Verified archive entry

Don’t You Know

By Jay-Z · Targeting Nas

Don’t You Know is a diss track by Jay-Z targeting Nas. The track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”

Released2002

Annotated3

ExplicitYes

Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

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

01
[Intro]
02
C'mon
03
Fresh from London, Paris, Germany
04
It's Euro Jay (Haha), International Hov
05
Bonsoir, motherfuckers, we back
06
As if we never left this bitch, huh, Ty?
07
It's worldwide, still just blazin' this shit up (Woo)
08
[Verse 1]
09
Every place I visit, I got land there
10
How could niggas stand there and say I sound like them? Hell no
11
Push wigs back, push Bentley drops that's yellow
12
Started from the elbow, nigga, from the get-go
13
No, not the Geico, ain't nothing accidental
Multi-line diss block
14
Just the facts that I've been through, perhaps if you was into
15
Half of the shit I've been through that'd make your pen move
16
Your mind would open, your heart would bleed
Block noteAttacks the target's ability to rap
TargetNas
MeaningWhat it means: In “Half of the shit I've been through that'd make your pen move,” Jay-Z challenges Nas on writing, delivery, flow, or command of the microphone rather than relying only on a personal insult. Why it was said: The track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.” This goes to the qualification that gives Nas standing in a rap battle; if the craft is weak, the reply loses authority before its other claims are considered.
ContextThe track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”
17
Instead y'all niggas flow, oh, so retardedly
18
You sound retarded to me, how could you stand there, pants there
19
Down to your ass, you won't spar with me
20
I'll put you down in the grass, it's the God MC
21
Young V-I-T-O, youngin, you are my hijo
Multi-line diss block
22
My son dula, I clean the cesspool up
23
Rap stinks, haha, you cats are the Sphinx
24
You cut off your nose to spite your face
Block noteTurns the target into a visual punchline
TargetNas
MeaningWhat it means: In “You cut off your nose to spite your face,” Jay-Z reduces Nas to an exaggerated physical caricature instead of engaging the target's preferred public image. Why it was said: The track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.” A visual insult is easy for an audience to remember and repeat; the goal is to make ridicule of Nas travel beyond the song itself.
ContextThe track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”
25
Bet you like it that way, don't ya?
26
[Chorus]
27
Don't you know when you're defeated, young punk?
28
Won't you throw, won't you throw in the towel, stop running your mouth?
29
Don't you know that we know you just running your mouth?
30
'Cause when this shit pops off, y'all gonna run in your house
31
Don't you know when you're defeated, young punk?
32
Won't you throw, won't you throw in the towel? I'm better with vowels
33
My vocabulary murders the dictionary
34
Flow switches every sixteen, the shit mean, man
35
[Verse 2]
36
Shit, I'm heavy in the game, I ain't worried 'bout a thing
37
Last man standing, blam-blamming the cannon
38
48 Hours, it's Reggie Hammond, the Colt be
39
Nick Nolte, my demeanor is Humphrey Bogie, baby
40
I'm comfy-cozy, my spot is solidified
41
Rock-a-bye, baby, I sing you a lullaby
42
How ill am I? BK to Philadi— ('Delphia)
43
Niggas feelin' how real am I, shit
44
I carry two Taurus, niggas, they call me Gemini
45
Though my birthday is one day before December five
46
It's S. Carter the archer, I throw darts at ya
47
Arrows through your apparel, I will dearly depart ya
48
It's clearly hard for ya, what God has bestowed on me
49
You're not as raw as me nigga, nigga, I'm poetry
50
In four-part harmony, it's like Jodeci
51
Check out my melody, my flow is a felony
52
Oh, I'm so seventies, I'm in tune with the heavenly
53
Governing body, check, check, check out my destiny
54
I walk leaving four footprints, my hood sense
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My book smarts, my faith of the unknown and a good heart
56
What's seldom shown is the good part
Multi-line diss block
57
Like I said, you try to bring 'em life, but they want dead
58
You won't listen, Hov is a nice guy, but don't diss him
59
That'll piss him off quick, you won't listen
Block notePressures the target to answer
TargetNas
MeaningWhat it means: In “You won't listen, Hov is a nice guy, but don't diss him,” Jay-Z treats Nas' response, delay, or silence as part of the contest rather than a neutral choice. Why it was said: The track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.” By defining silence as concession, the line tries to control the timetable of the feud and force Nas into replying on the artist's terms.
ContextThe track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”
60
[Chorus]
61
Don't you know when you're defeated, young punk?
62
Won't you throw, won't you throw in the towel, stop running your mouth?
63
Don't you know that we know you're just running your mouth?
64
'Cause when this shit pops off you gon' run in your house
65
Don't you know when you're defeated, young punk?
66
Won't you throw, won't you throw in the towel? I'm better with vowels
67
My vocabulary murders the dictionary
68
Flow switches every sixteen, the shit mean, man
69
[Outro]
70
C'mon, man, c'mon, man
71
C'mon, man
72
Woo, c'mon, man
73
C'mon, man
74
Fat shout the whole Roc