Back When

Back When

The ill reminisce and think about the fly days

Nothing like them 80s summer N.Y. days

Hop on the NB5 days

Mopeds, Pro Keds, city split five ways

How it all started, fifth floor apartment

A jigsaw puzzle aerial view of the projects

A kid saw struggle, buried a few of his partners

Now chill in resorts, enjoying massages

Check out the oracle bred from city housing

Nas, I'll rise the deads thousandsby

I remember seeing Shan chilling near his Audi

Hollis Ave. running them, but I probably

Put a poster up of Shan and Marley, that was art, kid

You love to hear the story how it started

The bubbly I'm pouring wasn't popped yet

Before there was a audience to watch us

I assure you, there was a process

"You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started"

How it all got started, yeah

"You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started"

How it, how it all got started

"You love to hear the story how it all, how it all got started"

Hear the story, started off

Started off, started off

How it all got started

"Back when, back when, back when, back when

Back when, back when, back when, back when"

To call them fake today is hate, real n*ggas extinct

Pac left me inside a rap world with n*ggas that's weak

And other rappers, undercover n*ggas spit every way

Won't be surprised if all their rides have federal plates

Let alone their wardrobes are Studio 4 flow

It was real when I appeared, it would've been some jaws broke

Nas, my real name, stage name, same thing

How could you let these lames claim king? I'm so ashamed, man

I light a L for Vernon, for n*ggas who would in burn Hell

For Vernon; 10th Street, 12th Street, Nightmare on Elm Street

Pimps creep, delve deep inside the editorials

Of the ghetto queens, kings, stories true

Who possesses the testicular fortitude

To blow away myths that's a hindrance to all of you?

You blame your own shortcomings on section, race

The mafia, homosexuals and all the Jews

It's hogwash point of views, stereotypical

Anti-Semitic like the foul words Gibson spewed

And it's pathetic, I don't get the credit I deserve

That's why I hate doing interviews

But I don't sweat it, study long, study raw

My man Deon said "Nas over-think the songs he writing"

I'm not a wack performer standing behind a corny hype man

I got the Donism, I'm here to enlighten

"You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started"

How it all got started, yeah

"You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started"

How it, how it all got started

"You love to hear the story how it all, how it all got started"

Hear the story, started off

Started off, started off

How it all got started

"Back when, back when, back when, back when

Back when, back when, back when, back when"