DISSNATION
Verified archive entry

Destroy & Rebuild

By Nas · Targeting Cormega, MC Shan, Nature

Destroy & Rebuild is a diss track by Nas targeting Cormega, MC Shan and Nature. Nas addresses Queensbridge peers during a period of local disputes over loyalty, reputation, and the neighborhood's rap legacy.

Released2001
Annotated4
ExplicitYes
Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

Demo lines only. Select a line number to copy a stable deep link.

  1. 01

    [Intro]

    02

    This is a journey into the world's most largest and notorious projects, Queensbridge

    03

    Listen while Nas saves his hood from the most cowardest rappers

  2. 04

    [Verse 1]

    05

    He held a mass appeal and a likkle boy smile

    06

    Depressed has a complex, his mouth was foul

    07

    You need to stay around, I feel like tellin' some stories

    08

    First there's this arrogant fuck, his name's Cory

  3. 09

    Hung around my mans Lakey and Big Trevor

    10

    Trevor's still locked up, Lake's gettin' his cheddar

    11

    Corey changed his name to ah, whatever

    12

    Cornchip, Buckwheat look-a-like, it's Mega

  4. 13

    Right, Mega was his name, sorry about that

    14

    But it's so hard to put a coward's name in my rap

    15

    Always actin' tough, a jokester be frontin'

    16

    He got snuffed, he got shot in the thigh, he did nothin'

  5. 17

    But that's Nas always lookin' out for bredren

    18

    'Cause when bredren don't return love it don't stress him

    19

    'Cause gangstas do gangsta shit, real recognize real

    20

    Still laughin' to the bank and shit

  6. 21

    Back to Cor', got him a deal but his rhymes was wack

    22

    Def Jam mad that he signed the contract

    23

    Now he got jealous and mad at my shine

    24

    Making silly tapes, I'm always on his mind

  7. 25

    Nonsense, not to be obnoxious, kid

    Multi-line diss block
    26

    Mega, for the record you could suck my dick

    27

    Bitch, you from around the way, it's sad what this do to me

    28

    But Queensbridge, we gotta have unity

    Block noteUses gendered or sexual humiliation

    TargetCormega

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Mega, for the record you could suck my dick,” Nas uses gendered or sexual language to question Cormega's masculinity or humiliate the target in front of the audience. Why it was said: Nas addresses Queensbridge peers during a period of local disputes over loyalty, reputation, and the neighborhood's rap legacy. The tactic tries to trigger an emotional reply and damage Cormega's public image, even though the framing itself can reproduce homophobic or sexist stereotypes.

    ContextNas addresses Queensbridge peers during a period of local disputes over loyalty, reputation, and the neighborhood's rap legacy.

  8. 29

    [Refrain]

    30

    They say (The bridge is over, the bridge is over)

    31

    Nah, this is the time we destroy and rebuild it

    32

    They say (The bridge is over, the bridge is over)

    33

    Nah, we the strongest hood but weak niggas kill it

  9. 34

    So they say (The bridge is over, the bridge is over)

    35

    Nah, this is the time we destroy and rebuild it

    36

    They say (The bridge is over, the bridge is over)

    37

    Nah, we the strongest hood but it's these cowards that kill it

  10. 38

    So now they say

  11. 39

    [Verse 2]

    40

    Since we on the subject of traitors and flunkies

    41

    Mega ain't the only faggot in my hood, dummies

    42

    There's plenty that wanna be me but cannot

    43

    It's like King Arthur and Knight Sir Lancelot

  12. 44

    Lefty and Donnie Brasco, Gotti and Paul

    45

    Before I woulda told you Prodigy's my dog

    46

    Through the ups and downs, robberies and all

    47

    Though I always knew he wanted my downfall

  13. 48

    He would say his little slick shit and act real funny

    49

    For what, nigga? You're butt and it got back to me

    50

    Askin' a Braveheart to help get back your jewelry

    51

    You ain't from my hood, don't even rep Q.B

  14. 52

    Nature moved to Marcy

    Multi-line diss block
    53

    (Man dick riding Nature) Nothing else to say

    54

    Man, Nature moved to Marcy (What? Far)

    55

    Backward ass niggas, man, fuck them niggas (Far away)

    Block noteUses gendered or sexual humiliation

    TargetNature

    MeaningWhat it means: In “(Man dick riding Nature) Nothing else to say,” Nas uses gendered or sexual language to question Nature's masculinity or humiliate the target in front of the audience. Why it was said: Nas addresses Queensbridge peers during a period of local disputes over loyalty, reputation, and the neighborhood's rap legacy. The tactic tries to trigger an emotional reply and damage Nature's public image, even though the framing itself can reproduce homophobic or sexist stereotypes.

    ContextNas addresses Queensbridge peers during a period of local disputes over loyalty, reputation, and the neighborhood's rap legacy.

  15. 56

    Go 'head with the program, man, proceed

    57

    Old lady pocketbook snatcher, car thief

    58

    Course we ain't friends, you never stood on no blocks

    59

    Streets or corners with zombies, ghouls and gangstas

  16. 60

    Cops, drug dealers with pools of blood anger

    61

    Just fills me when niggas let out of town to set shot

    62

    And get filthy rich, it's just not

    63

    No more morals, no loyalty, no more community

  17. 64

    Queensbridge, we gotta have unity

  18. 65

    [Refrain]

    66

    They say (The bridge is over, the bridge is over)

    67

    Nah, this is the time we destroy and rebuild it

    68

    They say (The bridge is over, the bridge is over)

    69

    Nah, we the strongest hood but weak niggas kill it

  19. 70

    So they say (The bridge is over, the bridge is over)

    71

    Nah, this is the time we destroy and rebuild it

    72

    They say (The bridge is over, the bridge is over)

    73

    Nah, we the strongest hood but it's these cowards that kill it

  20. 74

    So now they say

  21. 75

    [Verse 3]

    76

    I put the name on the map after Marley and Shan

    77

    Q.B. before the ROC had one jam

    78

    Before the Death Row and Bad Boy beef

    79

    I had streets locked with raw talent, I laugh at the weak

  22. 80

    So this about cleanin' up house, my own backyard

    Multi-line diss block
    81

    Famous home of rap stars well known be getting robbed

    82

    P, how many times ain't you shamed that

    83

    Jungle was bustin' his gun to get your weak chain back

    Block noteImagines the battle as physical destruction

    TargetCormega

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Jungle was bustin' his gun to get your weak chain back,” Nas converts lyrical defeat into death, shooting, burial, or bodily harm directed at Cormega. Why it was said: Nas addresses Queensbridge peers during a period of local disputes over loyalty, reputation, and the neighborhood's rap legacy. The violent image makes the response sound final: instead of proposing an endless exchange, the artist depicts Cormega as unable to return for another round.

    ContextNas addresses Queensbridge peers during a period of local disputes over loyalty, reputation, and the neighborhood's rap legacy.

  23. 84

    They don't respect you, a check's due for me for your fame

    Multi-line diss block
    85

    Mega, I hope you blow so I'm sayin' your name (Mega, Mega)

    86

    Hoes play your position 'cause you'll never be King

    87

    Even Jigga want the crown, "How that sound?" Poor thing

    Block noteChallenges the target's public standing

    TargetCormega

    MeaningWhat it means: In “They don't respect you, a check's due for me for your fame,” Nas questions whether Cormega's attention, audience, or reputation reflects genuine respect. Why it was said: Nas addresses Queensbridge peers during a period of local disputes over loyalty, reputation, and the neighborhood's rap legacy. Visibility can be mistaken for victory, so the artist recasts Cormega's recognition as temporary, manufactured, or disconnected from credibility.

    ContextNas addresses Queensbridge peers during a period of local disputes over loyalty, reputation, and the neighborhood's rap legacy.

  24. 88

    I'm representin' Queensbridge U.S.A

    89

    Where two SK's go off every day ruthless-lay

    90

    All you little roaches and rats

    91

    Besides my man Ricky, Nas the true ruler is back

  25. 92

    So haters say

  26. 93

    [Refrain]

    94

    (The bridge is over, the bridge is over)

    95

    Nah, this is the time we destroy and rebuild it

    96

    They say (The bridge is over, the bridge is over)

    97

    Nah, we the strongest hood but weak niggas kill it

  27. 98

    So they say (The bridge is over, the bridge is over)

    99

    Nah, this is the time we destroy and rebuild it

    100

    They say (The bridge is over, the bridge is over)

    101

    Nah, we the strongest hood but it's these cowards that kill it

  28. 102

    So now they say

  29. 103

    [Outro]

    104

    "The Bridge is over," my dick

    105

    The Bridge'll never be over, long as I'm alive and breathin'

    106

    Braveheart to the graveyard

    107

    I'm the William Wallace of this shit

  30. 108

    Ayo, P, Prodigy I got love for you, man, I love you, man

    109

    You know what I'm sayin'?

    110

    Just get them unloyal niggas from out your circle

    111

    You can't save everybody

  31. 112

    Niggas invited you to the hood, rep it right, my nigga

    113

    Be untouchable, my nigga

    114

    So it be Mobb for life for real, and that's real

    115

    Ayo, Nature, I can't hold your hand through this shit, man

  32. 116

    I'm not your father, man

    117

    Be your own man, stand on your own two

    118

    I believe in you, believe in yourself, nigga

    119

    Or don't even rep this, man

  33. 120

    Ayo, Mega you wanna be a gangsta?

    121

    There's real gangsta shit going on in the streets, man

    122

    Yo niggas is in the grind

    123

    Where you be at man? Niggas be buckin'

  34. 124

    Why you never buckin'? Where you be at, man?

    125

    All of a sudden you the motherfuckin' Nino Brown of the fuckin' hood?

    126

    It's disgusting, man, stay out the magazines

    127

    Keep my name out your motherfuckin' mouth

  35. 128

    There's no more room for jealousy, we destroyin' and rebuildin'

    129

    That means the cowards get out and real niggas stay

    130

    Niggas been hating me since I been nine

    131

    Shining with suede motherfucking Bally's on and silks

  36. 132

    I'ma always be the young don

    133

    Don't be like the niggas on the other side

    134

    Hating me 'cause I'm beautiful

    135

    Real niggas in Queensbridge

  37. 136

    Y'all niggas come up and get this money and move on, baby

    137

    Q.B