[Verse 1] It ain't hard to tell, I excel and prevail The mic comes in contact with the third rail My raps react, they attack the whack just like a maniac With this, see I'm a brainiac I call you tattoo, you never come off I flip the script with a sawed-off, boss A modern Shakespeare - reincarnated Brains are elevated, I'm bein' R rated This style is terror, drastic Meltin the plastic, and I eat mics just like acid Burn your pen and pads, mics you'll need not Cause I be packin like a Rasta in a weed spot Hittin your heart with a hollow-tip verbally illin Minds minipulated, my raps are nickel-plated I execute raps like I'm swingin an axe around This is a mic shut down Notify the President - that I'm bombin your residence And I'm leavin no evidence Voice box yells, lyrics will excel Rappers gettin smoked, you can smell the hot shells Your style is fake snake, well dramatized You might as well be a singer but ain't harmin' Nas Here's the break, I can translate lyrics so well I excel, it ain't hard to tell [Hook] It ain't hard to tell [Verse 2] I got a case of vocal fever, I'm here to make you a believer Nas wrecks the tweeters and receivers Lyrics will explode, my brain overloads Gimme a Grammy competition is dead just like Sammy I leave minds magnetized like slaves Your style is old fashion like waves Holdin a pistol at a pastor, pullin the trigger faster Tell 'em I was sent by his Master But that topic's too deep for your ear Here's the science you can comprehend clear Advanced intellectual, a time bomb speeder I'll know your whole card - just like a palm reader Non-stop, I'm bustin heads like the FEDS baby pops This is not the Kindergarten Cop Put on your blindfold, I'mma release and stand tall I detonate bombs at the policeman's ball This is art from the heart, I leave 'em marked for d**h In each breath in this game I'm the ref Already I'm ill but I can only get better With lyrics as pretty as a nickel-plated Beretta I master dialects, of uncommon languages A black man caught by the Klan couldn't hang with this These are proverbs, copy cat attackers I'm wanted dead cause I'mma genocide to rappers Battlin Nas is dead when my brain reacts You might as well have fell asleep on a train track This ain't the same track that you're used to This is rhyth-i-matic automatic, try it you oughta have it Slaughter your tape recorder; givin thanks to my supporters And keep flowin like water No matter the obstacle, Nasty Nas will prevail Aiyyo, it ain't hard to tell [Hook] [Verse 3] Check it I catch wreck with my intellect, s**ers are incorrect I'm gonna win cause you slept On Nas, word is bond, I leave the microphone torn False rappers, you need to write your own song Metaphors of murder man, hittin' like Roberto Duran Hold the mic in my hand, my life span Imitators will sweat me like gym cla** Your raps are fat sh**, then I'll be Slim Fast New rap recruits I salute then delete 'em Verbally eat 'em, because my ears don't need 'em Nas is a terrorist, an*lyst Swingin my fists like a n***a breakin, posessed by Satan You couldn't compete with a beat that was fast or slow Brothers is gettin shipped out like I was Castro I can eat your flavor but I'm not a candy lover I use a Lethal Weapon, just like Danny Glover Execute monologues, sabotage entourage Mutilate mics like a maniac at large I talk with slang, and use my brain Generate pain, penetrate your vein Move like a maniac, Nas is nice son Talk to your conscience and hit like Tyson No competition, cause I cause wonders Nas will battle rappers by the football numbers A motor mouth k**er, rhyme writin thriller Hold a mac-11, and attack a reverend Don't sleep cause you might not wake I speak deep, dialects I translate Queens Prince, commit sins on the regular Murder my competitors, and et cetera Nas is a gypsy Egyptian Flippin' the script'n microphone manufacturers are victims My voice makes your ear drums swell [Hook]