Nas Is Like by Nas Lyrics Meaning – A Lyrical Dissertation of Street Wisdom and Personal Evolution
Lyrics
Same time a man is murdered, the beginning and end
As far as rap go, it’s only natural I explain
My plateau, and also, what defines my name
First it was Nasty, but times have changed
Ask me now, I’m the artist, but hardcore, my science for pain
I spent time in the game, kept my mind on fame
Saw fiends shoot up and do lines of cocaine
Saw my close friends shot, flatline am I sane?
That depends, carry Mac-10’s to practice my aim
On rooftops, tape CD covers to trees
Line the barrel up with your weak picture then squeeze
Street scriptures for lost souls, in the crossroads
To the corner thugs hustling for cars that cost dough
To the big dogs living large, taking in light
Pushing big toys, getting nice, enjoying your life
Is what you make it, suicide, few try to take it
Belt tied around their neck in jail cells naked
Heaven and hell, rap legend, presence is felt
And of course N-A-S are the letters that spell
NAS, NAS
“Nas is like” Earth, Wind & Fire, rims and tires
Bulletproof glass, inside is the realest driver
Planets in orbit, line ’em up with the stars
Tarot cards, you can see the pharaoh Nas
“Nas is like” Iron Mike, messiah type
Before the Christ, after the death
The last one left, let my cash invest in stock
Came a along way from blasting, tecs on blocks
Went from Seiko to Rolex, owning acres
From the projects with no chips, to large cake dough
Dimes, giving fellatio, siete zeros
Bet my nine spit for the pesos
But what’s it all worth, can’t take it with you under this Earth
Rich men died and tried, but none of it worked
They just rob your grave, I’d rather be alive and paid
Before my number’s called, history’s made
Some’ll fall, but I rise, thug or die
Making choices, that determine my future under the sky
To rob steal or kill, I’m wondering why
It’s a dirty game, is any man worthy of fame?
Much success to you, even if you wish me the opposite
Sooner or later we’ll all see who the prophet is
“Nas is like” Sex to a nympho, but nothing sweet
I’m like beef, bustin’ heat through your windows
I’m like a street sweeper, green leaf breather
Like Greeks in Egypt, learning somethin deep from they teachers
I’m like crime, like your nine, your man you would die for
Always got you, I’m like Pac dude you would cry for
I’m like a whole lot of loot, I’m like crisp money
Corporate accounts from a rich company
I’m like ecstasy for ladies, I’m like all races
Combined in one man, like the ’99 summer jam
Bulletproof Hummer man
I’m like being locked down around new faces, and none of ’em fam
I’m the feeling of a millionaire spending a hundred grand
I’m a poor man’s dream, a thug poet
Live it and I write down and I watch it blow up
Y’all know what I’m like, y’all play it your system every night
Now
Nas’s ‘Nas Is Like’ is a vivid canvas on which the New York rapper paints a picture of duality and destiny, life’s chaos paired with personal agency. At its core, the song is an introspective journey examining the self-creation of an artist and the inevitable influences that the world etches upon him. Through seamless metaphors and raw, gritty imagery, Nas delivers a message about growth, evolution, and the existential pondering that comes with being a conscious entity within a chaotic world.
Released on his 1999 album ‘I Am…’, the track showcases Nas at his finest—thought-provoking, complex, and poetically inclined. With DJ Premier’s unmistakable instrumentals setting the backdrop, Nas goes on to detail his experience and perspective against the relentless tempo. This song isn’t just a track; it’s an oral mosaic laid over beats that offers a window into the soul of an artist struggling with the intensity of his environment and the expectations of his craft.
Dualities and Dichotomies: The Twin Realities of Life
From the very first lines, ‘Freedom or jail, clip’s inserted, a baby’s being born / Same time a man is murdered, the beginning and end,’ Nas plunges listeners into the yin and yang existence of life. This juxtaposition of life and death, freedom and imprisonment, encapsulates the cycle of existence where every new beginning heralds an end elsewhere. It is a powerful acknowledgment of the interconnectedness of all things, and the fragile thread upon which life dances.
Nas weaves this understanding throughout his verses, presenting imagery that straddles the highs and lows of human existence. From the luxurious visions of wealth and success to the stark reminders of violence and loss, he delivers a commentary on the societal structures that shape us and the personal choices that define our narratives.
The Transformation of Identity: From ‘Nasty’ to ‘Artist’
One cannot dissect ‘Nas Is Like’ without addressing the rapper’s meditation on his own evolving persona. ‘First it was Nasty, but times have changed / Ask me now, I’m the artist,’ he ruminates, marking a transition from raw beginnings to a more refined delineation of self. This transformation signals maturity and a deliberate move away from the simplicity of labels to embrace the complexities of a crafted identity.
This personal growth is underscored by recognition of the hardships and realities that carved out his path—illustrating how the tribulations of the streets served both as a playground and a battle ground that informed his vision, craft, and ultimately, his legacy.
Peering into the Soul of Street Philosophy
By likening himself to abstract concepts—’Earth, Wind & Fire, rims and tires,’ ‘crime,’ ‘sex to a nympho’—Nas doesn’t just equate his presence with these elements, he becomes them. These associations speak to a deeper street philosophy that Nas embodies: the resilience and fire of Earth’s elements, the danger and unpredictability of crime, the insatiable pursuit and immediacy of pleasure.
It is a stark reminder of the layers and dimensions within an individual, and how one’s environment contributes to the creation of identity. Nas becomes a living art piece, amalgamating the different faces of human experience, and in that multifaceted existence, he reflects the potential and power of adaptability and survival.
Confronting Mortality and Legacy in a Material World
Arguably the most compelling aspect of Nas’s narrative is his reflection on mortality and what it means to leave a mark on the world. ‘Rich men died and tried, but none of it worked,’ Nas observes, underscoring the futility of material wealth in the grander scheme. Yet, he chooses life and achievement over the inevitable grapple with death, longing to ‘be alive and paid,’ seeking to etch his story into the annals of history before ‘his number’s called.’
This philosophical dive into the worth of fame and success cuts deep, posing the universal question of what one’s life’s work truly amounts to when faced with the inescapable reality of death—a haunting meditation that challenges the listener to reflect on their own pursuit and what they deem worthy in their fleeting moments.
Decoding the Prophet in Nas’s Prophetic Lines
Within ‘Nas Is Like,’ there lies a hidden meaning, a prophetic layer where Nas isn’t just a rapper; he’s a sage of the streets, delivering insights wrapped in complex bars. ‘Sooner or later we’ll all see who the prophet is,’ he states, issuing a challenge to the listeners and his contemporaries. It’s an invitation to witness his journey and his predictions for the future, wrapped in his steadfast belief in his words and their eventual vindication.
His prescient understanding of his position in the rap game and within society bears an almost mystical quality, making it no small wonder that listeners return to this track, mining it for the wisdom that seems only to deepen with time. The line isn’t merely a boast—it’s a testament to his enduring influence on the genre and his foresight into his own legacy.
