Let Nas Down

Song Let Nas Down
Artist J. Cole
Album Born Sinner

Lyrics

[00:02.10] Freedom or jail, clips inserted
[00:03.73] A baby's bein' born same time a man is murdered
[00:06.17] The beginning and end, so far as rap goes
[00:08.85] It's only natural, I explain my plateau
[00:10.87] And also what defines my name
[00:12.87]
[00:13.44] Yeah, long live the idols
[00:14.88] May they never be your rivals
[00:16.25] Pac was like Jesus
[00:17.64] Nas wrote the Bible
[00:19.08] Now what you're 'bout to
[00:20.46] Hear's a tale of glory and sin
[00:21.71] No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin
[00:24.00]
[00:24.62] I used to print out Nas raps and tape 'em up on my wall
[00:27.24] My niggas thought they was words
[00:28.69] But it was pictures I saw
[00:30.19] And since I wanted to draw
[00:31.56] I used to read 'em in awe
[00:33.00] Then he dropped Stillmatic
[00:34.35] Rocked the cleanest Velour
[00:35.96] Fast forward, who thought
[00:37.33] That I would meet him on tour?
[00:38.72] I'm earnin' stripes now nigga
[00:39.72] Got Adidas galore
[00:40.77]
[00:41.51] Backstage I shook his hand
[00:43.08] Let him know that he's the man
[00:44.34] When he said he was a fan
[00:45.71] It was to hard to understand
[00:47.22] No time to soak up the moment though
[00:48.78] Cause I was in a jam
[00:49.97] Hov askin' where's the record
[00:51.03] That the radio could play
[00:52.87] And I was strikin' out for months
[00:54.12] 9th inning feeling fear
[00:55.70] Jeter under pressure
[00:56.57] Made the biggest hit of my career
[00:58.51] But at first, that wasn't clear
[00:59.83] Niggas had no idea
[01:01.27] Dion called me when it dropped
[01:02.53] Sounded sad but sincere
[01:04.09] Told me Nas heard
[01:05.06] Your single and he hate that shit
[01:06.87] Said you the one, yo why you make that shit?
[01:08.80] I can't believe I let Nas down
[01:10.78]
[01:12.79] Damn, my heart sunk to my stomach
[01:14.86] I can't believe I let Nas down
[01:16.48]
[01:18.31] I got defensive on the phone
[01:19.49] Resentment was in my tone, f**k it
[01:22.01] Yeah, long live the idols
[01:22.81] May they never be your rivals
[01:23.84] Pac was like Jesus
[01:25.28] Nas wrote the Bible
[01:26.40] Now what you're 'bout to
[01:28.15] Hear's a tale of glory and sin
[01:29.79] No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin
[01:32.22] I couldn't help but think
[01:33.42] That maybe I had made a mistake
[01:35.04] I mean, you made "You Owe Me" dog
[01:36.80] I thought that you could relate
[01:37.93] But while I shot up the charts
[01:39.26] You mean tellin' me
[01:40.76] That I was not up to par
[01:42.12] When I followed my heart
[01:43.19] Granted, my heart was tainted by my mind
[01:45.53] I kept on sayin'
[01:46.65] Where's the hits?
[01:47.21] You ain't got none
[01:48.16] You know Jay would never
[01:49.41] Put your album out without none
[01:50.62] And dog, you know how come
[01:52.24] Labels are archaic
[01:53.23] Formulaic with their outcomes
[01:55.86] They don't know
[01:56.42] They just study the charts
[01:57.48] Me, I study the shows
[01:58.93] The fans, study their hearts
[02:00.57] I had a feelin' I was killin'
[02:02.00] And this music we were spillin' out
[02:03.44] Would change lives forever
[02:04.27] F**k the label, put it out
[02:06.27] Friday Night Lights blew
[02:07.28] That was classic number 2
[02:08.84] Now it seemed as if
[02:10.10] The Nas comparisons was comin' true
[02:11.54] Still no release date from the label
[02:13.23] Are they insane?
[02:14.73] Gooch told me play the game
[02:16.18] To change the game but on the way
[02:17.56] I let Nas down, I got noone to blame
[02:22.45] I'm ashamed I let Nas down
[02:24.00]
[02:26.58] But this is God's plan
[02:27.57] You could never understand, f**k it
[02:29.53] Yeah, long live the idols
[02:30.47] May they never be your rivals
[02:31.59] Pac was like Jesus
[02:32.96] Nas wrote the Bible
[02:34.36] Now what you're 'bout to
[02:36.11] Hear's a tale of glory and sin
[02:37.37] No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin
[02:39.99] I always believed in the bigger picture
[02:41.32] If I could get them niggas
[02:42.88] To listen outside my core
[02:44.19] Then I can open a door
[02:45.62] Reintroduce 'em to honesty
[02:46.60] Show 'em that they need more
[02:48.65] The difference between
[02:49.48] The pretenders and the Kendrick Lamars
[02:51.41] And so, I took the fall like the son of the Lord
[02:54.17] On the cross
[02:54.99] Dyin' for that fake shit you niggas bought
[02:57.12] For the past decade
[02:58.06] If I should pass please let this be my last essay
[03:00.88] Therefore I write from the heart
[03:02.71] Apologies to OG's for sacrificin' my art
[03:05.37] But I'm here for a greater purpose
[03:06.93] I knew right from the start
[03:08.20] I'm just a man of the people
[03:09.69] Not above but equal
[03:11.20] And for the greater good
[03:12.45] I walk amongst the evil
[03:14.03] Don't cry mama
[03:15.03] This the life I choose myself
[03:16.73] Just pray along the way
[03:18.10] That I don't lose myself
[03:19.61] This is for the nigga
[03:20.61] That said that hip-hop was dead
[03:22.45] I went to Hell to resurrect it
[03:23.77] How could you fail to respect it?
[03:25.26] Lettin' Nas down
[03:26.26]
[03:28.52] I got the phone call
[03:29.52] Quietly I mourned dog
[03:30.89] I let Nas down
[03:32.13]
[03:33.00] Yeah, and on this flight
[03:35.19] May I never lose sight, f**k it
[03:37.33] Yeah, long live the idols
[03:38.20] May they never be your rivals
[03:39.42] Pac was like Jesus
[03:40.92] Nas wrote the Bible
[03:42.43] Now what you're 'bout to
[03:43.55] Hear's a tale of glory and sin
[03:45.24] No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin