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..
N.Y. State of Mind Pt. ll
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What up? What up?
It's time man (word, it's time?)
Straight up (it's time, man)
Aight, set that shit off (set it off then, nigga)
Set it off (set it off)
Broken glass in the hallway, bloodstained floors
Lock the top lock, momma shoulda cuffed me to the radiator
Why not? It might've saved me later from my block
N.Y. cops, hookers crawlin' off the stroll, coughin'
Stitches in they head, stinkin' and I dread thinkin' they be snitchin'
But who else, could it be, shook at these, unmarked vans
Parked in the dark, NARC's, where's your heart?
Hustlers starve, they bust a U-ey, I jog
To my building, come out later wearin' camouflage
See the sergeant and the captain, strangle men
Niggas gaspin' for air, 'til they move no more and just stare
With dead eyes, tired of riots, shit is quiet
Simple-minded fools infiltrate grimy crews
Overcrowded cribs, uncles home from bids, sister's pregnant
Father's on drugs, moms is smokin', beds is piss-infested
Had eight partners growin' up, eight turned to seven
Seven turned to six niggas, got two in heaven
Six of us, holdin' it, now it's five rollin' thick
The sixth one's parole flipped, five niggas, went to four quick
When he went O.T., college life, converted into gangbangin'
Four niggas still hangin', years passin' and slang changin'
Three of us now, fourth nigga ain't around
We all thought he was real, he did the snake shit
Fake shit, beat his ass down
Yo, his mouth could've got us all wasted, what a fuckin' clown
All I got left in the end is two of my best friends
And we all goin' out, to the death for these ends, what?
New York, New York (New York state of mind)
New York, New York (New York state of mind)
You heard about it, you see about it
You read about it, it's in your papers
It's in your daily news (get money)
New York chronicles, every day
The crime rate, the murder rate
The money rate, the paper chase, you know what I mean?
New York state of mind baby, check it out
I'm at the, gamblin' spot, my hands on a knot
New York Yankee cap cover my eyes, stand in one spot
I take a nigga dough, send him home to a shoebox
You lost that nigga I put your dollar in the jukebox
Hear my favorite song, all these niggas sing along
All the cigarette smoke's cloggin' my lungs, hoodrats flashin' they tongue
Young thugs blastin' they gun, we got reputations
Bitches and niggas both on parole or probation
Shit is sick, niggas got gats, army fatigues
I got my eyes glued on, whoever walk in or leave
'Cause I ain't playin', niggas'll run up in here and shoot up this shit
Stick yo' ass up, niggas'll find the loot in your kicks
Bunch of triple-cross niggas, just New York niggas
Lift you off your feet when they was just talkin' with you
Some of these dudes the feds be on 'em, you knew 'em for years
Be the type when you walk in a pub, they offer you beers
That ain't gangsta, niggas is up North with tatted tears
Your name's on the affidavit, you ratted kid
Faggot ass niggas that be scared to do they bids
Fuck you, we run you out of N.Y, you can't live
Got your quiet niggas, that relocated down South
Comin' back to floss, then you got the jealous loudmouths
All of a sudden we got Crips and Bloods, D.T.'s
Runnin' 'round quick to split your mug, it's easy to score
But it's hard to get the shit off
Niggas fightin' over hundred sales, jump in the car and drive off
When the fiend come around the block, happy as hell
Niggas, mad 'cause they ain't get a piece of that sale
Cutthroat connivers, universal, ghetto survivors
Go to any hood that's live and make it liver
A lot of niggas schemin', some real, some niggas frontin'
But I'm a big dreamer, so watch me come up with somethin'
New York, New York
New York, New York
In "N.Y. State of Mind Pt II," Nas provides a vivid description of the harsh realities of life in the streets of New York City. He paints a picture of broken glass in the hallway, blood-stained floors, and neighbors scrutinizing every bag brought through the doors. He reminisces about his childhood, growing up with partners who turned to drugs, became involved in gang-related activities, got arrested and jailed, and even died. Nas narrates how he and his remaining two friends are all that is left in the end, and they are determined to go out to the death for their ends, highlighting the bonds of loyalty and the lengths people will go to survive in the city.
Furthermore, Nas's lyrics can be interpreted as a criticism of the injustice faced by people growing up in the city's ghettos. He describes overcrowded cribs, families broken by drugs and alcohol, and the dangerous cycle of poverty and crime that is seemingly impossible to break. Nas shares his observation of how the crime rate, murder rate and the paper chase have complete control over people's lives. He laments the state of the city and the effect it has on its inhabitants.
Overall, "N.Y. State of Mind Pt II" is a powerful portrayal of life in the city and a poignant commentary on the dark side of human nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Broken glass in the hallway, bloodstained floors
The surroundings are violent and dangerous.
Neighbors, look at every bag you bring through your doors
The community is paranoid and mistrustful.
Lock the top lock, momma shoulda cuffed me to the radiator
The singer feels unsafe and may have benefited from more protection.
N.Y. cops, hookers crawlin' off the stroll, coughin'
Police and the sex trade are prevalent but also sometimes sickly.
Stitches in they head, stinkin' and I dread thinkin' they be snitchin'
The artist is suspicious of people who have been caught and fears that they will turn informant.
But who else, could it be, shook at these, unmarked vans
The situation is so fraught that anyone could be targeted by law enforcement.
Parked in the dark, NARC's, where's your heart?
The singer questions the morality of police who conduct clandestine operations.
Hustlers starve, they bust a U-ey, I jog
The artist is aware of the desperation that motivates some criminals to make risky moves.
To my building, come out later wearin' camouflage
The artist tries to blend in to avoid detection.
See the sergeant and the captain, strangle men
Higher-ranking members of the police are not above using violence to enforce the law.
Niggas gaspin' for air, 'til they move no more and just stare
Police brutality sometimes leads to death.
With dead eyes, tired of riots, shit is quiet
The community is resigned to the violence and lack of justice.
Simple-minded fools infiltrate grimy crews
Some people join gangs without understanding the gravity of their situation.
Overcrowded cribs, uncles home from bids, sister's pregnant
Family life is often strained and difficult.
Father's on drugs, moms is smokin', beds is piss-infested
The family unit is dysfunctional and plagued by addiction.
Had eight partners growin' up, eight turned to seven
The artist's friends have been lost to drugs and crime.
Seven turned to six niggas, got two in heaven
Two of the artist's friends have died.
Six of us, holdin' it, now it's five rollin' thick
The group is getting smaller but still strong.
The sixth one's parole flipped, five niggas, went to four quick
One member turned informant and the group has been further diminished.
When he went O.T., college life, converted into gangbangin'
One member fell into criminal activity after an attempt to go straight didn't work out.
Four niggas still hangin', years passin' and slang changin'
The group has adjusted to changing times but has remained close.
Third one's rappin', slash, actor-waitin' to happen
One member is pursuing a career in entertainment, possibly as a rapper or actor.
Ninety-six, big six, eight was the clip
The group has gone through many changes and some conflict.
Next two, rest in peace, what a brother gotta do to go platinum?
Two members have died and the artist is seeking success in music.
New York, New York (New York state of mind)
The singer is proud to represent his city.
You heard about it, you see about it
New York's reputation precedes it.
You read about it, it's in your papers
The city's struggles are widely covered by the media.
It's in your daily news (get money)
The artist emphasizes the importance of financial success in the city.
New York chronicles, every day
The city's story is being written every day.
The crime rate, the murder rate
The city has a high rate of violent crime.
The money rate, the paper chase, you know what I mean?
The city is also defined by its materialism and pursuit of wealth.
I'm at the, gamblin' spot, my hands on a knot
The artist is gambling with a lot of money.
New York Yankee cap cover my eyes, stand in one spot
The artist's style is emblematic of New York City.
I take a nigga dough, send him home to a shoebox
The artist is successful at hustling and robbing people.
You lost that nigga I put your dollar in the jukebox
The singer is taunting someone who has just lost money.
Hear my favorite song, all these niggas sing along
The artist enjoys the sense of community he feels while listening to his favorite music.
All the cigarette smoke's cloggin' my lungs, hoodrats flashin' they tongue
The environment is unhealthy and some people behave inappropriately.
Young thugs blastin' they gun, we got reputations
The singer and his associates have a dangerous reputation.
Bitches and niggas both on parole or probation
Many people in the community are caught in the criminal justice system.
Shit is sick, niggas got gats, army fatigues
The community is heavily armed and paranoid.
I got my eyes glued on, whoever walk in or leave
The artist is constantly surveying his surroundings.
Bunch of triple-cross niggas, just New York niggas
Loyalty is hard to come by and betrayal is common.
Lift you off your feet when they was just talkin' with you
Some people can turn violent without warning.
Some of these dudes the feds be on 'em, you knew 'em for years
Even people you've known for a long time may be under suspicion and scrutiny from law enforcement.
Be the type when you walk in a pub, they offer you beers
Some people are friendly to your face but untrustworthy behind your back.
That ain't gangsta, niggas is up North with tatted tears
Gangsta behavior isn't just about violence - it's a lifestyle and mindset that can lead to prison time and regret.
Your name's on the affidavit, you ratted kid
The singer is calling out someone who has cooperated with law enforcement in exchange for leniency.
Faggot ass niggas that be scared to do they bids
The artist is critical of people who turn informant to avoid punishment.
Fuck you, we run you out of N.Y, you can't live
The singer is threatening anyone who turns informant or doesn't abide by the community's standards.
Got your quiet niggas, that relocated down South
Some people in the community have left New York to start over somewhere else.
Comin' back to floss, then you got the jealous loudmouths
People who leave and come back to show off are sometimes resented by those who stayed behind.
All of a sudden we got Crips and Bloods, D.T.'s
Gangs from the West Coast have made their way to the East Coast, leading to new tensions and rivalries.
Runnin' 'round quick to split your mug, it's easy to score
Violence is common and people will fight over small things.
But it's hard to get the shit off
Making money is difficult and requires a lot of hustle.
Niggas fightin' over hundred sales, jump in the car and drive off
Drug dealing is a risky and contentious business.
When the fiend come around the block, happy as hell
Drug addicts are desperate for their next fix.
Niggas, mad 'cause they ain't get a piece of that sale
Greed and jealousy can drive people to violence.
Cutthroat connivers, universal, ghetto survivors
People in the community are shrewd and often have to resort to deceit to get by.
Go to any hood that's live and make it liver
The singer is confident in his ability to succeed in any environment.
A lot of niggas schemin', some real, some niggas frontin'
Many people are trying to hustle and make money, but not everyone is honest.
But I'm a big dreamer, so watch me come up with somethin'
The singer is determined to succeed, even in a difficult environment.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Eric Barrier, William Griffin, Nasir Jones, Christopher Martin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind