[Intro] Freedom or jail, clips inserted A baby's being born same time a man is murdered The beginning and end, so far as rap goes It's only natural, I explain my plateau And also what defines my name
[Hook] Yeah, long live the idols, may they never be your rivals Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin No I. D. my mentor now let the story begin
[Verse 1: Nas] I ain't mad at you, young king, this unsung song is haunting Along comes a one son called a offspring The Earth spins, my Old Earth grin, sung a church hymn She birthed in September, took my first wind, again, the Earth spins I jumped in my first Benz, fled out, lead out Screams got in the game and took bread out The nerve of these niggas, weak flow, yo Cole let's murder this sequel Freedom or jail from Fayetteville to QB though Cause back when I was young there was massive niggas But I passed them niggas, just being nasty nigga Military hat, fatigue pants sagging, Henny'd up Execs asking will he live to see his own release date happen Straight off the corner with the armor, arm and hammer But I had a appeal, I was a charmer Yet still being my mama's son was my biggest honor This shit was just kinda just a hobby in my project lobby We was trying to be the Queensbridge Cosby's But the street life robbed me of that, so I had to put it in raps And who could I ask for help? Older niggas was getting mad But that's the gift and the curse, that's the good and the bad At least you got Jay, but he already one of the greats And it's hard for the great to tell somebody how to be great Nigga I tried and niggas threw that shit right back in my face They took my cosign, but they ain't let me EP their tapes And when they joint tanked, that's when they point blame So point blank, young Cole, you won't be the same The first album freedoms and them fourth album pressures A big difference between 'em but I get why you said it Radio records are needed, I just wanted it to bring the warning Global warming to that cold world you was breathing That's some advice I never got If I don't sell another record, I'll just steady rock While you was writing down my rhymes I was just trying to show you That if you say what's on your mind, you can stand the test of time Now I'm playing Born Sinner loud, saw you live, rock the crowd Like wow, you made your nigga Nas proud
So you ain't let Nas down It's just part of the game, becoming a rap king, my nigga You ain't let Nas down How that sound? Here the crown, pass it to you like nothing, nigga You ain't let Nas down
Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals Slick Rick was like Jesus, G Rap wrote the Bible Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin Large Professor's my mentor, that's how the story end