The Don )
Nas Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

New York girl, dem a mad over we
New York girl, dem a mad over we
New York girl, dem a mad over we
New York girl, dem a mad over we

Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don
Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don
Inna New York City, inna New York City
Inna New York City, inna New York City

Smoking a escubano, guzzle my second bottle
Hope I don’t catch a homo, grossing our net
Simultaneously making me climb higher
Heinous crimes behind me, search but can't find me
Fuck sadness, had this been you having this lavish
Habitual happiness at me you wouldn’t look backwards
You would have sex on condominium roof decks
So anyone move next, I'll hit you with two Tecs
Rocking Roberto Cavalli no shirt on convertible Mazy
My Colombiana mommy riding beside me
Every tat mean something, that’s my word on my body
I’ll have to lean something wit that Mossberg shotty
My niggas is ignant, put lead in yo pigment
Just cuz y'all was mad at all the years I was getting it
In 97 the six, 98 the Bentley
Now it’s the Ghost Phantom and y'all can't stand 'em but

Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don
Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don
Inna New York City, inna New York City
Inna New York City, inna New York City

Yeah, army jacket swag, Army jacket green and black
With the square top pocket that snaps, where the gas at?
Pass that, not you, you hold cracks in your ass crack
I never did that, my sock's where my stash was at
Yo, I used to listen to that Red Alert and Rap Attack
I fell in love with all that poetry I mastered that
Cutting school with Preme team, the Fat Cat was at
Future not crystal clear yet Baccarat
Now I'm the one who reppin' Queens, way beyond your wildest dreams
Bottles on bottles with sparklers surround my team
That long cash get the baddest bitches out they jeans
20 years in this game, looking 17
I don’t lean, no codeine, promethazine
I just blow green, pick which bitch to bless the king
Although he’s on to another chapter
Heavy D gave this beat to Salaam for me to rap to, rah

Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don
Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don
Inna New York City, inna New York City
Inna New York City, inna New York City

New York is like an Island, a big Rikers Island
The cops be out wilin', all I hear is sirens
It's all about surviving, same old two step
Try to stay alive when they be out robbin'
I been out rhymin' since born knowledge
Like prophet Muhammad said the ink from a scholar
Worth more than the blood of a martyr
So I'ma, keep it on 'til I see a billion dollars
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer
Love model chocha mommy pop it like she 'pose ta
Eyes red shot like I'm never sober
Big time smoker, Indonesian doja
Mini me's you can hold up before you end up wet up from my soldiers
Don shit, under fire I remain on some calm shit
This for every ghetto in the hood
Nas the Don, Super Cat the Don Dada, understood?

Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don
Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don




Inna New York City, inna New York City
Inna New York City, inna New York City

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Nas's song "The Don" paint a picture of a man living a luxurious lifestyle in New York City while also acknowledging the struggles and dangers that come with living there. The lyrics start with "New York girl, dem a mad over we" which indicates that the singer is seen as desirable by the women of New York City. He then goes on to describe the expensive and extravagant items he owns, such as smoking an "escubano" and driving a "Ghost Phantom." However, he also references the violence and crime that is prevalent in New York City, mentioning "heinous crimes behind me" and having to carry a "Mossberg shotty" for protection.


The lyrics go on to express Nas's pride in his Queens roots, as he raps about wearing an "Army jacket swag" and how he used to listen to Red Alert and Rap Attack. He also acknowledges his success and longevity in the rap game, rapping about being in the game for 20 years but still looking like he's 17. Throughout the song, Nas celebrates his success while also acknowledging the struggles and dangers of living in New York City.


Line by Line Meaning

New York girl, dem a mad over we
Girls in New York are crazy about us


Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don, Nas the Don
I am the king, I am the boss


Inna New York City, inna New York City
In New York City


Smoking a escubano, guzzle my second bottle
I am smoking a cigar and drinking my second bottle of alcohol


Hope I don’t catch a homo, grossing our net
I hope I don't catch a sexually transmitted disease while making money


Simultaneously making me climb higher
At the same time, I am getting higher and higher in my success


Heinous crimes behind me, search but can't find me
I have committed crimes, but the authorities cannot find me


Fuck sadness, had this been you having this lavish
I am living a luxurious life and if you were in my shoes, you wouldn't be sad


Habitual happiness at me you wouldn’t look backwards
You would always be happy if you were me


You would have sex on condominium roof decks
You would have sex on the rooftop of a condominium building


So anyone move next, I'll hit you with two Tecs
If anyone messes with me, I will shoot them with two guns


Rocking Roberto Cavalli no shirt on convertible Mazy
I am wearing a Roberto Cavalli outfit with no shirt in a convertible Mazy car


My Colombiana mommy riding beside me
My Colombian mom is riding next to me


Every tat mean something, that’s my word on my body
All of my tattoos have a significant meaning to me


I’ll have to lean something wit that Mossberg shotty
I will have to use my Mossberg shotgun to protect myself


My niggas is ignant, put lead in yo pigment
My friends are ignorant and will shoot you


Just cuz y'all was mad at all the years I was getting it
You are jealous of my success over the years


In 97 the six, 98 the Bentley
In 1997, I drove a 6 and in 1998, I drove a Bentley


Now it’s the Ghost Phantom and y'all can't stand 'em but
Now I drive a Ghost Phantom car and you hate it, but I don't care


Yeah, army jacket swag, Army jacket green and black
I am wearing a stylish army jacket that is green and black


With the square top pocket that snaps, where the gas at?
I have a pocket on my jacket for storing things, like gas


Pass that, not you, you hold cracks in your ass crack
I am passing the joint to someone who doesn't carry drugs in their butt


I never did that, my sock's where my stash was at
I don't hide drugs in my butt, I hide them in my sock


Yo, I used to listen to that Red Alert and Rap Attack
I used to listen to Red Alert and Rap Attack on the radio


I fell in love with all that poetry I mastered that
I fell in love with the poetry of rap and became a master at it.


Cutting school with Preme team, the Fat Cat was at
I used to skip school with my friends who were also involved in illegal activities


Future not crystal clear yet Baccarat
I wasn't sure about my future yet


Now I'm the one who reppin' Queens, way beyond your wildest dreams
I am now representing Queens and my success has exceeded your expectations


Bottles on bottles with sparklers surround my team
My team is celebrating with bottles and sparklers


That long cash get the baddest bitches out they jeans
I have a lot of money and attract beautiful women


20 years in this game, looking 17
I have been in the industry for 20 years, but still look young


I don’t lean, no codeine, promethazine
I don't use lean, codeine, or promethazine


I just blow green, pick which bitch to bless the king
I smoke marijuana and choose which woman to be with


Although he’s on to another chapter
Although Heavy D has passed away


Heavy D gave this beat to Salaam for me to rap to, rah
Heavy D gave this beat to Salaam for me to rap on


New York is like an Island, a big Rikers Island
New York is like a prison, with police acting as wardens


The cops be out wilin', all I hear is sirens
The police are always wilding out and I hear police sirens all the time


It's all about surviving, same old two step
It's all about surviving in this life, doing the same old dance


Try to stay alive when they be out robbin'
I have to try and stay alive when people are out robbing and committing crimes


I been out rhymin' since born knowledge
I have been rapping since I was knowledgeable enough to do so


Like prophet Muhammad said the ink from a scholar
As Prophet Muhammad said, the words of a wise scholar have more value than the blood of a martyr


Worth more than the blood of a martyr
The words of a scholar have more value than the death of a martyr


So I'ma, keep it on 'til I see a billion dollars
I will continue rapping until I reach a billion dollars


Keep your friends close and your enemies closer
Stay close to your friends and even closer to your enemies


Love model chocha mommy pop it like she 'pose ta
I love exotic models who dance seductively


Eyes red shot like I'm never sober
My eyes are always red like I'm never sober


Big time smoker, Indonesian doja
I smoke a lot of weed, specifically Indonesian doja


Mini me's you can hold up before you end up wet up from my soldiers
My soldiers are dangerous, and you might get hurt if you mess with them


Don shit, under fire I remain on some calm shit
I remain calm even when under pressure and in difficult situations


This for every ghetto in the hood
This song is for everyone in the ghetto and the hood


Nas the Don, Super Cat the Don Dada, understood?
I am the Don, Super Cat is also a Don, do you understand?




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARCOS PALACIOS, ERNEST CLARK, DWIGHT MYERS, SALAAM REMI, NASIR JONES, NKRUMAH THOMAS, A. MARAGE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions