Street Dreams
Nas Lyrics


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Uh, what, what, uh

Street dreams are made of these
Niggas push Bimmers and 300 E's
A drug dealer's destiny is reaching a ki
Everybody's looking for something
Street dreams are made of these
Shorties on they knees for niggas with big cheese
Who am I to disagree?
Everybody's looking for something

My man put me up for the share, one-fourth of a square
Headed for Delaware, with one change of gear
Nothing on my mind but the dime sack we blazed
With the glaze in my eye, that we find when we crave
Dollars and cents, a fugitive with two attempts
Jakes had no trace of the face, now they drew a print
Though I'm innocent 'til proven guilty
I'ma try to get filthy, purchase a club and start up realty
For real G, I'ma fulfill my dream
If I conceal my scheme, then precisely I'll build my cream
The first trip without the clique
Sent the bitch with the quarter brick, this is it
Fresh face, NY plates got a crooked eye for the Jakes
I want it all, ArmorAll Benz and endless papes
God sake, what nigga got to do to make a half million
Without the FBI catching feelings?

Street dreams are made of these
Niggas push Bimmers and 300 E's
A drug dealer's destiny is reaching a ki
Everybody's looking for something
Street dreams are made of these
Shorties on they knees for niggas with big cheese
Who am I to disagree?
Everybody's looking for something

From Fat Cat to Pappy, niggas see the cat
Twenty-five to flat, push a thousand feet back
Holding gats wasn't making me fat, snitches on my back
Living with moms, getting it on, flushing crack down the toilet
Two sips from bein alcoholic
Nine-hundred-ninety nine thou' from being rich
But now, I'm all for it
My man saw it like Dionne Warwick
A wiser team for a wiser dream we could all score with
The cartel, Argentina coke with the nina
Up in the hotel, smoking on sessamina
Trina got the fishscale between her
The way the bitch shook her ass, yo, the dogs never seen her
She got me back living sweeter, fresh Caesar
Guess, David Robinson's, Walle' moccasins
Bitches blow me while hopping in the drop-top BM'
Word is bond, son, I had that bitch down on my shit like this

Street dreams are made of these
Niggas push Bimmers and 300 E's
A drug dealer's destiny is reaching a ki
Everybody's looking for something
Street dreams are made of these
Shorties on they knees for niggas with big cheese
Who am I to disagree?
Everybody's looking for something

Growing up project-struck, looking for luck, dreaming
Scoping the large niggas beaming, check what I'm seeing
Cars, ghetto stars pushing ill Europeans
G'ing, heard about them old timers OD'ing
Young, early 80's, throwing rocks at the crazy lady
Worshipping every word them rope rocking niggas gave me
The street raised me up giving a fuck
I thought Jordan's and a gold chain was living it up
I knew the dopes, the pushers, the addicts, everybody
Cut out of class just to smoke blunts and drink noddy
Ain't that funny? Getting put on to crack money
With all the gunplay, painting the kettle black hungry
A case of beers in the staircase, I wasted years
Some niggas went for theirs, flipping coke as they career
But I'm a rebel stressing to pull out of the heat, no doubt
With Jeeps tinted out, spending, never holding out

Street dreams are made of these
Niggas push Bimmers and 300 E's
A drug dealer's destiny is reaching a ki
Everybody's looking for something
Street dreams are made of these
Shorties on they knees for niggas with big cheese
Who am I to disagree?
Everybody's looking for something

Street dreams are made of these
Niggas push Bimmers and 300 E's
A drug dealer's destiny is reaching a ki
Everybody's looking for something
Street dreams are made of these
Shorties on they knees for niggas with big cheese
Who am I to disagree?
Everybody's looking for something

Yeah, nigga, what?
Oh, shit
Queensbridge, boy, what? Yo, what?
Yo, they shot dunn, dawg
Yo, yo, lets get the hell outta here y'all, I don't give a fuck-
Look, he on his back right now
We gotta get up outta here, son
Yo, come on run, yo
Watch out, man, yo watch out, watch out, nigga
Yo, yo hol' up, hol' up, hol' up
Yo, I twisted that kid, right?
Hell yeah, dunn
Yo, why you-
Yo, yo, come on though
(Oh, shit)
Yo, we gotta got up outta here, yo
You think somebody peeped that?
Yo, hell yeah, I'm saying, yo, as long as we get rid o-
Get rid of the heat, yo
Fuck that
Get rid of the heat, yo
Come on, come on, I'm threw that shit, come on




We gotta bounce, yo
Let's bounce

Overall Meaning

"Street Dreams" by Nas is a song about the aspirations of people from the streets of New York City. The lyrics explore the dreams and desires of young people from impoverished backgrounds who are seeking to better their lives through drug trafficking, prostitution, and other illegal means. The song opens with the titular phrase "Street dreams are made of these," which sets the tone for the rest of the track. Nas narrates a story of a young drug dealer who is looking to break into the game and make a name for himself. He paints a vivid picture of what it's like to be an entrepreneur in the drug trade, describing the risks and rewards that come with that lifestyle.


The song is a powerful commentary on the social and economic conditions of urban America in the late 1990s. It highlights the inequality and injustice that pervades many inner-city neighborhoods, where opportunities for economic advancement are limited, and drugs and crime are rampant. Nas uses his lyrics to shed light on these issues and express empathy for those who have been forced into these lifestyles by circumstance.


Overall, "Street Dreams" is a compelling piece of social commentary that speaks to the experiences of many young people who grow up in economically disadvantaged areas of America. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of addressing systemic issues that lead to poverty and inequality.


Line by Line Meaning

Street dreams are made of these
The things that people yearn for in life are often what makes up their dreams and aspirations.


Niggas push Beemers and 300 E's
Many people strive for status and financial success, displaying it through the cars they drive.


A drug dealer's destiny is reaching a key
Some individuals see selling drugs as their only means to achieve financial wealth and they take this path despite the risks involved.


Everybody's looking for something
Every individual has a goal they are aiming to achieve in life, whether it's to attain wealth, status, or happiness.


Shorties on they knees, for niggas with big G's
Women are willing to do whatever it takes to maintain a relationship with wealthy and powerful men.


Who am I to disagree?
The singer acknowledges the reality of the situation and recognizes that people will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals.


My man put me up for the share, one-fourth of a square
The singer's friend gave him a cut of the profits from selling drugs, specifically one-fourth of a kilogram.


Headed for Delaware, with one change of gear
The artist is on his way to Delaware, bringing nothing with him except for a change of clothes.


Nothing on my mind but the dime sack we blazed
The artist is only thinking about the marijuana he just smoked.


With the glaze in my eye, that we find when we crave
The artist's eyes are glazed over from the effects of marijuana, a feeling that he associates with craving the drug.


Dollars and cents, a fugitive with two attempts
The singer is a criminal who has already attempted to evade law enforcement twice before.


Jakes had no trace of the face, now they drew a print
The police had no leads on the criminal's identity, but now they have a copy of his fingerprints.


Though I'm innocent, til proven guilty
The singer maintains that he is innocent until proven guilty in court.


I'ma try to filthy, purchase a club and start up realty
The singer plans on getting rich, buying a nightclub and getting into real estate.


For real G, I'ma fulfill my dream
The singer is determined to achieve his goals.


If I conceal my scheme, then precisely I'll build my cream
The artist knows that he needs to keep his criminal activities hidden in order to become successful and wealthy.


The first trip without the clique
The artist is making a drug deal alone for the first time.


Sent the bitch with the quarter brick, this is it
The singer is sending a woman to deliver drugs.


Fresh face, NY plates got a Crooked I for the Jakes
The singer has a new car with New York license plates that he hopes will not attract the attention of the police.


I want it all, Armor All Benz and endless papes
The artist wants to be wealthy and successful, owning a nice car and having an endless supply of money.


God sake, what nigga got to do to make a half million
The artist is frustrated with the difficulty of achieving financial success through legal means.


Without the FBI catching feelings
The artist wants to be successful without drawing unwanted attention from law enforcement agencies.


From fat cat to papi, niggas see the cat
The singer has gone from being overweight to being successful and attractive, which has garnered him attention from others.


Twenty-five to flat, push a thousand feet back
The artist has a successful drug-selling operation that covers a large area.


Holding gats wasn't making me fat, snitches on my back
The singer carrying guns was not making him wealthy, and he is starting to attract the attention of informants.


Living with moms, getting it on, flushing crack down the toilet
The singer lives with his mother but is still involved in illegal activities, and he occasionally disposes of drugs by flushing them down the toilet.


Two sips from bein alcoholic
The singer is dangerously close to developing alcoholism.


Nine hundred ninety nine thou from being rich but now I'm all for it
The artist was close to being financially successful, but he is now fully committed to achieving his goals.


My man saw it like Dionne Warwick
The artist's friend had a premonition like that of the psychic Dionne Warwick.


A wiser team, for a wiser dream we could all score with
The singer and his friends are working together to achieve a smarter, more successful dream that they can all benefit from.


The cartel Argentina coke with the nina
The singer is dealing with a drug cartel and is selling cocaine imported from Argentina, using a semiautomatic handgun to protect himself.


Up in the hotel, smoking on sessamina
The artist is smoking a type of marijuana known as sessamina in a hotel room.


Trina got the fishscale between her
A woman named Trina is carrying a high-quality form of cocaine, known as fishscale.


The way the bitch shook her ass yo the dogs never seen her
Trina's dancing is so incredible that it surprises even the toughest guys the artist knows.


She got me back living sweeter, fresh Caesar
Trina's presence in the singer's life has improved his quality of life, allowing him to buy fresh and expensive food.


Guess, David Robinson's, Walle' moccasins
The artist is wearing the same shoes as NBA player David Robinson - expensive Walle moccasins.


Bitches blow me while hopping in the drop-top BM
Women want the singer so much that they are willing to give him oral sex while he is driving his BMW convertible.


Word is bond son, I had that bitch down on my shit like this
The singer is bragging about his sexual prowess, implying that he had sex with a woman in a very satisfying way.


Growing up project-struck, looking for luck dreaming
The singer grew up in a low-income housing project and is now dreaming of achieving more in life.


Scoping the large niggas beaming, check what I'm seeing
The artist is looking at successful individuals with admiration and envy.


Cars, ghetto stars pushing ill Europeans
The wealthy people in the artist's community are flaunting their success through their flashy European cars.


G'n, heard about them old timers OD'n
The singer is aware of people in his community who have died from drug overdoses.


Young, early 80's, throwing rocks at the crazy lady
The singer has a history of engaging in destructive activities as a young person.


Worshipping every word them rope rocking niggas gave me
The artist idolized rappers who glorified criminal activities and violence.


The street raised me up, giving a fuck
The artist's experiences in the streets shaped his personality and outlook on life.


I thought Jordan's and a gold chain was living it up
The artist once thought that owning a pair of Air Jordan sneakers and a gold chain would make him successful.


I knew the dopes, the pushers, the addicts everybody
The singer was familiar with every aspect of the drug trade, knowing the people who used, sold, and were addicted to drugs.


Cut out of class, just to smoke blunts and drink naughty
The artist skipped school to smoke marijuana and drink alcohol.


Ain't that funny? Getting put on to crack money
The singer finds it ironic that he got involved in selling drugs, specifically crack cocaine.


With all the gun play, painting the kettle black hungry
Despite the risks involved with carrying weapons, the singer is so desperate for money that he continues with his illegal activities.


A case of beers in the staircase I wasted years
The singer spent a lot of time hanging out in the hallway of his apartment building, drinking beer and wasting time.


Some niggas went for theirs, flipping coke as they career
Some people in the artist's community chose to sell drugs as a way of making a living.


But I'm a rebel stressing, to pull out of the heat no doubt
The artist wants to leave his criminal lifestyle behind but is finding it difficult to do so.


With Jeeps tinted out, spending never holding out
The singer plans to buy a Jeep with tinted windows and spend money without worrying about running out of funds.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Annie Lennox, David Allan Stewart, Ernest E. Dixon, James Pennington, Jean Claude Olivier, Johnny Lee Jackson, Nasir Jones, Roy Hamilton, Samuel J. Barnes, Tupac Amaru Shakur, Tyruss Gerald Himes

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@roniangel3

Fact; This video was recorded in Vegas the same week 2Pac was in the hospital fighting for his life. 2Pac and Nas met in NY a few days prior, squashed their beef and Nas told 2Pac he would be in Vegas next week for the filming of the video. During the video shoot, Nas kept asking his manager for updates on 2Pac's health.

@gangstamack8397

I feel 2Pac could've made a cameo appearance on here, to show the general public and hip hop fans they're cool with each other now

@balle733

Nas was in Long Island New York performing when 2pac passed. Stop lying. Ed Lover and Nas was on stage when they heard the news. It's on YouTube

@roniangel3

@balle 733 Yes, everyone's seen the footage of Nas stopping the concert to announce his death. But you're such an idiot and like to create you're own narrative. READ what I wrote, the video was recorded the same week he was in Vegas. Remember, Pac was shot and was in the hospital for 7 days. Again, these are not my words, I'm sharing what Nas stated in an interview. GTFOH you F'n troll!

@balle733

@Roni Angel Link? Did you twist Nas's interview into one of your m*ma's Pac fantasies. This song was released as a single in October, Pac had already passed. Clown.

@Staccavelli

https://youtu.be/2APUoWGFuL4

94 More Replies...

@nt3431

This world is unjust. We should not come here after Nas passes to call him the GOAT. The pictures painted, wordplay, flow, poetry is flawless. Not repeating bars, every line is something different, making a whole song interesting, completely detailed. Nas is the greatest rapper of all time for real.

@assaniase8638

I couldn’t have said it better

@EB-gt1pq

That’s what I said. Same thing with al Pacino

@2TrainWakefield

Just explained a Virgo pretty much.

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