic
I crave success and reminisce about influential figures in hip-hop.
Versatile, my style switches like a faggot
I adapt my artistic approach fluidly, embracing diversity in expression.
But not a bisexual, I'm an intellectual
I celebrate my capability and intelligence without any sexual connotations.
Of rap, I'm a professional and that's no question, yo
In the rap game, I establish my expertise unequivocally.
These are the lyrics of the man, you can't near it, understand?
These words embody my essence, and grasping them is crucial.
'Cause in the streets, I'm well-known like the number man
In my community, my name carries significant recognition and respect.
Am I in place with the bass and format?
Does my style resonate well with the beats and structure of the music?
Explore rap and tell me Nas ain't all that
Dive into the genre and be convinced of my undeniable talent.
And next time I rhyme, I be foul whenever I freestyle
In future performances, my raw and unfiltered style will shine.
I see trial, niggas say I'm wild
I recognize that my unconventional artistry is sometimes challenging.
I hate a rhyme biter's rhyme
I disdain artists who mimic others' styles rather than being original.
Stay tuned, Nas soon, the real rap comes at halftime
Keep your attention ready for my authentic and transformative artistry.
(Right, right, right, right) It's halftime
Reaffirming the significance of this pivotal moment in my presentation.
(Right, right, right, right) Exhale, check it, it's halftime
This moment calls for reflection and acknowledgment of my journey.
(Right, right, right, right) It's halftime
Emphasizing the climax of my performance.
(Right, right, right, right) It's real in the field
The authenticity of street life and experiences is undeniable.
Real life, check it
This is genuine, authentic expression; pay attention to its truth.
I got it going on, even flip a morning song
I create compelling music that resonates at any time, even at dawn.
Every afternoon, I kick half the tune
I deliver vibes in parts throughout the day, keeping it fresh.
And in the darkness, I'm heartless like when the narcs hit
In troubling times, I become cold, similar to when drug enforcement arrives.
Word to Marcus Garvey, I hardly sparked it
Inspired by historic figures, I find it difficult to fully express my potential.
'Cause when I blast the herb, that's my word
When I indulge in marijuana, it defines my essence.
I be slaying 'em fast, doing this, that in the third
I execute my art swiftly and with multiple dimensions.
But chill, pass the Andre and let's slay
Let's relax and enjoy quality moments while we deliver our craft.
I bag bitches up at John Jay and hit a matinee
I attract attention at university settings and enjoy casual outings.
Putting hits on 5-0
I challenge law enforcement, portraying my resistance.
Cause when it's my time to go, I wait for God wit the fo-fo
When it's my time, I trust in a higher power while being prepared for violence.
And biters can't come near
Those who copy others' work cannot stand against my originality.
And yo, go to hell to the foul cop who shot Garcia
Expressing disdain towards corrupt law enforcement involved in violence.
I won't plant seeds, don't need an extra mouth I can't feed
I'm not ready for more responsibilities than I can manage.
That's extra Phillie change, more cash for damp weed
I prefer to save my money for essentials rather than be burdened with extra worries.
This goes out to Manhattan, the Island of Staten
These words are dedicated to the boroughs that shaped me.
Brooklyn and Queens is living fat and
The people in these areas thrive and enjoy prosperous lives.
The Boogie Down, enough props, enough clout
Acknowledging the Bronx as a place of influence and respect.
Ill will, rest in peace, yo, I'm out
I express condolences to those lost, then conclude my performance.
(Right, right, right, right) It's still halftime
Reiterating that this moment remains significant within the overall experience.
(Right, right, right, right) To the Queensbridge crew
Sending shoutouts and recognition to my local supporters.
(Right, right, right, right) To the Queensbridge crew, you know it's halftime
Reminding my community of their importance in this journey.
(Right, right, right, right) '92, it's halftime
Contextualizing my emergence in the music scene during this notable year.
(Right, right, right, right) Yo, police, police, man, yo, let's get ghost
A call to disappear or evade trouble when faced with law enforcement.
Halftime
Signifying the pivotal midpoint of tension and creativity in this artistic expression.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gary Byrd, Gerome Ragni, James Rado, Nasir Jones, Galt MacDermot
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@grandmabaddie
Renegades will be over from thursday on. I cant wait to hear what Ren does with this great track ❤❤
@francesdoll4039
Excited to see what Ren comes up with on March 14th. He's paying homage to Nas as one of his favorites. Renegades here now to check out the original. Ren born in 1990.
@kellyt5341
It will be interesting, that pace and flow fit just right in that pocket. I listened to the instrumental but it is just the same beat for 4:20 min...with a couple of "rights" in there. I wonder how Ren will do this especially with the British accent. This is that New York City accent that fits in those different pockets.
@Alzoryne
@@kellyt5341welsh accent. he isn’t british
@kellyt5341
@@Alzoryne He even said he was a mix of the two. So a Welshy/Brit? Better?
@Suz0008
Came here to check the original and first comment I see is from a fellow renegade! Love it!
@Suz0008
@@AlzoryneWelsh people are British!
@foopsbjj9020
Nas is THE ONE
@dionellopez2290
Man those trumpets are no joke in the chorus , especially the 2nd verse ( i set it off with my own rhyme!) (Trumpets) Everytime they come on i feel like i just took a view into new york for a glimpse. The cars rolling by , tall buildings , people everywere , the corners , the subway. Classic
@jeanwyenberg2774
Well I can sure see why Ren loves this!