Hip Hop
Nas and Aaliyah Lyrics

If hip hop should die before I wake
The artist declares his loyalty to hip-hop and vows to take violent action to defend it.

I'll put an extended clip inside of my AK
The artist is prepared to fight anyone who threatens hip-hop's existence and will do so with a powerful weapon.

Roll to every station, murder the DJ
The artist will go to great lengths to silence any DJ who plays music that betrays the essence of hip-hop.

Hip hop just died this mornin'
Hip-hop is now gone and its legacy is in peril.

Yeah, niggaz smoke, laugh, party, and die in the same corner
The cycle of life and death is all too familiar in certain communities, where a lack of opportunity leads to violence and hardship.

Get cash, live fast, body their man's mama
People in these communities will do almost anything to get ahead, and will not shy away from violence or illegal activities.

Rich-ass niggaz is ridin' with three llamas
Even the wealthy and powerful are willing to use violence to get what they want.

Revenge in their eyes, Hennessey and the ganja
Those who have suffered losses are driven by anger and fuel their violence with drugs and alcohol.

Word to the wise with villain state of minds
People who are caught up in this cycle of violence are not easy to reason with, and often subscribe to an ethos that sees violence as necessary and even desirable.

Grindin', hittin' Brazilian dimes from behind
The artist's success allows him to live out certain fantasies, including sexual ones, that may be unavailable to others.

Whenever, if ever, I roll up, it's sown up
The artist's success allows him to be confident in any situation, knowing that he can handle himself.

Any ghetto will tell ya Nas helped grow us up
The artist's music has been influential and inspiring to many people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

My face once graced promotional Sony trucks
The artist's talent and success has allowed him to reap significant rewards and receive widespread recognition.

Hundred million in billin', I helped build 'em up
The artist's success has not just benefited him, but has also helped to build a larger industry around hip-hop.

Gave my nigga my right, I could have gave left
The artist is loyal to his friends and has shared his success with them.

So like my girl Foxy, a nigga went Def
The artist's success has led to his friends and associates achieving their own success, as well as experiencing new challenges that come with wealth and fame.

So, nigga, who's your top ten?
The artist is challenging others to consider who they think are the best MCs of all time.

Is it MC Shan?
The artist is making a reference to an older MC who was popular in the '80s.

Is it MC Ren?
The artist is making a reference to an older MC who was part of the legendary rap group N.W.A.

The bigger the cap, the bigger the peelin'
The bigger the success, the more likely you are to be targeted by those who want what you have.

Come through, something ill, missin' the ceilin'
The artist is confident in his abilities and is always pushing himself to reach new heights.

What influenced my raps? Stick-ups and killings
The artist's life experiences have led him to create music that reflects the reality of the streets, including violence and crime.

Kidnappings, project buildings, drug dealings
The artist has seen and experienced much of the darker side of life in his community, including the drug trade and gang violence.

Criticize that, why is that?
The artist is challenging those who criticize his music, arguing that its realism is an accurate reflection of what he has seen and experienced.

'Cuz Nas rap is compared to legitimized crap
The artist feels that his music is often unfairly compared to more mainstream forms of rap music, which he sees as less authentic.

'Cuz we love to talk on ass we gettin'
Society is too focused on material success and often disregards the harsh realities that many people face.

Most intellectuals will only half listen
The artist feels that even those who are in a position to understand and address these issues often do not take them seriously enough.

So you can't blame jazz musicians
The artist is defending hip-hop and arguing that it is a legitimate art form that is just as valid as jazz or other forms of music.

Or David Stern with his NBA fashion issues
The artist is pointing out the triviality of some of the issues that receive public attention, while more important issues like hip-hop's role in society are often ignored.

Oh, I they like me in my white tee
The artist is pointing out the irony that he is often criticized for his style of dress, even as his music is lauded as one of the best examples of hip-hop's power and authenticity.

You can't ice me, we here for life, B
The artist is confident in his own abilities and his commitment to hip-hop, arguing that he cannot be silenced or pushed aside.

On my second marriage, hip hop's my first wifey
The artist is making a metaphorical comparison between his dedication to hip-hop and his commitment to his relationships, emphasizing the central importance of hip-hop in his life.

And for that we not takin' it lightly
The artist and his community are committed to fighting for hip-hop's continuation and success, and will not tolerate any threats to its existence.

If hip hop should die, we die together
The artist and his community are so intertwined with hip-hop that its failure would represent a failure for all of them.

Bodies in the morgue lie together
The artist is emphasizing the sense of unity and common experience shared by those who are deeply involved in the hip-hop community and culture.

Everybody sound the same, commercialize the game
The artist is critical of the current state of the music industry, where conformity and commercialism have taken over from individuality and creativity.

Reminiscin' when it wasn't all business
The artist is nostalgic for an earlier time when the music industry was more focused on artistic expression and less on profit.

If it got where it started
The artist is reflecting on hip-hop's journey from a grassroots cultural movement to a commercial industry.

So we all gather here for the dearly departed
The artist and his community are mourning the loss of hip-hop's original spirit and are determined to rekindle it.

Hip hopper since a toddler
The artist has been involved in hip-hop culture from a very young age and has an intimate connection to it.

One homeboy became a man then a mobster
The artist has seen members of his community both succeed and turn to crime.

If the guys let me get my last swig of Vodka
The artist is preparing for his own potential death and is expressing a humorous and fatalistic attitude.

R.I.P., we'll donate your lungs to a Rasta
The artist is making a joke about donating his own organs if he dies, and is expressing his love and respect for the Rastafarian culture.

Went from turntables to mp3s
The artist is reflecting on the changes that have occurred in the music industry, including the shift from vinyl to digital music.

From 'Beat Street' to commercials on Mickey D's
The artist is commenting on how hip-hop's origins in grassroots culture have given way to more commercial and even corporate influences.

From gold cables to Jacobs
The artist is making a comparison between the styles and trends of the past and present in hip-hop culture.

From plain facials to Botox and face lifts
The artist is pointing out how our obsession with beauty and youth has permeated even the hip-hop community.

I'm lookin' over my shoulder
The artist is always aware of the threats and challenges he faces as a successful hip-hop artist.

It's about eighty niggaz from my hood that showed up
The artist is surrounded by his community, which is coming together in the face of hip-hop's challenges and threats.

And they came to show love
The artist's community is expressing their love and support for him and for hip-hop culture.

Sold out concert, and the doors are closed shut
Despite the challenges that hip-hop faces, it continues to be hugely popular and successful, and is a powerful force in contemporary culture.