TSK
Nas Lyrics


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All I see is blurbs
All I see is words
Nerds, talkin' 'bout what they did, see, or heard
And all I see is clones, see you muthafuckas
With mixtape plans because they seein' how we movin'
And all they say is this
But they ain't sayin' shit
They talk reckless when I do not work for them
They say come harder, come smarter
Which one it is?
Which one you wanna hear, since you such a music whiz?
First thing I learned when I was coming up in age
When they stumble in your space, is to punch 'em in the face
The second thing I learned, I was in the second grade
Sliding onto second base, I can orchestrate this game
The third I heard was, "If it quacks, it's a duck"
The fourth, or course, just be upfront, whatchu want?
The fifth was this, "Keep something crisp on your wrist"
Now we on album six, the top team on your list

Probably grab another hun' though
Industry cutthroat, watch how I'm construct though, uh
Concrete jungle
If rappers were presidents, I would get Trump's vote, uh
Truly, I'm just staying humble
But I can take it back to Nasty if I want to
Some young dumb crazy muthafucka from the hood

Yo what time is it, Hit?
It's yo time, bro
Yeah, you know what?
Yeah, that
And this and that
You know, yeah
Yeah

Don't be scared to execute the vision, lock in
Get back to the art, not the trends, tsk
I mainly invented raps by bangin' on table tops
And takin' on any competition
Listen, they put hammers to your ribs
But I'm too legit to quit
They like Bishop with a blick
They exposin' who a bitch
And I'm like Furious when he took his son to fish
Droppin' knowledge on the kids
Droptop when we slid
Step on lawns, trip on
Dior slides grip on
The handrails
Crib on some acres
Pull off the tails off shrimp, some
Beyond blonde, sip on
Some fine wine
We just some shakers
So when Planet Rock came out the Bronx
I was watching boomboxes
T La Rock never made it rich?
Then when I witnessed that the benefits of living good from making hits
I make bread off what I invent

Probably grab another hun' though
Industry cutthroat, watch how I'm construct though, uh
Concrete jungle
If rappers were presidents, I would get Trump's vote, uh
Truly, I'm just staying humble




But I can take it back to Nasty if I want to
Some young dumb crazy muthafucka from the hood

Overall Meaning

In the song "TSK" by Nas, the lyrics reflect his observations and frustrations with the current state of the music industry and the individuals within it. Nas begins by describing how all he sees are "blurbs" and "words," suggesting that people are speaking without substance or authenticity. He refers to them as "nerds" who talk about what they have done, seen, or heard, implying that they lack originality or meaningful experiences.


Furthermore, Nas criticizes those who are imitating his style and using mixtapes to emulate his success. He questions their motives and confronts their lack of originality. He acknowledges that people demand him to come harder and smarter with his music, but questions which version they truly want to hear, as if they are music experts.


The second verse of the song reflects on Nas's journey and the lessons he has learned. He highlights the importance of standing up for oneself and fighting back against those who invade personal space or try to bring him down. Nas also emphasizes the value of being upfront and transparent, urging others to be clear about their intentions.


In the following lines, Nas uses metaphors related to baseball to portray his ability to control and orchestrate the music game. He shares that he has mastered the game and stayed on top of his industry for six albums, making his team one of the best.


Overall, Nas's lyrics in "TSK" convey his frustration with the lack of originality in the music industry, his recognition of his own success and influence, and his determination to stay true to his artistry.


Line by Line Meaning

All I see is blurbs
I only see superficial and meaningless statements


All I see is words
I only see people talking without substance or authenticity


Nerds, talkin' 'bout what they did, see, or heard
Intellectual individuals discussing their insignificant accomplishments and observations


And all I see is clones, see you muthafuckas
All I see is unoriginal people imitating others


With mixtape plans because they seein' how we movin'
They try to copy our success by making mixtapes


And all they say is this
And all they say is empty words


But they ain't sayin' shit
But they aren't saying anything of value


They talk reckless when I do not work for them
They criticize and speak insolently about me, even though I am not their employee


They say come harder, come smarter
They demand that I produce better and smarter work


Which one it is?
Which one do you want from me?


Which one you wanna hear, since you such a music whiz?
Which one do you want me to create, considering your supposed expertise in music?


First thing I learned when I was coming up in age
First lesson I learned when I was growing up


When they stumble in your space, is to punch 'em in the face
If someone intrudes in your territory, you must fight back aggressively


The second thing I learned, I was in the second grade
The second lesson I learned, I was just a young child in second grade


Sliding onto second base, I can orchestrate this game
By skillfully navigating and strategizing, I can control and influence the outcome


The third I heard was, 'If it quacks, it's a duck'
The third lesson I heard was that appearances and behaviors reveal one's true nature


The fourth, of course, just be upfront, whatchu want?
The fourth lesson is straightforward, be honest about your intentions, what do you desire?


The fifth was this, 'Keep something crisp on your wrist'
The fifth lesson was to always wear something valuable or impressive on your wrist


Now we on album six, the top team on your list
Now, with our sixth album, we are the best team according to your rankings


Probably grab another hun' though
I'll probably make another hundred thousand dollars


Industry cutthroat, watch how I'm construct though, uh
The music industry is ruthless, observe how I carefully create my work


Concrete jungle
Referring to a rough and competitive urban environment


If rappers were presidents, I would get Trump's vote, uh
If rappers were political leaders, I would receive Donald Trump's support


Truly, I'm just staying humble
Honestly, I am maintaining my modesty


But I can take it back to Nasty if I want to
But I can return to my ruthless and aggressive style if I choose


Some young dumb crazy muthafucka from the hood
Referring to his younger self as an ignorant and reckless individual from the neighborhood


Yo what time is it, Hit?
Hey, Hit, do you know the current time?


It's yo time, bro
This is your moment, my friend


Don't be scared to execute the vision, lock in
Do not fear to realize your vision, fully commit and focus


Get back to the art, not the trends, tsk
Return to the essence of artistic expression, not conforming to popular trends


I mainly invented raps by bangin' on table tops
I primarily created rap music by rhythmically hitting tabletops


And takin' on any competition
And challenging any rival artists


Listen, they put hammers to your ribs
Listen, they threaten and intimidate you


But I'm too legit to quit
But I won't give up because I am authentic and genuine


They like Bishop with a blick
They compare me to the character Bishop who carries a gun


They exposin' who a bitch
They are revealing the true cowards and weak individuals


And I'm like Furious when he took his son to fish
And I am like Furious Styles from the movie 'Boyz n the Hood' when he taught his son valuable life lessons


Droppin' knowledge on the kids
Imparting wisdom and knowledge to the younger generation


Droptop when we slid
Driving with the convertible top down when we cruise


Step on lawns, trip on
Stepping on people's boundaries and provoking them


Dior slides grip on
Wearing premium Dior slides for a comfortable grip


The handrails
Referring to the rails for support while walking


Crib on some acres
Residing in a luxurious home with a large property


Pull off the tails off shrimp, some
Removing the tails from shrimps when preparing a meal


Beyond blonde, sip on
Drinking some high-quality blonde-colored alcoholic beverages


Some fine wine
Referring to a high-quality and aged wine


We just some shakers
We are influential and successful individuals in our industry


So when Planet Rock came out the Bronx
When the iconic song 'Planet Rock' was released in the Bronx


I was watching boomboxes
I observed people playing portable stereos (boomboxes) to listen to the music


T La Rock never made it rich?
T La Rock, a prominent rapper, didn't achieve great financial success?


Then when I witnessed that the benefits of living good from making hits
Then I realized the rewards of living a lavish life through creating hit songs


I make bread off what I invent
I earn a lot of money from the creations I invent




Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nasir Jones, Chauncey Hollis Jr.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@lenzbyahurwa858

Nas is no doubt the greatest rapper of all time. 17 straight albums in 28 years, 2 triologies (6 classic albums) in just 3 years. Top elite MC

@JosephWallace-xo8sg

Hmm

@letsfaceit9187

When hit said โ€œitโ€™s yo time bro!โ€ ๐Ÿคฏ๐Ÿ”ฅ

@maymkn

Imagine the chances of being alive at the same time in history with NAS. An astonishing coincidence we should never underappreciate. ๐Ÿ‘‘๐Ÿ‘‘

@bonginkosibrainel2269

๐Ÿ˜Š 2:30

@vicvega24

This song should be in GTA 6

@enochshauli1078

The production on this track is out if this world ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ

@domasavpedzivin

Same applies to "No Tears " & "Sitting with My thoughts"

@qwertz721

I disagree

@YahrekDWare

Facts!

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