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..
Sometimes I Wonder
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We gonna bounce to this
To all my niggaz (yeah yeah)
To all the ladies
Chorus:
Sometimes I wonder
Will a nigga go under because of his hunger
If a nigga slips six deep
Will these niggaz really miss me
Dead partners too soon
All these niggaz flipping on me
Cause I won't give no loot to them
Sometimes I wonder
Sometimes I...
(Nas)
Top of the world is what I'm aiming at
These niggaz is flaming gats at my circle
I catch you, my first reaction is to hurt you
I hit your bird too, two in your scalp then you out
Your thug crew is out, blood oozing out
Some serving caine
Knowing nothing about this murder game
Its easily told but hard to hear
When niggaz finally find out its real
that's when they heart pumps fear
The real remains the weak will disappear
My words is 20/20, my vocals are crystal clear
911 style sits on your mind like chrome
Lets say your brains is V12, put it in drive let it roam
What color? Might as well make it same as your dome
You need your thoughts together, that means destination is unknown
As we travel on this road, an infinite path, I get into this math
Drop and get intense for this cash
Will I be subject to kill, live my life by a gat
Just when I think I made it out, the street is calling me back
Chorus:
(Nature)
I know a lot of fiends by they first name
Living in Queens, a lot of cats getting stuck for they chains
Holding dirty guns, the young owe dirty ones
Running wild, niggaz I raise hell above ground
Live in sin, holding rocks, benjamin grin
Figure once I got knocked, it would end
Never that
They try to tell me I don't love my own
The thugs know, they ride my zone
Like the cyclone trademark
For coney isle, yeah you know me now
I'm giving fake hugs, phoney smiles
Stack profits, you know how the niggaz on the block get
Try to give you dap to stare at your pockets
Cruise advance nothing new just the rules of the land
You could tell if they wolves or lamb
You could fight a few, there's a few that ran
Or you could feed them and lose your hand
What you want to do?
Chorus:
(Nas)
Blessing be to the ones who left us
Transcend into spiritual essences
In Allah's arms you rest in
To him we pray for my peeps
Floyd, Twin and Taiyeh, Mr. Sunny back in the day
Get the money yam, he use to say not only nice with hands
But streetsmart he was twice a man
I try to understand life's deep plot
I think of Weewop, Shikeisha they both was mad nice on the rocks
They could have went pro but only God knows why not
Like my nigga Bing, let your sneakers not be clean
He'll start snapping on you, making a scene
Kept the lye, a cool nigga warm heart and stayed fly
You still alive, I see you in your sister's face
Are you there pa? Or looking on from a distant place?
My thoroughbreds, Blackhead quiet but real
Expect to see your black jeep fly over the hill
In the spirit of Richie Lou tribute
Remind the world of the crimes that NY pigs do
We miss you, Harry and Sonia
Rest in peace to Marty, a 41st side of Vernon soldier
T.J. Black better known as Killer
I can't replace you, but in me Havoc will always have a brother my nigga
My man Will till we meet again
You hold it up there, I'll hold it down here
I hope you hear my prays clear
Chorus:
Repeats 3x
The lyrics of Nas's "Sometimes I Wonder" speak of the rapper's introspection and perspective on the risks he faces as a musician and a person in the streets. He muses over the possibility of being taken down by his own ambition and hunger, which puts him at risk of slipping and "dead partners too soon." He references how the streets have called him back even when he thought he was out, and how he's been surrounded by people who have died too young. Still, he also acknowledges the blessings of having crossed paths with some of his peers who've departed but remain to inspire him. He gives them praises as he memorializes them and holds their memories close.
The song features Nas's usual lyrical prowess where he paints vivid imagery with words and metaphors. He blends in a colloquial street dialect with introspective musings, highlighting the dichotomy of the thug life and life's bigger picture. The chorus of “Sometimes I Wonder” expresses a universal feeling that everyone faces, which is self-doubt and the fear of being forgotten soon after death. The song is a juxtaposition of the camaraderie and solidarity of the streets with its dangers and tragedies.
Line by Line Meaning
QB the whole NYC
Representing Queensbridge and all of New York City.
We gonna bounce to this
We're going to vibe to this beat.
To all my niggaz (yeah yeah)
Addressing his fellow men in the struggle.
To all the ladies
Addressing the women who are also part of the struggle.
Sometimes I wonder
Nas occasionally reflects on his life and the dangers he faces.
Will a nigga go under because of his hunger
He questions whether his desire for success could ultimately lead to his downfall.
This game is risky
Acknowledging that the hustle isn't without its dangers.
If a nigga slips six deep
If he makes a mistake and is caught lacking.
Will these niggaz really miss me
He questions whether his peers would care if he were to die or be incarcerated.
Dead partners too soon
Friends he's lost to violence prematurely.
All these niggaz flipping on me
He's betrayed by people who once seemed loyal.
Cause I won't give no loot to them
Refusing to be extorted by those seeking to take advantage of his success.
Top of the world is what I'm aiming at
Aspires to be at the top of the game.
These niggaz is flaming gats at my circle
Those outside of his circle are trying to bring him down through violence.
I catch you, my first reaction is to hurt you
If you cross him, he will react with violence.
I hit your bird too, two in your scalp then you out
Even those associated with those who cross him are not safe from his retaliation.
Your thug crew is out, blood oozing out
His violent actions will leave those associated with the target hurt and bleeding.
Some serving caine
Some are serving drugs and know nothing about the danger of the lifestyle.
Knowing nothing about this murder game
Those serving and selling drugs may not fully comprehend the danger that comes with it.
Its easily told but hard to hear
The truth is easy to explain but difficult to accept.
When niggaz finally find out its real
When they finally understand the danger of the lifestyle.
that's when they heart pumps fear
This realization brings on feelings of fear.
The real remains the weak will disappear
Only the strong survive in this dangerous world.
My words is 20/20, my vocals are crystal clear
He's speaking truth and his words are clearly understood.
911 style sits on your mind like chrome
The events of 9/11 are constantly on people's minds like a shiny chrome object.
Lets say your brains is V12, put it in drive let it roam
If your mind is a powerful engine, put it to use by pursuing your dreams.
You need your thoughts together, that means destination is unknown
It's important to have a clear mind even if you don't know where you're headed.
As we travel on this road, an infinite path, I get into this math
As he moves forward in life, he's always calculating his steps.
Drop and get intense for this cash
He's willing to work hard and put in effort to make money.
Will I be subject to kill, live my life by a gat
He's aware that his lifestyle puts him in danger of being killed or incarcerated.
Just when I think I made it out, the street is calling me back
It's difficult to escape a dangerous lifestyle, and the streets have a way of pulling you back in.
I know a lot of fiends by they first name
He knows many drug addicts personally.
Living in Queens, a lot of cats getting stuck for they chains
Crime is prevalent in his community, and people are getting robbed for their jewelry.
Holding dirty guns, the young owe dirty ones
Dangerous weapons are in the hands of those who don't know how to properly use them.
Running wild, niggaz I raise hell above ground
The young men in his community are causing chaos and destruction.
Live in sin, holding rocks, benjamin grin
Living a dangerous lifestyle, selling drugs, and having a lot of cash.
Figure once I got knocked, it would end
He thought getting caught would be the end of his participation in the hustle, but it wasn't.
Never that
He refuses to be stopped or slowed down by getting caught.
They try to tell me I don't love my own
His community tries to shame him for pursuing success instead of staying in the struggle.
The thugs know, they ride my zone
Those who are really about the hustle know and respect his success.
Like the cyclone trademark
His name and reputation is known and respected like the Cyclone roller coaster in Coney Island.
For coney isle, yeah you know me now
He's a well-known figure in his community and beyond.
I'm giving fake hugs, phoney smiles
He's surrounded by people who may not have his best interests at heart, so he's not always genuine with them.
Stack profits, you know how the niggaz on the block get
Make money at all costs, even if it's not entirely legal.
Try to give you dap to stare at your pockets
People try to be friendly with you in order to see how much money you have.
Cruise advance nothing new just the rules of the land
This dangerous lifestyle is nothing new, it's just how things are where he's from.
You could tell if they wolves or lamb
It's easy to tell who's real and who's fake in this lifestyle.
You could fight a few, there's a few that ran
There are those who stand their ground and those who run when things get tough.
Or you could feed them and lose your hand
Alternatively, trying to help those who don't have your best interests at heart could lead to your downfall.
Blessing be to the ones who left us
Honoring those who have passed away.
Transcend into spiritual essences
Believing that those who have passed have gone on to a spiritual realm.
In Allah's arms you rest in
He believes those who have passed have found peace in a higher power.
To him we pray for my peeps
Asking Allah to watch over and protect his friends and associates.
Floyd, Twin and Taiyeh, Mr. Sunny back in the day
Remembering specific people he's lost.
Get the money yam, he use to say not only nice with hands
Remembering a specific person who was skilled at boxing and making money.
But streetsmart he was twice a man
This person was not only physically capable, but also knowledgeable and wise in life.
I try to understand life's deep plot
Reflecting on the deeper meaning and purpose of life.
I think of Weewop, Shikeisha they both was mad nice on the rocks
Remembering people he knew who were talented at doing graffiti.
They could have went pro but only God knows why not
Wondering why these talented individuals didn't achieve more success in life.
Like my nigga Bing, let your sneakers not be clean
Remembering a specific person and telling him to keep grinding and hustling.
He'll start snapping on you, making a scene
This person is known for getting angry easily and causing a scene if provoked.
Kept the lye, a cool nigga warm heart and stayed fly
Remembering a person who was calm, cool and collected in any situation, but always dressed well and looked good.
You still alive, I see you in your sister's face
Even though this person has passed away, Nas sees their spirit and influence in their family members.
Are you there pa? Or looking on from a distant place?
Wondering if his father who passed away is still watching over him.
My thoroughbreds, Blackhead quiet but real
Referring to his friends as top of the line, including one who is quiet but genuine.
Expect to see your black jeep fly over the hill
Believes his friends will continue to be successful and make moves in the future.
In the spirit of Richie Lou tribute
Honoring a specific person who has passed away.
Remind the world of the crimes that NY pigs do
Acknowledging and protesting police brutality and corruption in New York City.
We miss you, Harry and Sonia
Remembering specific people who have passed away.
Rest in peace to Marty, a 41st side of Vernon soldier
Honoring someone from his neighborhood who has passed away.
T.J. Black better known as Killer
Remembering a person from his community.
I can't replace you, but in me Havoc will always have a brother my nigga
Promising to always be there for his friend Havoc, even though he can't replace those who have passed away.
My man Will till we meet again
Remembering someone he has lost.
You hold it up there, I'll hold it down here
Telling his friend to continue the hustle in the afterlife while he'll continue it on earth.
I hope you hear my prays clear
Hoping his friend can hear his words and prayers from the afterlife.
Lyrics © JELLYBEAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Cloud9
Written by: JEAN CLAUDE OLIVIER, NASIR JONES, SAMUEL J BARNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dluena
Nature kept up very well with Nas 🙌🏽
@leonrobinson7324
This is one my favorite tracks by Nas. This track makes me think of the good times when I was younger hanging out with my friends and brothers. Just chilling listening to music with no worries in the world.
@SENNYWAVEKID
nice
@TheCodedtestament
The third verse gets me all emotional.He gives tributes to his family and his friends from the hood who have died. A lot of us can relate to his pain.
@edwardsmith4375
Leon Robinson
@PieandBiscuits
Leon I hope you are still just chillin with your friends. There are plenty of good times to be had, you just have to look for them.
@SELMARS0WAVVY
true
@Ydizzy23
This is one of the realest songs ever, Nas is the last real nigga alive fo sho.
@SENNYWAVEKID
no young thug is the realest
@Ydizzy23
+SENNYWAVEKID The Youtuber Young thug, wtf? you must be one of them 90's baby...young thug don't even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Nas.