1.
Turnin' nothin' into somethin' is God work, and you get nothin' without struggle and hard work
Nas
Transforming emptiness into abundance is a divine act, and you gain nothing without toil and effort.
2.
You have to keep your vision clear, cause only a coward lives in fear.
Nas
Maintain your focus, for only the faint of heart are crippled by apprehension.
3.
Don't ever give up on yourself. Keep pushing because the change of guards is what life's all about. [...] You've always got to stick with whatever you're into because you're day is going to come. You're day is destined. If you walk away from that, whether it be from fear or whether you're just giving up. [...] The greatest sin is fear and giving up.
Nas
4.
Much success to you, even if you wish me the opposite.
Nas
Best of luck to you, even if you hope for the contrary.
5.
No idea is original, there's nothing new under the sun, it's never what you do, but how it's done
Nas
"There is no such thing as an original thought, every concept has been conceived before; the key is not the idea, but its execution."
6.
You lose money chasing women, never lose women chasing money...
Nas
You squander away your resources pursuing romantic interests, but never sacrifice a relationship for financial gain.
7.
I never brag, how real i keep it, cause thats the best secret.
Nas
I never boast, how genuine I remain, since that's the most precious insight.
8.
Beyond the walls of intelligence, life is defined
Nas
Outside the boundaries of knowledge, existence is delineated.
9.
My success symbolizes loyalty, great friends, Dedication, hard work, routine builds character. In a world full of snakes, rats and scavengers
Nas
My success stands as a testament to loyalty, exceptional companions, Commitment, diligence, discipline develops personality. In an atmosphere of duplicity and selfishness.
10.
Some seek fame cause they need validation,
Some say hating is confused admiration.
Nas
Some pursue celebrity because they require recognition,
Others declare animosity is misdirected admiration.
11.
It's a thin line between paper and hate,
Friends and snakes, nine millis and thirty-eights,
Hell or the pearly gates...I was destined to come,
Predicted, blame God, He blew breath in my lungs.
Nas
It's a delicate balance between love and animosity,
Allies and adversaries, small arms and handguns,
Perdition or the celestial realms...I was fated to arrive,
Foretold, censure God, He imparted breath in my lungs.
12.
If you scared to take chances, you'll never have the answers...
Nas
If you are too timid to take risks, you will never have the solutions...
13.
What you base your happiness around?
Material, women, and large paper?
That means you inferior, not major.
Nas
What you rely on to be content?
Possessions, people, and fiscal gain?
That makes you petty, not significant.
14.
Everything will eventually come to an end,
So try to savor the moment, cause time flies, don't it?
The beauty of life, you gotta make it last for the better,
Cause nothin' lasts forever.
Nas
All good things must come to a close,
Therefore try to appreciate the present, for it passes quickly, doesn't it?
The magnificence of life, you should enjoy it as much as possible,
For nothing is perpetual.
15.
If the truth is told, the youth can grow
Then learn to survive until they gain control
Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes
Read more learn more, change the globe
Nas
If facts are revealed, the young can thrive
So they will make it through until they have mastery
Nobody requires you to be criminals, promiscuous women
Read more, become wiser, transform the world.
16.
For my hustlers, here's some motivation: He who has begun is half done.
Nas
'For my hard workers, here's some inspiration: Starting is half the battle.'
17.
How can you lose when you're doing you?
Nas
'What is there to fear when you're being true to yourself?'
18.
I broke into shakespeare's tomb and stole his remains, grinded the bones, smoked it, then got in the game
Nas
I infiltrated Shakespeare's crypt and purloined his corpus, pulverized the skeletal fragments, imbibed it, then entered the competition.
19.
Once you make it to your point of making it, you'll appreciate the struggle.
Nas
Once you reach the pinnacle of success, you'll recognize the hard work that led up to it.
20.
Play it cool, that's the old school rule man.
Nas
Keep your composure, that's the classic regulation dude.
21.
No temporary chaos is worth your sanity.
Nas
No fleeting disarray is worth your mental equilibrium.
22.
The hardest thing is to forgive, but God does, even if you murdered or robbed, ya it's wrong, but God loves, take one step toward him he'll take two toward you, even when all else fails, God'll support you
Nas
23.
I'm never gonna die, never heard of death, energy can never be destroyed only the flesh.
Nas
'I'm immortal, oblivious to mortality, energy is eternal and only the physical form perishes.'
24.
The flaws, the mistakes I make - that's the real me.
Nas
'The missteps, the blunders I commit - that is my genuine self.'
25.
I pledge allegiance to the fair and balanced truth.
Not the biased truth,
Not the liest truth,
But the highest truth.
Nas
I swear fealty to the even-handed veracity.
Not the prejudiced truth,
Not the mendacious truth,
But the ultimate truth.
26.
Just sitting in silence is one of the best things a man can do.
Nas
Sojourning in tranquility is one of the most advantageous activities a man can undertake.
27.
I want to have fun. It's a beautiful life. You learn, you win, you lose, but you get up.
Nas
I desire to enjoy myself. It's an exquisite life. You educate yourself, you succeed, you fail, but you rise again.
28.
The further I get, the further I want to go
Nas
The more I progress, the more ambitious I become.
29.
Аll I need is one life, one try, one breath, I'm one man.
What I stand for speaks for itself...they don't understand.
Nas
All I necessitate is a single opportunity, one endeavor, one inhalation, I'm an individual. What I stand for speaks for itself...they don't comprehend.
30.
Niggas hate what they can't understand, fear what they can't conquer
Nas
Individuals detest what they cannot comprehend, dread what they are unable to dominate.
31.
I've learned not to be surprised by what people do no more.
Nas
I no longer expect the unexpected from others.
32.
I'm capable of anything, my imagination can give me wings
Nas
I'm capable of anything, my creativity can take me to new heights.
33.
I know you think my life is good 'cause my diamond piece,
But my life been good since I started finding peace.
Nas
'Though it might appear my situation is affluent due to my wealth,
I've been content since I began discovering serenity.'
34.
It's foul what this money could do, cash corrupts the loyal.
Nas
35.
Born alone, die alone, no crew to keep my crown or throne
Nas
36.
You can't please everybody. You['d] be crazy if you're trying to. So take some time out to do some things for yourself.
Nas
37.
Every great person educates themselves.
Nas
38.
A lot of times it seems like, you ain't gon' make it where you wanna be in life. But, yo if you got a plan, believe me you gon' get there. You gon' get everything you ever wanted
Nas
39.
I don't respect killers, I respect O.G. knowledge,
Codes of the streets got new rules, but no guidance.
Lessons, detrimental to a young disciple;
Folks, take care of your brothers, niggas do as I do.
Keep your enemies close, where they can see you.
It's not your enemy who get you, it's always your own people.
Nas
40.
But whats it all worth, cant take it when you under this earth
Rich men died and tried, but none of it worked
They just rob your grave, Id rather be alive and paid
Before my numbers called, historys made
Somell fall, but I rise, thug or die
Makin choices, that determine my future under the sky
To rob steal or kill, Im wondering why
Its a dirty game, is any man worthy of fame?
Much to success to ya, even if you wish me the opposite
Sooner or later we'll all see who the prophet is.
Nas
41.
Respect all fear none my pride is everything
Nas
42.
No temporary chaos is worth your sanity. Just knowing that whatever happens, it happens to the best of them too.
Nas
43.
If I ruled the world Imagine that...
Nas
44.
I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death.
Nas
45.
Rule No. 1 is you can't be fake. If you're fake, you become a gimmick and you're selling a gimmick; a little gimmick is cool, this is entertainment. But when you base your stuff on mostly real stuff, you never run out of it because every day is a different adventure.
Nas
46.
Hip-hop is the streets. Hip-hop is a couple of elements that it comes from back in the days... that feel of music with urgency that speaks to you. It speaks to your livelihood and it's not compromised. It's blunt. It's raw, straight off the street - from the beat to the voice to the words.
Nas
47.
Big L scared me to death. When I heard that on tape, I was scared to death. I was like there's no way I can compete if this is what I gotta compete with.
Nas
48.
The greatest sin is fear and giving up.
Nas
49.
I talk about Africa and its meaning, being the birthplace of man and all that great history that's been erased and even hidden. I think it's my duty to be proud and to bring about the conversation that allows us to talk about the great history of my people.
Nas
50.
Your look reflects whats happening in your mind.
Nas
