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 by thousands
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 got started"
How it all got started, yeah
"You love to hear the story, how it all got started"
How it, how it all got started
"You love to hear the story how it all got started"
Hear the story, how it all started off
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 niggas extinct
Pac left me inside a rap world with niggas that's weak
And other rappers, undercover niggas 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 claim king? I'm so ashamed, man
I light a L for Vernon, for niggas who would burn in 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 got started"
How it all got started, yeah
"You love to hear the story, how it all got started"
How it, how all got started
"You love to hear the story how it all got started"
Hear the story, how it all started off
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"