Verified archive entry

Quick To Back Down

Quick To Back Down is a diss track by Bravehearts targeting Jay-Z. The recording also credits Nas and Lil Jon. The track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”

Released2003
Annotated4
ExplicitYes
Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

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

  1. 01

    [Intro: Lil Jon]

    02

    Yeah!

    03

    Bravehearts!

    04

    Yeah!

    05

    That boy Nas!

  2. 06

    Yeah!

    07

    Me, I'm your boy, Lil Jon

    08

    Yeah!

    09

    Right now we going to talk about these niggas!

  3. 10

    Yeah!

    11

    That's got a lot of mouth, what!

    12

    Yeah!

    13

    But when It's time to do some shit

  4. 14

    Yeah!

    15

    They folding, these niggas is folding and shit

    16

    Know what I'm talkin' 'bout, like paper

    17

    Yeah!

  5. 18

    [Chorus: Nas + Lil Jon]

    19

    [N] I know your type, I know your kind, you're

    20

    [L] Quick to back down

    21

    [N] You be leaving when there's drama

    22

    [L] Quick to back down

  6. 23

    [N] Fucking fake ass nigga

    24

    [L] Quick to back down

    25

    [N] Soggy cornflake nigga, you're

    26

    [L] Quick to back down

  7. 27

    [N] You, your whole crew, you're

    28

    [L] Quick to back down

    29

    [N] Y'all don't want none of this, you're

    30

    [L] Quick to back down

  8. 31

    [N] And I hate y'all niggas, you're

    32

    [L] Quick to back down

    33

    [N] Soggy cornflake nigga, you're

    34

    [L] Quick to back down

  9. 35

    [Verse 1: Nas]

    Multi-line diss block
    36

    First of all this is Nas, I'm a Braveheart veteran

    37

    And y'all already know who I'm better than

    38

    Y'all know the beef in the hood, it'll never end

    39

    Never hit the club unless I gets my Berretta in

    Block noteForces the dispute into a direct contest

    TargetJay-Z

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Y'all know the beef in the hood, it'll never end,” Bravehearts addresses Jay-Z as an opponent who must prove the claims being made rather than rely on reputation. 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 challenge narrows the argument to performance under pressure, where refusing or failing to answer can itself be presented as a loss for Jay-Z.

    ContextThe track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”

  10. 40

    The letter N, short for Nasir

    41

    More drama than the President with North Korea

    42

    Gettin' crunk with Lil Jon, he the livest in the south

    43

    Fuck around and you get wires in your mouth

  11. 44

    Cowards I despise and my power keeps on risin'

    45

    Niggas try to hate me but they keep recognizin'

    46

    Who's the next label I'ma bury?

    47

    CEO's, rappers and A&R's go to the rap cemetary

  12. 48

    And ya all got guns but ya scared to use 'em

    49

    Six million ways to die, nigga, choose one

    50

    I'm a Braveheart, I'll be right here

    51

    Y'all talk shit but I smell fear, motherfucker!

  13. 52

    [Hook]

  14. 53

    [Jungle]

    54

    Ay yo, all these niggas they afraid of the Bravehearts

    55

    I'll take a razor open your face up

    56

    I tried to tell these niggas we don't play

    57

    I run up on you broad day with a A-K

  15. 58

    Cornball I can make your heart beat stop

    Multi-line diss block
    59

    Pop pop your body drop from a couple shots

    60

    When you see me in the street, we can handle the beef

    61

    If you see me in jail you know you dead meat

    Block noteUses legal trouble as a pressure point

    TargetJay-Z

    MeaningWhat it means: In “If you see me in jail you know you dead meat,” Bravehearts invokes a case, arrest, imprisonment, or legal vulnerability to define Jay-Z through consequences outside the recording booth. 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 reference makes the attack feel verifiable and immediate, using a public consequence to challenge the control and invulnerability Jay-Z projects.

    ContextThe track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”

  16. 62

    I be fighting and stabbin, shooting and laughing

    63

    My ratchet blast on top of you bastards

    64

    Committing sins in Cincinnati

    65

    We'll drive by in all black caddy's

  17. 66

    A 21 gun salute

    Multi-line diss block
    67

    Your last words be, please Jungle don't shoot

    68

    Pussy, I'll put a slug between your eyes

    69

    And stand there and watch your punk ass die

    Block noteUses gendered or sexual humiliation

    TargetJay-Z

    MeaningWhat it means: In “Pussy, I'll put a slug between your eyes,” Bravehearts uses gendered or sexual language to question Jay-Z's masculinity or humiliate the target in front of the audience. 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 tactic tries to trigger an emotional reply and damage Jay-Z's public image, even though the framing itself can reproduce homophobic or sexist stereotypes.

    ContextThe track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”

  18. 70

    [Wiz]

    Multi-line diss block
    71

    I'm fuckin' wit them, Bravehearts

    72

    My niggas is coming we just don't stop

    73

    Yall niggas is running I'm just goin pop

    74

    I twist up my gun up and slap your mouth

    Block noteImagines the battle as physical destruction

    TargetJay-Z

    MeaningWhat it means: In “I twist up my gun up and slap your mouth,” Bravehearts converts lyrical defeat into death, shooting, burial, or bodily harm directed at Jay-Z. 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 violent image makes the response sound final: instead of proposing an endless exchange, the artist depicts Jay-Z as unable to return for another round.

    ContextThe track is part of the Nas–Jay-Z feud, which moved from subliminal references to direct exchanges including “Takeover,” “Ether,” and “Super Ugly.”

  19. 75

    With Lil John down south

    76

    My religion is green motherfucker too late

    77

    Since birth, I'm cursed, the worst motherfucka in da state

    78

    Time and time again you niggas back down, laugh now

  20. 79

    Fuck ya numbers nigga ya'll all fake

    80

    The hunt is on, fuck if I'm wrong, test my dead arm

    81

    Robbery, heavily armed, might leave him gone

    82

    Bang him duff him, actin like he don't know what's going on

  21. 83

    Hang em' rush em' get his clown ass his teammates wrong

    84

    And oh he got a 22, give him the gauge the brave way

    85

    God ain't going to save his bitch ass today

    86

    Wait I'mma Braveheart I'll be right here

  22. 87

    Y'all talk shit but I smell fear, mothafuckas!

  23. 88

    [Hook]