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..
Nas Is Coming
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's up, my nigga?
What's up, Nas?
Chillin', God
Niggas is up in here hittin' some of this chronic, nigga
Yeah, and this chocolate over here, they mixed this shit up
Nigga, hit some of this shit, nigga
Yeah, lemme get that
And niggas is stealin' your whole techniques and shit
Niggas wanna take everything from a nigga, man
Yeah, yeah, yo, Nas, it's like this, man
Niggas can't do it like I do it though, you know what I'm sayin'?
Just like niggas can't do what you do
Right, right
You know, can't nobody fuck with this
You know, all these niggas out here just
Talkin' this East coast, west coast bullshit
Niggas need to kill that shit and make some money, you know?
Word
Fuck it
What is it, what is it, God?
Let's get together (right, that's what I'm sayin')
Make some fuckin' music (that's what I'm sayin')
And get paid and just, let that be it
Right, right
All these niggas talkin' all this bullshit
Better sit back and watch what happen
The Golden Child shot that ass up, you was holdin' out
Let the streets be the court, and corners hold the trial
Fatal, not fictitious
I rock the cable '86 shit
Foreign cars, young with crazy bitches
Mad smoke makes me able to quote
Solicitin' ill editions of that Murder I Wrote
A provocative plan can bring a knot to my hand
As the pyramids that stand on the top of the sand
In the heat of the moment, like Farrakhan said, we need atonement
Bulletproof glass, S-classes
Chrome kitted up, calicones lit it up
I didn't get touched, checkin' my nuts, I stood up and lit a Dutch
Clutchin' gats, quick to bust
But knowing how these niggas tattle
I sneak move, get the drop, one shot without the gun battle
So when you run, the lead travel
I come through, it's taboo
Ninety-six ways made to clap you
Nas is coming
Nas is coming
Nas is coming (Nasty Nas is coming)
Nas is coming
Nas is coming
Nas is coming
Nas is coming (Nasty Nas is coming)
Nas is coming
In the black limo, Jack Daniels through the cracked window
I spot the fake, red dot his face like a Hindu
Snatched the symbol, tied his hands to make examples
Substantial amounts you owe to the fam, crew
Firm affiliation, paper chasin'
Chips glossy, rich Pablo Escabano, sophisticado
Blazin' hollows like Saddles
Rap apostle, nacho cheese, I'm Castro
Compared to these niggas who swear to be real
But impostors to Hoffa, Nas plague kills
Countin' bills to send to all my jail niggas who fell
From New York to LA, QB to CPT for GP
A hundred G cars, Garcia Vegas cigars
Kani shit, mad jiggy
The clout, murder material, serial scratched out
My name's passed out like it's somethin' venereal
But back in stereo
Nas is coming
Nas is coming
Nas is coming (Nasty Nas is coming)
Nas is coming
Nas is coming
Nas is coming
Nas is coming (Nasty Nas is coming)
Nas is coming
From childbirth to hearses, flow like the Nile cover surface
I bit the fruit from the Serpent
Apocalyptic, get bent, stay splifted
Control the rap game, you got it twisted
Dr. Dre way, the 'Bridge say, "Shake dice and kiss it"
Sip Cris', push the 6 with the biscuit
Jeep full of chickens, pull up beside, have a listen, y'all
Nas y'all, fly gangsta, wavy hair, teeth chipped in
My shit bump, in the courtroom drunk
Links truck, rocky bracelet
Cognac kernel, never chase it
Rap hero, black DeNiro
Federal Bureau tapped my line and got zero
Rap pro, diamond Role, hustlin' low
Pro-file white gold style, rakin' bloody dough by the pile
Shot down, still alive, he strugglin' for the phone, fo'-fo' blow him
When homicide comes, these three words are sung
Nas is coming
Nas is coming
Nas is coming (Nasty Nas is coming)
Nas is coming
Nas is coming
Nas is coming
Nas is coming (Nasty Nas is coming)
Nas is coming
Nas is coming
Nas is coming
Nas is coming (Nasty Nas is coming)
Nas is coming
Nas is coming
Nas is coming
Nas is coming (Nasty Nas is coming)
Nas is coming
Check this out
It's Nasty Nas, and Dr. Dre, huh
East meets West
That's how we makin' it happen
That's how it goes down for the nine-six
Ayo Nas let's get this money, let's get paid
Sit back and watch all these motherfuckin' clowns out here
Riffin' and beefin' about this bullshit
Yo, ha, while they doin' all that
We just gon' kick back with these honeys, this Cristal
Ha, and party to the year 2G
Nas is coming
Nas is coming
Nas is coming
Nas is coming
In "Nas Is Coming," Nas presents his self-proclaimed greatness and dominance in the rap game. The lyrics express a sense of power and control over other rappers, and Nas asserts his position as the top rapper of his time. He references his ability to craft ill verses and his unstoppable reign, as well as his rise from the streets to a position of wealth and success. The lyrics also reference Nas’s ability to handle difficult situations with ease, such as avoiding gun battles and still managing to get the drop on his opponents. The chorus, which repeats, “Nas is coming,” emphasizes the idea that Nas is the one to watch out for, as he’s coming for any challengers to his throne.
The references to gangster culture, such as driving foreign cars and carrying guns, reflect the reality that many young people experienced growing up in impoverished urban areas. However, Nas also presents himself as someone who has found success and has established himself as a true player in the game. He speaks of counting bills, drinking Jack Daniels, and having the ability to send money to his incarcerated friends. Ultimately, the lyrics of "Nas Is Coming" reflect the struggle and triumph of young rappers trying to make it in an industry where success is hard-fought and often short-lived.
Line by Line Meaning
The Golden Child chop that ass up, you was holding out
I am a skilled rapper who can easily defeat any opponent. Don't hold back your best material.
Let the streets be the court and corners hold the trial
Our community should hold those who commit crimes accountable, even if the legal system fails us.
Fatal not fictitious
My rhymes are real and have serious consequences.
I rock the cable 86 shit
I am a hip-hop legend and have been rapping since 1986.
Foreign cars young with crazy bitches
I have great wealth and enjoy luxury cars and women.
Mad smoke makes me able to quote
Smoking marijuana helps me get creative and write better rhymes.
Soliciting ill editions of that Murder I Wrote
My rhymes are so powerful, they could be seen as inciting violence.
A provocative plan can bring a knot to my hand
I am not afraid to take risks and push boundaries with my music.
As the pyramids that stand on top of the sand
My legacy as a rapper will stand the test of time, just like the ancient pyramids.
In the heat of the moment, like Farrakhan said we need atonement
When tensions are high, it is important to reflect on our past actions and seek reconciliation.
Bulletproof glass, S-classes chrome kitted up
I have expensive, high-end cars with bulletproof glass to protect me from danger.
Calicones lit it up
I am not afraid to use firearms to protect myself and my interests.
I didn't get touched checking my nuts
I was not searched for weapons and got away with carrying them.
I stood up and lit a Dutch
I am not afraid to smoke marijuana even in potentially dangerous situations.
Clutching gats quick to bust
I am always ready to use firearms to protect myself and my interests.
But knowing how these niggas tattle
I am aware that other people might snitch or give away information about me.
I sneak move get the drop, one shot without the gun battle
I am strategic and can take out my enemies with one shot, without getting into a full-blown gunfight.
So when you run the lead travel
You should be careful not to cross me or there will be consequences.
I come through it's taboo
When I arrive somewhere, it becomes an exciting and notable event.
Ninety-six ways made to clap you
I have many different strategies and methods to defeat my enemies.
From childbirth to hearses, flow like the Nile cover surface
Like the Nile River, my rhymes are always flowing and ever-present, from birth to death.
I bit the fruit from the Serpent
I am not afraid to take risks and defy authority, like Adam and Eve in the biblical story.
Apocalyptic, get bent stay splifted
I am often high and carefree, even in times of chaos and danger.
Control the rap game you got it twisted
I am one of the most prominent and influential figures in the rap industry, and anyone who thinks otherwise is mistaken.
Dr. Dre way the Bridge say, shake dice and kiss it
Dr. Dre and I collaborate on music that combines the West Coast and East Coast rap styles. We gamble and take risks together.
Sip Crist' push the six with biscuit
We enjoy drinking Cristal champagne and driving around in expensive cars while carrying weapons for protection.
Jeep full of chickens, pull up beside, have a listen y'all Nas y'all
We attract a lot of women who want to be part of our lifestyle and listen to our music.
Fly gangsta wavy hair teeth chipped in
I have a unique and stylish appearance that sets me apart from others.
My shit bump in the courtroom drunk, links truck
My music is versatile and can be enjoyed in any setting, even a courtroom while intoxicated. I also have expensive jewelry.
Rocky bracelet cognac kernel never chase it
I have expensive jewelry and enjoy drinking cognac without needing a chaser.
Rap hero black DeNiro
I am a hero in the rap industry, like Robert DeNiro is a hero in Hollywood.
Federal Bureau tapped my line and got zero
The FBI has tried to monitor my phone conversations and has been unsuccessful.
Rap pro diamond roll, hustling low
I am skilled at rapping and also involved in illegal activities.
Pro-file white gold style, raking bloody dough by the pile
I have a distinct and expensive fashion sense, and make a lot of money from criminal activities.
Shot down still alive he struggling for the phone
I have been shot but survived, and am still fighting to stay alive.
Fo-fo blow him, when homicide comes, these three words are sung
I use a .44 caliber gun to kill my enemies, and when the police come to investigate, these lyrics will serve as evidence against me.
Check this out, it's Nasty Nas, and Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre and I are introducing ourselves and starting the song.
East meets West
Our collaboration combines the hip-hop styles of the East and West Coasts of the US.
That's how we making it happen
We are successful and making money together.
That's how it goes down for the nine-six
This is what the hip-hop scene was like in 1996.
Aiyyo Nas let's get this money
Dr. Dre and I are ready to make more money together.
Let's get paid
We are motivated by financial gain and want to continue our success.
Sit back and watch all these motherfucking clowns out here
We are above the petty arguments and disagreements happening in the rap industry.
Riffing and beefing about this bullshit
Other rappers are arguing about unimportant issues instead of focusing on making good music.
Yo while they doing all that
While other rappers are busy arguing,
We just gon' kick back with these honeys
Dr. Dre and I will relax and hang out with attractive women.
This Cristal and party to the year 2G
We will drink Cristal champagne and party until the year 2000.
Nas is coming
The chorus repeats the title of the song, announcing my arrival and dominance in the rap industry.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nasir Jones, Andre Romell Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind