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..
Thun
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Queensbridge, baby (Queens in the house)
No doubt, no doubt, no doubt (Queens in the house)
Not niggas I really met through music shit
It be some real thugs I grew up with
Phone calls from the feds, long stories told fast
Wishin' they'd get home in a hurry, 'cause we the last
Thorough bread survivin', you know (Queens in the house)
Welcome home Ronny Bumps, and love the Callie
That boss ordered us lobster tails late night in forty
We was out there tryna rig the stress
Had a beat tape from Stretch, rest
Black TEC, black vest to match the dark aura
We hit the city deep in the explorer
Lookin' at The Source, wish I was the cover story
That was comin' shortly, cars back then had raw packed in
Rest in peace a few good men, the guards stalk him (Queens in the house)
I pop a bottle, we not promised tomorrow
Showin' love is the motto
Flicks a cowboy hat, strapped like Desperado's
They done lit one out the chamber, no eye or fire
Then a vegetation state when that man China died
Stomped out on 12th Street, memory fails me
Heard homie was a real G, that's what they tell me
I was the one to run through the functions, no funny actin'
And it was me that introduced Mini to money bags and (Queens in the house)
Grandmaster Vic (Queens in the house)
The DJ's Disco Twins (Queens in the house)
From the towers to Promenade (Queens in the house)
Host a party up at Starlets, they know Queens in the house
No beef with rivals, they playin' "Ether" on TIDAL
Brothers can do anythin' when they decide to win a Range Rover
Dissectin' bars from "Takeover"
Sometimes I text Hova, like, "Nigga, this ain't over", laughin'
I had to hold it down for Queens, 'cause I overvalue fiends
Shout to Brooklyn, all between, hoods be overlappin'
Subways be stacked and I ain't been on a train in decades
And I can still hear the wheels on the tracks (Queens in the house)
Feel the beat brakes, serial defaced for Jinx
The license I carry still ain't safe in New York state
It's still a lot of ways to manage the life expectancy average
The future of our next generation, they been established
Conflicted by some of the same patterns that had us
Money and social status, tell me what really matters
So who are you when they turn off all the cameras?
With me, you know the answers (Queens in the house)
Go ask Tony Bennett (Queens in the house)
Terrace on the park, they gotta know (Queens in the house)
DJ Clue, Envy, and Camillo (Queens in the house)
Where are my most beautiful queens in the house?
When you see me at awards or a popular place
I see chains shinin', I wanna stock it over my face
Coordinated, try to see me by some popular names
For a second, I'm on some shit, like it was back in the days
When dudes'd really put that thing up to your rib cage
And pull a switch blade, do anythin', it's the 'Bridge way
But I go stu', roll through, just sold out the O2
Piece on my neck in a Hi Tech Polo suit (Queens in the house)
Drove down Vanwick, Colosseum in Stan Smiths
Tan blick in the desert brick town where my man's live
Not niggas I really met through music shit
It be some real thugs I grew up with
Phone calls from the feds, long stories told fast
Wishin' they'd get home in a hurry, 'cause we the last
Of a dyin' pack of lions, nightmares of the cast
Thorough bread survivin', you know (Queens in the house)
No doubt, no doubt, no doubt, no doubt (Queens in the house)
No doubt, no doubt, no doubt, no doubt
I'm on some shit, boy, make it a classic tonight
That money gettin' burrowed, 'bout that action, that's right
Thunderous (what up Thunny-Thun-Thun?)
Mad thunderous (okay now)
Manhattan keeps on makin' it (yeah)
Brooklyn keeps on takin' it (yeah)
Bronx keeps creatin' it (yeah)
And Queens keep on cakin' it
Shouts to the West side
To the Six Burrow, far rocks
Southside and Northside (Queens in the house)
The lyrics to "Thun" by Nas provide a glimpse into his upbringing in Queensbridge and pay homage to the people and experiences that shaped his life. Nas reflects on the connections he has with his childhood friends, who are not just fellow musicians, but also "real thugs" he grew up with. These are the people he can count on, despite the challenges they face, including encounters with the law and the struggles of living in a dangerous environment. Nas acknowledges their loyalty and resilience, highlighting their survival instincts as "thorough bread," and proudly declares "Queens in the house" as a testament to their shared identity.
The lyrics also touch on Nas' interactions with other influential figures from Queens. He shouts out and expresses appreciation for individuals such as Ronny Bumps and DJ Clue, emphasizing the sense of community and camaraderie within the borough. Nas also references his connections outside of Queens, mentioning Tony Bennett, Terrace on the Park, and various DJs, showcasing the impact and reach of his music.
Overall, "Thun" speaks to the deep bonds Nas has formed with his Queensbridge peers and the pride he feels for his community. It serves as a reminder of his roots and the lasting influence of his upbringing.
Line by Line Meaning
Thun (Queens in the house)
Acknowledging Queens as the setting of the song
Queensbridge, baby (Queens in the house)
Showing love for the Queensbridge neighborhood in Queens
No doubt, no doubt, no doubt (Queens in the house)
Affirming the presence and importance of Queens in the hip-hop scene
Not niggas I really met through music shit
Referring to the genuine friendships with people from the streets rather than just industry connections
It be some real thugs I grew up with
Describing the association with genuine street criminals who Nas grew up with
Phone calls from the feds, long stories told fast
Receiving calls from incarcerated friends, sharing their stories quickly due to limited time
Wishin' they'd get home in a hurry, 'cause we the last
Hoping for their friends' speedy release from prison because they are part of a dying breed
Of a dyin' pack of lions, nightmares of the cast
Belonging to a diminishing group of strong individuals who have endured difficult experiences
Thorough bread survivin', you know (Queens in the house)
Emphasizing the resilience and perseverance of the people from Queens
Welcome home Ronny Bumps, and love the Callie
Welcoming back a friend named Ronny Bumps and expressing affection for Callie
That boss ordered us lobster tails late night in forty
Recalling a memory of enjoying extravagant meals, specifically lobster tails, at nightclubs or parties
We was out there tryna rig the stress
Engaging in illegal activities to alleviate the pressures of life
Had a beat tape from Stretch, rest
Possessing a tape of beats from Stretch, a deceased DJ
Black TEC, black vest to match the dark aura
Referring to carrying a black TEC-9 firearm and wearing a black bulletproof vest to match a menacing demeanor
We hit the city deep in the explorer
Exploring and navigating through the city streets with a sense of adventure
Lookin' at The Source, wish I was the cover story
Desiring to be featured as the main story in a popular hip-hop magazine like The Source
That was comin' shortly, cars back then had raw packed in
Anticipating future success and reminiscing about carrying drugs in cars during earlier times
Rest in peace a few good men, the guards stalk him (Queens in the house)
Paying tribute to deceased friends while acknowledging their influence and presence
I pop a bottle, we not promised tomorrow
Celebrating life and acknowledging the uncertainty of the future
Showin' love is the motto
Emphasizing the importance of spreading love and support
Flicks a cowboy hat, strapped like Desperado's
Wearing a cowboy hat and carrying a gun like a character from the movie Desperado
They done lit one out the chamber, no eye or fire
Referring to someone getting shot and losing the ability to see or have passion
Then a vegetation state when that man China died
Reflecting on the sadness and immobility caused by the death of someone named China
Stomped out on 12th Street, memory fails me
Recalling a violent incident on 12th Street but struggling to remember the details
Heard homie was a real G, that's what they tell me
Learning that a friend was a respected gangster through word-of-mouth
I was the one to run through the functions, no funny actin'
Being the one to attend parties and gatherings with a serious and authentic demeanor
And it was me that introduced Mini to money bags and (Queens in the house)
Introducing Mini, possibly a friend or associate, to a life of wealth and success
Grandmaster Vic (Queens in the house)
Acknowledging Grandmaster Vic, possibly a DJ or influential figure, from Queens
The DJ's Disco Twins (Queens in the house)
Recognizing the DJ duo Disco Twins from Queens
From the towers to Promenade (Queens in the house)
Referring to the different neighborhoods and environments within Queens
Host a party up at Starlets, they know Queens in the house
Throwing a party at Starlets, a popular venue, to represent Queens and its vibrant music scene
No beef with rivals, they playin' 'Ether' on TIDAL
Having no conflict with other rappers and enjoying the fact that his diss track 'Ether' is being played on the streaming platform TIDAL
Brothers can do anythin' when they decide to win a Range Rover
Expressing the determination and ability of individuals to achieve success and acquire luxury items like a Range Rover
Dissectin' bars from 'Takeover'
Analyzing and breaking down Jay-Z's diss track 'Takeover'
Sometimes I text Hova, like, 'Nigga, this ain't over', laughin'
Playfully messaging Jay-Z to express that their rivalry is ongoing
I had to hold it down for Queens, 'cause I overvalue fiends
Taking responsibility for representing and protecting Queens, even if it means prioritizing drug users
Shout to Brooklyn, all between, hoods be overlappin'
Giving a shoutout to Brooklyn while acknowledging the overlapping neighborhoods and shared experiences with Queens
Subways be stacked and I ain't been on a train in decades
Observing the crowded and busy subways of New York City, although Nas hasn't personally taken a train in years
And I can still hear the wheels on the tracks (Queens in the house)
Feeling nostalgic and remembering the sound of the subway wheels on the tracks in Queens
Feel the beat brakes, serial defaced for Jinx
Experiencing the rhythm and synchronization of the music while mentioning someone named Jinx
The license I carry still ain't safe in New York state
Implying that even with a legal license, there are dangers and risks associated with carrying a firearm in New York
It's still a lot of ways to manage the life expectancy average
Recognizing the various challenges and adversities that can affect one's life expectancy
The future of our next generation, they been established
Affirming that the next generation has already made their mark and is on track for success
Conflicted by some of the same patterns that had us
Feeling conflicted and affected by the same negative behaviors and circumstances that were prevalent in the past
Money and social status, tell me what really matters
Questioning the true value and importance of wealth and social standing
So who are you when they turn off all the cameras?
Asking about one's true identity once they are no longer in the public eye
With me, you know the answers (Queens in the house)
Asserting that with Nas, the answers to these questions are clear
Go ask Tony Bennett (Queens in the house)
Referencing Tony Bennett, a legendary singer from Queens
Terrace on the park, they gotta know (Queens in the house)
Referring to Terrace on the Park, a popular event venue in Queens, and emphasizing the presence of Queens
DJ Clue, Envy, and Camillo (Queens in the house)
Recognizing DJs Clue, Envy, and Camillo from Queens
Where are my most beautiful queens in the house?
Acknowledging and celebrating the presence of beautiful women from Queens
When you see me at awards or a popular place
Addressing the audience and explaining what they should do when they see him at awards or in a public setting
I see chains shinin', I wanna stock it over my face
Being inspired by the success and jewelry of others, wanting to have his own shining chains
Coordinated, try to see me by some popular names
Being fashionable and wanting to be associated with well-known and respected people
For a second, I'm on some shit, like it was back in the days
Feeling a sense of nostalgia and temporarily embodying the mindset of his earlier days
When dudes'd really put that thing up to your rib cage
Recalling a time when people would threaten others with a weapon against their chest
And pull a switch blade, do anythin', it's the 'Bridge way
Describing the willingness to resort to violence and engage in reckless behavior, characteristic of the Queensbridge neighborhood
But I go stu', roll through, just sold out the O2
Expressing confidence and success in selling out a large venue like the O2 arena
Piece on my neck in a Hi Tech Polo suit (Queens in the house)
Boasting about wearing expensive jewelry and fashionable clothing from designer brands like Hi Tech Polo
Drove down Vanwick, Colosseum in Stan Smiths
Driving through Vanwick Avenue and visiting the Colosseum, while wearing Stan Smith shoes
Tan blick in the desert brick town where my man's live
Referring to a friend's hometown in a desert-like area, emphasizing its rough and tough environment
No doubt, no doubt, no doubt, no doubt (Queens in the house)
Reiterating the presence and significance of Queens
No doubt, no doubt, no doubt, no doubt
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Chauncey Hollis Jr., Nasir Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kaykilla1000
This man is rapping like he’s 19 on this album!! First rapper in history to drop 3 consecutive classic albums (technically 4 including Magic) within a 2 year span. This is rap god level.
Gray
@Moshe B right 😂
Axxexxx Cxrxxx
Agreed.
Haiden
Fact man ....this guy legendary non of these new rappers got his energy
Oscar Correa
@Who Knows started with Full Circle right into Life's a B***h then the tiniest portion of Mo Money, Mo M***. It was dope show for sure.
Who Knows
@Oscar Correa Whatttt that's fire. Sounds like it was a great show. What did AZ perform with him? I saw Mary J at the Jay Z 9/11 memorial concert/Blueprint 3 concert. Hov brought out like 15 guests and she was one. Was absolutely insane. Sounds like a good show last night. Wish I could have been there. Glad you enjoyed it bruh. Salute.
Max Andre, Jr
I don't care what NOBODY SAYS
This is still the Goat to me.
The consistency is outta control.
🔥
James Perez
He need this video in queens
Junior Walker
@eib3137 I Am and Nastradomous were Ehh, but after that, he murdered. But art is perspective like most things, hard to have a consensus with it. But if he's not in somebody's top 10, I can't have a conversation with them.
Sean Cagney
It too me a while to say it but years ago thinking about it (Before his recent run he had with KD series and Magic) I said Nas might honestly be the GOAT.. Think of it every other so called GOAT has thrown shots at him and he was on their radar (BIG and Pac etc.), he has been around so long and so consistent throughout decades! Nas to me is the best to ever do it, this KD series soiidified it! GOAT,