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..
WTF SMH
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My jewelry is disgusting but let's discuss the taste
I'm in another place (yeah)
This whole shit is in shambles, low vibrational levels
Riders never get canceled, never
W-T-F, S-M-H (uh)
This ain't that H&M, this that skully over your face
Real life nightmares, enemies cuttin' your brakes
Demonic motherfuckers, what you do come back
God bless the trap, but I wanna see you untrapped
Plottin' on another man and his possessions is wack
One-on-one with your opp, all they see is two dumb Blacks
W-T-F, S-M-H, O-M-G (uh)
How could you put these pussy ass rappers over me?
When all they do is cap, all they do is L-I-E
I'm L-M-F-A-O, Esco heavy in the streets (yeah)
Fresh back off tour (uh-huh)
The mic still smokin', I ain't once go hoarse
I never take a day off from this fly shit that I'm on, come on
Please, get your lady off of my horn
She told me she astral plane now, she explain how
Her spirit leave her body every time we hang out
She said she got her main now, she got a king now
It's a phase now
'Cause she still gon' come and put that thang down, whoa (yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah)
W-T-F, S-M-H
My jewelry is disgusting but let's discuss the taste
I'm in another place (haha)
This whole shit is in shambles, low vibrational levels (word)
Riders never get canceled, never
We manifest destiny like a knight
A knight in shining armor, yeah
Try to be there for my kids (yeah)
No matter how hard that is
Everybody's so quick to flip or say they with the shits
They go against someone look just like them
But when the enemy has government powers
They become cowards, they cut the tough guy shit
When they arrest, when they come cuff your kids
They give us criminal records, because of where we live
And the money is low, and narcotics are thriving
It's evil, we diagnosed with something that's untreatable
Feel powerless so brothers only have beef with you
So you on your murder shit 'cause that's what you see them do
Well, let me tell you somethin'
Many go on GBG, Get Back Gang, who gon' rest in peace?
In this land twenty three million layers
All we have is some givers and some takers
Have some good souls and bad souls
Some humble people, some assholes, slow as watchin' the grass grow
The crosswalk lady walkin' with the kids to school
There's a place in heaven for her, as is you
And if you don't believe in that, then SLATT
Go where you going, be where you at, no hugs, speakin' or dap
I wish that we could adapt (my brother)
Pro-Black with a machete, pinky ring, a hog in the back
This is not a rap song, why you callin' it that?
This is a audiobook, I'm an author on tracks
I opened so many doors, my launchpad was Main Source
You couldn't interpret the lesson, we took the same course
I grabbed everything and the shit that I came for
As soon as the DJ played Big Daddy Kane "Raw"
Bold, beautiful, dangerous
And I blocked out the hate that was aimed at us
I'm free as I ever been, I might hop on a jet to Japan
Just to eat sushi if customs let me in (don't they always)
W-T-F, S-M-H, I'm on G-O
2023, just might open a casino
Community love, providing jobs
Why would you try to come for me, why you ain't proud of Nas?
Akinyele took me in the building first
Peace to MC Serch, how much the catalog worth?
I made it so many can have a piece of what I earn
Pushed it to the max, now it's maximum returns
Bold, beautiful, dangerous
And I blocked out the hate that was aimed at us
Community love, providing jobs
Why would you try to come for me, why you ain't proud of Nas?
The lyrics to Nas's song "WTF SMH" convey a sense of frustration and disappointment in the current state of the world, particularly in terms of materialism, negativity, and societal issues. Nas starts by acknowledging that his jewelry may be extravagant, but he wants to discuss the deeper meaning behind it. He feels like he is in another place, possibly meaning a different mindset or level of consciousness, and expresses his dissatisfaction with the low vibrational levels and chaotic nature of society. Despite this, he asserts that true riders, those who are committed and authentic, will never be canceled.
Nas goes on to criticize those who engage in harmful actions and possess a demonic nature. He believes that it is wrong to plot against others and covet their possessions. He highlights the unethical behaviors of some individuals and expresses his frustration that rappers who engage in lies and negativity are being elevated over artists like himself who strive for authenticity. Nas asserts his own presence and influence in the streets, emphasizing that he is always active and dedicated to his craft. However, he also playfully dismisses the advances of someone's lady, showcasing his confidence and charisma.
The second verse delves into deeper societal and personal issues. Nas discusses the tendency for people to quickly turn against one another, even when they share similar appearances. He criticizes those who become cowards when faced with government powers or authority figures, contrasting their tough personas with their submission in the face of arrests or challenges. Nas highlights the challenges faced by marginalized communities, such as the systemic disadvantages and criminalization of individuals based on their living conditions. He also notes the despair and powerlessness that can lead some individuals to engage in violent behavior.
Nas concludes by reflecting on the diversity of humanity, acknowledging that there are good and bad souls, humble people, and assholes. He pays tribute to the everyday heroes, such as the crosswalk lady who walks children to school, suggesting that there is a place in heaven for them. He then expresses a desire for adaptation and unity, advocating for a pro-Black stance while also acknowledging his own success and wealth. Nas asserts his influence and impact on the rap genre, emphasizing his longevity and ability to break barriers. He ends the song by expressing his freedom and hinting at future endeavors, noting his potential trip to Japan and his aspirations to provide community love and create jobs.
Line by Line Meaning
W-T-F, S-M-H (yeah)
What the fuck, shaking my head (expressing disbelief or disappointment)
My jewelry is disgusting but let's discuss the taste
My jewelry is extravagant and flashy, but let's talk about its subjective appeal
I'm in another place (yeah)
I am mentally and spiritually detached from the current state of affairs
This whole shit is in shambles, low vibrational levels
Society is chaotic and filled with negativity, creating a low energy environment
Riders never get canceled, never
Those who live an authentic and rebellious lifestyle are not easily silenced or ignored
This ain't that H&M, this that skully over your face
This is not ordinary mainstream clothing, it's the rebellious style that represents resilience
Real life nightmares, enemies cuttin' your brakes
Facing genuine and dangerous threats from adversaries who are willing to harm you
These suckers lower than snakes so watch where you valet
These deceitful individuals are even more despicable than snakes, so be cautious of who you trust
Demonic motherfuckers, what you do come back
Evil individuals will face consequences for their actions eventually
God bless the trap, but I wanna see you untrapped
Acknowledging the struggles and hardships of certain communities, but hoping for their eventual liberation
Plottin' on another man and his possessions is wack
Planning and scheming to take someone else's belongings is pathetic
One-on-one with your opp, all they see is two dumb Blacks
When facing your adversaries individually, they only see two unintelligent Black individuals
W-T-F, S-M-H, O-M-G (uh)
What the fuck, shaking my head, oh my god (expressing disbelief and shock)
How could you put these pussy ass rappers over me?
Why would you prioritize these talentless rappers over my skills and contributions?
When all they do is cap, all they do is L-I-E
All they do is lie and boast about unrealistic things
I'm L-M-F-A-O, Esco heavy in the streets (yeah)
I'm laughing my fucking ass off, Nas is highly respected and influential in the streets
Fresh back off tour (uh-huh)
Just returned from a successful tour
The mic still smokin', I ain't once go hoarse
My performances were so intense, yet I never lost my voice
I never take a day off from this fly shit that I'm on, come on
I'm constantly dedicated and passionate about the stylish and impressive music I create
Please, get your lady off of my horn
Please, remove your woman who is showing interest in me
She told me she astral plane now, she explain how
She informed me that she experiences out-of-body journeys and explained the process to me
Her spirit leave her body every time we hang out
During our time together, she feels a sense of detachment from her physical self
She said she got her main now, she got a king now
She mentioned that she has now found her primary partner and a person she considers her ruler
It's a phase now
This experience is currently a temporary stage or state
'Cause she still gon' come and put that thang down, whoa (yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah)
However, she will still come and passionately engage in sexual intimacy with me
We manifest destiny like a knight
Similar to a knight, we actively shape our own future and fulfill our purpose
A knight in shining armor, yeah
Metaphorically, we are protective and noble figures who come to the rescue
Try to be there for my kids (yeah)
I strive to provide support and guidance to my children
No matter how hard that is
Despite the difficulties and challenges I face
Everybody's so quick to flip or say they with the shits
People are too eager to change loyalties or claim they are involved in dangerous activities
They go against someone look just like them
They betray someone who shares their same racial or cultural background
But when the enemy has government powers
However, when the adversaries possess authority within the government
They become cowards, they cut the tough guy shit
They display cowardice and abandon their false bravado
When they arrest, when they come cuff your kids
When they arrest individuals, they separate them from their children and restrict their freedom
They give us criminal records, because of where we live
They unjustly label us as criminals based on our place of residence
And the money is low, and narcotics are thriving
Financial opportunities are scarce while illegal drug trade thrives
It's evil, we diagnosed with something that's untreatable
This system is corrupt and leaves us with uncurable afflictions
Feel powerless so brothers only have beef with you
Feeling helpless, some individuals resort to conflict and animosity towards their own kind
So you on your murder shit 'cause that's what you see them do
You engage in violent behavior because you witness others doing the same
Well, let me tell you somethin'
Well, let me enlighten you with some knowledge
Many go on GBG, Get Back Gang, who gon' rest in peace?
Numerous individuals become part of the Get Back Gang, but who will find peace in their graves?
In this land twenty three million layers
In this country with its complex social structure and various societal layers
All we have is some givers and some takers
Within our community, we have those who contribute and those who exploit
Have some good souls and bad souls
We possess individuals with both virtuous and malevolent natures
Some humble people, some assholes, slow as watchin' the grass grow
We have individuals who are modest and others who are arrogant, with some being slow to comprehend
The crosswalk lady walkin' with the kids to school
The lady responsible for ensuring children cross the street safely on their way to school
There's a place in heaven for her, as is you
She, along with individuals like you, deserves a place in heaven for their selfless actions
And if you don't believe in that, then SLATT
And if you don't believe in the concept of heaven, then so be it
Go where you going, be where you at, no hugs, speakin' or dap
Continue on your path, be present in the moment, without any physical greetings or gestures
I wish that we could adapt (my brother)
I desire for us to learn and adjust to new situations, my brother
Pro-Black with a machete, pinky ring, a hog in the back
Embracing and advocating for Black empowerment, armed with a machete, wearing a flashy pinky ring, with a powerful presence
This is not a rap song, why you callin' it that?
This is more than just a typical rap song, so why label it as such?
This is a audiobook, I'm an author on tracks
This is an audio experience like an audiobook, and I am the mastermind behind the lyrics
I opened so many doors, my launchpad was Main Source
I have paved the way for many artists, with Main Source being my starting point or inspiration
You couldn't interpret the lesson, we took the same course
You failed to grasp the knowledge I shared, even though we started from the same point
I grabbed everything and the shit that I came for
I achieved all my goals and even more than I initially desired
As soon as the DJ played Big Daddy Kane 'Raw'
When the DJ played Big Daddy Kane's 'Raw' immediately
Bold, beautiful, dangerous
Confident, visually appealing, and potentially threatening
And I blocked out the hate that was aimed at us
I ignored and disregarded the negativity and criticism directed towards us
I'm free as I ever been, I might hop on a jet to Japan
I am liberated and unrestricted, considering traveling to Japan by private jet
Just to eat sushi if customs let me in (don't they always)
Simply to enjoy sushi, if customs grants me entry (which is usually the case)
W-T-F, S-M-H, I'm on G-O
What the fuck, shaking my head, I'm on the go
2023, just might open a casino
In 2023, I might venture into opening a casino
Community love, providing jobs
Showing love and support within our community, creating employment opportunities
Why would you try to come for me, why you ain't proud of Nas?
Why would you attempt to challenge or criticize me, why aren't you celebrating and supporting Nas?
Akinyele took me in the building first
Akinyele was the first to introduce me into the music industry
Peace to MC Serch, how much the catalog worth?
Respect and appreciation to MC Serch, how valuable is our body of work?
I made it so many can have a piece of what I earn
I succeeded so that many others can also benefit and share in my success
Pushed it to the max, now it's maximum returns
I maximized my efforts and now I am reaping the greatest rewards
Bold, beautiful, dangerous
Confident, visually appealing, and potentially threatening
And I blocked out the hate that was aimed at us
I ignored and disregarded the negativity and criticism directed towards us
Community love, providing jobs
Showing love and support within our community, creating employment opportunities
Why would you try to come for me, why you ain't proud of Nas?
Why would you attempt to challenge or criticize me, why aren't you celebrating and supporting Nas?
Lyrics © EMPIRE PUBLISHING
Written by: Chauncey Hollis Jr., Nasir Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cosmiclogic78
“She told me she astroplane now
She explain how
Her spirit leave her body every time we hang out
She said she got a main now
She got a king now
It’s a phase now
Cuz she still gon come and put THAT THING down…(yeah yeah yeah yeah)”
😂😂😂😂 #IYKYK
That was slick Nas
@merciless41582
My Mount Rushmore of MC's
1A: Rakim, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Nas.
1B: Biggie, LL Cool J, Big Pun, Kool G Rap.
This man predicted 21 Savage was going to diss him. "Why would you try to come for me why you ain't proud of Nas?" They don't call him Nastradamus for nothing. Nas might be getting his second Grammy award come February . The whole album is FIRE!!!
@c.s.hadebe1062
"This is a audiobook, I'm an author on tracks" ✍🏽 DAMN.
@urielriley
✨✍🏾✨👑🎯🔥🔥🔥🔥🔊🗣️💎🗣️💎🐐🎵
@akramkamya7067
Just heard this 😍😍🔥
@ilyas.6927
⚡
@michaelsinanan88
🤒
@LensJunior
I love that whole verse 👊
@ericasebe164
Nas is just putting a cherry on top of his legendary career. I was 14 when Illmatic came out. Now my 14 yearr old daughter is listening to King’s Disease albums.
@Jimmy1982Playlists
Nice! Is she bumpin' Illmatic yet?
@georgehoustonofficial
Me too
@LizLofi
That’s really sweet!