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..
Wrote My Way Out
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the world turned its back on me
I was up against the wall
I had no foundation
No friends and no family to catch my fall
Running on empty, with nothing left in me but doubt
I picked up a pen
And wrote my way out (I wrote my way out)
I picked up the pen like Hamilton
Street analyst, now I write words that try to channel 'em
No political power, just lyrical power
Sittin' on a crate on a corner, sippin' for hours
Schemin' on a come up, from evening'to sun up
My man awaitin' trial, misdemeanors we younger
Courtroom prejudice, insufficient evidence
Jailhouse lawyers, these images still relevant
Flickerin' lights inside my project hall
Sickenin', the mice crawl all night long
And '87 Reaganism, many pages I've written on
Writin' songs about rights and wrongs and bails bonds
Master bedroom, bigger than the crib that I was raised at
I'm the architect like I wrote the code to Waze app
I'm driven, black Elohim from the streets of Queens
The definition of what It Was Written means
Know what I mean?
I wrote my way out
When the world turned its back on me
I was up against the wall
I had no foundation
No friends and no family to catch my fall
Running on empty, there was nothing left in me but doubt
I picked up a pen
And I wrote my way out (I wrote my way out)
I really wrote my way up out of 6E
Develop relationships with fiends, I know they miss me
Before the metrocards, it was tokens, I did the ten speed
Never had wrote a rhyme in my life, what was I sixteen?
At sixteen, arrested in housin', trips to the mountains
Came right back, trappin' off couches, watchin' for mouses
Only tools we was posed with, had a spot, smoke lit
The hate is just confusion, pay attention how them jokes switch
Diadora was my favorite, the Mark Buchanans
Mama couldn't afford them, I learned everythin' on the border
That's a big 8, Clicquot parties with private dancers with no mixtape
Bumble Bee Tuna, now we could get steak
I persevered, composition, I kept it close
Competition near, I'm a Spartan without the spear
Three hundred rhymes, it was written before I wrote it
Opportunity knockin', might miss it, that window closin'
This poetry in motion, I'm a poet
I wrote my way out
When the world turned its back on me
I was up against the wall
I had no foundation
No friends and no family to catch my fall
Running on empty, there was nothing left in me but doubt
I picked up a pen
And wrote my way out (I wrote my way out)
High speed, dubbin' these rhymes in my dual cassette deck
Runnin' out of time like I'm Jonathan Larson's rent check
My mind is where the wild things are, Maurice Sendak
In withdrawal, I want it all, please give me that pen back
Y'all, I caught my first beatin' from the other kids when I was caught readin'
"Oh, you think you smart? Blah! Start bleedin'"
My pops tried in vain to get me to fight back
Sister tapped my brains, said, pssh, you'll get 'em right back
Oversensitive, defenseless, I made sense of it, I pencil in
The lengths to which I'd go to learn my strengths and knock 'em senseless
These sentences are endless, so what if they leave me friendless?
Damn, you got no chill, fuckin' right I'm relentless
I know Abuela's never really gonna win the lottery
So it's up to me to draw blood with this pen, hit an artery
This Puerto Rican's brains are leakin' through the speakers
And if he can be the shinin' beacon this side of the G.W.B and
Shine a light when it's gray out
I wrote my way out
Oh, I was born in the eye of a storm
No lovin' arms to keep me warm
This hurricane in my brain is the burden I bear
I can do without, I'm here (I'm here)
Cause I wrote my way out
I picked up the pen like Hamilton
I wrote my way out of the projects
Wrote-wrote my way out of the projects
Picked up the pen like Hamilton
I wrote my way out of the
Wrote-wrote my way out of the projects
I wrote my way out
Picked up the pen like Hamilton
I wrote my way out of the
(I wrote my way out)
Really, I saw like a hole in the rap game
So if I wanted to put my little two cents in the game, then it would be from a different perspective
(I wrote my way out)
I thought that I would represent for my neighborhood and tell their story, be their voice
In a way that nobody has done it
Tell the real story
The song "Wrote My Way Out" by Nas is a powerful anthem about the power of writing and how it can be used to overcome adversity. Nas's lyrics describe his early struggles, growing up in the projects and facing difficult circumstances, including prejudice, incarceration, and poverty. However, the song is ultimately one about hope and perseverance, as Nas reflects on how he was able to turn his life around by picking up a pen and writing about his experiences.
In the first verse, Nas describes how he was "up against the wall" and had "no foundation" to support him when he first started writing. However, he realized that writing was a way for him to express his feelings and work through his doubts. He references Alexander Hamilton, who famously used writing to rise from poverty and become a successful politician, as an inspiration.
The second verse delves even further into Nas's personal history, describing his experiences growing up in the projects and dealing with the criminal justice system. He still manages to find hope, however, and writes about his dreams of success and success as a writer. In the final verse, Nas reflects on the power of writing as a tool for social change, and how he hopes to use his own writing to help others.
Overall, "Wrote My Way Out" is a powerful ode to the power of art to transform lives and create change. Nas's lyrics are raw, honest, and heartfelt, offering a powerful testament to the importance of self-expression and perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
I wrote my way out
Through writing, I was able to overcome challenging situations
When the world turned its back on me
During times of rejection and abandonment
I was up against the wall
Facing difficult circumstances with limited options
I had no foundation
Lacking stability and support
No friends and no family to catch my fall
Having no one to rely on for help or support when facing obstacles
Running on empty, with nothing left in me but doubt
Feeling depleted and filled with uncertainty
I picked up a pen
I turned to writing as a form of expression
And wrote my way out (I wrote my way out)
Through my writing, I found a way to overcome my challenges
I picked up the pen like Hamilton
Just like Hamilton, I used writing as my means of making an impact
Street analyst, now I write words that try to channel 'em
As a street analyst, I use my writing to convey and express the experiences and emotions of the streets
No political power, just lyrical power
Although lacking political influence, I possess the power of my words and lyrics
Sittin' on a crate on a corner, sippin' for hours
Spending long hours sitting on a corner, deep in thought and contemplation
Schemin' on a come up, from evening'to sun up
Strategizing and planning for success from dusk till dawn
My man awaitin' trial, misdemeanors we younger
My friend is patiently waiting for a trial, reminding me of our past misdeeds when we were younger
Courtroom prejudice, insufficient evidence
Facing discrimination in the courtroom and lacking enough evidence for a fair trial
Jailhouse lawyers, these images still relevant
The memories of incarcerated individuals who served as legal advisors are still significant and relatable
Flickerin' lights inside my project hall
In the hallway of my project building, the lights flicker, representing the challenging and unstable environment
Sickenin', the mice crawl all night long
The constant presence of mice crawling throughout the night, symbolizing the unpleasant and filthy conditions
'87 Reaganism, many pages I've written on
Reflecting on the political climate and policies of the 1980s, which inspired many of my written pages
Writin' songs about rights and wrongs and bails bonds
Using my songs to address topics such as justice, morality, and the system of bail bonds
Master bedroom, bigger than the crib that I was raised at
Achieving success to the point where my master bedroom is larger than the small home I grew up in
I'm the architect like I wrote the code to Waze app
I take pride in my ability to create and influence like an architect who designed the popular navigation app, Waze
I'm driven, black Elohim from the streets of Queens
I am highly motivated and determined, a powerful black figure hailing from the streets of Queens
The definition of what It Was Written means
I embody the true essence and meaning of Nas's album 'It Was Written'
I really wrote my way up out of 6E
I genuinely used writing to escape the struggles and hardships of living in apartment 6E
Develop relationships with fiends, I know they miss me
I formed connections with individuals struggling with addiction, and I understand that they long for my presence
Before the metrocards, it was tokens, I did the ten speed
During earlier times, before metrocards, I relied on tokens and rode the subway with my bike
Never had wrote a rhyme in my life, what was I sixteen?
At the age of sixteen, I had never written a rhyme before
At sixteen, arrested in housin', trips to the mountains
When I was sixteen, I faced arrest within the housing project, and also had experiences in mountainous areas
Came right back, trappin' off couches, watchin' for mouses
After those incidents, I quickly returned and continued engaging in illegal activities, selling drugs from couches while being cautious of mice
Only tools we was posed with, had a spot, smoke lit
The limited resources we had were our only means, and we found a place to smoke illicit substances
The hate is just confusion, pay attention how them jokes switch
The hatred directed towards us is simply a result of people's confusion, and it's important to notice how their attitudes change
Diadora was my favorite, the Mark Buchanans
I had a strong preference for Diadora sneakers, specifically the Mark Buchanan model
Mama couldn't afford them, I learned everythin' on the border
My mother couldn't afford to buy me those sneakers, so I acquired knowledge and learned valuable lessons through experiences on the streets and border areas
That's a big 8, Clicquot parties with private dancers with no mixtape
We celebrated with extravagant parties and expensive champagne, hosting private dancers without the need for a mixtape
I persevered, composition, I kept it close
I persisted and persevered, keeping my compositions and writings close to me
Competition near, I'm a Spartan without the spear
Facing competition closely, I am a warrior-like Spartan even without traditional weapons
Three hundred rhymes, it was written before I wrote it
I had three hundred rhymes prepared and envisioned before actually writing them down
Opportunity knockin', might miss it, that window closin'
Although there are opportunities present, there is a chance of missing them as the window of opportunity gradually closes
This poetry in motion, I'm a poet
My expressions and actions are like flowing poetry, and I am a true poet
High speed, dubbin' these rhymes in my dual cassette deck
Rapidly recording and creating these rhymes using my dual cassette deck
Runnin' out of time like I'm Jonathan Larson's rent check
Feeling a sense of urgency and running out of time, similar to the situation portrayed in Jonathan Larson's play 'Rent'
My mind is where the wild things are, Maurice Sendak
My thoughts and imagination reside in a realm of wild creativity, similar to the world depicted in Maurice Sendak's children's book
In withdrawal, I want it all, please give me that pen back
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms, I crave and desire the act of writing, begging for the return of my pen
Y'all, I caught my first beatin' from the other kids when I was caught readin'
I faced physical punishment from other children for the simple act of being caught reading
"Oh, you think you smart? Blah! Start bleedin'"
Mocked and attacked for displaying intelligence by those who sought to enforce conformity
My pops tried in vain to get me to fight back
My father attempted, but ultimately failed, to encourage me to retaliate
Sister tapped my brains, said, pssh, you'll get 'em right back
My sister recognized my intellectual capacity and assured me that I would easily outsmart my attackers
Oversensitive, defenseless, I made sense of it, I pencil in
Despite being overly sensitive and vulnerable, I found a way to understand and process those experiences, using a pencil to write and document my thoughts
The lengths to which I'd go to learn my strengths and knock 'em senseless
I would go to great extents to discover and develop my strengths, ultimately overpowering those who doubted me
These sentences are endless, so what if they leave me friendless?
My writing and expressions are infinite, even if they result in me being devoid of companionship
Damn, you got no chill, fuckin' right I'm relentless
People may criticize me for lacking restraint, but I embrace my relentless determination to succeed
I know Abuela's never really gonna win the lottery
I understand that my grandmother will never actually win the lottery
So it's up to me to draw blood with this pen, hit an artery
Therefore, it is my responsibility to make a significant impact and provoke strong emotions through my writing, striking deep like a severed artery
This Puerto Rican's brains are leakin' through the speakers
My Puerto Rican identity and thoughts are pouring out through the singers, evident in my music
And if he can be the shinin' beacon this side of the G.W.B and
And if I can serve as a guiding light and inspiration on this side of the George Washington Bridge
Shine a light when it's gray out
Illuminate and provide hope during times of darkness and uncertainty
Oh, I was born in the eye of a storm
I was born and raised in a tumultuous and chaotic environment
No lovin' arms to keep me warm
Lacking the comfort and warmth of loving embrace
This hurricane in my brain is the burden I bear
The constant turmoil and chaos within my mind is the burden I carry
I can do without, I'm here (I'm here)
Despite the challenges, I can survive and exist without the need for external validation
Cause I wrote my way out
Because I used my writing as a means of escape and triumph
I picked up the pen like Hamilton
Similar to Alexander Hamilton, I took up writing as a means to express myself and make an impact
I wrote my way out of the projects
Through my writing, I was able to break free from the limitations and struggles of living in the projects
I wrote my way out of the projects
Again, emphasizing how my writing allowed me to overcome the challenges and disadvantages of the projects
Picked up the pen like Hamilton
Once more, highlighting how I followed in the footsteps of Hamilton, embracing writing as my means of expression and empowerment
I wrote my way out of the
Here, the lyrics are incomplete and open to interpretation
Wrote-wrote my way out of the projects
Reiterating that I used my writing to escape and rise above the projects
I wrote my way out
Affirming that writing was the key to my liberation and transformation
Picked up the pen like Hamilton
Once again, emphasizing the influence and inspiration of Hamilton's writing
I wrote my way out of the
Continuing the theme of writing as a means of escape and progress
"I wrote my way out
Here, the lyrics are incomplete and open to interpretation
Really, I saw like a hole in the rap game
I recognized a void and lack of representation within the rap industry
So if I wanted to put my little two cents in the game, then it would be from a different perspective
If I desired to contribute and share my perspective in the rap industry, it would be from a unique and distinct standpoint
"I wrote my way out
Here, the lyrics are incomplete and open to interpretation
I thought that I would represent for my neighborhood and tell their story, be their voice
I believed that I could serve as a representative for my community, narrating their experiences and being their advocate
In a way that nobody has done it
Approaching it in a manner that no one has done before
Tell the real story
To tell the authentic and unfiltered narrative
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Lin-Manuel Miranda, David Brewster Jr, Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@keeratsaini2048
[Aloe Blacc and Lin-Manuel Miranda:]
I wrote my way out
When the world turned its back on me
I was up against the wall
I had no foundation
No friends and no family to catch my fall
Running on empty, with nothing left in me but doubt
I picked up a pen
And wrote my way out (I wrote my way out)
[Nas:]
I picked up the pen like Hamilton
Street analyst, now I write words that try to channel 'em
No political power, just lyrical power
Sittin' on a crate on a corner, sippin' for hours
Schemin' on a come up, from evening'to sun up
My man awaitin' trial, misdemeanors we younger
Courtroom prejudice, insufficient evidence
Jailhouse lawyers, these images still relevant
Flickerin' lights inside my project hall
Sickenin', the mice crawl all night long
And '87 Reaganism, many pages I've written on
Writin' songs about rights and wrongs and bails bonds
Master bedroom, bigger than the crib that I was raised at
I'm the architect like I wrote the code to Waze app
I'm driven, black Elohim from the streets of Queens
The definition of what It Was Written means
Know what I mean?
[Aloe Blacc and Lin-Manuel Miranda:]
I wrote my way out
When the world turned its back on me
I was up against the wall
I had no foundation
No friends and no family to catch my fall
Running on empty, there was nothing left in me but doubt
I picked up a pen
And I wrote my way out (I wrote my way out)
[Dave East:]
I really wrote my way up out of 6E
Develop relationships with fiends, I know they miss me
Before the metrocards, it was tokens, I did the ten speed
Never had wrote a rhyme in my life, what was a sixteen?
At sixteen, arrested in housin', trips to the mountains
Came right back, trappin' off couches, watchin' for mouses
Only tools we was posed with, had a spot, smoke lit
The hate is just confusion, pay attention how them jokes switch
Diadora was my favorite, the Mark Buchanans
Mama couldn't afford them, I learned everythin' on the border
That's a big 8, Clicquot parties with private dancers with no mixtape
Bumble Bee Tuna, now we could get steak
I persevered, composition, I kept it close
Competition near, I'm a Spartan without the spear
Three hundred rhymes, it was written before I wrote it
Opportunity knockin', might miss it, that window closin'
This poetry in motion, I'm a poet
[Aloe Blacc and Lin-Manuel Miranda:]
I wrote my way out
When the world turned its back on me
I was up against the wall
I had no foundation
No friends and no family to catch my fall
Running on empty, there was nothing left in me but doubt
I picked up a pen
And wrote my way out (I wrote my way out)
[Lin-Manuel Miranda:]
High speed, dubbin' these rhymes in my dual cassette deck
Runnin' out of time like I'm Jonathan Larson's rent check
My mind is where the wild things are, Maurice Sendak
In withdrawal, I want it all, please give me that pen back
Y'all, I caught my first beatin' from the other kids when I was caught readin'
"Oh, you think you smart? Blah! Start bleedin'"
My pops tried in vain to get me to fight back
Sister tapped my brains, said, pssh, you'll get 'em right back
Oversensitive, defenseless, I made sense of it, I pencil in
The lengths to which I'd go to learn my strengths and knock 'em senseless
These sentences are endless, so what if they leave me friendless?
Damn, you got no chill, fuckin' right I'm relentless
I know Abuela's never really gonna win the lottery
So it's up to me to draw blood with this pen, hit an artery
This Puerto Rican's brains are leakin' through the speakers
And if he can be the shinin' beacon this side of the G.W.B and
Shine a light when it's gray out
[Aloe Blacc and Lin-Manuel Miranda:]
I wrote my way out
Oh, I was born in the eye of a storm
No lovin' arms to keep me warm
This hurricane in my brain is the burden I bear
I can do without, I'm here (I'm here)
Cause I wrote my way out
[Nas, Dave East, Lin-Manuel Miranda:]
I picked up the pen like Hamilton
I wrote my way out of the projects
Wrote-wrote my way out of the projects
Picked up the pen like Hamilton
I wrote my way out of the
Wrote-wrote my way out of the projects
I wrote my way out
Picked up the pen like Hamilton
I wrote my way out of the
[Nas & Lin-Manuel Miranda:]
(I wrote my way out)
Really, I saw like a hole in the rap game, so if I wanted to put my little two cents in the game, then it would be from a different perspective
(I wrote my way out)
I thought that I would represent for my neighborhood and tell their story, be their voice, in a way that nobody has done it
Tell the real story
@mmmhendriksen
This means so much to me you don’t even know it. I know he is never going to read this but I just want to show it . Hamilton means the world to me and I’ll do anything to support you . I am as happy as can be. I’m so happy that you exist and I am truly trying to catch up with everything I’ve missed.
Dear Lin Manuel Miranda you are simply the coolest funniest most amazing awesome person in the world.
I hope you might see this someday
From your biggest fan on the other side of the world.
And I hope to see you on the other side of the war , on the other side of the war
Maya Hendriksen (14)
@katerina3312
Lin looks like the dad that said you could go out with your friends if he could go too.
@mosesoutofwater370
Funny thing is, he actually IS a dad
@mosesoutofwater370
Stopmotion Unicorn yeah it said on his wiki
@MilfLvr420
Moses Out of water also on his Twitter? His wife Vanessa is expecting another baby! Sebastian will have a new sibling!
@lnh7199
honestly
@mangosmani
I was just about to put this.
@KevinLohmann
All these people saying Lin is the old man when he's literally the second youngest of the 4 guys.
@Wyt_cc
Fr?
@theoblongbox4909
Old Man is a state of mind 🤣😂
@ariram407
"Poetry in motion, I'm a poet"
Oh, hello Phillip.