Freedom or jail, clip's inserted, a baby's born Same a man is murdered, the beginning and end As far as rap go, only natural I explain My plateau, and also, what defines my First it was Nasty, but times have Ask me now, I'm the artist, but hardcore, my for pain I spent in the game, kept my mind on fame Saw fiends shoot up and do of cocaine Saw my close friends shot, am I sane? That depends, Mac-10's to practice my aim On rooftops, tape CD to trees Line the barrel up with your weak then squeeze Street for lost souls, in the crossroads To the corner hustling for cars that cost dough To the big dogs living large, in light Pushing big toys, getting nice, your life Is you make it, suicide, few try to take it Belt tied around neck in jail cells naked and hell, rap legend, presence is felt And of course are the letters that spell NAS, NAS
"Nas is like" Earth, Wind & Fire, rims and Bulletproof glass, inside is the realest Planets in orbit, 'em up with the stars Tarot cards, you can see the Nas "Nas is like" Iron Mike, type Before the Christ, after the The last one left, let my cash in stock a along way from blasting, tecs on blocks Went from Seiko to Rolex, acres From the with no chips, to large cake dough Dimes, fellatio, siete zeros Bet my spit for the pesos But what's it all worth, can't take it with you this Earth Rich men and tried, but none of it worked just rob your grave, I'd rather be alive and paid Before my number's called, history's fall, but I rise, thug or die Making choices, that my future under the sky To rob or kill, I'm wondering why It's a game, is any man worthy of fame? success to you, even if you wish me the opposite Sooner or we'll all see who the prophet is
"Nas is like" Sex to a nympho, but nothing I'm like beef, bustin heat through windows I'm a street sweeper, green leaf breather Like Greeks in Egypt, somethin deep from they teachers I'm like crime, like your nine, your man you die for Always got you, I'm like Pac you would cry for I'm like a whole lot of loot, I'm crisp money Corporate from a rich company I'm like for ladies, I'm like all races Combined in one man; like the '99 jam Bulletproof man I'm like being locked down around new faces, and of 'em fam I'm the feeling of a millionaire spending a grand I'm a poor dream, a thug poet Live it and I write and I watch it blow up Y'all know what I'm like, y'all play it system every night Now