Live Nigga Rap
Nas · It Was Written [1996]
[P] I shot the motherfucker back
[H] Right out the ass son
[P] For niggaz don't know how to act
[H] What the deal son
[P] I shot the motherfucker back
[H] No doubt son
[P] For niggaz don't know how to act
[Prodigy]
Yo NYC, U-N-I-verse, se-riously
Havoc and P, Queens niggaz so it seem to be
Monopolize, strategies of war, exercise, mega
Got word back from Noreaga
The D.A. got video cassette taper
The God with the God-U-Now, pullin a caper
Runnin up in the spot, mask and duct taped up
Pig tied they motherfuckin wrists to they ankles
I been through, crime shit my niggaz in-to
Peep the issue situation like this, we stickin him too
JFK on our way to L.A.
Got links with big cats down to Santa Barbre (Barbara)
My crew do it the Mobb way, everyday
Crime pay, who wanted gunplay? Drill me
Niggaz kill me, thrillin me, you wanna look?
Peep the nine milli, now undress, you know the drill-y
Niggaz suspect, weak links pose threats, I have yet
to met challenger who go against my set
Gem stars razor sharp like Gilette, shavin closely on
any character approach me
I let the streets get the best of me, infamy, my destiny
While cat burg-lars tryin to sneak peep the recipe
Inside my rap cookbook, paragraphs is gourmet
You pay about $5,000 a plate
[Havoc]
No doubt kid, I hit them niggaz like a bid
The prosecutor, runnin up in your crib
Do your dirt, I do my dirt all by my lonely
It's only me, and the gat that's holdin me
We got it locked beyond measure, the click's under pressure
Extort you for your treasure smack you with the undresser
Represent your click, go ahead, get that ass whipped
(Floatin in the river with your body wrapped in plastic)
Wannabe thug, get smacked for back talkin
QB represent fuck that, it can happen
While you rappin, I'm busy tryin to sneak the gat in
Could tear men, cut the party while you jammin
We think smarter, reach harder, got the 44
Bodyguard of somethin you don't want a part of
If I was you, then I would do what I have to
But you ain't me, you hesitated so I clapped you
Then stepped off casually, naturally me
[Nas]
Niggaz thinkin shit sweet, I carry big heat
Wavy hair chipped teeth, up in this bitch deep
Queens murder clicks meet, yellow tapes on black gates
Mediterranean, projects is like Kuwait
I escape into zones, that's irregular
Why debate on a phone, I'm solar cellular
Escobar 600, you just a crumb inside a world
where the rich run it, curriculum of a mathologist
Deep throats, they try to swallow this
Anthropologists, dynasties of great knowledgists
I preserve in my dome, niggaz mics is full of silicone
Spot's blown, guerilla ice on this killer's life
I put my word on it
Now you can sleep on or rock a swerve on it
Nas is menage a trois' on Mount Aire lodges
We like a smooth fam', but rougher than how DeBarge is
Catchin charges, of marksmen, livin heartless
Grab a cartridge, cock my shit on some Mobb shit
We mobbin, puttin niggaz in mausoleums
From Queens cross the Throsnic, heads bop, I see 'em
from queens cross to throgsneck heads nod
Chorus: Prodigy (3X)
For niggaz don't know how to act
To all my niggaz on the block slangin crack
Rest in peace to my niggaz layin on they back
To all the niggaz who bust gats (live nigga rap)
[H] If youse a live nigga
Live Nigga Rap
Live Nigga Rap is a track from Nas's 1996 debut album It Was Written, a record that established the rapper as a central figure in the New York hip-hop scene. The song is notable for its direct, confrontational tone and its focus on the realities of street life, themes that became a defining element of Nas's early work. As part of the album's broader narrative, it contributes to the raw, unfiltered portrayal of urban experience that characterized the record.
Musically, the track fits within the boom-bap production style that was prevalent in mid-1990s hip-hop. The album featured a range of producers, and the sonic landscape of Live Nigga Rap aligns with the gritty, sample-driven aesthetic of the era. Nas's delivery on the song is characterized by his signature cadence, which blends rapid-fire delivery with a narrative flow that emphasizes storytelling. This approach allowed him to convey complex social and personal observations with a sense of immediacy and authenticity.
The song's title and content reflect the artist's engagement with the language and culture of the streets, a subject that was both a point of pride and a source of tension in hip-hop discourse at the time. By addressing these themes head-on, Nas positioned himself as a voice for a generation navigating the challenges of urban life. The track serves as a reminder of the album's role in capturing the sounds and sentiments of a specific moment in hip-hop history.
In the context of Nas's discography, Live Nigga Rap is one of many tracks that contributed to the critical acclaim of It Was Written. The album is widely regarded as a landmark in hip-hop, and songs like this one helped solidify Nas's reputation for lyrical depth and cultural relevance. The track's place in the album's sequence and its thematic connection to other songs on the record further illustrate the cohesive nature of the project.
The public and critical reception of the album was largely positive, with many recognizing its contribution to the genre. While specific reviews of individual tracks may vary, the overall impact of It Was Written was significant, and Live Nigga Rap is often cited as part of the album's strength in capturing the essence of its era. The song remains a point of interest for listeners and scholars of hip-hop, offering a window into the artistic and cultural landscape of the mid-1990s.