This song was on Nas' sophomore album "It Was Written".

It features … Read Full Bio ↴This song was on Nas' sophomore album "It Was Written".

It features a sample of “Mixed up Moods and Attitudes” by the 70’s R&B Group The Fantastic Four and it also samples Kool Keith’s verse from “Ease Back” by the Ultramagnetic MCs.

Some people argue that this song really isn’t about anything and just sounds good but if you do the research you’ll see that this is one of the most complex songs Nas has ever recorded. "Illmatic" was definitely a classic but it didn’t get the record sales it deserved and you can feel his hunger. He is literally rapping for his life.

Nas had this to say to Complex:

"I met Stretch [of Live Squad] by some dangerous cats that I was hanging with. Stretch became my brother immediately; we hung out all the time, almost every day. He wasn’t really recognized for the great work he was doing with 2Pac & the hardcore records he did with his group Live Squad, with his brother Majesty.

Stretch was really hurt by 2Pac. I would hear him talking about how ‘Pac was so mad at him because Stretch was with 2Pac when he got set up and robbed in the lobby of Quad Studios in Manhattan, in Nov. 1994. 'Pac was mad at everyone after that. I felt bad for Stretch because he really had a lot of love for 'Pac & couldn’t believe that 'Pac thought he had something to do with it.

Stretch dropped me off at home, then went home & was killed [in Dec. 1995, in Queens]. That was a real great guy. He produced “Take It in Blood” and “Silent Murder”—the irony. It was just a messed up moment for me. It was the last work he did."

Take It in Blood
Nas Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I made it like that, I bought it like that, I'm living like that
I made it like that, I bought it like that, I'm living like that

I never brag how real I keep it, cause it's the best secret
I rock a vest prestigious, Cuban link flooded Jesus
In a Lex watching Kathie Lee and Regis
My actions are one with the seasons
A Tec squeezing executioner, wintertime I rock a fur

Mega popular center of attraction
Climaxing my bitches, they be laughing
They high from sniffing coke off a twenty-cent Andrew Jackson
City lights spark a New York night
Rossi and Martini sipping, Sergio Tacchini flipping mad pies
Low price, I blow dice and throw them
45 by my scrotum, manifest the Do or Die slogan
My niggas roll in ten M3's
Twenty Gods popping wheelies on Kawasaki's
Hip hop's got me on some ol', spraying shots like a drum roll
Blanking out and never miscount the shells my gun hold
I don't stunt, I regulate
Henny and Sprite, I separate, watching crab niggas marinate
I'm all about tecs and good jooks and sex
Israelite books, holding government names from Ness
MC's are crawling out every hole in the slum
You be aight like blood money in a pimp's cum

I made it like that, I bought it like that, I'm living like that
I made it like that, I bought it like that, I'm living like that
For you wack MC's

Currency has made us trust in the Messiah
I'm spending it to get higher
Earth, Wind and Fire singing reasons why I'm
Up early, trustworthy is a nine that bust early
Sunshine on my grill, I spill Remy on imaginary graves
Put my hat on my waves, latter Day Saints say religious praise
I dolo, challenge any team or solo
You must be bugging out, new to my shit, home on a furlough
Ask around who's laid up, sharp and straight up
Mafioso, getting niggas' wakes sprayed up
Skies are misty, my life's predicted by a gypsy
I'll one day walk into shots drunk off champagne from Sicily
This be the drama, I'mma pause like a comma
In a sentence, paragraph's indented
Bloodshot red eyes high, yellow envelopes of lye
Opening cigars let tobacco fly
Condos are tune-proof, we're looking out the sky's moonroof
Shitting like gin and prune juice
Yo the system wants the coon's noose, hang 'em high
Courtrooms filled up, it's off the hook while I
Just wrote a statement, like I'm facing twenty years
In the basement, chilling on the VI with Mumia
For wearing chrome, I told the judge snakes slither
Like Sharon Stone but like Capone I'm thrown, yo

I made it like that, I bought it like that, I'm living like that
I made it like that, I bought it like that, I'm living like that
For you wack MC's
I made it like that, I bought it like that, I'm living like that
I made it like that, I bought it like that, I'm living like that
For you wack MC's

Yo the time is wasting, I use the mind elevation
Dime sack lacing, court pen pacing
Individual, lyrical math abrasion
Psychic evaluation, the foulest nation
We living in dangerous lives, mad leak and battered wives
A lifestyle on bad streets is patronized
Wise men build and destroy
While the real McCoy dope fiend named Detroit is still dealing boy
Coke suppliers acting biased
'Cause rumors say that nigga's wear wires and we liars
But every night the gat's fired and every day a rat's hired
I still remain the mack flyest in the phat Kani
It's just the killer in me, slash drug dealer MC
Ex-slug filler, semi mug peeler
Demi, bottles of Mo', yo simply follow me flow
Put poetry inside a crack pot and blow
Rough holes for cracked out pussies and buttholes
Bring the G's and the D's roll, they can't touch those
Why shoot the breeze about it when you could be about it
My degrees are routed, toward the peasy haired brick houses
Instead of the fake medallions
Rich niggas transport thousands
Foreign cash exchange amounting to millions
Doors is locked, rocks is chopped, watch the cameras in the ceilings
Trick bitches catching mad feelings
Peeling off in the Lex Jeep, techniques is four-wheeling
I bet it be some shit when we connect with Stretch
When we catch them sex niggas with the tecs you blessed word
So now it's on, never wasted a slug
Time is money when it comes to mine, take it in blood

Yea, Capone-n-Noreaga
Yeah yo offical Queensbridge murderers
Mobb Deep keep it real though
Mothafucking AZ yo
Mega, Mega, whatever
Scarlett O'Hara
Yo Fox Boogie
East New York
Yambo, Brownsville
Wizard, Far Rockaway
Big Jersey
Connecticut, DC, Sudan
VA, NC, LA
So on and so on

Big Ha, Houston Fifth Ward
Black Ed, keep it real Moe

Overall Meaning

“Take It in Blood” is a song by Nas, which was released in 1996 as part of his second studio album titled “It Was Written”. The song is infamous for its complex lyrics full of wordplay and metaphors that discuss life on the streets, drug dealing, and violence. Nas uses the lyrics to speak on his experiences with luxury amidst squalor and expresses his disdain for those who claim they are real but abstain from carrying themselves in that manner. In the first verse, Nas speaks of his lifestyle which includes wearing expensive jewelry, high-end vehicles, and watches Kathie Lee and Regis on his TV while the underprivileged in his community suffer. He then takes shots at MCs who are fake and suggests that some of his friends are possibly informants. The second verse begins with a nod to the Bible alluding to the purpose of money and then shows the problematic lives of those in the ghetto.

Further scrutiny of the lyrics reveals Nas' complex wordplay and double entendre. The use of imagery to describe his life is vivid, as he raps about various luxurious items and activities that he bought and made for himself. The use of blood as a metaphor refers to both the emotion and reality of what it means to 'take it in blood.' The line, “For you wack MC’s” is inserted throughout the song to signify the magnificence of his rap skills and his lyrical content, an added bonus as he impresses upon his contemporaries. Nas further showcases his verbal skill on the track by changing up his flow multiple times. He is regarded as one of the greatest lyricists in rap history and "Take It in Blood," is one of the many examples of his outstanding gift for storytelling and poetic lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

I made it like that, I bought it like that, I'm living like that
I have achieved my success and wealth through my own efforts and choices, and I continue to live my life in this manner.

I never brag how real I keep it, cause it's the best secret
I don't boast about how true and authentic I am, because maintaining a low profile is the key to staying ahead.

I rock a vest prestigious, Cuban link flooded Jesus
I wear a valuable and highly acclaimed bulletproof vest adorned with a chain necklace that symbolizes my wealth.

In a Lex watching Kathie Lee and Regis
I relax in a Lexus while watching the popular television show hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and Regis Philbin.

My actions are one with the seasons
My behavior aligns perfectly with the natural changes that occur throughout the year.

A Tec squeezing executioner, wintertime I rock a fur
I handle a Tec-9 firearm with precision, executing my enemies. During the winter, I also wear a luxurious fur coat.

Mega popular center of attraction
I am highly popular and always the center of attention.

Climaxing my bitches, they be laughing
I bring my female companions to the peak of pleasure, leaving them in a state of amusement and joy.

They high from sniffing coke off a twenty-cent Andrew Jackson
They are intoxicated from sniffing cocaine off a twenty-dollar bill featuring Andrew Jackson's face.

City lights spark a New York night
The bright lights of the city create a vibrant atmosphere during the nights in New York.

Rossi and Martini sipping, Sergio Tacchini flipping mad pies
I enjoy drinking Rossi and Martini, while also engaging in successful business ventures, like selling drugs, wearing expensive Sergio Tacchini clothing.

Low price, I blow dice and throw them
I gamble with low-stakes, but I still roll the dice confidently.

45 by my scrotum, manifest the Do or Die slogan
I keep a .45 caliber pistol close to my groin area, signifying my commitment to survival and success.

My niggas roll in ten M3’s
My associates drive BMW M3 vehicles in groups of ten.

Twenty Gods popping wheelies on Kawasaki's
A group of twenty skilled motorcycle riders, who are highly respected, perform wheelies on Kawasaki motorcycles.

Hip hop's got me on some ol', spraying shots like a drum roll
The hip hop culture has influenced me to engage in violent acts, firing bullets, similar to the rhythm of a drum roll.

Blanking out and never miscount the shells my gun hold
In the heat of the moment, I lose consciousness and shoot without making any mistakes in counting the ammunition in my gun.

I don't stunt, I regulate
I don't show off or engage in unnecessary actions, I simply maintain control and order.

Henny and Sprite, I separate, watching crab niggas marinate
I prefer to drink Hennessy cognac mixed with Sprite soda, while observing lesser individuals waste their time and potential.

I'm all about tecs and good jooks and sex
My main interests revolve around firearms, successful robberies, and sexual encounters.

Israelite books, holding government names from Ness
I study books related to Israelite teachings while keeping secret documents containing the real identities of government officials.

MC's are crawling out every hole in the slum
Rappers are emerging from impoverished areas in large numbers.

You be aight like blood money in a pimp's cum
You will be fine, just like the dirty money earned by a pimp through exploitation.

Currency has made us trust in the Messiah
Money has led us to place our faith and trust in material possessions and wealth.

I'm spending it to get higher
I am using my money to elevate myself and indulge in a luxurious lifestyle.

Earth, Wind and Fire singing reasons why I'm
The legendary music group Earth, Wind & Fire provides a fitting soundtrack to my life, highlighting the motivations behind my actions.

Up early, trustworthy is a nine that bust early
I wake up early in the morning, and my reliable firearm is always ready to be fired at any moment.

Sunshine on my grill, I spill Remy on imaginary graves
The sun shines on my jewelry, and I accidentally spill Remy Martin cognac on non-existent graves as a sign of respect to the deceased.

Put my hat on my waves, latter Day Saints say religious praise
I confidently place my hat on top of my perfectly styled hair waves, reminiscent of the religious praise offered by members of the Latter Day Saints church.

I dolo, challenge any team or solo
I operate independently, challenging and defeating any group or individual, no matter their size or strength.

You must be bugging out, new to my shit, home on a furlough
You are clearly confused and inexperienced with my unique style and approach, as if you only recently left home during a temporary absence.

Ask around who's laid up, sharp and straight up
Inquire with others about who has achieved success and is well-respected in their actions and demeanor.

Mafioso, getting niggas' wakes sprayed up
I embody the traits of a mafia member, attending and causing havoc at the funerals of my enemies.

Skies are misty, my life's predicted by a gypsy
The future holds uncertainty and unpredictability, as if it is foretold by a fortune-telling gypsy.

I'll one day walk into shots drunk off champagne from Sicily
I anticipate that one day I will stumble into a dangerous situation, intoxicated from consuming expensive champagne imported from Sicily.

This be the drama, I'mma pause like a comma
The situation at hand is full of conflict and tension, so I will temporarily halt my actions and remain calm, similar to how a comma functions in a sentence.

In a sentence, paragraph's indented
Continuing the metaphor, the events and actions of my life are comparable to sentences and paragraphs, with each new development indented and separated.

Bloodshot red eyes high, yellow envelopes of lye
My eyes are red and bloodshot from being intoxicated, and I have envelopes containing powdered lye, a substance commonly used to dissolve bodies.

Opening cigars let tobacco fly
When opening cigars, I allow the tobacco to scatter and fly through the air, a symbol of my carefree and reckless lifestyle.

Condos are tune-proof, we're looking out the sky's moonroof
Our condominiums are insulated from outside noise, allowing us to relax and enjoy the view through the moonroof.

Shitting like gin and prune juice
My bowel movements are as smooth and effortless as consuming a combination of gin and prune juice.

Yo the system wants the coon's noose, hang 'em high
The oppressive system desires to hang those who conform and submit to its control, so we must stand tall and resist.

Courtrooms filled up, it's off the hook while I
Courtrooms are overcrowded and chaotic, while I remain unaffected and uninvolved in those legal proceedings.

Just wrote a statement, like I'm facing twenty years
I have recently written a statement, as if I am preparing to face a lengthy prison sentence.

In the basement, chilling on the VI with Mumia
I am relaxed and comfortable in my hiding place, listening to music on the VI (a reference to a specific type of audio system) with Mumia Abu-Jamal, a well-known political activist.

For wearing chrome, I told the judge snakes slither
I informed the judge that I carry a chrome (referring to a firearm), emphasizing the association between judges and deceitful snakes.

Like Sharon Stone but like Capone I'm thrown, yo
Similar to the character Sharon Stone portrayed in a movie, I am unpredictable and dangerous, resembling the notorious gangster Al Capone.