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, Nas      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   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      Nas is like 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 Mike, messiah type   Before the Christ, after the death   The last one left, let my cash invest in stock   Came a along 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      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   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      Nas is like sex to a nympho but nothin' sweet   I'm like beef, bustin' heat through your windows   I'm like a street sweeper, green leaf griever   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      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   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      Nas is like   Nas is like