Nas - Back When lyrics

[Verse 1] The ill reminisce and think about the fly days Nothing like them 80s summer N.Y. days Hop on the NB5 days Mopeds, Pro Keds, city split five ways How it all started, fifth floor apartment A jigsaw puzzle aerial view of the projects A kid saw struggle, buried a few of his partners Now chill in resorts, enjoying ma**ages Check out the oracle bred from city housing Nas, I'll rise the deads by thousands I remember seeing Shan chilling near his Audi Hollis Ave, Run and them but I proudly Put a poster up of Shan and Marley, that was art kid You love to hear the story how it started The bubbly I'm pouring wasn't popped yet Before there was a audience to watch us I a**ure you, there was a process [Hook] "You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started" How it all got started, yeah "You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started" How it, how it all got started "You love to hear the story how it all, how it all got started" Hear the story, started off Started off, started off How it all got started "Back when, back when, back when, back when Back when, back when, back when, back when" [Verse 2] To call them fake today is hate, real n***as extinct Pac left me inside a rap world with n***as that wink At other rappers, undercover n***as spit every way Won't be surprised if all their rides have federal plates Let alone their wardrobes and Studio 4 flow It was real when I appeared, it would've been some jaws broke Nas, my real name, stage name, same thing How could you let these lames claim king? I'm so ashamed, man I light a L for Vernon, for n***as who would burn in Hell For Vernon; 10th Street, 12th Street, Nightmare on Elm Street Pimps creep, delve deep inside the editorials Of the ghetto queens, kings, stories true Who possesses the testicular fortitude To blow away myths that's a hindrance to all of you You blame your own shortcomings on s** and race The mafia, h*mos**uals and all the Jews It's hogwash point of views, stereotypical Anti-Semitic like the foul words Gibson spewed And it's pathetic, I don't get the credit I deserve That's why I hate doing interviews But I don't sweat it, study long, study raw My man Dion said "Nas over-think the songs he writing" I'm not a wack performer standing near a corny hype man I got the Donism in me, I'm here to enlighten [Hook] "You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started" How it all got started, yeah "You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started" How it, how it all got started "You love to hear the story how it all, how it all got started" Hear the story, started off Started off, started off How it all got started "Back when, back when, back when, back when Back when, back when, back when, back when"