Nas' brother Jungle appeared on “The Genesis” and said the following:
"Nas picked the beat for us to talk on in the background. I remember I didn’t like the beat. I was like, ‘Off this beat, man? This is garbage.’ I was mad young. I didn’t even understand what he was doing."
Nas said this to XXL:
"I always loved all the breaks in the Wild Style movie. [This session] wasn’t in the beginning of recording [the album], it was closer to the end. I brought a VHS tape of the movie & had the engineer just loop it."
The Genesis
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I should be earning a medal for this
Stop fuckin' around and be a man
There ain't nothin' out here for you
Oh yes, there is, this
Yo Nas
Chill, chill, that's the shit God, chill
Ayo, yo, pull down the shade, man, let's count this money, nigga
Ayo, yo Nas, put the Jackson's and the Grants over there
You know what I'm sayin? 'Cause we spending the Jackson's
You know how we get down, baby
True, true
Yo Nas, yo Nas, man, shit is mad real right now in the projects
For a nigga yo, word to mother
All them crab ass rappers
Be coming up to me, man, word to mother, man
I think we need to let them niggas know it's real, man
True indeed, you know what I'm saying?
But when it's real you doing this
Even without a record contract, know what I'm saying?
No question
Niggas doing this since back then
I'm saying regardless how it go down, we gon' keep it real
We tryna see many mansions and, and coupes kid
True, true
Ayo, yo, man, where's Grand Wizard and Mayo at man?
Taking niggas a long time, man
Who got the Phillies? Take this Hennessey
Ayo Dunn! C'mon, c'mon, man stop waving that man
Stop pointing that at me Dunn, take the clip out
Nigga alright, but take this Hennessey man
I'm saying take the clip man
C'mon, take it out
Light them Phillies up, man
Niggas stop fuckin' burning Phillies, man
Light some Phillies up then
Pass that henrock, nigga , act like you know
Yo, we drinking this straight up with no chaser
I ain't fucking with you nigga
I'm saying though, man
What is it, what is it baby?
What is it son, what is it?
You know what time it is
I'm saying man, ya know what I'm saying?
Niggas don't listen man, representing
It's Illmatic
The opening track of Nas's iconic debut album Illmatic, “The Genesis” is a conversation between Nas and his friends about the current state of hip-hop music and their determination to make a mark in the rap scene. The song starts with a sound clip from the classic gangster movie “Wild Style,” in which an old school rapper is providing a stern warning to a young graffiti artist to take his craft seriously instead of goofing around. This clip sets the tone for the entire song, which is a casual back-and-forth between Nas and his buddies, as they smoke, drink, and talk about their aspirations to make it big in the rap game. They seem to be unconcerned about the consequences of their actions and are determined to grab whatever they can from the world, despite it being a harsh and unforgiving place.
The conversation touches on various topics, ranging from the sorry state of contemporary rap music to the struggles of living in the projects. Nas and his crew are disillusioned with the hip-hop scene of the time, which they feel is dominated by fake rappers who lack authenticity and real-life experience. They contrast that with their own lives, which are defined by poverty, crime, and loss. Despite the tough conditions, they remain optimistic and focused on their goal of making it big. They know that success is not going to be easy, but they are determined to put in the work and take whatever opportunities come their way.
Overall, “The Genesis” is a powerful introduction to Nas's world and sets the stage for the gritty and reflective tone of the rest of the album. It portrays a group of young men who are struggling to make sense of their lives and find success in a world that seems to be against them. Despite the odds, they are determined to keep pushing forward and make something of themselves, which is a theme that resonates throughout Nas's music.
Line by Line Meaning
And you're sitting at home doing this shit?
Are you wasting time with meaningless activities?
I should be earning a medal for this
I deserve recognition for my skill and dedication
Stop fuckin' around and be a man
Stop wasting time and take responsibility
There ain't nothin' out here for you
There's nothing here to benefit you or your future
Yo Nas
Hey, Nas (referring to the artist)
Yo, what the fuck is this bullshit on the radio, son?
What is this terrible music playing on the radio?
Chill, chill, that's the shit God, chill
Relax, that's what's popular right now
Ayo, yo, pull down the shade, man, let's count this money, nigga
Close the blinds, let's count our profits
You know what I'm sayin?
Do you understand what I mean?
True, true
I agree with you
Yo Nas, yo Nas, man, shit is mad real right now in the projects
Nas, things are extremely difficult for us in the projects
For a nigga yo, word to mother
Seriously, I swear on my mother's life
All them crab ass rappers
All those awful, untalented rappers
Be coming up to me, man, word to mother, man
They keep approaching me, I swear on my mother's life
I think we need to let them niggas know it's real, man
We should make it clear to them that we're serious
True indeed, you know what I'm saying?
Yes, I understand exactly what you mean
But when it's real you doing this
When something is authentic, you don't need to fake it
Even without a record contract, know what I'm saying?
You don't need a contract to be successful, you understand?
Niggas doing this since back then
We've been doing this for a long time
I'm saying regardless how it go down, we gon' keep it real
No matter what happens, we'll remain authentic
We tryna see many mansions and, and coupes kid
We're striving for success and material possessions
Ayo, yo, man, where's Grand Wizard and Mayo at man?
Hey, where are Grand Wizard and Mayo?
Taking niggas a long time, man
They're taking a while to arrive
Who got the Phillies? Take this Hennessey
Who has the cigars? Here, have some Hennessey
Ayo Dunn!
Hey, man!
C'mon, c'mon, man stop waving that man
Stop pointing that gun, please
Stop pointing that at me Dunn, take the clip out
Put the gun down and remove the clip
Nigga alright, but take this Hennessey man
Okay, fine, but have some Hennessey
Light them Phillies up, man
Take out the cigars and start smoking them
Niggas stop fuckin' burning Phillies, man
Stop ruining the cigars by burning them
Pass that henrock, nigga , act like you know
Pass me the Hennessey, act like you're familiar with it
Yo, we drinking this straight up with no chaser
We're drinking this liquor without a mixer
I ain't fucking with you nigga
I don't want anything to do with you
What is it, what is it baby?
What's going on, what's happening?
What is it son, what is it?
Hey, what's happening?
You know what time it is
You know exactly what's happening right now
I'm saying man, ya know what I'm saying?
I'm trying to explain what I mean, you know what I mean?
Niggas don't listen man, representing
People don't pay attention, I'm trying to represent
It's Illmatic
This is the Illmatic album (by Nas)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Fred Braithwaite, Nasir Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind