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..
You Can’t Stop Us Now
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Right on
We superfly
Made Gucci this shit, Louie too
Suits and ties
Player trophies
Pray to Goldie
Aunt Jemima hoes
Historic horse shit
Girls from long time ago
Stagecoach with the horse, kid
Witch doctors
Good old pickpockets
Sip moonshine
So-called coons, shines and darkies
I love ya'll
Pyramids to cotton fields to Wrigley Fields
Forgotten men who didn't get killed
Christmas addicts
The first blast and peace to the rich lady
Purse snatcher shot in the back
I know your hunger, kid
I know they hung your dad
Burnt your mama crib
I know that hurt you bad
Mystery shows
From gold to shackles and back to gold
We act like we home
Matter fact, we are home
Bad attitudes
Octoroon skin tones
Slave food turned to soul food
Collards and neck bones
Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag
Bet she had a nigga with her to help her old ass
As James Baldwin says
You can only be destroyed by believing
That you really are what the white world considers
A nigger
No matter how hard you try
You can't stop us now
Can't be stopped
Yo on Dateline
The other night they showed hate crimes
Gave a Blood time
'Cause he fought with his canine
Bestiality
Humane Society
Go to China, see how they dine
See what they eat
Better yet ask PETA whoever
Which animal makes suede
If not for suede would you have survived the Dark Ages?
Cannibal ways of the anti-Caucasians
Still you like your steak tartar
Pinot noir
David Starr on the chain of Sammy Davis
He helped pave the way for Southern crankers and them Harlem shakers
Now we getting our papers
And try to censor the words
To stop our money coming
But you can't escape us
Haters
No matter how hard you try
You can't stop us now [Repeat: x 2]
You can't stop us now
The lyrics to Nas's "You Can't Stop Us Now" are a powerful commentary on the history and ongoing struggles of black Americans. Nas references countless historical figures and events, from Willie Lynch (who infamously instituted a system to control slaves in the 18th century) to Willie Hutch (a black musician and actor from the 1970s). The lyrics touch on themes of black pride and resilience, as well as the systemic racism and violence that have been inflicted on black people throughout history.
Nas's lyrics also address the cultural contributions of black Americans, from soul food to music and fashion. He references the Black Panthers and other important figures from black history, while also acknowledging the way that mainstream society has often ignored or appropriated black culture. Nas even touches on the controversial issue of animal rights, juxtaposing the violence and exploitation of human slavery with the way that we mistreat animals in modern times.
Overall, "You Can't Stop Us Now" is a powerful call to action and a reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by black Americans. Nas encourages his listeners to stay strong and stand up against oppression, while also celebrating the rich culture and history of black people in America.
Line by Line Meaning
From Willie Lynch to Willie Hutch
From the historical practices of controlling and subjugating black people by Willie Lynch to the inspiring music of Willie Hutch.
Right on
An expression of agreement and support.
We superfly
We are fashionable and stylish.
Made Gucci this shit, Louie too
We have elevated luxury fashion brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton to new heights of popularity and desire.
Suits and ties
A reference to the attire worn by successful businessmen and those in positions of power.
Player trophies
Women who are treated as mere objects and possessions by men who see them as conquests.
Pray to Goldie
Idolizing the street hustler lifestyle epitomized by Goldie, a character in the blaxploitation film 'The Mack'.
Picture wax museums full of Black Panther triple OG's
Imagining a future where the Black Panther Party members are recognized as important historical figures and celebrated in the same way as other famous individuals in museums.
Aunt Jemima hoes
Derogatory reference to women who are seen as subservient and phony, like the old advertising character Aunt Jemima.
Historic horse shit
The lies and false narrative surrounding historical events and people.
Girls from long time ago
Women from the past who remain important and influential despite being overlooked or forgotten by history.
Stagecoach with the horse, kid
A reference to the old west and the days of horse-drawn stagecoaches.
Witch doctors
Traditional healers who use natural remedies and spiritual practices to cure ailments.
Good old pickpockets
Thieves who steal from unsuspecting individuals by using sleight of hand techniques.
Sip moonshine
Drinking homemade alcohol, typically containing a high percentage of alcohol.
So-called coons, shines and darkies
Derogatory terms used to describe black people in the past.
I love ya'll
An expression of affection and solidarity with the black community.
Pyramids to cotton fields to Wrigley Fields
A historical journey from ancient Egypt to slavery in America to modern-day baseball stadiums.
Forgotten men who didn't get killed
The black soldiers who survived their military service but were still forgotten and mistreated upon their return to America.
Christmas addicts
A reference to Crispus Attucks, a black man who is often considered the first casualty of the American Revolution during the Boston Massacre.
The first blast and peace to the rich lady
A violent act directed toward the wealthy and powerful, yet wishing for peace as a result of this action.
Purse snatcher shot in the back
An act of violence against a petty thief who was shot in the back while attempting to steal a purse.
I know your hunger, kid
Understanding the struggles and hardships faced by young black people in America.
I know they hung your dad
Recalling the brutal lynching of black men in America and the emotional trauma inflicted on their families.
Burnt your mama crib
An act of violence resulting in the destruction of a family home.
Mystery shows
Television shows that offer entertainment and distraction from the harsh realities of life.
From gold to shackles and back to gold
A reference to the history of black people being enslaved and then freed only to face discrimination and inequality, but still finding ways to succeed and prosper.
We act like we home
Despite experiencing discrimination and being made to feel like outsiders, black people in America have created a culture and community that feels like home.
Matter fact, we are home
Acknowledging that America is the home of black people, too, and embracing the rich cultural heritage that comes with that identity.
Bad attitudes
An attitude of defiance and resistance against the forces that have sought to hold black people back.
Octoroon skin tones
A reference to the complex and often problematic ways that skin color has been used to signify race and identity across history.
Slave food turned to soul food
The appropriation and reimagining of traditional African dishes to create a new cuisine that reflects the black American experience.
Collards and neck bones
Typical soul food dishes made with cheap cuts of meat and inexpensive vegetables, often associated with poverty and hardship.
Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag
A reference to the story of Betsy Ross creating the first American flag, which has been proven to be mostly fictional.
Bet she had a nigga with her to help her old ass
A reference to the likelihood that Betsy Ross had a black assistant or seamstress helping her with her work, but who did not receive any recognition or credit for their efforts.
As James Baldwin says
Referencing the important words and ideas of James Baldwin, a prominent writer and activist for civil rights and black liberation.
You can only be destroyed by believing
Believing the negative stereotypes and falsehoods perpetuated by the white-dominated mainstream society can lead to a self-destructive mindset.
That you really are what the white world considers
Internalizing negative beliefs and messages from the white-dominated mainstream world can result in a loss of self-worth and identity.
A nigger
A derogatory term used to dehumanize and marginalize black people in America.
Can't be stopped
Black people in America have overcome immense challenges and obstacles throughout their history, and will continue to persevere and thrive despite the odds.
Yo on Dateline
A reference to the television show Dateline, which often focuses on true crime and investigative journalism.
The other night they showed hate crimes
Highlighting the ongoing issue of hate crimes and the systemic racism that continues to plague America.
Gave a Blood time
A reference to gang affiliation, specifically the Bloods, which are a predominantly black gang in America.
'Cause he fought with his canine
A reference to the idea that some people treat their dogs as surrogate family members and are willing to defend them as fiercely as they would a human loved one.
Bestiality
A taboo sexual practice involving humans and animals.
Humane Society
An organization that seeks to protect animals from abuse and neglect.
Go to China, see how they dine
A suggestion to explore other cultures and their cuisines, specifically referencing China as an example.
See what they eat
Exposing oneself to new experiences and perspectives, especially through food, can broaden one's worldview and appreciation of other cultures.
Better yet ask PETA whoever
A sarcastic reference to the animal rights organization PETA, which is known for its controversial and aggressive activism tactics.
Which animal makes suede
A rhetorical question highlighting the commodification and exploitation of animals for their skins and hides to create luxury fashion items like suede.
If not for suede would you have survived the Dark Ages?
A critique of the idea that luxury fashion items are a necessity or an indicator of status, when in reality they are often made possible through the exploitation and suffering of others.
Cannibal ways of the anti-Caucasians
A tongue-in-cheek reference to the idea that white people are somehow under threat from non-white people or that they are being attacked and oppressed by people of color.
Still you like your steak tartar
Despite criticizing the exploitation and mistreatment of animals for food, many people still enjoy raw or rare steak dishes like steak tartare.
Pinot noir
A type of red wine that is often associated with sophistication and luxury.
David Starr on the chain of Sammy Davis
A reference to the struggles and experiences of black celebrities like Sammy Davis Jr., who faced discrimination and mistreatment during their careers.
He helped pave the way for Southern crankers and them Harlem shakers
Davis Jr. was an important pioneer of black entertainment and culture, and his influence can still be seen today in various musical and dance styles.
Now we getting our papers
Black people are finally starting to gain recognition and respect for their contributions to society and to the world of entertainment and culture.
And try to censor the words
Despite the progress being made, there are still those who seek to silence or censor black voices and perspectives.
To stop our money coming
Attempts to limit or silence black voices are often rooted in a desire to maintain the status quo and prevent black people from achieving economic success and equality.
But you can't escape us
Black people in America have a rich and powerful culture that cannot be ignored or silenced, and will continue to shape and influence the world around them.
Haters
Those who seek to undermine and criticize black success and progress, often out of a sense of envy or insecurity.
No matter how hard you try
You can't stop us now
A defiant and powerful statement of resilience and determination in the face of adversity, encapsulating the entire message of the song.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Strong, Barrett / Whitfield, Norman J. / Remi, Salaam / Jones, Nasir
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind