You're Da Man
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They plan was to knock me out the top of the game
But I overstand they truth is all lame
I hold cannons that shoot balls of flames
Right in they fat mouth then I carve my name
Nas, too real, Nas, true king
It's however you feel, g'head, you swing
Your arms too short to box with god
Fame went to they head, so now it's "Fuck Nas"
Yesterday you begged for a deal, today you tough guys
I seen it coming
Soon as I popped my first bottle I spotted my enemies tryna' do what I do
Came in with my style, so I fathered you
I kept changing on the world since "Barbeque"
Now you wanna hang with niggas I hung with
Fuck bitches I hit, it's funny I once said
If I, ever make a record
I take a check and put something away for a rainy day to make my exit
But look at me now, ten years deep
Since in the project, crack in my socks weep
I never asked to be top of rap's elite
Just a ghetto child tryna' learn the traps of the streets
But look at me now
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
Now wait a sec', give me time to explain, women and fast cars
And diamond rings can poison a rap star
It's suicidal, how I smoke in so much la'
I saw a dead bird flying through a broken sky
Wish I could flap wings and fly away
To where black kings and Ghana stay
So I could get on my flesh right away
But that'll be the day when it's peace
When my gat don't need to spray
When these streets are safe to play
Sex with death, indulge in these women
Vision my own skeleton swimming in eternal fire
Broads play with pentagrams in they vagina
Like the Exorcist, then they gave birth to my seeds
I beg for God's help, why they love hurting me?
I'm your disciple, a thug certainly
I'm the N the A to the S-I-are
If I wasn't I must've been Escobar
Forty-five in my waist, staring at my reflection
In the mirror, sitting still in the chair like my conception
When everything around me got cloudy, the chair became a king's throne
My destiny found me
It's clear why the struggle was so painful
Metamorphosis, this is what I changed to
And God, I'm so thankful
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
In the song "You're Da Man," Nas addresses the haters who have been trying to knock him off the top of the rap game. He acknowledges that some may have let fame go to their heads and are now claiming to be tougher than him, but he insists that they can't compete because they can't box with god. Nas also talks about how he has been changing and evolving over the years, but some people are still trying to imitate him. He points out that being a rap star comes with its own set of dangers, including addiction and a potentially poisonous lifestyle. He also explains that he is grateful for his struggles because they have led him to where he is now.
The chorus repeats the phrase "you're the man" sarcastically, as if to say that these individuals claiming to be tough guys aren't really the men they make themselves out to be. Nas uses clever wordplay and metaphors throughout the song to illustrate his points.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh uh, yo
Introduction to the song
They plan was to knock me out the top of the game
My enemies wanted to take me down from my successful position in the rap game
But I overstand they truth is all lame
But I understand that their allegations are false and not true
I hold cannons that shoot balls of flames
I have powerful lyrics that can destroy my enemies
Right in they fat mouth then I carve my name
I will shut them up with my skills and leave my mark in the rap game
Nas, too real, Nas, true king
I am a real and authentic rapper, and the true king of the rap game
It's however you feel, g'head, you swing
It's up to you how you want to think of me, go ahead and judge me
Your arms too short to box with god
You can't match my expertise in the rap game, it's impossible
I don't kill soloists only kill squads
I don't target individual rappers, I only take on entire rap groups or squads
Fame went to they head, so now it's "Fuck Nas"
They became arrogant after getting famous and now they hate me
Yesterday you begged for a deal, today you tough guys
Yesterday, they were struggling to get a record deal but now they act like they don't need me
I seen it coming
I knew this was going to happen
Soon as I popped my first bottle I spotted my enemies tryna' do what I do
As soon as I achieved success, my enemies tried to copy my style and compete with me
Came in with my style, so I fathered you
They copied my style and I became their role model
I kept changing on the world since "Barbeque"
I kept evolving and growing as an artist since my first record "Barbeque"
Now you wanna hang with niggas I hung with
Now they want to associate themselves with the people I used to hang out with
Fuck bitches I hit, it's funny I once said
It's amusing that I used to talk about my sexual experiences with women I had, but now it's not important to me anymore
If I, ever make a record
Referring to the time before he was famous
I take a check and put something away for a rainy day to make my exit
I would save the money I get from making a record for my future and the day I decide to leave the rap game
But look at me now, ten years deep
I've been in the rap game for ten years now
Since in the project, crack in my socks weep
Since the time I lived in the projects and had drugs in my socks
I never asked to be top of rap's elite
I never expected to become one of the most successful and influential rappers of all time
Just a ghetto child tryna' learn the traps of the streets
I was just a kid from the ghetto trying to survive and understand the dangerous streets
Now wait a sec', give me time to explain, women and fast cars
Referring to the negative effects of success, such as getting caught up in women and material possessions
And diamond rings can poison a rap star
Having too much wealth and material possessions can corrupt a rapper's mind
It's suicidal, how I smoke in so much la'
It's dangerous and self-destructive to smoke so much marijuana
I saw a dead bird flying through a broken sky
I witnessed a depressing and hopeless scene
Wish I could flap wings and fly away
I wish I could escape from my problems like a bird
To where black kings and Ghana stay
Referring to a peaceful and safe place where black people are respected, like Ghana
So I could get on my flesh right away
So I could get in touch with my roots and culture immediately
But that'll be the day when it's peace
This peaceful world may never exist
When my gat don't need to spray
When I don't need to use my gun anymore
When these streets are safe to play
When the streets become safe to live and entertain in
Sex with death, indulge in these women
Referencing the dangerous and risky behavior of having sex with different women
Vision my own skeleton swimming in eternal fire
A metaphorical image of his own death and damnation
Broads play with pentagrams in they vagina
Referring to women who engage in satanism and other dark activities
Like the Exorcist, then they gave birth to my seeds
They were like demonic figures like in the movie Exorcist who gave birth to my children
I beg for God's help, why they love hurting me?
I seek help from God, wondering why others enjoy hurting me
I'm your disciple, a thug certainly
I am a follower of your teachings and a street-wise thug
I'm the N the A to the S-I-are
A play on the spelling of his name (Nas)
If I wasn't I must've been Escobar
If I wasn't a rapper, I might've been like the infamous drug lord Escobar
Forty-five in my waist, staring at my reflection
I carry a gun and I'm looking at my own reflection
In the mirror, sitting still in the chair like my conception
Reflecting on my life and my beginnings
When everything around me got cloudy, the chair became a king's throne
When everything in my life became uncertain, the chair I was sitting in became a symbol of power
My destiny found me
I believe that everything that happened in my life was meant to happen and that I was destined to become a rapper
It's clear why the struggle was so painful
I now understand why my rough journey to the top was so tough and hurtful
Metamorphosis, this is what I changed to
I've undergone a major transformation in my life and this is what I've become
And God, I'm so thankful
I am grateful to God for everything that has happened in my life
"You're the man" "You're the man"
The chorus repeats, emphasizing that he is the man
"You're the man" "You're the man"
The chorus repeats, emphasizing that he is the man
"You're the man" "You're the man"
The chorus repeats, emphasizing that he is the man
"You're the man" "You're the man"
The chorus repeats, emphasizing that he is the man
"You're the man" "You're the man"
The chorus repeats, emphasizing that he is the man
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nasir Jones, Paul Mitchell, Sixto Rodriguez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Blaqk_8298
This is how many people STILL got love for NAS. 👇🏿
@PokerAndParlays
Nah frfr 🙏🏿 blessings king
@blockwell
fr
@donii7092
Always. Nas is the king of MCs.
@tishjohnson2451
Yoooooo fr
@johanmassy5290
One would have to be crazy or ignorant to ask why?
@oneelrockwell79
"I don't kill soloist, Only kill squads."
Talk your shit man. 🔥
@Sapientiaa
What does he mean by “Broads play with pentagrams in they vagina”
@harithhunter4671
classic line i still say frfr 20 years later bro
@Abuel_OG
Nice sample for Apex or Warzone