Not For Radio
Nas Lyrics

Escobar season begins
This is the start of Nas's music style that is inspired by Pablo Escobar's life and it is going to be intense

Black Kemet gods, black Egyptian gods
Nas is referencing the ancient black gods from Kemet and Egypt to showcase the greatness and power of black heritage

Summoned from heaven, blessed, dressed in only Goyard
The black gods possess divine qualities and they are blessed, they only need the fancy Goyard clothing brand to accentuate their greatness

Homie go hard like stole and rob it in a stolen car
Nas's friend is dedicated and hardworking just like someone who commits a crime to get what they want

Shoot the ballot box, no voter cards, they all are frauds
In a corrupt system where there is no fair representation for the people, violence and rebellion are necessary actions

Senegal's finest, minerals, diamonds
Nas acknowledges the natural resources and beauty that Africa possesses, specifically diamonds from Senegal

The earth is cursed but I survive many climates
Although the world faces its challenges, Nas continues to navigate and overcome any obstacle

Calm and thoroughly, they try to Hyman Roth me
Nas stays composed while people around him plot and scheme, much like the character Hyman Roth in The Godfather series

John Fitzgerald me, the industry never bought me
Nas has been compared to the assassinated President John F. Kennedy, but unlike him, Nas cannot be bought or controlled by the music industry

Fear will make you reveal who you really are
Fear can be a revealing factor that shows one's true character and intentions

Feel me y'all? Be solid, your foes hold you in ill regard
Nas wants people to be strong and united because their enemies will always hold them in a negative light

This ain't knowledge, this is not intense
Nas believes that what he's saying is not common knowledge and that it is more than just typical 'intense' rap lyrics

For honored men, women too
Nas wants to highlight the importance of women's contributions to society and honor them equally

Us who can see the same thing but have a different view
People can have different perspectives and interpretations of the same situation or object

All is somethin', frontin', niggas knew you from your past
People can pretend to be something they're not, but others who know their past will see through the facade

Got all kinds of guys sayin' we go way back
People will often exaggerate their connections and relationships to appear more important

And who y'all comparing me to is nonsense
Nas thinks it's ridiculous for people to compare him to other rappers who are not on his level

Show gratitude in the presence of dominance
Be humble and thankful when in the presence of someone superior or with more power

To Catholics, Moors and Masons
Nas is acknowledging the influence of religion and secret societies on history

John Hanson was not the first black pres to make it
Contrary to popular belief, John Hanson was not the first black president in America

Abe Lincoln did not free the enslaved
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation did not single-handedly free all enslaved people in America

Progress was made 'cause we forced the proclamation
Progress was made towards emancipation because of the relentless efforts of black people

SWAT was created to stop the Panthers
The creation of SWAT teams was a response to the Black Panther Party's militancy and activism to protect their communities

Glocks were created for murder enhancement
Nas believes that firearms like Glocks were designed to make killing easier or more efficient

For hunting men, circumstances
Weapons like Glocks are specifically designed to target and kill people, regardless of the circumstances

Edgar Hoover was black
'Black' could symbolize Hoover's corruption and injustice against black people, despite him being a white man

Willie Lynch was a myth, Colombians created crack
The infamous 'Willie Lynch letter' used to justify slavery is a hoax, while the epidemic of crack cocaine was introduced by the Colombian drug trade

The government made stacks
The government has made a lot of money from illegal activities and corruption

Reagan had Alzheimer's, that's true
Former President Reagan was suffering from Alzheimer's disease while in office, which casts doubt on his decision-making abilities

Fox News was started by a black dude, also true
Fox News, known for its conservative and often controversial reporting, was started by a black man named Robert Johnson

Convinced my experiences were meant to be
Nas believes that his life experiences, both good and bad, were part of his destiny

Helps me navigate as they validate theyy treachery
Nas's experiences have prepared him for dealing with people who are deceitful and untrustworthy

Felt established, fake as he smile, handshake questionable
Despite feeling successful and established, Nas is wary of people who give him phony smiles and handshakes

"Am I good?" he ask, thinkin', "But is he testin' you?"
Nas is suspicious of those who ask if everything is okay, because he believes they might have an ulterior motive or put him to the test

In my hood, fear does a few things
Fear has different impacts and consequences in Nas's neighborhood

Make you pussy, make you snitch
Fear can make someone weak and cowardly, or make them betray others to save themselves

Make irrational moves or even turn you to food
Fear can also make people act impulsively and make poor decisions, and in extreme cases, even make them vulnerable to attack or exploitation

I think they scared of us, yeah
Nas believes that people are afraid of him and his message

I think they scared
People are scared and intimidated by Nas and his power