Illmatic was a critically acclaimed bestseller and is widely considered one of the greatest rap albums of all time. He married R&B singer Kelis in 2005, they have one son together, and she filed for divorce on the 29th of April 2009. Nas was also a part of hip hop supergroup The Firm, which released one album.
In the years following the release of Illmatic, Nas pursued a more commercial direction, which resulted in wider success but decreased artistic credibility among critics and hip-hop purists. Furthermore, Nas' increased commercial success was accompanied by stylistic changes that fostered accusations of "selling out". Nevertheless, the LP Stillmatic is often credited for restoring Nas' credibility among fans. Since the success of Stillmatic, Nas continues to maintain a high profile within the hip hop community, and has pursued a decidedly progressive and personal aesthetic. While Nas' current artistic direction differs greatly from his most successful work, it has ensured that he remains one of the most respected and acclaimed contemporary rappers.
1973–1992: Childhood and early career
Nas was born in Brooklyn, New York, as the elder of Olu Dara and Fannie Ann Jones's two children; his brother Jabari (nicknamed "Jungle" because he was born in the Congo) is the younger of the two. The family lived for a time in Brooklyn, before moving to Queensbridge, the largest public housing project in the United States. Olu Dara left the household in 1986, when Nas was 13, and Ann Jones raised her two boys on her own. Nas dropped out of school in the eighth grade and began selling drugs on the streets of New York. He educated himself, reading about African culture and civilization, the Qur'an, the Bible and the Five Percent Nation. He also studied the origin of hip hop music, taping records that played on his local radio station. As a child, Nas had wanted to be an instrumentalist (at the age of three, Nas played his father's trumpet on the step of their Brooklyn home) and also a comic book artist. Shortly after his parents separated, Nas began to write short stories as he immersed himself deeper into hip-hop culture.
By his preteen years, he had settled on pursuing a career as a rapper, and as a teenager enlisted his best friend and upstairs neighbor Willie "Ill Will" Graham as his DJ. Nas first went by the nickname Kid Wave before adopting his more commonly known alias of Nasty Nas. Nas and Graham soon met hip-hop producer and Flushing Queens resident Large Professor, who introduced Nas to his group, Main Source. In 1991, Nas made his on-record debut with a verse on "Live at the BBQ", from Main Source's LP Breaking Atoms. Despite the substantial buzz for Nas in the underground scene, the rapper was rejected by major labels and was not signed to a recording deal. Nas and Graham continued to work together, but their partnership was cut short when Graham was shot and killed by a gunman in Queensbridge on May 23, 1992.
1992–1995: The recording and release of Illmatic
In mid-1992, Nas was approached by MC Serch of 3rd Bass, who became his manager and secured Nas a record deal with Columbia Records the same year. Nas made his solo debut on the single "Halftime" from Serch's soundtrack for the film Zebrahead. The single increased the buzz surrounding Nas and when MC Serch’s solo album is released later in the year, Nas’ standout appearance on "Back To The Grill" only intensified interest in his upcoming album, amid immense anticipation. Hailed as the second coming of Rakim, his rhyming skills attracted a significant amount of attention within the hip-hop community. However, many were concerned that Columbia, being a major label, would try to dilute his New York based style.
In 1994, Nas' debut album, Illmatic was finally released. Critically acclaimed and widely regarded as one of the premier rap albums ever created, Illmatic featured lyrics that portrayed stunning visual imagery and production courtesy of several producers . The album featured production from Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip (of A Tribe Called Quest) and DJ Premier, as well as guest appearances from Nas' friend AZ and his father Olu Dara on the song "Life's a Bitch", Illmatic was immediately hailed as a masterpiece by critics, and is still highly regarded as one of the definitive hip-hop albums of all time. Notable songs on the album included "NY State of Mind" (produced by Premier), "The World Is Yours" (produced by Pete Rock), "One Love" (produced by Q-Tip) and "It Ain't Hard To Tell" (produced by Large Professor and featuring a sample of "Human Nature" by Michael Jackson). However, due in part to extensive bootlegging, the record sales fell below expectations.
Following Illmatic, Nas appeared on AZ's Doe Or Die album, and collaborated with his Queensbridge-associates, Mobb Deep, on their album, The Infamous. One notable achievement during this period was Nas' verse on "Verbal Intercourse" on Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. After this appearance, Nas received a Source Quotable as he had the distinction of being the only non-Wu-Tang Clan member to be featured on one of the group's solo albums.
1996–1998: From It Was Written to The Firm
Columbia began to press Nas to work towards more commercial topics like the rapper The Notorious B.I.G., who had become successful by releasing street singles that still retained pop-friendly appeal. Nas traded manager MC Serch for Steve Stoute, and began preparation for his second LP, It Was Written, consciously working towards a crossover-oriented sound. It Was Written, chiefly produced by Poke and Tone of Trackmasters Entertainment, was released during the summer of 1996. Two singles, "If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)" (featuring Lauryn Hill of The Fugees) and "Street Dreams" (a remix features R. Kelly) were instant hits. These songs were promoted by big-budget music videos directed by Hype Williams, making Nas a common name among mainstream hip-hop. Other notable tracks on the album included "The Message" and "I Gave You Power," which tells a story from the perspective of a gun. It Was Written also featured the debut of The Firm, a supergroup consisting of Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown, and Cormega. The album also introduced Nas's Mafioso-inspired character "Nas Escobar", who lived more of a Scarface/Casino-esque lifestyle. On the other hand, Illmatic, which, while having numerous references to Tony Montana and the theatrical hit featuring Al Pacino, was more about Nas' life as a teenager in the projects, hustling and smoking marijuana.
The Firm signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment label, and began working on their debut album. Halfway through the production of the album, Cormega was fired from the group by Steve Stoute, who had unsuccessfully attempted to force Cormega to sign a deal with his management company. Cormega therefore became one of Nas' most vocal opponents, releasing a number of underground hip-hop singles dissing Nas, Stoute, and Nature, who was Cormega's replacement in The Firm. The Firm's The Album was finally released in 1997 to mixed reviews and lackluster sales and the members of the supergroup went their separate ways.
At about this time, Nas became a spokesperson for the Willie Esco urban clothing line, but had no other connection with the clothing line. He stopped promoting Willie Esco in 2000, dissatisfied with the company's operations. During the same period, Nas co-wrote and starred in Hype Williams' 1998 feature film Belly, which also featured DMX, Taral Hicks, and T-Boz of TLC among its cast.
1998–2000: I Am... to Nastradamus
In 1998, Nas began work on a double album to be entitled I Am...The Autobiography, which he intended as the middle ground between the extremes of Illmatic and It Was Written. The album was completed in early 1999, and a music video was shot for its lead single, Nas Is Like, produced by DJ Premier and featuring vocal samples from "It Ain't Hard to Tell". However, much of the LP was leaked in MP3 format onto the Internet, and Nas and Stoute quickly recorded enough substitute material to constitute a single-disc release.
The second single for I Am was "Hate Me Now," featuring Sean "Puffy" Combs (now "Diddy"), was used as an example by Nas' critics for moving towards commercial themes. Hype Williams shot an allegorical video for the single, which featured Nas and Puffy being crucified in a manner similar to Jesus; After the video was completed, Combs, a Catholic, requested his crucifixion scene be edited out of the video. However, the unedited copy of the "Hate Me Now" video made its way to MTV, and was premiered on April 15, 1999 on TRL. A furious Combs and his bodyguards allegedly made their way into Steve Stoute's office and assaulted him, at one point apparently hitting Stoute over the head with a champagne bottle. Stoute pressed charges, but he and Combs settled out-of-court that June.
Columbia had scheduled to release the pirated material from I Am under the title Nastradamus during the latter half of 1999, but, at the last minute, decided Nas should record an entirely new album for release. Nastradamus was therefore rushed to meet a November release date. Though critics were not kind to the album, it did result in a minor hit, the Timbaland-produced "You Owe Me," featuring R&B singer Ginuwine. The only pirated track from I Am... to make it onto Nastradamus was "Project Windows," featuring Ronald Isley. A number of the other bootlegged tracks later made their way onto The Lost Tapes, a collection of underground Nas songs that was released by Columbia in September 2002. The collection saw decent sales and received glowing reviews.
2000–2001: The Nas vs. Jay-Z rivalry and Stillmatic
The highly publicized rivalry between Nas and Jay-Z began as a rivalry between Nas and Jay-Z's protege, Memphis Bleek. On his debut album Coming of Age, Bleek made a song entitled "Memphis Bleek Is", which was similar in concept to Nas' single "Nas is Like". On the same album, Bleek recorded "What You Think Of That" featuring Bleek's mentor Jay-Z, which contains the refrain, "I'ma ball 'til I fall/what you think of that?". In retaliation, "Nastradamus", the title track from Nas' second 1999 album, featured a reference to "What You Think Of That". The lyrics state, "You wanna ball till you fall, I can help you with that/You want beef? I could let a slug melt in your hat." Memphis Bleek perceived the reference on "Nastradamus" as a diss, and therefore dissed Nas on the lead single for his The Understanding LP, My Mind Right".
QB's Finest was a compilation album that featured Nas and a number of other rappers from Queensbridge, including Mobb Deep, Nature, Littles, The Bravehearts (which included Nas' younger brother Jungle among its members), and Cormega, who had briefly reconciled with Nas. The album also featured guest appearances from Queensbridge hip-hop legends Roxanne Shante, MC Shan, and Marley Marl. Shan and Marley Marl both appeared on the lead single "Da Bridge 2001", which was based on Shan & Marl's 1986 recording "The Bridge". "Da Bridge 2001" also featured a response from Nas to Memphis Bleek, in which Nas called out most of the Roc-A-Fella Records roster, including Bleek, Damon Dash, Beanie Sigel, and Jay-Z.
Jay-Z responded to Nas' songs with an onstage swipe during the 2001 Hot 97 Summer Jam concert in New York City, when he premiered his song "Takeover." Initially, the song was to only be a Mobb Deep diss, only including one line about Nas near the end. Nevertheless, Nas recorded the "Stillmatic Freestyle," an underground single which sampled Rakim and Eric B.'s "Paid in Full" beat, and attacked Jay-Z and his Roc-A-Fella label. On his 2001 album, The Blueprint, Jay-Z rewrote "Takeover," dedicating half of the song to dissing Nas, claiming that he had a "...one hot album every ten year average" record (referring to Illmatic) that his flow was weak, and that he had fabricated his past as a hustler.
Nas responded with "Ether", the track begins with gunshots and a repeated, slowed-down sample of Tupac rapping "Fuck Jay-Z." (taken from Tupac's "Fuck Friends") In "Ether," Nas accuses Jay-Z of stealing ("biting") lyrics from The Notorious B.I.G. and brown-nosing Nas and other rappers for fame. Ether was included on Nas' fifth studio album, Stillmatic, released in December 2001. Stillmatic managed to be not only a critically-acclaimed comeback album, but a commercial success as well, albeit not on the level of It Was Written and I Am...; the album debutted at #7 on the Billboard album charts and featured the singles "Got Ur Self A..." and "One Mic." In terms of commercial success, Jay's The Blueprint was certified double-platinum, while Stillmatic went platinum.
Jay-Z responded to "Ether" with a freestyle entitled "Supa Ugly." going into detail about how he had sex with Carmen Bryan, the mother of Nas' daughter Destiny. Nas dismissed the track by claiming that he was no longer with Bryan during the time the affair took place. In a recent interview, however, New York radio station Hot 97 settled the battle taking votes comparing "Ether" and "Supa Ugly," and Nas won with 58% while Jay-Z got 42% of the votes. By 2005, the two rappers had eventually ended their feud without violence or animosity. During Jay-Z's I Declare War - Power House concert, Jay-Z announced to the crowd, "It's bigger than 'I Declare War'. Let's go, Esco!" Nas then joined Jay-Z onstage, and the two then performed "Dead Presidents" together, which Jay-Z had sampled from Nas' song "The World is Yours."
2002–Present: From God's Son to Street's Disciple and beyond
In December 2002, Nas released the God's Son album. and its lead single, "Made You Look". The album debuted at #18 on the Billboard charts despite widespread internet bootlegging. Time Magazine named his album best hip-hop album of the year. Vibe Magazine gave it 4 stars and The Source gave it 4 mics. The second single, the inspirational "I Can", which reworked elements from Beethoven's "Fur Elise", became Nas' biggest hit to date during the spring and summer of 2003, garnering substantial radio airplay on urban, rhythmic, and top 40 radio stations, as well as on the MTV and VH1 music video networks. God's Son also includes several songs dedicated to memory of Nas' mother, who died of cancer in 2002. In 2003, Nas was featured on the Korn song "Play Me", from KoЯn's Take a Look in the Mirror LP.
Nas released his seventh studio album, the critically acclaimed double-disc Street's Disciple, on November 30, 2004. The album's first singles were "Thief's Theme" and "Bridging the Gap", which features his father Olu Dara on vocals. The album also includes "These are Our Heroes", which accuses prominent sports stars and actors such as Kobe Bryant, Lenny Henry, Tiger Woods, and Cuba Gooding, Jr. of neglecting their heritage and background in favour of white values. The videos for "Bridging the Gap" and "Just A Moment" received moderate airplay on MTV and BET. Although the album went platinum, its commercial profile was relatively low compared to the rapper's previous releases.
Nas was featured on Kanye West's album Late Registration on a song titled "We Major". West said the song was Jay-Z's favorite on the album, but West was unable to get Jay-Z to record a vocal for the final mix of the song. He also appeared on Damian Marley's song "Road to Zion" (which also featured newcomer The Game in the video, widening Nas' still growing universally appreciated raps) and several other songs such as "Death Anniversary" and "It Wasn't You" (featuring Lauryn Hill). In addition, Nas was most recently married to the R&B singer Kelis, who is mostly known for her work internationally, but nonetheless released great hits in the U.S. The couple wed on Jan. 8, 2005 in Atlanta, GA, after a two-year engagement.
During this time, Nas announced that his next album would be entirely self-produced and feature no other rappers, and would be titled Nasir, and later that the project would feature other producers after all and would be called Nasdaq: Dow Jones. Neither of these albums ever materialized.
At a free concert in Central Park, New York, Nas made a statement regarding the quality of 50 Cent's music. "this is the real shit, not that 50 Cent shit!" In response, 50 Cent included a stab at Nas by speaking negatively of his wife Kelis on his single "Piggy Bank," implying that Kelis was promiscuous and calling Nas a "sucker for love." Nas was quoted as saying that he feels no obligation to retaliate, remarking "[50 has] got a good five to six more albums before I can really respond to him." Nas eventually decided to retaliate, and in July 2005 released "Don't Body Ya Self (MC Burial)", a song which taunts 50 Cent and his G-Unit crew, stating that 50 was "a sucka for death if I'm a sucka for love." However, despite all of this, Nas still claims to "have a lot of love towards 50," claiming 50 didn't understand his moves when they both were together at Columbia Records.
In January 2006, Nas signed a label deal with Jay-Z's Def Jam, further emphasizing the Jay-Z/Nas truce and raising expectations for a collaboration even higher. His album due in fall of 2006 will come out in a joint deal with this imprint and Columbia Records. He recently announced to MTV News that his album is to be named, "Hip Hop is Dead...the N," the N being a play on the word the "end." The title is supposed to reflect what some would term the current low quality of rap music. The highly anticipated album is due out in December 19th, 2006.
Musical style and Technique
Nas has long been famed for his creativity and storytelling prowess, which has earned him acclaim from both the hip-hop community and critics. In his early stages, from his first appearance on the Main Source's Breaking Atoms and throughout the recording of Illmatic, he was perhaps best known for his street-oriented topics, complex lyrical schemes (which often incorporated multi-syllabic internal rhymes), and witty phrasing and imagery. As he progressed and matured, Nas began to branch out into different subjects and developed a richer voice and slower rapping technique.
Following Illmatic's release, Nas developed a penchant for hyper-visual storytelling and topical creativity. For instance, "Undying Love" (featured on I Am...) is a tale of his wife's betrayal told in first person, "Rewind" (featured on Stillmatic) is a narrative in which a story is recited backwards, while on "I Gave You Power" (featured on It Was Written), Nas assumes the role of a gun who recounts brutal tales of murder and violence. Over the years Nas' style has changed significantly. In contrast to his previous work, Nas’ most recent material is distinctively socially aware and often politically inflammatory. Songs such as "I Can" (featured on God's Son) convey moral messages of black youth empowerment, while "These Are Our Heroes (Coon Picnic)" accuses several African-American celebrities of being Uncle Toms. Furthermore, controversial songs such as "My Country" and "A Message to the Feds (Fuck The Police II)" (which are featured on Stillmatic and Street's Disciple, respectively) question the conduct of the American government. Nas' views in his lyrics throughout his career have made references to Islam and the Five Percent Nation..
Threat Is Like
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Same time a man is murdered, the beginning and end
As far as rap go, it's only natural I explain
My plateau, and also, what defines my name
First it was Nasty, but times have changed
Ask me now, I'm the artist, but hardcore, my science for pain
I spent time in the game, kept my mind on fame
Saw fiends shoot up and do lines of cocaine
That depends, carry Mac-10's to practice my aim
On rooftops, tape CD covers to trees
Line the barrel up with your weak picture then squeeze
Street scriptures for lost souls, in the crossroads
To the corner thugs hustling for cars that cost dough
To the big dogs living large, taking in light
Pushing big toys, getting nice, enjoying your life
Is what you make it, suicide, few try to take it
Belt tied around their neck in jail cells naked
Heaven and hell, rap legend, presence is felt
And of course N-A-S are the letters that spell
NAS, NAS
"Nas is like" Earth, Wind & Fire, rims and tires
Bulletproof glass, inside is the realest driver
Planets in orbit, line 'em up with the stars
Tarot cards, you can see the pharaoh Nas
"Nas is like" Iron Mike, messiah type
Before the Christ, after the death
The last one left, let my cash invest in stock
Came a along way from blasting, tecs on blocks
Went from Seiko to Rolex, owning acres
From the projects with no chips, to large cake dough
Dimes, giving fellatio, siete zeros
Bet my nine spit for the pesos
But what's it all worth, can't take it with you under this Earth
Rich men died and tried, but none of it worked
They just rob your grave, I'd rather be alive and paid
Before my number's called, history's made
Some'll fall, but I rise, thug or die
Making choices, that determine my future under the sky
To rob steal or kill, I'm wondering why
It's a dirty game, is any man worthy of fame?
Much success to you, even if you wish me the opposite
Sooner or later we'll all see who the prophet is
"Nas is like" Sex to a nympho, but nothing sweet
I'm like beef, bustin heat through your windows
I'm like a street sweeper, green leaf breather
Like Greeks in Egypt, learning somethin deep from they teachers
I'm like crime, like your nine, your man you would die for
Always got you, I’m like Pac dude you would cry for
I'm like a whole lot of loot, I'm like crisp money
Corporate accounts from a rich company
I'm like ecstasy for ladies, I'm like all races
Combined in one man; like the '99 summer jam
Bulletproof Hummer man
I'm like being locked down around new faces, and none of 'em fam
I'm the feeling of a millionaire spending a hundred grand
I'm a poor man's dream, a thug poet
Live it and I write down and I watch it blow up
Y'all know what I'm like, y'all play it your system every night
Now
In "Threat Is Like," Nas reflects on his life and experiences in the rap game. The song begins with the juxtaposition of new life and death, emphasizing the critical nature of survival. Nas then discusses his own journey in the rap game, acknowledging that while he used to be known as Nasty Nas, he has evolved into an artist who delivers both hardcore rhymes and insightful commentary. He reflects on the dark realities of the streets, detailing the drug use and violence he has witnessed.
The second verse is an extended metaphor that compares Nas to various symbols of power and success. He claims that he is like Earth, Wind & Fire, as well as a man with a significant financial portfolio. However, despite his material successes, Nas recognizes the fleeting nature of wealth and fame, stating that history will ultimately judge one's legacy.
Finally, in the last verse, Nas again asserts his power and influence, likening himself to sex and crime. He acknowledges that his reality is not always pretty or glamorous, comparing himself to a street sweeper and acknowledging the alienation that comes with incarceration. Despite this, he remains optimistic that his poetic expressions will continue to resonate with his fans for years to come.
Line by Line Meaning
Freedom or jail, clip's inserted, a baby's being born
Life is a complex interplay of extremes, with birth and death occurring simultaneously, and the slightest change can result in either freedom or captivity.
Same time a man is murdered, the beginning and end
The harsh realities of life are on display, with the birth of a new life happening alongside the ending of another.
As far as rap go, it's only natural I explain
It's only natural that I use my music to explain my life and explore my experiences.
My plateau, and also, what defines my name
I want to explore what has made me who I am and what has contributed to my success and reputation.
First it was Nasty, but times have changed
I used to be known as Nasty, but with time and experience, my image and persona have evolved.
Ask me now, I'm the artist, but hardcore, my science for pain
I am now an artist, but my music remains hardcore and reflects the pain and struggle that I have experienced.
I spent time in the game, kept my mind on fame
I have been in the music industry for a while and have always kept my focus on achieving success and fame.
Saw fiends shoot up and do lines of cocaine
I have seen the devastating effects of drugs and addiction, with people shooting up and taking cocaine.
Saw my close friends shot, flatline am I sane?
I have experienced the trauma of watching my friends get shot and questioning my own sanity in the aftermath.
That depends, carry Mac-10's to practice my aim
My response to the violence and trauma I have experienced has been to carry weapons to feel more in control and able to protect myself.
On rooftops, tape CD covers to trees
I have used my music to reach out to those who are struggling and feeling lost, even going as far as taping CD covers to trees to get my message out there.
Line the barrel up with your weak picture then squeeze
I express my emotions and anger through violent imagery, and have no qualms about confronting those who cross me.
Street scriptures for lost souls, in the crossroads
My music serves as a lifeline to those who have lost their way or are struggling to find their place in the world.
To the corner thugs hustling for cars that cost dough
My music speaks to those who are living life on the edge, hustling to make a living and get ahead in a world that feels stacked against them.
To the big dogs living large, taking in light
I also speak to those who have achieved success and are enjoying the fruits of their labor, living life on their own terms.
Pushing big toys, getting nice, enjoying your life
Their lives are characterized by luxury, indulgence, and material success, and they are living it up to the fullest.
Is what you make it, suicide, few try to take it
Life is what you choose to make of it, and while some people give up and even choose to end their lives, few have the strength to try and make the most of what they have.
Belt tied around their neck in jail cells naked
Some resort to suicide or other desperate measures when they are at their lowest, like being stripped of their dignity in a jail cell with a noose around their neck.
Heaven and hell, rap legend, presence is felt
I explore the themes of heaven and hell in my music, and my presence as a rap legend is felt throughout the industry.
And of course N-A-S are the letters that spell
I am known and recognized by the letters N-A-S, which have become synonymous with my artistry and success.
Nas is like Earth, Wind & Fire, rims and tires
I am like Earth, Wind & Fire - a force to be reckoned with - and my image is characterized by flashy rims and tires.
Bulletproof glass, inside is the realest driver
Despite my flashy exterior, I remain guarded and protected, and the truest representation of myself comes from within.
Planets in orbit, line 'em up with the stars
I am capable of great things and can achieve anything I set my mind to, much like the planets in orbit that line up with the stars.
Tarot cards, you can see the pharaoh Nas
I am a powerful figure, like a pharaoh, and my destiny is written in the stars and revealed through tarot cards.
Iron Mike, messiah type
I am like the legendary boxer Iron Mike, a messiah figure of sorts who has faced his own demons and emerged triumphant.
Before the Christ, after the death
I existed both before and after the birth and death of Christ, and thus embody a timeless and universal message.
The last one left, let my cash invest in stock
I am one of the last greats in the rap game, and I am using my success and wealth to invest in my future and leave a lasting legacy.
Came a along way from blasting, tecs on blocks
I have come a long way from my days of violence and aggression, when I used to carry guns and engage in criminal activity.
Went from Seiko to Rolex, owning acres
I have achieved great financial success and am now able to live a life of luxury, with expensive watches and vast acreage to my name.
From the projects with no chips, to large cake dough
I am a rags-to-riches success story, having grown up in the projects with nothing to my name, but now sitting on large sums of money.
Dimes, giving fellatio, siete zeros
I am living the high life, with stunning women at my feet and immense wealth at my disposal.
Bet my nine spit for the pesos
I am willing to take risks to secure my wealth, even resorting to violence as a means of earning money.
But what's it all worth, can't take it with you under this Earth
Despite my wealth and success, I am aware that these things are ultimately fleeting and will not matter once I am gone from this world.
Rich men died and tried, but none of it worked
Even the wealthiest and most successful men in history have died, and the fruits of their labor have failed to give them eternal life or happiness.
They just rob your grave, I'd rather be alive and paid
In the end, all that we have is our life and our memories, and I would rather be alive and financially secure than dead and rich.
Before my number's called, history's made
I am determined to leave my mark on the world before I die, and to make history through my music and my legacy.
Some'll fall, but I rise, thug or die
While some people may falter and fail, I will always rise above my circumstances, no matter how dangerous or difficult they may be.
Making choices, that determine my future under the sky
I am responsible for my own life and the choices I make will determine my future, both in this world and beyond.
To rob steal or kill, I'm wondering why
I question why some people resort to violence, theft and murder to get ahead in life, and believe there must be a better way to succeed.
It's a dirty game, is any man worthy of fame?
The music industry can be cutthroat and dirty, and I question whether anyone truly deserves the fame and success that come with it.
Much success to you, even if you wish me the opposite
I wish success to all, regardless of whether they harbor ill-will towards me or not.
Sooner or later we'll all see who the prophet is
In the end, only time can truly reveal who among us has the greatest insight and wisdom, and who is the true prophet.
Nas is like sex to a nympho, but nothing sweet
I am irresistible, like sex to a nymphomaniac, but my music is not always pleasant or sweet.
I'm like beef, bustin heat through your windows
I am confrontational and aggressive, and will not hesitate to use violence to make my point or defend myself.
I'm like a street sweeper, green leaf breather
I am a gritty, streetwise figure, but I also have a softer side, akin to a gardener enjoying the fresh air.
Like Greeks in Egypt, learning somethin deep from they teachers
I am a seasoned and learned figure, like the Greeks in Egypt who sought out deep knowledge from their teachers.
I'm like crime, like your nine, your man you would die for
I am an integral and dangerous part of the criminal underworld, someone you would trust with your life and your most important secrets.
Always got you, I’m like Pac dude you would cry for
I am loyal to my friends and supporters, like Tupac, who was mourned by legions of fans after his death.
I'm like a whole lot of loot, I'm like crisp money
I am wealthy and successful, akin to a large sum of money or crisp dollar bills.
Corporate accounts from a rich company
I am part of the corporate machinery, with a stake in a powerful and wealthy company.
I'm like ecstasy for ladies, I'm like all races
I am a charismatic and attractive figure, capable of drawing in women of all races and backgrounds.
Combined in one man; like the '99 summer jam
I am a unique and multifaceted figure, with a broad appeal that transcends age, race, and other traditional boundaries.
Bulletproof Hummer man
I am impervious to the dangers and threats that the world presents, protected by my bulletproof Hummer.
I'm like being locked down around new faces, and none of 'em fam
Despite my success and wealth, I am still a prisoner of the world around me, surrounded by unfamiliar and untrustworthy faces.
I'm the feeling of a millionaire spending a hundred grand
I am the rush of adrenaline and pleasure that comes with spending large sums of money, like a millionaire dropping a hundred grand on a whim.
I'm a poor man's dream, a thug poet
I am both a symbol of hope for those who struggle and a member of the thug underworld, unafraid and unflinching.
Live it and I write down and I watch it blow up
I live my life to the fullest and share my experiences with the world through my music, watching as my fame and influence grow with each new release.
Y'all know what I'm like, y'all play it your system every night
I am pleased that my music has resonated with so many people, and it is clear that many listen to it regularly and take something meaningful away from each listen.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NASIR JONES, CHRISTOPHER E MARTIN, PAUL MITCHELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
bam81380
best blend mix ever.. each of their flows were perfect on the others track