Let There Be Light
Nas - [Hip Hop Is Dead] Lyrics
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It's clear out there? Yeah
It's like I'm hang gliding over the hood, ha
Never worry (ohhh, no, no, no)
[Verse 1]
Check, let there be light
No gang banging in New York tonight
Turn up the kid mic 'cause ya'll ain't listening right
What's all this talk that Nas got bought?
I'd rather outline my body in white chalk
Ain't nobody been where I been, they at a stand still
This is all overseen by my man Will
[Chorus: Tre Williams]
As I walk through the shadow of death
I know that I ain't got much time left
And they don't really wanna see the good in me
Ain't satisfied until they see the fool in me
[And I] I know my business, so my sins great
[And I] I thank the hood for all the love they gave
[And I] Forgive 'em all, they did they best to hate
Oh, let there be light
[Verse 2]
This ain't the glorified, just painting the street picture
There's no God in sir Bibles, just blunt and switches
Gillettes cut pain in kitchen
Now every rapper wanna claim he hang with Kenneth "Supreme" Griffith
It's like the same difference cept when niggaz get arraigned
They don't want the same sentence, niggaz get to snitchin
If I could reverse the monsters and turn forward the razas
And bring back the niggaz who was livest
Old hustlers, reminscing on better days
They home, doing nothing, might as well be in a cage
Hating on young brothers, one foot in the grave
They used to love us till we found our own way through the maze
New York, set trippin and flaggin
Got the West Coast laughing, now Esco's asking
What happened? My homegirl from upper Manhattan
She remembers the quarters that's Latin, alotta rat-a-tat-tatting
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
The son of the audio cassette era, tech wearer
Bullets and begets, Binzbo's speaker terror
Till man I get mine till I'm dead, so I can drive sumpthin red
Like that horse standing on it's hind legs
Since Arnold and Willis in they bunk beds
I wanted bread like Wonder, not manned-a-wanno like the parent of Lionel
Nas is the Ghetto American Idol
No matter what you do you're never getting my title
I can't sound smart 'cause ya'll'll run away
They say I ain't hungry no more and I don't talk about 'ye
Like there's no other way for a ex-hustler
Cake ya, the x-ray splitter to touch ya, I beg to differ
When you're four years into the game, we can have a conversation
Eight years in the game, I invite ya on vacation
Ten years in the game, after I've enjoyed my fame
Only then I let ya pick my brain, niggaz
[Bridge: Nas] + (Tre Williams)
[And I] Right about now [And I] (They don't really know)
[And I] (They don't really see) I don't even deal with all that garbage
(No, no, no) We getting real right, ya know?
[And I] (Though I walk through the valley) That is Tre Williams ladies and gentlemen
[And I] (They should fear no) [And I] (no, no-oh)
Focus on good things man, good times, Heh-heh, alright
[Chorus: x 2]
Oh let it be, let it be, yeah
Let it be, let it be
In "Let There Be Light," Nas laments the current state of hip-hop while also acknowledging his own greatness. He yearns for the good old days when the genre was more pure, before it became corrupted by greed and commercialism. He also addresses the ongoing issue of gang violence in New York City, and the way it has overshadowed the art form that he loves. Nas discusses his own legacy and how he believes he is still the king of rap, despite what others may argue. The chorus speaks about the negativity surrounding him, and how he is forgiving, asking for light to shine upon him.
The first verse of the song sees Nas lamenting how rap has gone too mainstream, and how he is the only one who seems to be keeping it real in the genre. He claims that he'd rather be dead than to have to make music simply to please his audience or a record label. In the second verse, he looks at the East Coast-West Coast beef that led to the death of some of the greatest rappers, and how it has become a joke that people in Los Angeles continue to sneer at New Yorkers. In the third verse, we see Nas talk about his own accomplishments and how he has been in the game for so long. He denounces the idea that he has lost his edge or that he is no longer relevant.
Line by Line Meaning
Check, let there be light
Let there be hope and positivity
No gang banging in New York tonight
Peaceful night in New York without violence
Just murals of Biggie Smalls, bigger then life
Biggie's legacy continuing on and cherished
Turn up the kid mic 'cause ya'll ain't listening right
People not understanding the true message being told
What's all this talk that Nas got bought?
People accusing Nas of selling out
I'd rather outline my body in white chalk
Nas would rather die than sell out
Ain't nobody been where I been, they at a stand still
Nas has faced tough obstacles that others haven't
This is all overseen by my man Will
Referring to Will Smith and how they both have overcome barriers
As I walk through the shadow of death
Facing struggles and hardships in life
I know that I ain't got much time left
Feeling like time is running out
And they don't really wanna see the good in me
Others focus on the negative instead of positive
Ain't satisfied until they see the fool in me
People want to see Nas fail and make mistakes
I know my business, so my sins great
Taking responsibility for past mistakes
I thank the hood for all the love they gave
Feeling gratitude for the support of his community
Forgive 'em all, they did they best to hate
Letting go of hate and resentment towards others
This ain't the glorified, just painting the street picture
Not trying to romanticize the harsh realities of life
There's no God in sir Bibles, just blunt and switches
Contrasting the religious and non-religious aspects of life
Gillettes cut pain in kitchen
Life is difficult and painful
Now every rapper wanna claim he hang with Kenneth 'Supreme' Griffith
People trying to associate themselves with powerful figures
It's like the same difference cept when niggaz get arraigned
People only care about power and status when it serves them
If I could reverse the monsters and turn forward the razas
Trying to make positive changes in the world
And bring back the niggaz who was livest
Remembering the good times with those who are no longer alive
Old hustlers, reminscing on better days
Reflecting on the past and longing for better times
They home, doing nothing, might as well be in a cage
Feeling trapped and unproductive
Hating on young brothers, one foot in the grave
Older generations resenting younger ones for their success
They used to love us till we found our own way through the maze
Feeling unsupported by older generations
New York, set trippin and flaggin
People dividing themselves through gang and neighborhood affiliation
Got the West Coast laughing, now Esco's asking
Other regions laughing at New York's internal conflicts
My homegirl from upper Manhattan
Knowing someone from a higher class area of New York
She remembers the quarters that's Latin, alotta rat-a-tat-tatting
Reflecting on the violence and struggle in the past
The son of the audio cassette era, tech wearer
Growing up in a time of technological advancement
Bullets and begets, Binzbo's speaker terror
Violence and conflict being present in Nas' life
Till man I get mine till I'm dead, so I can drive sumpthin red
Continuing to pursue success and material possessions
Like that horse standing on it's hind legs
Feeling triumphant and powerful
Since Arnold and Willis in they bunk beds
Referencing the show Diff'rent Strokes from Nas' childhood
I wanted bread like Wonder, not manned-a-wanno like the parent of Lionel
Aspiring for greatness like Stevie Wonder, not settling for less
Nas is the Ghetto American Idol
Nas is a hero and role model for those in the ghetto
No matter what you do you're never getting my title
Nas' success and influence can't be duplicated
I can't sound smart 'cause ya'll'll run away
People rejecting intelligence and wisdom
They say I ain't hungry no more and I don't talk about 'ye
People doubting Nas' passion and motivation
Like there's no other way for a ex-hustler
People placing limits on those who come from troubled backgrounds
Cake ya, the x-ray splitter to touch ya, I beg to differ
Refusing to conform to societal expectations
When you're four years into the game, we can have a conversation
Not taking criticism from those without experience
Eight years in the game, I invite ya on vacation
Only listening to criticism from those who have proven themselves
Ten years in the game, after I've enjoyed my fame
Only considering criticism from those who have earned respect
Only then I let ya pick my brain, niggaz
Only listening to criticism from those who have earned respect
Focus on good things man, good times, Heh-heh, alright
Staying positive and optimistic
Oh let it be, let it be, yeah
Finding peace and acceptance
Let it be, let it be
Finding peace and acceptance
Lyrics © A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: PAUL N CHO, DEVON L. HARRIS, NASIR N JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind