Lyrics & breakdown
- 45
But, I borrowed from both them niggas
46Jigga 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...
- 90
She was gettin' old and sick, so I stayed beside her
91We 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.”
- 94
Assassinate my character, degrade my hood
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.”
- 98
"The Gift and The Curse"?
99Fuck 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.”
- 102
I was Scarface, Jay was Manolo
103It 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...