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..
In Too Deep
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo Yo Yo Son
You ever felt a funny vibe
What you supposed to do?
And ya man's ain't ya man's
And ya friend's ain't ya friend's
And ya money ain't yours anymore
And niggas want to count your money
You know what I'm sayin'
Sometimes I gotta take long trips and get away from this shit
I can't take this shit no more
This shit right here be fucking niggas like me up, know-what-I'm-sayin'
I been exposed to too much and too long
All my niggaz out there in the hood and shit
That be bringing that real shit
Put your fucking Phillies in the air
Your Back Woods, your White Owl
Your Dutchess and we goin' smoke and ride to this shit right here
This, that, real shit here, this is the soundtrack to the realness right here
Niggaz in too deep, know-what-I'm-sayin'
It's all real, all live, nigga what, what nigga
[Nas:]
Yo A, yo A, yo A, yo
I thank a dead homey
Incarcerated penpal I got the feds on me
A constapated mental
Always ranged in the ghetto it's pain in the ghetto
Caskets do you believe in angels or devils?
Welfare it's dark and there's no help here
Killing cops shooting black kids to instill fear
But we still here, not afraid cracks is made stacks get made
A "g" will get you gats sprayed
At my man's funeral it's like know body care
The police get shot, the mayor and everybody there
Graffiti on the lobby stairs, kids with naughty heads is greedy
Soldiers small faces painted on the walls
I was born to ball
Rings you can't afford, name a clothes line, I then worn it before
Dictate the naked soul of Nas henny four fives
Hoe's with thick thighs be the wives of rich guys
Never trust a bitch, 'cause a bitch lies
Enemys close 'cause friends switch sides when shit gets live
Dealin' with a lot of pressure, I'm in too deep
Life of a thug born and raised in the streets
[Chorus:]
[Nature:] You want war, I'mma give you war
[Nas:] I'm in too deep
[Nature:] You want peace, I'mma give you peace
[Nas:] Raised in the streets
[Nature:] You want love, I'mma show you love
[Nas:] Life of a thug
[Nature:] There's no love for me in these streets
[Nas:] I'm in too deep
[Nature:] It's just hustlers in the streets
[Nas:] Raised in the streets
[Nature:]
Yo A, yo
When you in too deep you better climb out and find out
Are you the one they looking at 'cause when you looking back
It's your time to fear if the drama's severe
I see scars starting off at the side of they're ear
Ending up by the jaw of the throat another law broke
I try to patch it white kids is buying acid
Closing down spots popping a knot
Heard the foremores use binoculars watchin' the blocks
Calling phantom on the tape
I'm the phantom of the wax
Now meat the man behind the music examing the facts
I use it to my advantage, do this shit everyday
Like sneaking gats up in grade eight
Six Flags catch me getting on the popular rides
If a nigga violate, he get top of the line
Small hot ones locked in the spines
Transformed, roll out, pass it off to my man, no doubt
I keep shits disguising six shirts in the trunk
Imagine it gets six times worse when I'm drunk
Prepare for death first of the month
Open and rise, t's right here in front of you open your eyes
I can't explain it 'cause it's not normal
Is niggas loyal, I talk about life and live it for you, this shit is soil
Like the dirt that I walk on, you talk on
You say I had love for ya, know it's all gone, all gone
[Chorus]
The song "In Too Deep" by Nas and Nature is a deep reflection on the challenges of living in impoverished communities plagued by crime, violence, and poverty. The lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness and desperation that many people living in such circumstances can relate to. Nas talks about the pains of losing close friends to violence and feeling trapped in a system where everyone is trying to bring you down. Nature talks about the paranoia of being watched and the pressure of living up to the expectations of others.
The song's chorus echoes the themes of the verses, with Nas and Nature trading lines about war, peace, and love. They both seem to realize that the only way out of their situation is to stick together and support one another. However, there is a certain fatalism to their message, suggesting that even these efforts may not be enough.
Overall, "In Too Deep" is a powerful commentary on the difficult realities faced by marginalized communities. Through their lyrics, Nas and Nature provide a voice for those who may feel unheard and unseen, highlighting the need for change and urgent action.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo Yo Yo Son
Nature starts off by greeting his friend and addressing him in a casual, friendly manner.
You ever felt a funny vibe
Nature asks Nas if he has ever gotten a weird feeling, an intuition that something is not right.
What you supposed to do?
Nature wonders what to do when he experiences this funny vibe.
And ya man's ain't ya man's
Nature points out that sometimes friends can betray you.
And ya friend's ain't ya friend's
Nature elaborates that sometimes acquaintances aren't reliable either.
And ya money ain't yours anymore
Nature suggests that when you get too deep in a dangerous situation, even your financial assets can become at risk.
And niggas want to count your money
Nature warns that people may try to take advantage of you and count your money when you're not looking.
Niggas want to see what the fuck you got
Nature emphasizes the aforementioned point and suggests that some people are motivated by greed and envy.
You know what I'm sayin'
Nature asks Nas if he understands what he's saying.
Sometimes I gotta take long trips and get away from this shit
Nature explains that occasionally he needs to get away from the bad vibes and negative energy of the streets.
I can't take this shit no more
Nature expresses frustration and reveals that he's reaching his limit with the situation he's in.
This shit right here be fucking niggas like me up, know-what-I'm-sayin'
Nature confesses that the stress and anxiety caused by the environment is taking its toll on him.
I been exposed to too much and too long
Nature laments that he's been exposed to too many harsh realities of life for too long.
All my niggaz out there in the hood and shit
Nature addresses his fellow hood residents and acknowledges their struggles.
That be bringing that real shit
Nature praises his peers who bring realness and authenticity to the table.
Put your fucking Phillies in the air
Nature instructs his listeners to hold up their Phillies- a brand of blunt- in solidarity and celebration.
Your Back Woods, your White Owl
Nature mentions two other brands of blunts, Back Woods and White Owl.
Your Dutchess and we goin' smoke and ride to this shit right here
Nature suggests they will smoke and ride to the song together.
This, that, real shit here, this is the soundtrack to the realness right here
Nature explains that this is a real and authentic song that represents the actual struggles and experiences of people in the streets.
Niggaz in too deep, know-what-I'm-sayin'
Nature acknowledges that people in the streets or those who have been in similar situations, are in too deep.
It's all real, all live, nigga what, what nigga
Nature emphasizes that the song and its message are one hundred percent genuine and come from real experiences of people.
Yo A, yo A, yo A, yo
Nas starts his verse by calling out to his friend A (Nature), using a friendly and casual tone.
I thank a dead homey
Nas remembers and thanks a deceased friend.
Incarcerated penpal I got the feds on me
Nas reports that he has a friend in prison, and the authorities are keeping an eye on him.
A constapated mental
Nas describes his mental state as being constipated, suggesting it's sluggish and blocked.
Always ranged in the ghetto it's pain in the ghetto
Nas says that he constantly roams the streets of the ghetto and experiences the pain that comes with life there.
Caskets do you believe in angels or devils?
Nas ponders whether after death, people go to heaven or hell.
Welfare it's dark and there's no help here
Nas refers to the welfare system and how it is insufficient to support people in need.
Killing cops shooting black kids to instill fear
Nas laments the violent reality of police brutality and how it results in fear and pain for the black community.
But we still here, not afraid cracks is made stacks get made
Nas acknowledges that despite the hardships faced by him and his community, they are still here and not scared; they continue to grind and make money despite the odds.
A 'g' will get you gats sprayed
Nas warns that being a gangster can get you killed.
At my man's funeral it's like know body care
Nas laments how during his friend's funeral, no one seemed to care and the world continued to spin as usual.
The police get shot, the mayor and everybody there
Nas suggests that even police and mayors can become victims of violence.
Graffiti on the lobby stairs
Nas describes the graffiti he sees on the staircase in his building.
Kids with naughty heads is greedy
Nas describes the greedy and selfish nature of some children in his neighborhood.
Soldiers small faces painted on the walls
Nas describes the murals of soldiers with small faces painted on the walls of buildings.
I was born to ball
Nas boasts that he was born to succeed and make money.
Rings you can't afford, name a clothes line, I then worn it before
Nas boasts about his wealth and how he's worn expensive clothes that most people cannot afford.
Dictate the naked soul of Nas henny four fives
Nas suggests that he has laid bare his soul through his music and lyrics while drinking his favorite cognac, Hennessy.
Hoe's with thick thighs be the wives of rich guys
Nas emphasizes how rich men often have attractive women as their partners.
Never trust a bitch, 'cause a bitch lies
Nas warns his listeners to never trust women because they tend to tell lies.
Enemys close 'cause friends switch sides when shit gets live
Nas cautions that friends can become enemies, and when things get intense, they can switch sides.
Dealin' with a lot of pressure, I'm in too deep
Nas expresses how he's experiencing a lot of stress and pressure, and he's in too deep in his lifestyle.
Life of a thug born and raised in the streets
Nas sums up his life in one sentence, he was born and raised in the streets, and he is a thug.
You want war, I'mma give you war
Nature proclaims that if someone wants war, he is willing to fight.
You want peace, I'mma give you peace
Nature says that if someone wants peace, he is willing to make peace.
Raised in the streets
Nas again refers to how he was raised in the tough streets.
You want love, I'mma show you love
Nature says that if someone wants love, he is willing to give it to them.
There's no love for me in these streets
Nature admits that he hasn't experienced much love or kindness in the streets.
It's just hustlers in the streets
Nature explains that the streets are infested with hustlers, people who are trying to get ahead by any means necessary.
When you in too deep you better climb out and find out
Nature advises that when you're in too deep in a situation, you should climb out and reassess the situation.
Are you the one they looking at 'cause when you looking back
Nature asks Nas whether he feels like he's being watched and whether he's keeping his guard up.
It's your time to fear if the drama's severe
Nature warns that if the drama is really bad, then it's time to feel scared.
I see scars starting off at the side of they're ear
Nature describes seeing scars on people's faces starting at the side of their ear.
Ending up by the jaw of the throat another law broke
Nature suggests that these scars are the result of violence and breaking the law.
I try to patch it white kids is buying acid
Nature attempts to fix the problem, but white people are buying drugs that hurt the community.
Closing down spots popping a knot
Nature describes the police shutting down drug spots and people getting arrested.
Heard the foremores use binoculars watchin' the blocks
Nature suggests that he's heard rumors that the authorities use binoculars to watch the drug blocks.
Calling phantom on the tape
Nature suggests that someone is secretly recording or wiretapping conversations.
I'm the phantom of the wax
Nature refers to himself as the phantom of the wax, suggesting that he's a ghost or spirit that haunts the streets.
Now meat the man behind the music examing the facts
Nature introduces himself as the man behind the music, examining the truths and facts of the streets.
I use it to my advantage, do this shit everyday
Nature explains that he uses his knowledge and experience of the streets to his advantage in his everyday life.
Like sneaking gats up in grade eight
Nature compares his everyday life to when he was a teenager sneaking weapons into school.
Six Flags catch me getting on the popular rides
Nature mentions Six Flags, a popular amusement park, and how he enjoys going on the popular rides.
If a nigga violate, he get top of the line
Nature suggests that if someone disrespects him, they will get the worst punishment.
Small hot ones locked in the spines
Nature suggests that small and powerful weapons are hidden in his spine.
Transformed, roll out, pass it off to my man, no doubt
Nature suggests that he transforms, rolls out and passes something (likely drugs) to his man, without any doubt.
I keep shits disguising six shirts in the trunk
Nature keeps his drugs hidden in the trunk of his car.
Imagine it gets six times worse when I'm drunk
Nature suggests that he gets even more reckless when he drinks alcohol.
Prepare for death first of the month
Nature cautions that people should always be prepared for death because it can come at any time.
Open and rise, t's right here in front of you open your eyes
Nature encourages his listeners to open their eyes and see the reality in front of them.
I can't explain it 'cause it's not normal
Nature admits that he cannot explain his reality because it's not normal.
Is niggas loyal, I talk about life and live it for you, this shit is soil
Nature wonders if people in his community are loyal, and he reflects on his life and experiences. He sees the street life as being dirty, like soil.
Like the dirt that I walk on, you talk on
Nature suggests that he walks on the dirty soil of the streets, whereas others just talk about it.
You say I had love for ya, know it's all gone, all gone
Nature suggests that someone had love for him, but now it's all gone and they don't care about him anymore.
[Chorus]
The chorus is repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizing the themes of war, peace, and love.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARK JONES, DANNY WILLIAMS, PAUL EVERTON LEVERIDGE, GED LYNCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
King Kong Kamikaze Kid
This is top 10 songs of all time in my opinion. The beat, especially the violin sample, is just beautiful. And Nas and Nature just killing the verses makes this a classic thats mad slept on, and overlooked. This track can never get old !
Jon Sullivan
Pà
Andrew Lemay
Facts I remember getting my day one tried to rob me this shit never gets old
ragoflex
“At my man’s funeral it’s like nobody care,
But when police get shot...the mayor, everybody there”
Still KNOCKS in 2019
Johan Massy
And 2021
J Howell
Still bumping 2021
mike johnson
2022
Jon jon Bailey
Dats da domestic let alone deepest shit n Tha whole song. I wish 2Pac was on dis song!!
Kelvin Martin
Straight facts.💯👌🏾
Melvin Flint
Man the 90s were the golden age of hip hop. Nas been the best to ever do it living or deceased.