SURVIVING THE TIMES／Nas 歌詞

歌：Nas

作詞：JONES NASIR

作曲：RIDDLER

INTRO:
But that's the whole tragic point my friends
What would I do?
If I could suddenly feel
And to know once again
That what I feel is real
I could cry
I could smile
I might lay back for a while
Tell me what, What?, what would I do?
If I could feel

VERSE 1:
I was young
I was surviving the times
Waiting for my moment, I was destined to shine
Little Ray had an NSX
I was hoping I'm next
Wantin' bracelets
Never had a rope on my neck
Unless I was holding Taiyeh chain
Rest in Peace
Even though that night you flipped on us
You warned us
If you came back and we still in the corners
We gonners
Movin' on to
Move your arm and your watch
To another time on the block
'Cos this 40 Side
Where they say Shorty rhyme
Tragedy, he used to come through all the time
I'm talking Juice Crew not what the word define
He had a sister named Erin
For sure it was fine
That was my first crush
I bought my first mic
I wrote my first verse
I was about nine
I was about mine, fantasized house buying
Met Paul, he wore some big glasses
Him and Melquan took me where G Rap live
I was happy just gettin' some answers
I didn't even know what a record advance was
I'm seeing hoes sex in the studio bathroom
With rap dudes, thinking "wow, she moved me"
Same girl then, right now's a groupie
Back then she was like the star in a movie
Large jewelry and expensive Gucci
Next stop, Paid In Full posse recruits me
Knew they was some millionaires
They ropes were dookie
Eric B man looking like touch it, he shoot me
You see every time Ra didn't show
I get to record demos at attempts to blow
I wouder, could they tell
How did they know
Sixteen years later, here I go

CHORUS:
What, what? what would I do?
What, what? what would I do?
What, what? what would I do?
What, what? what would I do?

VERSE 2:
I'm with Akinyele in the street trying to get us a deal
G-Rap trying to get us to sign to Cold Chill
But Fly Ty didn't have the contract we wanted
Clark Kent just signed Das, he didn't want us
Russell said I sounded like G, that nigger fronted
Reef and Matty C offer me a little money
Shit a little funny, feel a little laughter
Rebel of hip-hop, coming through a white rapper
My boy MC Serch nevertheless
Took me to Columbia, back then CBS
Chris Schwartz RuffHouse, he was the best man
Now bugging 'cos the label had just dropped Def Jam
Could you picture Russell needing the check, man
But he's smart he plotted a plan for Polygram
Life is ill, again life's a movie
Then the roster's Cypress Hill, Nas and Fugees
Before I sold records, no promotion
The rap world like, what's all this commotion
Went plat, mad bottles I'm toasting
20-20 hindsight but how did they know then?

CHORUS:
What, what? what would I do?
What, what? what would I do?
What, what? what would I do?
What, what? what would I do?

VERSE 3:
Invincible, lyrical, miracle man, huh!
Well back to the matter at hand
'Cos ten years ago we all strived to beat 25
Some cats didn't make it alive
Dated some stars but respect they privacy
Copped mad cars laying back in the driver's seat
Held myself down, just steering the wheel
Here I am, completed my whole record deal

CHORUS:
What, what? what would I do?
What, what? what would I do?
What, what? what would I do?
What, what? what would I do?

OUTRO:
What would I do?
If I could reach inside of me
And to know how it feels to say
I like what I see