Lyrics & breakdown
Demo lines only. Select a line number to copy a stable deep link.
- 46
Jigga started to flow like us, but hit with "Ain't No Niggas"
47Had much Versace swagger
48Big admired the Brooklynite and took him in as Iceberg; the rappers
Block noteMakes the confrontation explicit
TargetJay-Z
MeaningWhat it means: In “Jigga started to flow like us, but hit with "Ain't No Niggas",” Nas addresses Jay-Z directly and makes the situation described in the quoted line the point of confrontation. 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.” Naming or plainly addressing Jay-Z removes the safety of a subliminal and makes the quoted claim something the target can either answer or leave standing.
ContextThe track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”
- 51
Uhh, uhh, uhh...
- 91
We had the best times, she asked would I make more songs
92I told her not 'til I see her health get more strong
93In the middle of that, Jay tried to sneak attack
Block noteMakes the confrontation explicit
TargetJay-Z
MeaningWhat it means: In “She was gettin' old and sick, so I stayed beside her,” Nas addresses Jay-Z directly and makes the situation described in the quoted line the point of confrontation. 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.” Naming or plainly addressing Jay-Z removes the safety of a subliminal and makes the quoted claim something the target can either answer or leave standing.
ContextThe track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”
- 95
'Cause in order for him to be the Don, Nas had to go
96The Gam-B-I-N-O rules, I understood
97What y'all want, see, I already had
Block noteMakes the confrontation explicit
TargetJay-Z
MeaningWhat it means: In “What y'all want, see, I already had,” Nas addresses Jay-Z directly and makes the situation described in the quoted line the point of confrontation. 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.” Naming or plainly addressing Jay-Z removes the safety of a subliminal and makes the quoted claim something the target can either answer or leave standing.
ContextThe track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”
- 99
Fuck that shit – the first shall be last
100I'm the man's man, a rapper's rapper
101G-O-D, S-O-N – there'll be none after
Block noteUses a pointed question as an accusation
TargetJay-Z
MeaningWhat it means: In “"The Gift and The Curse"?,” Nas puts Jay-Z's conduct on trial through a question that is meant as a challenge, not a neutral request for information. 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.” The question shifts the burden onto Jay-Z: any answer must accept the premise raised in the lyric or explain why that premise is false.
ContextThe track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”
- 103
It hurt me when I had to kill him, and his whole squad for dolo (For solo, for dolo..)
Block noteMakes the confrontation explicit
TargetJay-Z
MeaningWhat it means: In “It hurt me when I had to kill him, and his whole squad for dolo (For solo, for dolo..),” Nas addresses Jay-Z directly and makes the situation described in the quoted line the point of confrontation. 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.” Naming or plainly addressing Jay-Z removes the safety of a subliminal and makes the quoted claim something the target can either answer or leave standing.
ContextThe track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”
- 104
Uhh, uhh, uhh...