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..
Watch Dem Niggas
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's just the likeness of Israelites mist that made me write this
A slight twist of lime rhyme, be chasing down your prime-time
Food for thought, or rather mind wine
The Don Juan features the freak shit
My thesis on how we creep quick, fucking your wife, that ain't so secret
It's mandatory, see that pussy, they hand it to me
I got no game, it's just some bitches understand my story
My gator brand is Mauri, walking through rough land before me
Where the snakes put a smile on they face, hoping and praying I'm stuck
Scoping, they lay in the cut, weighing my luck
Player haters play this in cell blocks and rock stages
Winking at some females cops with cocked gauges
Really it's papers I'm addicted to
Wasn't for rap, then I'll be sticking you, the MAC inside the Triple Goose
Face down on the floor's the routine
Don't wanna hear nobody blow steam, just C.R.E.A.M. or it's a smoke screen
Imagine that, that's why I hardly kick the bragging raps
I zone, to each his own and this ghetto inhabitant
Watch dem niggas that be close to you
And make sure they do what they supposed to do
'Cause you know they be thinking 'bout smoking you
Never personal, nowadays it's the ways
Watch dem niggas that be close to you
And make sure they do what they supposed to do
'Cause you know they be thinking 'bout smoking you
Never personal, nowadays it's the ways
Now how can I perfect this? (Uh, what?)
Living reckless, die for my necklace
Crime infected, driving a Lexus with a death wish
Jetting, checking my message on the speaker
Bopping to "Mona Lisa", brown reefer, ten G's, gun and my Visa
CD cranking, doing ninety on the Franklin D. Roosevelt
No seat belt, drinking and thinking
My man caught a bad one, son, niggas is frightened
Secret indictments, adds on to one seeking enlightenment
My Movado says seven, the God hour, that's if you follow
Traditions started by the school, not far from the Apollo
My "fuck tomorrow" motto through the eyes of Pablo
Escobar the desperado, word to Cus D'Amato
Gotta watch dem niggas that's close to you
And make sure they do what they supposed to do
'Cause you know they be thinking 'bout smoking you
Never personal, nowadays it's the ways
Watch dem niggas that's close to you
And make sure they do what they supposed to do
'Cause you know they be thinking 'bout smoking you
Never personal, nowadays it's the ways
Some niggas watch you (uh)
See you when you think on the low
Ain't hard to spot you, you swore to keep it real after you blow
Three ki's, new V's, went to Anguilla with your ho
Stayed around the hood, smoothest cat, getting the dough
Them old timers, advise you to them problems that's ahead
Drama with the feds, not listening just bobbin' your head
Your Rollie shining, thinking to yourself "Nobody's taking mine"
At the same time, your ho is getting snatched from behind
Put in a van, "Where's the hundred grand?" stripping her hand
From all the ice, wouldn't you know? You knew these niggas all your life
What made them mark you victim?
You fucked up somewhere down the line
Now they had to target your Wisdom
She took 'em to your place, straight to your safe
You doubted it could happen, sick of yapping, jump in your ride, headed to your side
Puffin' ganja, get to your crib, can't find her
Just a reminder, shouldn't have your stash house where you crash out
Could've passed out, your coke was gone, now you ass out
Dead bitches tell no lies, you should use your eyes
Gotta watch dem niggas that's close to you (uh)
And make sure they do what they supposed to do
'Cause you know they be thinking 'bout smoking you (uh)
Never personal, nowadays it's the ways
Watch dem niggas that's close to you (uh)
And make sure they do what they supposed to do
'Cause you know they be thinking 'bout smoking you (uh-huh)
Never personal, nowadays it's the ways (uh)
The lyrics of "Watch Dem Niggas" by Nas speak about the danger of those who are close to you and who may turn against you. The song draws on the rapper's own experiences and observations of betrayal and violence in his community. Nas describes how he has to stay vigilant and aware of the people around him, especially those who may be envious or resentful of his success. He also reflects on his own reckless behavior and the consequences that can come from living a life of crime.
Throughout the song, Nas uses vivid imagery and wordplay to express his thoughts on this topic. He references the Isrealites and their plight as a metaphor for his own struggle, and he talks about his own personal code of conduct and how he deals with those who cross him. The song is a powerful and intense reflection on the dangers of life in the ghetto, and the need to be constantly aware of those around you.
Overall, "Watch Dem Niggas" is a gripping and thought-provoking song that speaks to the realities of life in inner-city communities. It is a testament to Nas's skill as a rapper and as a storyteller, and a reminder of the power of music to shed light on important issues.
Line by Line Meaning
They never realized, how real Nas, is so decisive
Nas is often misunderstood and underestimated by others, but he always knows what he wants and makes clear decisions.
It's just the likeness, of Isrealites mist, that made me write this
Nas is inspired by the struggles of the Israelites and the injustices they faced, which drives him to write meaningful lyrics.
A slight twist, of lime rhyme, be chasing down your prime time
Nas's clever wordplay and rhymes are always on the hunt for success and fame in the music industry.
Food for thought or rather mind wine
Nas's lyrics provide not only nourishment for the soul but also intoxicating pleasure for the mind.
The Don Juan, features the freak shit, my thesis
Nas is a master of seduction and loves to explore sexual themes in his music, which is the central idea behind this song.
On how we creep quick, fucking your wife that ain't so secret
Nas and his crew are very efficient at sneaking around and sleeping with other men's wives discreetly.
It's mandatory, see that pussy, they hand it to me
Women are drawn to Nas and his crew, and they often offer themselves to them willingly.
I got no game, it's just some bitches understand my story
Nas doesn't need to use any tricks or tactics to attract women, they are already intrigued by his persona and reputation.
There ain't no drama that my niggas never handle for me
Nas's crew is always there to protect him and take care of any problems or conflicts that arise.
My gator brand is Maurry, walking through rough land before me
Nas wears the Maurry brand of shoes, which are known for being stylish and durable, as he navigates through difficult and dangerous areas.
Where the snakes put a smile on they face, hoping and praying I'm stuck
There are people who pretend to be friendly to Nas but secretly wish him harm or misfortune.
Scoping they lay in the cut, weighing my luck
These people are always watching and waiting for Nas to slip up or make a mistake, hoping to take advantage of it.
Player haters play this in cell blocks and rock stages
Even those who are locked up in prison or performing on stages can relate to the themes of this song, as they also face similar dangers from those close to them.
Winking at some females cops with cocked gauges
Nas and his crew enjoy flirting with female police officers who are out to get them, knowing that they have weapons pointed at them.
Really it's papers I'm addicted to, wasn't for rap then I'll be sticking you
Nas is primarily motivated by money and success, and if it weren't for his rap career, he might resort to criminal activity to fulfill his desires.
The mag inside the triple goose
Nas carries a magazine for his gun inside his jacket, which is a Triple Goose brand.
Face down on the floors, the routine
Nas is familiar with being in dangerous situations where he has to lie face down on the ground to avoid getting shot.
Don't want hear nobody blow steam, just cream or it's a smoke screen
Nas isn't interested in empty threats or boasting, he only cares about making money and achieving success.
Imagine that, that's why I hardly kick the bragging raps
Nas rarely brags or boasts about his success in his music, because he knows that it can attract unwanted attention and danger.
I zone, to each his own and this ghetto inhabitant
Nas prefers to stay focused and in his own zone, as someone who grew up in the ghetto and knows the dangers of always being aware of your surroundings.
Now how can I perfect this (uhh, what)
Nas is always looking for ways to improve and perfect his craft, even if it means taking risks or experimenting with new sounds.
Living reckless, die for my necklace
Nas is willing to take dangerous risks in his life and career, even if it means risking his life for his jewelry.
Crime infected, driving a Lexus with a death wish
Nas is involved in criminal activity and drives a luxurious car, even though he knows that it could end up getting him killed.
Jetting, checking my message on the speaker
Nas is always on the move and managing his business, even if it means doing so while driving and using his phone.
Bopping to Mona Lisa brown reefer, ten G' s, gun and my Visa
Nas is enjoying some marijuana while listening to music, carrying ten thousand dollars in cash and a gun, and being ready to use his credit card.
CD cranking, doing ninety on the Franklin-D-Roosevelt
Nas is listening to music at a high volume, driving at a dangerous speed on a major highway in New York City.
No seat belt, drinking and thinking
Nas is putting himself at risk by not wearing a seat belt and drinking while driving.
My man caught a bad one son, niggas is frightened
Nas's friend has been killed or arrested, and people are afraid of the consequences and repercussions.
Secret indictments, adds on to one seeking enlightenment
There are hidden legal charges or investigations against Nas or his associates, causing him to become more introspective and reflective.
My Movado says seven, the God hour, that's if you follow
Nas is wearing a Movado brand watch that displays the time as seven o'clock, which he considers the time of enlightenment or spiritual awakening.
Traditions started by the school not far from the Apollo
Nas is proud of the cultural traditions that originated at the Harlem Renaissance art school near the Apollo Theater in New York City.
My "Fuck tomorrow" motto through the eyes of Pablo
Nas lives by the motto of embracing the present moment and not worrying about the future, as inspired by the late drug lord Pablo Escobar.
Escobar the desperado, word to Custom Auto
Nas pays tribute to Pablo Escobar, who was known for his audacity and ruthlessness, and the Custom Auto car dealership in Queens where he had some of his cars customized.
Some niggas watch you (uh) see you when you think on the low
There are people who are always watching and observing Nas, even when he thinks he is being discreet or unnoticed.
Ain't hard to spot you, you swore to keep it real after you blow
Nas has become very noticeable and recognizable, after promising to stay true to his roots and not forget where he came from.
Three ki's, new V's, went to Anguilla with your hoe
Nas reminisces about some of his past adventures, including a trip to the Caribbean with a woman and a successful drug deal involving three kilos of cocaine and a new car.
Stayed around the hood, smoothest cat, getting the dough
Nas has always lived in and remained loyal to his neighborhood, where he has earned a reputation as a charismatic and successful hustler.
Them old timers, advise you to them problems that's ahead
Nas respects the wisdom and experience of older generations, who offer him advice and guidance to help him avoid future problems and challenges.
Drama with the Feds, not listening just bobbin your head
Nas is facing legal problems with the federal government, but he continues to brush them off and ignore the consequences, instead just enjoying the music and bobbing his head.
Your Roley shining, thinking to yourself nobody's taking mine
Nas is proud of his Rolex watch and thinks that no one can steal it from him because of his reputation and status.
At the same time, your hoe is getting snatched from behind
While Nas is preoccupied with showing off his watch, his woman is being taken away from him without him even noticing.
Put in the van, where's the hundred grand, script in her hand
Nas's woman has been kidnapped and is holding a script or ransom note, demanding that Nas pay one hundred thousand dollars to get her back.
From all the ice, wouldn't you know, You knew these niggas all your life
The kidnappers know that Nas has a lot of valuable jewelry, and they are using his childhood friends and acquaintances as accomplices to carry out the crime.
What made them mark you victim, you fucked up somewhere down the line
Nas realizes that he made a mistake or slipped up somewhere along the way, which caused him to become a victim of betrayal and deceit.
Now they had to target your Wisdom
The kidnappers were specifically targeting Nas and his wisdom or street smarts, knowing that he would be a valuable target.
She took em to your place, straight to your safe
Nas's woman led the kidnappers to his house and showed them where his safe containing his valuables was kept.
You doubted it could happen sick of yapping
Nas underestimated the possibility of something like this happening to him and got tired of talking about the dangers of his lifestyle.
Jump in your ride, headed to your side
Nas rushes to his car and drives to the location where his woman was taken, hoping to rescue her.
Puffin ganja get to your crib, can't find her
Nas smokes marijuana to calm himself down, but when he arrives at his house, his woman is nowhere to be found.
Just a reminder shit and have your stash house where you crash out
Nas realizes that he needs to be more cautious and keep his valuable possessions somewhere more secure and discreet, like his stash house where he sleeps.
Could of passed out, your coke was gone, now you assed out
Nas realizes that his cocaine stash has been stolen or raided, leaving him in a vulnerable and desperate position.
Dead bitches tell no lies, you should use your eyes
Nas realizes that betrayal and danger can come from anyone, even those who are close to him, and that he needs to be more vigilant and aware of his surroundings.
Watch dem niggas that be close to you
The central idea of this song is to be cautious and aware of those who are close to you, as they can be the ones who pose the biggest threat.
And make sure they do what they supposed to do
Nas advises his listeners to hold those close to them accountable for their actions and to make sure they follow through on their promises.
Cause you know they be thinking about smoking you
Nas warns that those close to you may be considering turning against you and causing you harm.
Never personal, nowadays, it's the ways
Nas recognizes that these kinds of betrayals and dangers are not personal, but rather common and expected in today's society.
Lyrics © JELLYBEAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bob James, Earl Klugh, Jean Claude Olivier, Nasir Jones, Samuel J Barnes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind