Nah Mean
Nas & Damian Marley Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ya' nah mean, mi dip out a whole fourteen, nah mean,
And reload man extra magazine, nah mean,
A wounded them housing scheme, nah mean,
'Nough a dem a move sideways and lean, nah mean,
Can't come bout when man deh in, nah mean,
We nuh like dem colonial regime, nah mean,
Ethiopian nuh like mussolin', nah mean,
Mi queen hafi rock and come in, nah mean,
And jump pon mi big trampoline, nah mean,
And boost up her self-esteem, nah mean,
'Nough a wonder how man kitchen so clean, nah mean,
And which recipe dat a steam, nah mean,
The lyrics dem a flow like a stream, nah mean,
Make you feel like you living in a dream, nah mean,
It come to the crop man a cream, nah mean,
It come to discipline man a dean, nah mean,
Mi tougher than a hummer limousine, nah mean,
We stepping we fresh and we clean, nah mean,
I burn the stinkiest of green, nah mean,
Better listen up careful and keen, nah mean,
A puppa nas a rock and come in, nah mean

We celebrate like I finished probation, boy boy
Noty head with no chaser, boy boy
From the mouth I can spit out a razor, boy boy
Open up your facial like your boy Roy
In his prime, eat food, dinnertime
Jr. gong pass the Guinness, handle business, black velvet sippers
Females never bid us farewell, they with us
Cause we arrive on the scene
Just like a high beam, nah mean
Don't let us have to make the 9 scream, nah mean
At your racial policing regime, nah mean
Spiritual like a Elohim, nah mean
In a casino or a yacht wherever I'm seen
My brothers and sisters are never forgot, nah mean
Don't wanna hear another soldier drop, nah mean
Another dope addict get shot with the morphine
And feds are indicting my block, nah mean
They're wearing red from they shoes to they top, nah mean
I'm wishing that all the violence would stop, nah mean

We nuh like the sound of siren, nah mean
And some bwoy soft like ice cream, nah mean
From a bwoy mek the feds intervene, nah mean
We send a bwoy go tek intravene, nah mean
Parabellum dem a itch up inna spleen, nah mean
Inna queens gunman reign supreme, nah mean
Kingstonians are real blood fiends, nah mean
The world is a big crime scene, nah mean

Yo yo mr. president
What you doing for my residence?
Yo mr. minister
Why you being sinister?
Yo yo mr. president
What you doing for my residence?
Yo mr. minister
Why you being sinister?

Se man a di real buffalo inna Rastafari regime
Bush bungalow is where mi dwell with mi queen
Trash to the bone down inna camouflage green
'nough a dem that cant go the places we been
'nough a dem that cant see the sights that we seen
That's why them face all a twist up and a lean, nah mean
Dem better mine we kick it off clean, nah mean
Man a gangster just like gambine, dat mean
Dem cant serve congo dread court supine, nah mean
A who you want come in convene, nah mean
Attorney have to rock and come in, nah mean
Mi pocket dem green like spurlene, nah mean
Mi regular fly out and fly in, nah mean
The stadium pack like sardine, nah mean
Cant catch mi speed a fassy hole need caffeine, nah mean
Run out a breath and antihistamine, nah mean
Wash over gold dem come in like Listerine, nah mean
You think a lie we badder than Al Pacine, nah mean

Its genocide its a genocide
Its a genocide its genocide
Fifth floor cooking raw had my own supply
Cause of capitalist ways




That was back in the days
So now I do rap and it pays

Overall Meaning

The song "Nah Mean" by Nas and Damian Marley is a conscious hip-hop track that addresses issues of power, corruption, and social injustice. The lyrics use Jamaican slang and patois to convey the message, making it a unique fusion of reggae and hip-hop. The opening lines talk about the artist's readiness to use weapons, both physical and metaphorical, to defend their housing scheme against colonial regimes, all while celebrating their own power and strength. The lyrics also criticize the Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, highlighting the strong Pan-Africanist and anti-colonialist sentiment that characterizes many Jamaican artists.


As the song progresses, the artists discuss their experiences with police brutality, inner-city violence, and drug addiction, all of which are systemic problems exacerbated by oppressive Western power structures. The lyrics urge listeners to stay vigilant and remain empowered to fight against systems of oppression that aim to maintain the status quo. There is also a call to action for politicians and leaders to be held accountable for their actions and represent their constituents without prejudice.


Overall, "Nah Mean" is a bold social commentary on the intersections of race, power, and oppression, through the lens of the Caribbean experience. It is a reflection of the issues that continue to plague marginalized communities globally and serves as a reminder of the important role that art and music play in raising awareness and combating injustice.


Line by Line Meaning

Ya' nah mean, mi dip out a whole fourteen, nah mean,
I left suddenly with a substantial amount of something.


And reload man extra magazine, nah mean,
I have obtained additional supplies.


A wounded them housing scheme, nah mean,
Our neighborhood has been affected by violence.


'Nough a dem a move sideways and lean, nah mean,
Many individuals are attempting to avoid conflict.


Can't come bout when man deh in, nah mean,
You cannot visit when I am busy.


We nuh like dem colonial regime, nah mean,
We do not support colonialism.


Ethiopian nuh like mussolin', nah mean,
Ethiopian people do not approve of Mussolini.


Mi queen hafi rock and come in, nah mean,
My partner will be joining me.


And jump pon mi big trampoline, nah mean,
She will be happy to participate in various activities.


And boost up her self-esteem, nah mean,
Participating in these activities will make her feel better about herself.


'Nough a wonder how man kitchen so clean, nah mean,
People are surprised at how clean my kitchen is.


And which recipe dat a steam, nah mean,
They are curious about the recipe that is cooking.


The lyrics dem a flow like a stream, nah mean,
The lyrics are very fluid.


Make you feel like you living in a dream, nah mean,
The experience is so surreal.


It come to the crop man a cream, nah mean,
I have gained success as a result of my hard work.


It come to discipline man a dean, nah mean,
Success comes through self-discipline.


Mi tougher than a hummer limousine, nah mean,
I am mentally and physically strong.


We stepping we fresh and we clean, nah mean,
We are clean, dressed well, and looking good.


I burn the stinkiest of green, nah mean,
I smoke the most potent weed.


Better listen up careful and keen, nah mean,
You should pay close attention.


A puppa nas a rock and come in, nah mean
I am Nas, and I have arrived.


We celebrate like I finished probation, boy boy
We celebrate like I have just completed probation.


Noty head with no chaser, boy boy
I drink straight without a chaser.


From the mouth I can spit out a razor, boy boy
My words are as sharp as a razor.


Open up your facial like your boy Roy
Open your face and smile like Roy.


In his prime, eat food, dinnertime
At his prime, he is eating dinner.


Jr. gong pass the Guinness, handle business, black velvet sippers
Jr. Gong passes around a Guinness and we handle our business while drinking black velvet.


Females never bid us farewell, they with us
Women never bid us goodbye because they are with us.


Cause we arrive on the scene
Because we have arrived at the location.


Just like a high beam, nah mean
As noticeable as a high beam light.


Don't let us have to make the 9 scream, nah mean
Don't make us use our gun.


At your racial policing regime, nah mean
Against unjustified law enforcement practices.


Spiritual like a Elohim, nah mean
Spiritual like a god.


In a casino or a yacht wherever I'm seen
I am seen in places like a casino or yacht.


My brothers and sisters are never forgot, nah mean
I never forget about my family.


Don't wanna hear another soldier drop, nah mean
I do not want to hear about another soldier getting killed.


Another dope addict get shot with the morphine
I do not want to hear about another drug addict getting shot with morphine.


And feds are indicting my block, nah mean
The government is taking legal action towards my neighborhood.


They're wearing red from they shoes to they top, nah mean
They are all dressed in red from head to toe.


I'm wishing that all the violence would stop, nah mean
I hope that all the violence would end.


We nuh like the sound of siren, nah mean
We do not like the sound of sirens.


And some bwoy soft like ice cream, nah mean
Some men are weak and cowardly.


From a bwoy mek the feds intervene, nah mean
Feds get involved when a man causes problems.


We send a bwoy go tek intravene, nah mean
We send a man to a hospital to receive medical attention.


Parabellum dem a itch up inna spleen, nah mean
Parabellums are irritating to the spleen.


Inna queens gunman reign supreme, nah mean
Gunmen dominate in Queens.


Kingstonians are real blood fiends, nah mean
Kingston residents love violence.


The world is a big crime scene, nah mean
There is crime everywhere.


Yo yo mr. president
Hey Mr. President.


What you doing for my residence?
What are you doing for my residence?


Yo mr. minister
Hey Mr. Minister.


Why you being sinister?
Why are you being secretive or conspiring?


Se man a di real buffalo inna Rastafari regime
I am the true leader in the Rastafarian community.


Bush bungalow is where mi dwell with mi queen
I live with my partner in a modest home.


Trash to the bone down inna camouflage green
I am proudly dressed in military-style attire.


'nough a dem that cant go the places we been
Many people cannot go to the places I have traveled.


'nough a dem that cant see the sights that we seen
Many people have not seen what I have seen.


That's why them face all a twist up and a lean, nah mean
That's why they are surprised and curious.


Dem better mine we kick it off clean, nah mean
They better watch out and not mess with us.


Man a gangster just like gambine, dat mean
I am a gangster, just like Gambino.


Dem cant serve congo dread court supine, nah mean
They cannot face justice like a true Rastafarian.


A who you want come in convene, nah mean
Who do you want to meet me?


Attorney have to rock and come in, nah mean
I need to meet with my attorney.


Mi pocket dem green like spurlene, nah mean
I have a lot of money.


Mi regular fly out and fly in, nah mean
I regularly travel by flight.


The stadium pack like sardine, nah mean
The stadium is full of people like sardines.


Cant catch mi speed a fassy hole need caffeine, nah mean
You can't match my speed.


Run out a breath and antihistamine, nah mean
You will get tired and need medicine.


Wash over gold dem come in like Listerine, nah mean
Clean like Listerine.


You think a lie we badder than Al Pacine, nah mean
Do not doubt that we're even better than Al Pacino.


Its genocide its a genocide
It is an act of genocide.


Fifth floor cooking raw had my own supply
I used to sell drugs.


Cause of capitalist ways
Because of capitalist economic systems.


That was back in the days
It happened in the past.


So now I do rap and it pays
Now I do rap and make money.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TONITO, DAMIAN ROBERT NESTA MARLEY, NASIR JONES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@JayceonShawnTaylor

Always loved Nas and Damian's collaborations, they sound dope together and this song is no exceptions! :P

@thomashauer6804

damian has the rythm and voice of a soul slaying demigod

@alhaj7401

I just love how Nas is walking behind looking so naturally excited about the whole thing! This is entertaining! One love!

@stuartchilongozi2439

First thing I noticed

@steeltown2424

It looked to me he was nervous.

@vinceleguesse

We are the 13th Tribe of Israeli. The humble ones. Arch of the Covenant returned to Russia. #8200

@StanleyKubick1

not being the main character for a while is liberating when you're used to being it

@chillmode4life

@Stanley Kubick³ 💯💯💯

8 More Replies...

@jeniffernicole_

damian + nas = perfeição demasiadaa

@proudafricanamerican7586

Totally agree... whole different-higher level...

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