[Intro: Nas] Yo, I want the Langston Hughes and Alex Haley got blazed before they told stories I'ma get blazed before I tell y'all stories I saw on tv today, this man lost his son, his son died So he had him cremated, took his ashes, and then made it to a Diamond ring Now he watches his son shine everyday I just thought about that, while I sit here ashing in this ash tray, yea [Verse 1: Nas] The makin' of a mad band Intricate stories of DeVante Swing Ava Gardner, the crashin' of James Dean Bobby Brown influenced by Rick James and it goes.. Prince wanted Alexander O'Neal to be Morris Day or Jerome But Alex was puttin' coke in his nose, n***a whylin' Could be a myth but I swear that the source was close, Phyllis Hyman k**ed herself, it was crazy, mommy was bad they say Donny Hathaway freefall from a balcony, he swings [HooK: Nas] As the blunt ash falls into the ash tray I could see my whole life fly past me Did I?, did I keep it gangsta or keep it cla**y? And will the money and fame out last me? The blunt's ash falls down in the ash tray Will I see my whole life fly past me? I'm askin' did I keep it gangsta or keep it cla**y? Did I?... anything else you wanna know, just wanna ask me? [Verse 2: Nas] Sam trusted Womack with his main lady He tossin' in the grave, like, "this is how you repay me"? A change gon' come, wish you didn't trust me so much Marvin said "no mountain's high enough, fly stuff" David Ruffin was punchin' Tammy Terrell, gave her concussions While the Funk Brothers was layin' down the percussion When Flo from the Surpremes died, Diana Ross cried Many people said that she was laughin' inside [HooK: Nas] As the blunt ash falls into the ash tray I could see my whole life fly past me Did I?, did I keep it gangsta or keep it cla**y? And will the money and fame out last me? The blunt's ash falls down in the ash tray Will I see my whole life fly past me? I'm askin' did I keep it gangsta or keep it cla**y? Did I?... anything else you wanna know, just wanna ask me? [Verse 3: Nas] John F. Kennedy's, enemies dealt with treachery It interests me, Judy Campbell in Gucci sandals She's what a temptress be The d**h of Ennis Cosby, what a mystery Or the Chicagoan Harold Washington Someone is sabotaging them Watch out for the traps Larry Troutman k**ed his brother Roger Troutman Then he k**ed himself, that's the end of Zapp And I wouldn't change a thing, mistakes of the greats This is what came from their pain From their hurt we gain, an unfair exchange [HooK: Nas] As the blunt ash falls into the ash tray I could see my whole life fly past me Did I?, did I keep it gangsta or keep it cla**y? And will the money and fame out last me? The blunt's ash falls down in the ash tray Will I see my whole life fly past me? I'm askin' did I keep it gangsta or keep it cla**y? [Outro: Nas (over the hook)] I could smell old bogey cigars Long record perfumes, smellin' just as sweet, ha-ha Me and my wife K, flyin' in a drop-top like Ruby and Ottis Davis baby Knaw'mean?, yo man, I get smoked out, and start thinkin' about Patty McDaniels got a Oscar, for playin' Mami in 'Gone With The Wind' And she didn't get allowed, wasn't even allowed to go to the premier Could'ya'believe that?, couldn't go to premier to her joint Tssk. man, you know they were strong back then man Blunt from my ash tray, nothin' gon' to live past me, yea, yea, yea