Inhale deep like the words of my breath,
I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death.
Nas, “New York State of Mind,” Illmatic, 1994
Tag Archives: illmatic
…Shorty’s laugh was cold-blooded as he spoke so foul,
Only twelve tryin to tell me that he liked my style.
Then I rose, wiping the blunt’s ash from my clothes,
Then froze, only to blow the herb smoke through my nose.
Nas, “One Love,” Illmatic, 1994
We were beginners in the hood as 5 Percenters,
But somethin’ must’ve got in us, cause all of us turned to sinners.
AZ, “Life’s a Bitch,” from Nas’ Illmatic, 1994
Keepin’ this effervescent street ghetto essence inside us
Cause it provides us with the proper insight to guide us
AZ, “Life’s a Bitch,” from Nas’ Illmatic, 1994
Dwellin’ in the Rotten Apple, you get tackled.
Or caught by the devil’s lasso…shit is a hassle.
Nas, “The World Is Yours,” Illmatic, 1994
I’m a addict for sneakers, twenties of buddah and bitches with beepers.
Nas, “N.Y. State of Mind,” Illmatic, 1994
Visualizin’ the realism of life and actuality,
Fuck who’s the baddest, a person’s status depends on salary.
AZ, “Life’s a Bitch,” from Nas’ Illmatic, 1994
On the reals, all these crab niggaz know the deal,
When we start the revolution, all they’ll probably do is squeal.
Nas, “One Love,” Illmatic, 1994
‘Cause in my physical I can express through song,
Delete stress like Motrin, then extend strong.
I drink Moet with Medusa, give her shotguns in hell
From the spliff that I lift and inhale…it ain’t hard to tell.
Nas, “It Ain’t Hard to Tell,” Illmatic, 1993. More from Nas…
Deep like The Shining, sparkle like a diamond,
Sneak a Uzi on the Island in my army jacket lining.
Hit the Earth like a comet…invasion,
Nas is like the Afrocentric Asian: half-man, half-amazing.
Nas, “It Ain’t Hard to Tell,” Illmatic, 1993. More from Nas…
It ain’t hard to tell, I excel then prevail,
The mic is contacted, I attract clientele.
My mic check is life or death, breathing a sniper’s breath,
I exhale the yellow smoke of buddha through righteous steps.
Nas, “It Ain’t Hard to Tell,” Illmatic, 1993. More from Nas…
Life’s a bitch and then you die.
That’s why we get high,
Cause you never know when you’re gonna go.
AZ, “Life’s a Bitch,” Illmatic, 1994. More from AZ…
My duration’s infinite, money-wise or physiology.
Nas, “Memory Lane (Sittin’ In Da Park),” Illmatic, 1994. More from Nasir Jones…
I switched my motto:
Instead of sayin’ ‘Fuck tomorrow,’
That buck that bought a bottle
Coulda struck the Lotto.
Nas, “Life’s a Bitch,” Illmatic, 1994. Plenty more Nas quotes >
I never sleep, ‘cause sleep is the cousin of death.
Nas, “N.Y. State of Mind,” Illmatic, 1994