There is at least seven artists named Natas:

1. Detroit Acid Rap Tr… Read Full Bio ↴There is at least seven artists named Natas:

1. Detroit Acid Rap Trio Natas;
2. Argentinian stoner rock group Natas, that after the release of their first album Delmar changed its name to Los Natas;
3. Lithuanian singer Natas;
4. Hardcore/Gabber producer Robert Gilmore (aka Rob Gee). Alias for one release (12" vinyl, "The Master Plan", 1993) on Bastard Loud Records, New York City;
5. Chicagoan death/thrash metal turned crossover trio, also known as Not Us;
6. German one-man black metal performer, later known as Kriegskarthaun;
7. Black Metal from west coast of Norway, Sunnfjord Natas, descending from the band Mara.

Detroit Acid Rap Trio Natas: Esham, TNT and Mastamind defined a dark style of hardcore rap characterized by decadent motifs and heavy metal-like aggression.

Taking considerable influence from Niggaz4life-era NWA, the Detroit, MI, trio came hard on their 1992 debut album, Life After Death, to the point where their anger-exuding music alienated all but a small cult audience fascinated with their anarchic disposition and their self-termed style of "Acid Rap." On this album they rapped about the most disturbing and shocking themes imaginable, capturing the darkest corners of their burnt-out city's most horrible ghettos with their lyrics in an attempt to be as hardcore as possible. To further the impact of these lyrics, Esham self-produced the album, laying down gritty beats and making effective use of rock samples to give the album a harsher tone.

Successive albums found the trio improving their rapping and their production, as they slowly matured, moving progressively away from mere exploitation. By the end of the '90s, their music had considerably evolved in terms of not only lyrical content and delivery but also in terms of production, resulting in an innovative realization of their original intent that finally blossomed on WWW.Com (Wicket World Wide).

Before forming NATAS, group leader Esham had already established himself as a solo artist, debuting at the end of the '80s with Boomin' Words From Hell, followed by a few EPs. At this time, Esham was a student at Osborne High School in Detroit, where he eventually crossed paths with Mastamind in the tenth grade. After listening to a three-song demo tape given to him by Mastamind, Esham decided to form a group with the promising rapper and TNT, a longtime friend. The three got together and decided to call themselves NATAS as a symbol of their anarchic, evil disposition at the time, being mere teenagers. In 1992, Esham released NATAS' debut album, Life After Death, on his REEL Life Productions label. Two years later he released a similar follow-up album, Blaz4me, an album nearly as twisted and disturbing as its predecessor. Then came the dark Doubelievengod album in 1995, which found the trio moving forward artistically as well as ideologically. When NATAS released Multikillionaire: The Devil's Contract in 1997, it became clear that the group had reached a turning point. Along with Esham's accompanying Bruce Wayne: Gotham City 1987 album from the same year, Multikillionaire broadened Natas' scope, aiming for conceptualism while abandoning the exploitative elements of previous works. NATAS resurfaced in 1999 with WWW.Com (Wicket World Wide), claiming that their name was an acronym for "Nation Ahead of Time And Space" rather than Satan spelled backwards in hopes of changing their image. The album improved upon Mulitkillionaire's flaws and represented a more mature representation of the group's ambitions. Featuring live instruments where Esham used to place samples, the album's production was considerably innovative for its time, marrying a rock attitude with a rap aesthetic and garnering considerable acclaim from the underground. Following this release, both Esham and Mastamind took time off to work on solo albums in the wake of the album's success and the Detroit rap scene's sudden evolution to a substantial hotspot for up-and-coming talent.

Sunday School
Natas Lyrics

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(Mastamind)
See, I don't know what you beliven in, but I hope you believen in me
nigga fuck yo G.O.D, my religion is reality, see

[Chorus]
I don't want to go to church (no I don't want to go to church) X3
I don't want to go to church (no I don't want to go)

See, I can't step up in yo cathedral
I might bleed you
I don't need you to tell me who made me
I don't believe you
My thoughts bust
Fuck
Who can I trust
what's the fuckin purpose
If I took a little ride on that church bus
I'd cuss out the rev
Bust and size out his head
My holy bible collects dust
Cause its never been read
So what is evil
What is my evil
I see you people hate me
Cause I won't step up in your steeple
But oh no!

[Chorus]

(Esham)
I'm sick in the head
So I tried to kill a priest
But now I'm killing time
I'm in the belly of the beast
No study the bible
Bloody rifle
The disciple of NATAS
Satan
Anticipatin
Contemplatin suicide
Murder ride
And I'm the dri-va
Bloods in my mouth
Mixed with my sali-va
I'm screamin out Jesus Christ
Bloody murder, crucified
When I close my eyes
Got visions of when he died
and...

[Chorus]

(TNT)
Motha fuck the reverin
187
I've never seen a church
I never been to church
I never liked church
So what is this sac religious mohta fucka
Sayin to me
Runnin around
Screamin out blaz 4 me
The holy bible burns my hands when I touch it
I can't clutch it
So motha fuck it
I do with out it
Simple reasons keep me from sayin the lords prayers
Truth or dares
And fuck them niggas who scared
Who cares

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The song "Sunday School" by Natas is a passionate rejection of attending church or believing in God. Mastamind, Esham, and TNT each voice their disdain towards those who try to preach to them or convert them to Christianity. The song's chorus repeats the line "I don't want to go to church," solidifying the song's message. Mastamind raps about his lack of trust in organized religion, stating that his religion is reality. He questions the purpose of life, expressing his frustration towards those who try to force their beliefs on him. Esham continues the theme of violence, confessing that he once tried to kill a priest. He identifies as the disciple of NATAS (Satan spelled backward) and considers suicide. TNT adds to the anti-Christianity sentiment by stating that he has never been to church and never will go. He rejects the holy bible, finding it too hot to touch and instead chooses to follow simple reasons rather than the Lord's prayers.

Line by Line Meaning

See, I don't know what you beliven in, but I hope you believen in me
I'm uncertain about your beliefs, but I hope you trust me

nigga fuck yo G.O.D, my religion is reality, see
I don't care about your God, I follow only what I perceive as real

I don't want to go to church (no I don't want to go to church) X3 I don't want to go to church (no I don't want to go)
I don't want to attend church services

I'm sick in the head So I tried to kill a priest But now I'm killing time I'm in the belly of the beast No study the bible Bloody rifle The disciple of NATAS Satan Anticipatin Contemplatin suicide Murder ride And I'm the dri-va Bloods in my mouth Mixed with my sali-va I'm screamin out Jesus Christ Bloody murder, crucified When I close my eyes Got visions of when he died and...
I am mentally unstable, attempted to kill a priest, and now I'm wasting time while feeling trapped. I don't study the bible, but I do practice Satanic beliefs. I am considering suicide and have violent thoughts. I scream out in anger at Jesus and his death, and the memories haunt me

Motha fuck the reverin 187 I've never seen a church I never been to church I never liked church So what is this sac religious mohta fucka Sayin to me Runnin around Screamin out blaz 4 me The holy bible burns my hands when I touch it I can't clutch it So motha fuck it I do with out it Simple reasons keep me from sayin the lords prayers Truth or dares And fuck them niggas who scared Who cares
I strongly dislike religious leaders and have never attended a church service. Anyone claiming sacrilege towards me means nothing, and I don't care about religious texts. I don't recite prayers or play truth or dare with them, nor do I care for those who fear judgment

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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