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..
Sly Fox
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We locked in an idiot box
The video slots broadcasting Waco Davidian plots
They own YouTube, MySpace
When this ignorant shit going to stop?
They monopolizing news, your views
And the channel you choose
Propaganda, visual cancer
Secret agenda, frequency antenna
Dr. Mindbender
Remote control, soul controller, your brain holder
Slave culture, game's over
What's a fox characteristic?
Slick shit, censored misinformation
Pimp the station, over-stimulation
Reception, deception
Comcast digital Satan
The Fox has a bushy tale
And Bush tells lies and foxtrots
So, I don't know what's real (what's real)
Watch what you're watching
Fox keeps feeding us toxins
Stop sleeping
Start thinking outside of the box
And unplug from the Matrix doctrine
But watch what you say, Big Brother is watching
Watch what you're watching
Fox keeps feeding us toxins
Stop sleeping
Start thinking outside of the box
And unplug from the Matrix doctrine
But watch what you say, Fox Five is watching
The Fear Factor got you all riled up
O'Reilly? Oh really? No rally needed, I'll tie you up
Network for child predators, setting them up
MySpace, pimps, hoes and sluts
Y'all exploit rap culture, then y'all flip on us
And you own the Post, and y'all shit on us
What is their net worth?
They're going to try to censor my next verse
Throw them off the roof neck first
While I'm clicking my cursor
Reading blogs about pressure they put on Universal
It gets worse
While I'm clicking my mouse
While they kick in my house
They figured us out
Why a nigga go south?
It's either he caught a body
Don't sleep, they're watching
I watch CBS, and I see BS
Trying to track us down with GPS
Make a nigga want to invest in PBS (see BS)
Watch what you're watching
Fox keeps feeding us toxins
Stop sleeping
Start thinking outside of the box
And unplug from the Matrix doctrine
But watch what you say, Big Brother is watching
Watch what you're watching
Fox keeps feeding us toxins
Stop sleeping
Start thinking outside of the box
And unplug from the Matrix doctrine
But watch what you say, Fox Five is watching
They say I'm all about murder murder and kill kill
But what about Grindhouse and Kill Bill?
What about Cheney and Halliburton?
The back door deals on oil fields?
How is Nas the most violent person?
Y'all don't know talent if it hit you
Bringing up my criminal possession charges with a pistol
I use Viacom as my firearm
Then let the lyrics split you, who do you rely upon?
Then shoot shells at Leviath-o-n
I'm dealing with the higher form
Fuck if you care of how I write a poem
Only fox that I loved was the Red one
Only black man that Fox love is in jail or a dead one
Red rum, political bedlam
Don't let the hype into your eyes and ear drum
Murdoch owns Fox
Not A-Team with Baracus
And he hates Barack cause he march with the marches
I pledge allegiance to the fair and balanced truth
Not the biased truth
Not the liest truth
But the highest truth
I will not be deceived
Nor will I believe in the propaganda
I will not fall for the okie-doke
I am tuned in
Watch what they watching
Watch what you're watching
Better watch because they're watching
Watch what you're watching
M-m-media, misleading you
Watch what you're watching
Nas's song "Sly Fox" is a commentary on the state of media in modern society. The lyrics criticize the concentration of media ownership by a few large media conglomerates, such as Fox News, and the use of propaganda to manipulate public opinion. The song encourages listeners to not be passive consumers of media but to question and challenge what they are presented. The song also touches on other social and political issues, including child predators, oil deals, and government surveillance.
The lyrics use animalistic imagery to describe the media, portraying them as sly foxes who are experts at manipulating their prey. The words "cyclops" and "idiot box" are used to describe television and its effects on viewers. The song also mentions the use of video slots to sensationalize news stories, such as the Waco Davidian massacre. Nas argues that the media's monopoly on news and opinions is a "visual cancer" and urges listeners to unplug from the "Matrix doctrine" of media control.
In its bridge, "Sly Fox" takes a direct shot at Fox News for creating a culture based on fear and bias. The song likens the network to Big Brother and warns against its toxic programming. Nas encourages listeners to think critically and make informed decisions. The song ends with a pledge to search for the highest truth and not be deceived by propaganda.
Line by Line Meaning
The sly Fox, cyclops
The Fox is a metaphor for media outlets that are cunning and one-eyed - focused only on making money.
We locked in an idiot box
We're a captive audience to the media, which feeds us information that's often unchallenged and doesn't allow us to think critically.
The video slots broadcasting Waco Davidian plots
The media relentlessly shows us images of violence and danger, designed to scare and manipulate us.
They own YouTube, MySpace
The media controls many online platforms, giving them more power over the stories we see and the messages we receive.
When this ignorant shit going to stop?
When are we going to demand better from the media, and stop accepting the low-quality, biased content that we're often fed?
They monopolizing news, your views
The media's control over the news and the narratives that we see shapes our views, often to their benefit and not ours.
And the channel you choose
Even the channel we choose to watch is often not truly unbiased, but rather has its own vested interests and perspectives.
Propaganda, visual cancer
The media often disseminates propaganda - misleading information that aims to manipulate or influence us - and this can be harmful, like a cancer.
The eye in the sky, number 5 on the dial
The media, acting as the proverbial 'eye in the sky,' controls what we watch on our TVs, radios, etc. and influences us incessantly.
Secret agenda, frequency antenna
The media's true intentions are often hidden, and they use their platforms to broadcast content at a certain frequency that reaches and impacts us.
Dr. Mindbender
Like a villainous character from a children's cartoon, the media tries to 'bend our minds' and manipulate us using all of its tools.
Remote control, soul controller, your brain holder
The media has control over our thoughts, thanks to their 'remote control'-like hold on our attention, and this can smother and suppress our own true thoughts and feelings.
Slave culture, game's over
The media tries to keep us subjugated and weak, but we should fight back and not let them enslave us.
What's a fox characteristic?
Nas is pointing out that a cunning fox is often associated with lies and trickery, much like the media.
Slick shit, censored misinformation
The media often conveys messages that are polished and well-crafted, but also censors information and feeds us a version of the 'truth' that benefits them.
Pimp the station, over-stimulation
The media tries to attract and hold our attention by hyperstimulating us with flashy visuals, catchy music, and colorful graphics, using tactics akin to a pimp's.
Reception, deception
The media relies on people to receive their messages, but this reception is often built on deception or false pretenses.
Comcast digital Satan
Nas is calling out Comcast - a media company - as a sort of 'digital Satan,' out to get us with their influence and messaging.
The Fox has a bushy tale
A sly, sneaky fox is often portrayed with a bushy tail, and the media too has its own story to tell - one that's often distorted or incomplete.
And Bush tells lies and foxtrots
Nas points out that former US President George W. Bush - whose surname is similar to 'Bushy' - was untruthful and misleading, much like a fox character in a fable.
So, I don't know what's real (what's real)
The line is sung as a chorus, and refers to Nas's confusion and mistrust of the media, and his struggle to separate fact from fiction.
The Fear Factor got you all riled up
The media often uses fear-mongering tactics to get us emotionally charged and tuned-in to them, with little regard for how their messages may affect our quality of life.
O'Reilly? Oh really? No rally needed, I'll tie you up
Nas calls out Fox News anchor Bill O'Reilly, who is known for his conservative views and combative style, and suggests that he doesn't actually need to hold rallies to unite his followers - his messaging is enough.
Network for child predators, setting them up
Nas is pointing out that Fox News's parent company, News Corporation, was involved in a phone hacking scandal in the UK, and has been accused of supporting media outlets that exposed children to predators.
MySpace, pimps, hoes and sluts
Nas is saying that media platforms like MySpace are often overrun with content that's exploitative and objectifying, portraying women in a negative light - almost like pimps and prostitutes.
Y'all exploit rap culture, then y'all flip on us
Nas is calling out the media's love-hate relationship with hip-hop culture, criticizing them for exploiting its edginess and rebellion, but also turning on it and attacking it when it's convenient.
And you own the Post, and y'all shit on us
Nas is referring to the New York Post, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, and insinuating that it often runs stories designed to diminish and denigrate people of color and other marginalized groups.
What is their net worth?
Nas questions the commercial motivations behind media companies, who are often focused on maximizing profit and exploiting their viewership, rather than producing high-quality, positive content.
They're going to try to censor my next verse
Nas suggests that the media won't like what he's saying, and is likely to try and censor him or silence him when he speaks out against them.
Throw them off the roof neck first
This line is metaphorical, suggesting that Nas is so fed up with the media that he'd like to physically harm them, and even suggests throwing them off a building.
While I'm clicking my cursor
Nas is pointing out the ease of using the internet to consume media, suggesting that it's part of the problem that we're so inundated with information that we can't discern what's true and what's not.
Reading blogs about pressure they put on Universal
Nas is referencing a case where NBC Universal tried to block the release of his album, perhaps suggesting that the media has too much control over content distribution and artist expression.
It gets worse
Nas is calling attention to the negative impact that media-controlled content can have on society as a whole, suggesting that the situation is in fact more dire than it seems on the surface.
Why a nigga go south?
This line is asking why someone might be driven to take extreme measures, perhaps suggesting that the media's pervasive influence can cause people to feel like they have few options or no support.
It's either he caught a body
Nas is using hip-hop slang to suggest that someone might be so desperate or fearful that they might kill someone or commit a violent crime.
Don't sleep, they're watching
Nas is warning his listeners not to become complacent or comfortable with the media, as they're always watching and always looking for ways to influence us.
I watch CBS, and I see BS
Nas is pointing out the irony of a media outlet like CBS claiming to provide 'fair and balanced' news, when in fact they often fail to live up to this promise in his eyes.
Trying to track us down with GPS
Nas is suggesting that media companies have too much information about our whereabouts and actions, and can use it to profile or track us without our knowledge or consent.
Make a nigga want to invest in PBS (see BS)
Nas is exploiting the wordplay between 'PBS' (Public Broadcasting Service) and 'see BS' (calling out the 'bullshit' he perceives in the media), and signaling that even a high-quality public outlet like PBS might be preferable to the commercial networks.
I pledge allegiance to the fair and balanced truth
Nas is saying that he prioritizes honest, unbiased content over sensational or misleading stories, and wants us to do the same.
Not the biased truth
Nas is criticizing media outlets that are biased towards one perspective or another, and urging us to strive for a more neutral, objective perspective instead - one that reflects the world as it truly is.
Not the liest truth
Nas is saying that he won't accept lies or half-truths as a substitute for real, comprehensive reporting, and that we should be discerning about the information we consume.
But the highest truth
Finally, Nas is advocating for a 'highest truth' - a level of honesty and transparency that embodies the best ideals of journalism and communication, and helps to make the world a better place.
I will not be deceived
Nas is asserting his own agency and power in the face of the media, saying that he won't fall prey to their manipulations or prejudices.
Nor will I believe in the propaganda
Nas is encouraging others to do the same, not to grant the media too much power or credibility, and to remain skeptical and discerning in the face of their messaging.
I will not fall for the okie-doke
Nas is using the slang term 'okie-doke' to suggest that he won't be tricked or misled by the media, and that he'll strive to see the world as it really is.
I am tuned in
Finally, Nas is saying that he's listening and alert to the ways in which media outlets can influence and shape our perceptions of the world, and that he'll strive to cut through the noise and see the truth.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: CLAYTON ANGELO GAVIN, NASIR JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind