Released: April 19, 1994
Songwriter: Nas Faith Newman Jungle (Rap) AZ
Producer: Faith Newman Nas
[Produced by Faith N & Nas]
[Nas]
Street's disciple, my raps are trifle
I shoot slugs from my brain just like a rifle
Stampede the stage, I leave the microphone split
Play Mr. Tuffy while I'm on some Pretty Tone shit
Verbal assassin, my architect pleases
When I was 12, I went to…
[Hector]
And you're sitting at home doing this shit
I should be earning a medal for this
Stop fuckin' around and be a man
There ain't nothin' out here for you
[Zoro]
Oh yes, there is… This
[Jungle]
Yo, Nas, yo, what the fuck is this bullshit on the radio, son?
[Nas]
Chill, chill! That's the shit, God, chill
[AZ]
Ayo, yo, pull down the shade, man
Let's count this money, nigga
Ayo, Nas, put the Jacksons and the Grants over there!
You know what I'm sayin'?
‘Cause we spendin' the Jacksons
You know how we get down, baby
[Nas]
True, true
[Jungle]
Nas, yo, Nas, man
Shit is mad real right now in the projects
For a nigga, yo, word to mother
All them crab-ass rappers be comin' up to me
Man, word to mother, man
I think we need to let them niggas know it's real, man
[Nas]
True indeed, knamsayin'?
But when it's real you doin' this
Even without a record contract, knamsayin'?
[AZ]
No question
[Nas]
Been doing this since back then
[AZ]
I'm sayin' regardless how it go down we gon' keep it real
We tryin' to see many mansions and Coupes, kid
[Nas]
No doubt, we gon' keep it real, true, true
[Jungle]
Ayo, where's Grand Wizard and Mayo at, man?
Takin' niggas a long time, man
[Nas]
Who got the Phillies? Take this Hennessy
[AZ]
Ayo, dunn
C'mon, c'mon, man, stop wavin' that, man!
Stop pointin' that at me, dunn, take the clip out!
[Nas]
Nigga, alright, but take this Hennessy, man!
[AZ]
I'm sayin' take the clip, man, c'mon, take it out!
[Nas]
Light them Phillies up, man!
Niggas stop fuckin' burnin' Phillies, man
Light some Phillies up then!
[Jungle]
Pass that henrock, pass that henrock!
Nigga, act like you know!
[AZ]
Yo, we drinkin' this straight up with no chaser
I ain't fuckin' with you, nigga
[Nas]
I'm saying though, man
[AZ]
What is it, what is it, baby?
[Jungle]
What is it, son, what is it?
[AZ]
You know what time it is
[Nas]
I'm saying, man, you know what I'm saying?
Niggas don't listen, man
Representin', it's Illmatic
[Nas]
Street's disciple, my raps are trifle
I shoot slugs from my brain just like a rifle
Stampede the stage, I leave the microphone split
Play Mr. Tuffy while I'm on some Pretty Tone shit
Verbal assassin, my architect pleases
When I was 12, I went to…
[Hector]
And you're sitting at home doing this shit
I should be earning a medal for this
Stop fuckin' around and be a man
There ain't nothin' out here for you
[Zoro]
Oh yes, there is… This
[Jungle]
Yo, Nas, yo, what the fuck is this bullshit on the radio, son?
[Nas]
Chill, chill! That's the shit, God, chill
[AZ]
Ayo, yo, pull down the shade, man
Let's count this money, nigga
Ayo, Nas, put the Jacksons and the Grants over there!
You know what I'm sayin'?
‘Cause we spendin' the Jacksons
You know how we get down, baby
[Nas]
True, true
[Jungle]
Nas, yo, Nas, man
Shit is mad real right now in the projects
For a nigga, yo, word to mother
All them crab-ass rappers be comin' up to me
Man, word to mother, man
I think we need to let them niggas know it's real, man
[Nas]
True indeed, knamsayin'?
But when it's real you doin' this
Even without a record contract, knamsayin'?
[AZ]
No question
[Nas]
Been doing this since back then
[AZ]
I'm sayin' regardless how it go down we gon' keep it real
We tryin' to see many mansions and Coupes, kid
[Nas]
No doubt, we gon' keep it real, true, true
[Jungle]
Ayo, where's Grand Wizard and Mayo at, man?
Takin' niggas a long time, man
[Nas]
Who got the Phillies? Take this Hennessy
[AZ]
Ayo, dunn
C'mon, c'mon, man, stop wavin' that, man!
Stop pointin' that at me, dunn, take the clip out!
[Nas]
Nigga, alright, but take this Hennessy, man!
[AZ]
I'm sayin' take the clip, man, c'mon, take it out!
[Nas]
Light them Phillies up, man!
Niggas stop fuckin' burnin' Phillies, man
Light some Phillies up then!
[Jungle]
Pass that henrock, pass that henrock!
Nigga, act like you know!
[AZ]
Yo, we drinkin' this straight up with no chaser
I ain't fuckin' with you, nigga
[Nas]
I'm saying though, man
[AZ]
What is it, what is it, baby?
[Jungle]
What is it, son, what is it?
[AZ]
You know what time it is
[Nas]
I'm saying, man, you know what I'm saying?
Niggas don't listen, man
Representin', it's Illmatic
Illmatic XX
- N.Y. State of Mind
- I’m a Villain
- It Ain’t Hard to Tell (Stink Mix)
- The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show on WKCR October 28, 1993
- One Love (One L Main Mix)
- Halftime (Butcher Remix)
- One Love (LG Main Mix)
- Life’s a Bitch (Arsenal Mix)
- It Ain’t Hard to Tell (The Laidback Remix)
- The World Is Yours (Tip Mix)
- The Genesis
- Halftime
- The World Is Yours
- Life’s a Bitch
- One Love
- Represent
- It Ain’t Hard to Tell
- Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park)
- One Time 4 Your Mind
- It Ain’t Hard To Tell (Remix)
- Illmatic (1994)
- Illmatic 10th Anniversary Platinum Edition (2004)
- Illmatic XX (2014)
- N.Y. State of Mind
- Ether
- Life’s a Bitch
- The World Is Yours
- The Message
- It Ain’t Hard to Tell
- One Love
- If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)
- Represent
- Nas Is Like
- Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park)
- Halftime
- One Mic
- Affirmative Action
- Daughters
- Cherry Wine
- I Can
- Made Nas Proud [Let Nas Down Remix]
- EPMD 2
- Hate Me Now
- The Don
- everything
- One Time 4 Your Mind
- Bye Baby