15 Let Nas Down

[00:01.32] Freedom or jail, clips inserted, a baby's bein' born

[00:04.81] Same time my man is murdered; the beginning and end

[00:07.51] As far as rap go, it's only natural, I explain

[00:10.21] My plateau, and also what defines my name

[00:13.56] Yeah, long live the idols, may they never be your rivals

[00:16.36] 'Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible

[00:19.34] Now what you 'bout to hear is a tale of glory and sin

[00:21.80] No I.D. my mentor, now let the story begin

[00:24.56] I used to print out Nas' raps and tape 'em up on my wall

[00:27.31] My niggas thought they was words, but it was pictures I saw

[00:30.35] And since I wanted to draw, I used to read them in awe

[00:33.36] Then he dropped Stillmatic, rocked the cleanest velour

[00:36.11] Fast forward, who'd a thought that I would meet him on tour

[00:38.81] I'm earnin' stripes now, a nigga got Adidas galore

[00:41.56] Backstage I shook his hand, let 'em know that he's the man

[00:44.60] When he said he was a fan it was too hard to understand

[00:47.58] No time to soak up the moment though ‘cause I was in a jam

[00:50.06] Hov askin' where's the record that the radio could play

[00:53.06] And I was strikin' out for months, 9th inning, feelin' fear

[00:56.08] Jeter under pressure, made the biggest hit of my career

[00:58.57] But at first, that wasn't clear, niggas had no idea

[01:01.32] Dion called me when it dropped, sounded sad but sincere

[01:04.07] Told me Nas heard your single and he hate that shit

[01:06.55] Said, "You the one, yo, why you make that shit?"

[01:08.85] I can't believe I let Nas down

[01:12.48] Damn, my heart sunk to my stomach

[01:14.89] I can't believe I let Nas down

[01:18.18] I got defensive on the phone

[01:19.63] Resentment was in my tone, fuck it

[01:21.76] Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals

[01:24.27] 'Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible

[01:26.86] Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin

[01:29.62] No I.D. my mentor, now let the story begin

[01:32.16] I couldn't help but think that maybe I had made a mistake

[01:35.19] I mean, you made "You Owe Me"

[01:36.54] Dog, I thought that you could relate

[01:38.03] But while I shot up the charts

[01:40.03] You mean tellin' me that I was not up to par

[01:42.04] When I followed my heart

[01:43.85] Granted, my heart was tainted

[01:45.38] By my mind that kept on sayin'

[01:46.84] "Where's the hits?" You ain't got none

[01:48.29] You know Jay'll never put your album out without none

[01:51.14] And, dog, you know how come

[01:52.63] Labels are archaic, formulaic with they outcome

[01:55.09] They don't know, they just study the charts

[01:57.60] Me, I studied the shows, the fans, study they hearts

[02:00.60] I had a feelin' I was killin', and this music we were spillin' out

[02:03.61] Would change lives forever, fuck the label, put it out

[02:06.41] Friday Night Lights blew, that was classic number two

[02:09.10] Now it seemed as if the Nas comparisons was comin' true

[02:11.85] Still no release date from the label, are they insane?

[02:14.60] Gucc told me play the game to change the game

[02:17.09] But on the way I let Nas down

[02:20.84] I got no one to blame

[02:22.64] I'm ashamed, I let Nas down

[02:26.11] But this is God's plan, you can never understand, fuck it

[02:29.37] Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals

[02:32.11] 'Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible

[02:34.92] Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin

[02:37.44] No I.D. my mentor, now let the story begin

[02:39.91] I always believed in the bigger picture

[02:41.65] If I could get them niggas to listen outside my core

[02:44.45] Then I can open the door

[02:45.90] Reintroduce them to honesty, show 'em that they need more

[02:48.72] The difference between the pretenders and the Kendrick Lamars

[02:51.57] And so, I took the fall

[02:53.00] Like the son of the Lord on the cross

[02:55.26] Dyin' for that fake shit you niggas bought

[02:57.26] For the past decade

[02:58.58] If I should pass, please let this be my last essay

[03:01.35] Therefore I write from the heart

[03:02.89] Apologies to OG's for sacrificin' my art

[03:05.59] But I'm here for a greater purpose

[03:07.16] I knew right from the start

[03:08.40] I'm just a man of the people, not above but equal

[03:11.36] And for the greater good I walk amongst the evil

[03:14.14] Don't cry, Mama, this the life I choose myself

[03:16.86] Just pray along the way that I don't lose myself

[03:19.65] This is for the nigga that said that Hip-Hop was dead

[03:22.67] I went to Hell to resurrect it

[03:24.12] How could you fail to respect it?

[03:25.44] Letting Nas down, I got the phone call

[03:29.85] Quietly I mourned, dog, I let Nas down

[03:33.64] Yeah, and on this flight

[03:35.15] May I never lose sight, fuck it

[03:37.39] Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals

[03:39.69] 'Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible

[03:42.68] Now what you just heard's a tale of glory and sin

[03:45.18] No I.D. my mentor, now let the story begin