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 Wanna Be
Nas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep it thug, and keep yo' heat, na nah nah nah nah
Now slowly, thinkin' of all the things that oppose me
I think of kings who died and rappers out to dethrone me
For they crown they head is cut off, bodies is laid
Dead in the street, it's so fuckin' pitiful
First they love you, could be the bitch that even live with you (hoe)
Cause she want to dress like Bonnie, Robin and Crystal do
But Crystal's single, Bonnie's broke and her niggaz too (ha)
I can do bad by myself; went from rags to wealth
From Jags to Bentleys to, plenty ass bitches
Can't keep they hands to theyself no more
I'm like, Hugh Hefner, you lesser, you just a
Want to be me, you can't you faggot, you bitch
You coward, you clown, you just want to be down
So you, want to be me, you bitch, you phony
You clone me, you want to be son, I'm the one and only
But you, want to be me, you suckers, you weak
You flunkies, you fake, you couldn't come close on my worst day
But you, want to be me, I burn you and learn you a lesson
Concernin' this mic profession, turn your direction
You can't be me, not in your wildest fantasy
It's childish; should I have to resort to violence?
Pay me a half a million, I'll consult your album
And show you how to stay off my dick
That's the thing I hate the most, can't even call you a man
When you gotta call out my name to get you some fans
No talent, you need direction; you a pussy with a yeast infection
You unlucky, I'm your fuckin' c-section
Plus I'm the last real nigga alive
Toast glass, Ill Will, the label get high
Realize, how many classics I gave you
Perhaps if you think back you'll realize that I made you
Want to be me, you can't you faggot, you bitch
You coward, you clown, you just want to be down
So you, want to be me, you bitch, you phony
You clone me, you want to be son, I'm the one and only
But you, want to be me, you suckers, you weak
You flunkies, you fake, you couldn't come close on my worst day
But you, want to be me, I burn you and learn you a lesson
Concernin' this mic profession, turn your direction
You can't be me, I'm tryin' to walk a straight line
Why they tryin' to take mine? I'm past '8 Miles' of every state line
Eating, alligators and, hummingbird hearts
At the player's ball, Brianni suits, why'all birds watch
As real millionaire, shit'll take place
Evil as Hitler's hate-race people
This is God son, and I've come from the God under pure peace
To represent the streets, you'll see that my plan
Is not to destroy your man
But to bring more to mankind and teach
Every MC reach for your pens and papers
Lesson one be creative; what you made of Junior?
Cause soon you'll be a grown man with the mic in your hand
And understand, to battle Nas not in your plan
I'm the last real nigga alive, understand that
And you my offspring, the boss sting
A bulletproof Porsche things, hard for you to understand that
Nas the king, where my bricks, where my band at?
Play me a gangster's theme, while you entertain me
If I ain't cryin' laughin', to the lions, throw your ass in
What the fuck was you niggaz thinkin'?
Guns'll clutch if I get a inklin' that you comin' for the kingpin
But I laugh at you cowards, ha ha ha
Take me out, try try try, but you
Want to be me, you can't you faggot, you bitch
You coward, you clown, you just want to be down
So you, want to be me, you bitch, you phony
You clone me, you want to be son, I'm the one and only
But you, want to be me, you suckers, you weak
You flunkies, you fake, you couldn't come close on my worst day
But you, want to be me, I burn you and learn you a lesson
Concernin' this mic profession, turn your direction
You can't be me
The lyrics of Nas’s song “You Wanna Be Me” delve into the reality of fame and the challenges it brings. The opening lines encourage the listener to keep it tough and also to be armed with a weapon, emphasizing that the music industry is not all glamour but is also filled with risks. The context of the song sees Nas contemplate his position in the game and the opposition he has faced.
In the following segments of the song, Nas contrasts the love he receives from fans with the hate that he receives from some rappers as he asserts his dominance in the game. In the chorus, he addresses those who seek to imitate him and be like him but falls short. He refers to them as cowards, clowns, and fake, who try to align themselves with him for their own benefit. Nas then asserts himself as the last real nigga alive and the king of the rap industry, insinuating that those who want to be like him can never rise up to his level.
The entire song is a message to the rap game, asserting the autonomy of Nas as the king of the industry and torchbearer for other MCs, stressing the importance of creativity and growth. The lyrics of the song point to the underbelly of the music industry and how it affects the lives of those in it.
Line by Line Meaning
Now slowly, thinkin' of all the things that oppose me
Reflecting on the various obstacles and threats I face
I think of kings who died and rappers out to dethrone me
Contemplating the tragic fates of past leaders and the jealous rivals who seek to overthrow me
For they crown they head is cut off, bodies is laid
Those who challenge me often suffer violent consequences and meet their demise
Dead in the street, it's so fuckin' pitiful
Their deaths are a sad and tragic sight to behold
First they love you, could be the bitch that even live with you (hoe)
Those who were once loyal and close to me can turn on me for selfish reasons
Mad at your riches, now she switched, turned miserable
A former lover who resents my wealth and success has become unhappy and bitter
Cause she want to dress like Bonnie, Robin and Crystal do
She is envious of the extravagant lifestyles of other women and wants to emulate them
But Crystal's single, Bonnie's broke and her niggaz too (ha)
The women she admires are not as fortunate as they appear to be, and the men in their lives are unsuccessful
I can do bad by myself; went from rags to wealth
I am self-sufficient and made my own success, rising from poverty to riches
From Jags to Bentleys to, plenty ass bitches
I have acquired wealth and luxury, including fancy cars and attractive women
Can't keep they hands to theyself no more
The women in my life are very eager for my attention and affection
I'm like, Hugh Hefner, you lesser, you just a
I am like the famous Playboy founder and mogul, and those who try to imitate me are inferior and pale in comparison
Want to be me, you can't you faggot, you bitch
You desire to be like me, but you are weak and lacking in courage and integrity
You coward, you clown, you just want to be down
You are a spineless and ridiculous individual who seeks to associate with me in order to boost your own status
So you, want to be me, you bitch, you phony
You are a fake and insincere person who pretends to be like me
You clone me, you want to be son, I'm the one and only
You are trying to copy and emulate me, but I am the true, one and only original
You suckers, you weak
You are foolish and feeble-minded individuals
You flunkies, you fake, you couldn't come close on my worst day
You are failures and frauds who could never match me, even at my worst
I burn you and learn you a lesson
I will teach you a harsh and valuable lesson by defeating you
Concernin' this mic profession, turn your direction
In the world of rapping, you should look elsewhere and not try to compete with me
You can't be me
It is impossible for you to achieve the same level of success and stature as I have
Not in your wildest fantasy
Even in your most extravagant dreams or imaginations, you could never measure up to me
It's childish; should I have to resort to violence?
Any attempts to harm or challenge me are juvenile, and I shouldn't need to use physical force to protect myself
Pay me a half a million, I'll consult your album
I am willing to offer my expertise on creating successful albums, but only for a high price
And show you how to stay off my dick
I will demonstrate how to stop obsessing over and imitating me
That's the thing I hate the most, can't even call you a man
The act of constantly copying and following me is something I despise, and it shows a lack of masculinity and independence
When you gotta call out my name to get you some fans
You rely on using my name and reputation to boost your own fanbase and popularity
No talent, you need direction; you a pussy with a yeast infection
You have no real skills or talent, and require guidance in order to create anything worthwhile; you are weak and diseased
You unlucky, I'm your fuckin' c-section
Your existence is unfortunate and unpleasant, and I represent the painful process of bringing you into the world
Plus I'm the last real nigga alive
I am the final and ultimate example of a true, authentic black man
Toast glass, Ill Will, the label get high
I raise a glass in celebration of my success and the success of my record label, Ill Will
Realize, how many classics I gave you
Recognize and appreciate the many timeless and influential songs I have created
Perhaps if you think back you'll realize that I made you
If you reflect on your own success and career, you will understand that I played a vital role in your growth and development
I'm tryin' to walk a straight line
I am striving to maintain a moral and ethical path in my life and career
Why they tryin' to take mine?
Why are others attempting to steal or undermine my success?
I'm past '8 Miles' of every state line
I have surpassed and overcome every obstacle, no matter where I am
Eating, alligators and, hummingbird hearts
My wealth and success have allowed me to indulge in extravagant and exotic foods
At the player's ball, Brianni suits, why'all birds watch
At a party for successful and wealthy individuals, I am dressed in expensive and stylish suits, while others look on enviously
As real millionaire, shit'll take place
As a true and legitimate millionaire, I can influence and affect many things
Evil as Hitler's hate-race people
The negative forces and individuals I face are as destructive and dangerous as Hitler and his followers
This is God son, and I've come from the God under pure peace
My name is Nas, but I am also a divine and peaceful being who has descended from God
To represent the streets, you'll see that my plan
I am a representative and voice for the common people and their struggles and issues
Is not to destroy your man
My goal is not to harm or undermine any specific individual
But to bring more to mankind and teach
I aim to educate and enlighten others, and create positive change for humanity
Every MC reach for your pens and papers
I encourage all rappers to focus on their craft and hone their writing abilities
Lesson one be creative; what you made of Junior?
The first and most important lesson is to be original and resourceful in your music; what is your potential, Junior?
Cause soon you'll be a grown man with the mic in your hand
One day, you will mature and develop into an experienced and skilled artist
And understand, to battle Nas not in your plan
To engage in a competition with me is not a wise or viable strategy
And you my offspring, the boss sting
You are like my child or protégé, and I am the powerful and influential leader
A bulletproof Porsche things, hard for you to understand that
I have acquired expensive and impenetrable cars and assets that you cannot comprehend or appreciate
Nas the king, where my bricks, where my band at?
I am the king and ruler of my domain, and demand respect and loyalty from those around me
Play me a gangster's theme, while you entertain me
Entertain me with a song that reflects my powerful and intimidating persona
If I ain't cryin' laughin', to the lions, throw your ass in
If I am not amused or impressed, I will punish and cast you out like prey to savage animals
What the fuck was you niggaz thinkin'?
What were you foolish and deluded individuals hoping to accomplish by crossing me?
Guns'll clutch if I get a inklin' that you comin' for the kingpin
If I suspect or sense that you are planning to harm or challenge me, I will fiercely defend myself and my position of power
But I laugh at you cowards, ha ha ha
I find your attempts to intimidate or harm me to be hilarious and futile
Take me out, try try try, but you
You can try as hard as you want to take me down or defeat me, but you will ultimately fail
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARL THOMPSON, NASIR JONES, TONY LONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-qh9jw8oq4n
Born raised Philadelphia Brooklyn NY City!!!!
Straight from the slavery slumms you see....
Graduated high school 🏫 with assets for finances!!!
Architecture for infrastructure!!!
Clean energy for the skies!!!
Precious metals!!! Minerals!! Oils for capital growth!!!!
I love potassium bananas like the Congo I'm from!!!
I'll be where i wanna be!!!!!!
@shays.3104
“If the truth is told, the youth can grow.”
-Nas.
@felicianavile2566
If the truth is told, the youth can grow
@leighm
GROW and HEAL
@vidhanjain6511
Ral had a meaning back then
@kidddrunk
This year's mid terms in 2022 the Gen Z voters outvoted old white voters for the first time
@lc-ip7gh
If the truth is told, the youth can grow
@shermthetrainer
A song like this is really necessary right now
@wherethe3rdkenny
Let’s get this song trending you guys
@Michael.7777
Sooon.....💯✊
@fullmetalflix5195
My exact sentiments.
Hip hop is dead