Made You Look by Nas Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Grit and Glory of Street Narratives
Lyrics
Uh, uh, uh, now let’s get it all in perspective
For all y’all enjoyment, a song y’all can step wit’
Y’all appointed me to bring rap justice
But I ain’t Five-O, y’all know it’s Nas-Yo
Grey goose and a whole lotta hydro
Only describe us as soldier survivors
Stay laced in the best, well dressed with finesse
In a white tee lookin’ for wifey
Thug girl who fly and talks so nicely
Put her in the coupe so she can feel the nice breeze
We can drive through the city no doubt
But don’t say my car’s topless, say the titties is out
Newness here’s the Anthem
Put your hand up that you shoot with, count your loot wit’
Push the pool stick in your new crib, same hand that you hoop with
Swing around like you stupid, king o’the town, yeah I been that
You know I click-clack where you and your mens at?
Do the Smurf, do the Wop, Baseball Bat
Rooftop like we bringing ’88 back
They shootin’, Aw made you look
You a slave to a page in my rhyme book
Gettin’ Big money, playboy your time’s up
Where them gangstas? Where them dimes at?
They shootin’, Aw made you look
You a slave to a page in my rhyme book
Gettin’ Big money, playboy your time’s up
Where them gangstas? Where them dimes at?
This ain’t rappin’, this is Street-Hop
Now get up off your ass like your seat’s hot
My live niggas lit up the reefer
Trunk o’the car, we got the street sweeper
Don’t start none, won’t be none
No reason for your mans to panic
You don’t want to see no ambulances
Knock a pimp’s drink down in his pimp cup
That’s the way you get Timberland’d up
Let the music diffuse all the tension
Baller convention, free admission
Hustlers, dealers and killers can move swift
Girls get close, you can feel where the tool’s kept
All my just comin’ homeys, parolees
Get money, leave the beef alone slowly
Get out my face, you people so phoney
Pull out my waist, the eagle fo-forty
They shootin’, Aw made you look
You a slave to a page in my rhyme book
Gettin’ Big money, playboy your time’s up
Where them gangstas? Where them dimes at?
They shootin’, Aw made you look
You a slave to a page in my rhyme book
Gettin’ Big money, playboy your time’s up
Where them gangstas? Where them dimes at?
Bravehearts
I see niggas runnin’, yo my mood is real rude
I lay you out, show you what steel do
Mobsters don’t box, my pump shot obliges
Every invitation to fight you punk hazas
Like Pun said, “You ain’t even en mi clasa!”
Maybach Benz, back seat, T.V. plasma
Ladies lookin’ for athletes or rappers
Whatever you choose, whatever you do
Make sure he a thug and intelligent too
Like a real thoroughbred is, show me love
Lemme feel how the head is
Females whose the sexiest is always the nastiest
And I like a little sassiness, a lotta class
Mommy reach in your bag, pass the fifth
I’m a leader, at last this a don you wit’
My nines’ll spit, niggas loose consciousness
In the pantheon of hip-hop anthems that capture both the exuberance and folly of street life, Nas’s ‘Made You Look’ stands as an illustrative mural painted with the words of a seasoned street poet. Nas, with his Queensbridge roots and lyrical prowess, has always been adept at holding a mirror to the complexities and contradictions of the hustler’s lifestyle.
Diving into ‘Made You Look’, we uncover a track pulsating with the heart of New York’s city streets, speaking on themes of respect, power, and survival within the urban tapestry. Nas doesn’t just rap; he educates and provokes, pulling listeners into a world where every line is a lived experience and every boast is a chapter in the street’s gospel.
A Call to Arms: Nas’s Rallying Cry for Hip-Hop Authenticity
The opening bars of ‘Made You Look’ are less an introduction and more a sonic rallying cry, beckoning listeners to join Nas in a dance with raw, unfiltered street-hop. This isn’t just a call to enjoy the rhythm; it’s a directive from Nas, self-appointed rap justice bringer, to reconnect with an authentic hip-hop grounded in the daily triumphs and struggles of street life.
Claiming his space as the king of the town and invoking imagery of classic dance moves like the Smurf and the Wop, Nas reinforces his sovereignty in hip-hop while nostalgically tipping his hat to a bygone era. He doesn’t just represent the contemporary landscape but also the lineage of urban storytellers.
The Art of Misdirection: Analyzing the Chorus’ Hidden Layers
When Nas declares, ‘They shootin’, Aw made you look,’ he’s doing more than weaving violent imagery into his verses. This hook encapsulates the power of words and perception, serving as a potent metaphor for the influence of his music. The ‘shooting’ here is not of bullets but of potent lyrical barbs aimed at captivating the listener.
Moreover, by labeling his audience ‘slaves to a page in my rhyme book,’ Nas asserts his dominion over the listener’s attention, binding them to the narrative he weaves with each word spit. In this game of cat and mouse, Nas is the master illusionist with the power to direct our gaze.
Street Symbology: The Intertwining of Masculinity and Violence
Throughout the verses, symbols of street credibility like the Timberland brand, a white tee, or the ‘eagle fo-forty’ are not only fashion statements but badges of a lifestyle that thrives on prowess and bravado. Nas leverages these symbols to fashion a grandiose image of the street hustler, who navigates through terrains of risk and respect.
Violence, as portrayed in ‘Made You Look,’ is not glorified but acknowledged as an intrinsic thread in the fabric of street life. This track delves into the psyche of men who have extended their survival instincts into an art form, encapsulating the harsh dance between vulnerability and aggression.
Echoes of Giants: ‘Made You Look’ and Hip-Hop’s Lyrical Legacy
Mentions of historic figures like Big Pun (‘Like Pun said,
pun said,
