Black Republican
by Nas

Album: Hip Hop Is Dead (2006)
Play Video
  • I know you could feel the magic baby
    Turn the motherfuckin' lights down
    Esco, what up?

    What up, homie?

    I mean
    This is what you expected ain't it?
    Let's go
    Turn the music up in the headphones
    Yeah, that's perfect
    You gotta take your time make a nigga wait on this motherfucker
    Make a nigga mad and shit like
    Niggas usually start rapping after four bars nigga go in
    I could start dancin' in this motherfucker
    Yeah

    Yeah

    We just come out of nowhere

    I feel like a black republican, money I got comin' in
    Can't turn my back on the hood, I got love for them
    Can't clean my act up for good, too much thug in 'em
    Probably end up back in the hood, like fuck it then

    Huddlin' over the oven, we were like brothers then
    Though you were nothin' other then the son of my mother's friend
    We had governin' who would have thought the love would end
    Like ice cold albums, all good things
    Never thought we'd sing the same song that all hoods sing
    Thought it was all wood grain, all good brain
    We wouldn't bicker like the other fools, talk good game
    Never imagine all the disaster that one could reign
    Could bring, should blame the game and I could
    It's kill or be killed, how could I refrain
    Forever be in debt and that's never a good thing
    So the pressure for success can put a good strain
    On the friend you call best, and yes it could bring
    Out of the worst in every person, even the good saint'
    And though we rehearsed it, it just ain't the same
    When you put in the game at age sixteen
    Then you mix things like cars, jewelry, and Miss Thing

    Jealously, ego and pride and this brings
    It all to a head like a coin, cha-ching
    The route of evil strike again, this could sting
    Now the team got beef between the post and the point
    This puts the ring in jeopardy
    Indefinitely

    I feel like a black republican, money I got comin' in
    Can't turn my back on the hood, I got love for them
    Can't clean my act up for good, too much thug in 'em
    Probably end up back in the hood, like fuck it then

    I feel like a black militant takin' over the government
    Can't turn my back on the hood, too much love for them
    Can't clean my act up for good, too much thug in 'em
    Probably end up back in the hood, I'm like fuck it then

    I'm back in the hood, they like 'Hey Nas'
    Blowin' on purp, reflecting on they lives
    Couple of fat cats, couple of AI's
    Dreamin' of fly shit, instead of them grey skies
    Gray 5's, hate eyes, wishin' our reign dies
    Pitch sling pies and niggas they sing 'Why?'
    Guess they ain't strong enough to handle their jail time
    Weak minds keep tryin' follow the street signs
    I'm standing on the roof of my building, I'm feelin'
    The whirlwind of beef I inhale it just like an acrobat
    Ready to hurl myself through the hoops of fire
    Sippin' eighty proof, bulletproof under my attire
    Could be the forces of darkness
    Against hood angels of good that form street politics
    Makes a sweet honest kid turn illegal for commerce
    To get his feet out of them Converse
    That's my word!

    I feel like a black republican, money keep comin' in
    Can't turn my back on the hood, I got love for them
    Can't clean my act up for good, too much thug in 'em
    Probably in the back in the hood, I fuck it then

    I feel like a black militant takin' over the government
    Can't turn my back on the hood, too much love for them
    Can't clean my act up for good, too much thug in 'em
    Probably end up back in the hood, I'm like fuck it then Writer/s: Carmine Coppola, Leshan Lewis, Nasir Jones, Shawn Carter, Wyatt Coleman
    Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, THE ADMINISTRATION MP INC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • Moosehead from ScTIM SCOTT for vice president! what? he's a black republican!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Timothy B. Schmit

Timothy B. SchmitSongwriter Interviews

The longtime Eagle talks about soaring back to his solo career, and what he learned about songwriting in the group.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien Songs

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien SongsSong Writing

The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.

Church Lyrics

Church LyricsMusic Quiz

Here is the church, here is the steeple - see if you can identify these lyrics that reference church.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.