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.
The One
Natas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He could be seen
He could be hit
He could be hit
He could be killed
Oh! You da one they lookin foe
[T-N-T]
I'm finna kill that nigga
Keep my finger on the trigga of my 40 cal
Make the the shot go BLOAW!
In the middle of the night, spark light for beef
I pack heat, fuck a fist fight
Trained assassin, master of all techniques
Do yo bitch ass while you sleep, wrap yo body up in bloody bed sheets
I leave no prints or signs of force injury
My element of surprise is advanced to kill
or pop is el-e-men-tury
Put 2 slugs in your memory
Your body goes slump, put yo ass in the trunk
Another corpse I must dump
[Chorus: x3]
[Mastamind]
If you could be touched you could be got
If i bust you might you might drop
Man see me later heavy weighters crush blocks
I can't believe these niggas tryna play my niggas,
killas runnin' down the street pullin AK triggas
We all took cover then took out mothafuckas
Always ready to die always on the look out for suckas
There's always retaliation after invasion
I guess i better stop whippin' out gats in they face then
Can't even hold it back can't even hold a strap
without wantin' to blow a hole in they back
I guess i better start leavin dead and quiet
'Cause if they silent, won't be so much bloodshed in the riots
[Chorus: x4]
The lyrics of Natas's song 'The One' revolve around the theme of violence and retribution. The Chorus repeats the phrase "He could be seen, He could be hit, He could be killed," adding to the sense of danger and potential death in the song. The line "Oh! You da one they lookin' foe" highlights the idea that the person being discussed is in danger due to their actions or involvement in violence.
The first verse, delivered by T-N-T, depicts a violent assassination. He confesses that he is willing to kill and uses his '40 cal' to do it, boasting about his skills as a trained assassin. He is confident in his abilities to commit a crime without leaving any evidence behind. The lines "wrap yo body up in bloody bed sheets" and "Another corpse I must dump" reinforce the theme and mentality of violence being a normal and accepted part of life.
The second verse, delivered by Mastamind, touches on his experiences with violence and the need for retaliation. He speaks of being targeted, and his friends being attacked by killers running down the street with AK triggers. He talks about the inevitability of violence and the need to be ready for it all the time. The lines "Can't even hold it back can't even hold a strap without wantin' to blow a hole in their back" indicate that he is deeply affected by this violent state of being, but also that he feels there is no other way to react but with more violence.
Line by Line Meaning
He could be seen
I have located the target and have visual on him.
He could be hit
I have the ability to shoot and wound the target.
He could be killed
I have the skillset to eliminate the target.
Oh! You da one they lookin foe
I have been tasked with finding and neutralizing the target and I am confident in my ability to do so.
In the middle of the night, spark light for beef
I operate under the cover of darkness and will initiate a conflict without hesitation.
I pack heat, fuck a fist fight
I carry a firearm for self-defense and will not engage in hand-to-hand combat.
Trained assassin, master of all techniques
I am highly skilled in various methods of killing.
Do yo bitch ass while you sleep, wrap yo body up in bloody bed sheets
I will kill my target while they are sleeping and dispose of their body by wrapping it in bed sheets stained with their own blood.
I leave no prints or signs of force injury
I take precautions to avoid leaving any evidence behind at the crime scene.
My element of surprise is advanced to kill
I use my ability to catch my target off guard to my advantage in order to kill them.
or pop is el-e-men-tury
Shooting my target is a simple and straightforward task for me.
Put 2 slugs in your memory
I will shoot my target twice in the head to ensure that they are dead.
Your body goes slump, put yo ass in the trunk
Once I have killed my target, I will place their body in the trunk of a car to dispose of it.
Another corpse I must dump
It is my responsibility to get rid of the dead body so as not to attract any attention to my actions.
If you could be touched you could be got
If I have the ability to touch you, I also have the ability to harm you.
If i bust you might you might drop
If I shoot you with my gun, there is a high chance that you will fall to the ground and die.
Man see me later heavy weighters crush blocks
I have a lot of power and influence, and I use it to my advantage.
I can't believe these niggas tryna play my niggas,
I am shocked that someone would try to cross me or anyone in my inner circle.
killas runnin' down the street pullin AK triggas
My associates are heavily armed and willing to use their weapons to protect themselves and their interests.
We all took cover then took out mothafuckas
When we were under attack, we found a safe place to hide and then retaliated by killing our attackers.
Always ready to die always on the look out for suckas
We are always prepared for the worst and keep our guard up to avoid any potential danger.
There's always retaliation after invasion
If someone tries to cross me or disrupt my business, I will take action to retaliate.
I guess i better stop whippin' out gats in they face then
I need to be careful about how I use my firearms in public and not draw unwanted attention to myself and my criminal activities.
Can't even hold it back can't even hold a strap
I cannot control my urge to use my gun and cannot refrain from carrying it with me at all times.
without wantin' to blow a hole in they back
I have a strong desire to harm those who cross me, even if it means shooting them in the back.
I guess i better start leavin dead and quiet
To avoid attracting attention to my actions, I should aim to kill my targets quickly and quietly.
'Cause if they silent, won't be so much bloodshed in the riots
If my targets are killed quickly and discreetly, there will be less evidence and fewer people involved, reducing the chance of a larger conflict or disturbance breaking out.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLY MONTANA, CELIA WHITLER, NICOLE WITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
God Status
this is a classic
Chad Barker
I think they found him!