I am bringing one of the most iconic tracks from NAS 2nd album, It was written. The Lyrical genius flex his muscle on this track giving some of the most amazing lyrical story telling from the album.

What I like about this track?

Well first the iconic movie CB4, were Chris Rock plays a NWA-esque group member named Gusto or MC Gusto. He wants to imitate hood life. So Nas give his bar, 'fake thug... CB4 Gusto' and threaten the fake gangstas with a uppercut 'they get the slug'.

Also the highly quotable thanks to the repetitive and catchy pattern about only being one. There is one life, one love (his song), so there can only be one king.

Nas later talk about the good life, the party, the money, the women, with a great 80s reference. Can it be, Vanity from Last Dragon another iconic kung fu flick with black actors and the chick of the movie named Vanity.

Then switching gears back to hood life, and talking about how gangs just shoot aimlesly and is all the same if the hit one or many.

The sample chorus is amazing. Basically warning people that you aint nobody to mess with.

The second verse is an amazing visual verse of the hood life, how you got into shit and your best friend rat you out, even after all the shit you went through with him and thought he was tight, he finish with a reflection that your best friend becomes stranger when the money is in.

So the whole track is a story of rise and fall in the hood. From the cinematic beat to the guttery track I think this caused a deadly combination and even after 20 years this track still sounds fresh ghetto anthem.

About me:
Steemian, crypto fan, like to listen to 90s hip hop, and loves to chat about Linux Python and Free software. Runs a local Tech club in sunny Cancun, and enjoys hopping on planes and landing somewhere else.