Let Nas Down

Album: Born Sinner (2013)
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  • Freedom or jail, clips inserted
    A baby's bein' born same time a man is murdered
    The beginning and end, so far as rap goes
    It's only natural, I explain my plateau
    And also what defines my name

    Yeah, long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
    Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible
    Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin
    No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin

    I used to print out Nas raps and tape 'em up on my wall
    My niggas thought they was words, but it was pictures I saw
    And since I wanted to draw, I used to read 'em in awe
    Then he dropped Stillmatic, rocked the cleanest velour
    Fast forward, who thought that I would meet him on tour?
    I'm earnin' stripes now nigga, got Adidas galore
    Backstage I shook his hand, let him know that he's the man
    When he said he was a fan it was too hard to understand
    No time to soak up the moment though, cause I was in a jam
    Hov askin' where's the record that the radio could play
    And I was strikin' out for months, 9th inning feeling fear
    Jeter under pressure, made the biggest hit of my career
    But at first, that wasn't clear, niggas had no idea
    Dion called me when it dropped, sounded sad but sincere
    Told me Nas heard your single and he hate that shit
    Said you the one, yo why you make that shit?
    I can't believe I let Nas down
    Damn, my heart sunk to my stomach
    I can't believe I let Nas down
    I got defensive on the phone
    Resentment was in my tone, fuck it

    Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
    Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible
    Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin
    No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin

    I couldn't help but think that maybe I had made a mistake
    I mean, you made "You Owe Me" dog, I thought that you could relate
    But while I shot up the charts, you mean tellin' me
    That I was not up to par, when I followed my heart
    Granted, my heart was tainted by my mind, I kept on sayin'
    Where's the hits? You ain't got none
    You know Jay would never put your album out without none
    And dog, you know how come
    Labels are archaic, formulaic with their outcomes
    They don't know, they just study the charts
    Me, I study the shows, the fans, study their hearts
    I had a feelin' I was killin', and this music we were spillin' out
    Would change lives forever, fuck the label, put it out
    Friday Night Lights blew, that was classic number 2
    Now it seemed as if the Nas comparisons was comin' true
    Still no release date from the label, are they insane?
    Gucc told me play the game to change the game but on the way
    I let Nas down, I got no one to blame, I'm ashamed I let Nas down
    But this is God's plan, you could never understand, fuck it

    Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
    Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible
    Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin
    No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin

    I always believed in the bigger picture
    If I could get them niggas to listen
    Outside my core then I can open a door
    Reintroduce 'em to honesty, show 'em that they need more
    The difference between the pretenders and the Kendrick Lamars
    And so, I took the fall like the son of the Lord
    On the cross, dyin' for that fake shit you niggas bought
    For the past decade
    If I should pass please let this be my last essay
    Therefore I write from the heart
    Apologies to OG's for sacrificin' my art
    But I'm here for a greater purpose
    I knew right from the start
    I'm just a man of the people, not above but equal
    And for the greater good I walk amongst the evil
    Don't cry mama, this the life I choose myself
    Just pray along the way that I don't lose myself
    This is for the nigga that said that hip-hop was dead
    I went to Hell to resurrect it
    How could you fail to respect it?
    Lettin' Nas down
    I got the phone call quietly I mourned dog, I let Nas down
    Yeah, and on this flight may I never lose sight, fuck it

    Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals
    Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible
    Now what you just heard's a tale of glory and sin
    No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin Writer/s: Anthony Parino, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Jermaine Cole
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT (FRANCE), ELITE THAT'S ME PUBLISHING, EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., SONG OF UNIVERSAL INC., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

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