Nas, J.Period - Nas is Like

[Verse 1]
Freedom or jail, clips inserted, a baby's bein' born,
Same time my 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 hustlin' for cars that cost dough,
To the big dogs livin' large, takin' it light,
Pushin' big toys, gettin' nice, enjoyin' your life,
Is what you make it, suicide, few try to take it,
Belt tied around they 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!

[Chorus X2]
Nas is like life or death, I'm a rebel,
My poetry's deep, I never fell,
Nas is like, half man, half amazing,
No doubt!

[Verse 2]
Earth, Wind and 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 Mic, messiah type,
Before the Christ, after the death,
The last one left, let my cash invest in stock,
Came a long way from blastin', techs on blocks,
Went from Seiko to Rolex, ownin' acres,
From the projects with no chips, to large cake dough,
Dimes, givin' fellatio, siete zeros,
Bet my nine spit for the pesos,
But what's it all worth, can't take it when 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,
Makin' 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 to success to ya, even if you wish me the opposite,
Sooner or later we'll all see who the prophet is...

[Chorus X2]
Nas is like life or death, I'm a rebel,
My poetry's deep, I never fell,
Nas is like, half man, half amazing,
No doubt!

[Verse 3]
Sex to a nympho, but nothin' sweet
I'm like beef, bustin' heat through your windows,
I'm like a street sweeper, greenleaf reaper,
Like Greeks in Egypt, learnin' 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 feelin' of a millionaire spendin' 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...

[Chorus X2]
Nas is like life or death, I'm a rebel,
My poetry's deep, I never fell,
Nas is like, half man, half amazing,
No doubt!