[00:31.65]The ill reminisce and think about the fly days
[00:33.71]Nothing like them 80s summer N.Y. days
[00:36.32]Hop on the NB5 days
[00:38.72]Mopeds, Pro Keds, city split five ways
[00:41.43]How it all started, fifth floor apartment
[00:44.08]A jigsaw puzzle aerial view of the projects
[00:46.67]A kid saw struggle, buried a few of his partners
[00:49.26]Now chill in resorts, enjoying massages
[00:51.71]Check out the oracle bred from city housing
[00:54.04]Nas, I'll rise the deads by thousands
[00:56.67]I remember seeing Shan chilling near his Audi
[00:59.47]Hollis Ave. running them, but I probably
[01:01.79]Put a poster up of Shan and Marley, that was art, kid
[01:04.84]You love to hear the story how it started
[01:07.02]The bubbly I'm pouring wasn't popped yet
[01:09.06]Before there was a audience to watch us
[01:11.43]I assure you, there was a process
[01:13.05]
[01:13.06]"You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started"
[01:15.37]How it all got started, yeah
[01:17.13]"You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started"
[01:20.65]How it, how it all got started
[01:21.98]"You love to hear the story how it all, how it all got started"
[01:24.99]Hear the story, started off
[01:26.71]Started off, started off
[01:27.67]How it all got started
[01:28.55]"Back when, back when, back when, back when
[01:30.28]Back when, back when, back when, back when"
[01:32.92]To call them fake today is hate, real n*ggas extinct
[01:35.18]Pac left me inside a rap world with n*ggas that's weak
[01:37.75]And other rappers, undercover n*ggas spit every way
[01:40.13]Won't be surprised if all their rides have federal plates
[01:42.92]Let alone their wardrobes are Studio 4 flow
[01:45.36]It was real when I appeared, it would've been some jaws broke
[01:48.30]Nas, my real name, stage name, same thing
[01:50.67]How could you let these lames claim king? I'm so ashamed, man
[01:53.73]I light a L for Vernon, for n*ggas who would burn in Hell
[01:56.58]For Vernon; 10th Street, 12th Street, Nightmare on Elm Street
[01:59.40]Pimps creep, delve deep inside the editorials
[02:01.53]Of the ghetto queens, kings, stories true
[02:04.17]Who possesses the testicular fortitude
[02:06.34]To blow away myths that's a hindrance to all of you?
[02:09.04]You blame your own shortcomings on section, race
[02:11.81]The mafia, homosexuals and all the Jews
[02:14.44]It's hogwash point of views, stereotypical
[02:17.32]Anti-Semitic like the foul words Gibson spewed
[02:20.33]And it's pathetic, I don't get the credit I deserve
[02:23.20]That's why I hate doing interviews
[02:24.76]But I don't sweat it, study long, study raw
[02:26.98]My man Deon said "Nas over-think the songs he writing"
[02:29.92]I'm not a wack performer standing behind a corny hype man
[02:32.67]I got the Donism, I'm here to enlighten
[02:35.20]"You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started"
[02:37.81]How it all got started, yeah
[02:40.13]"You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started"
[02:44.36]How it, how it all got started
[02:45.18]"You love to hear the story how it all, how it all got started"
[02:47.59]Hear the story, started off
[02:48.73]Started off, started off
[02:49.54]How it all got started
[02:50.77]"Back when, back when, back when, back when
[02:52.80]Back when, back when, back when, back when"
[02:57.41]