[ti:Surviving The Times(Album Version)] [ar:Nas] [al:Greatest Hits] [by:] [offset:0] [00:00.00]Surviving the Times - Nas [00:06.46]But that's the whole tragic point my friends [00:10.82]What what would I do if I could suddenly feel [00:20.51]And to know once again that what I feel is real [00:30.36]I could cry I could smile I might lay back for awhile [00:40.41]Tell me what what would I do if I could feel you [00:50.66]I was young I was survivin' the times [00:53.28]Waitin' for my moment I was destined to shine [00:55.65]Little Ray had an NSX I was hopin' I'm next [00:58.64]Wantin' bracelets never had a rope on my neck [01:01.14]Unless I was holdin' Taiyeh chain 'Rest In Peace' [01:03.75]Even though that night you flipped on us you warned us [01:06.76]If you came back and we still on the corners we goners movin' on to [01:10.88]Move your arm and your watch to another time on the block [01:13.81]'Cause this 40 Side where they say shorty rhyme [01:16.11]Tragedy he used to come through all the time [01:18.30]I'm talkin' Juice Crew not what the word define [01:20.98]He had a sister named Erin for sure was fine [01:23.48]That was my first crush I bought my first mic [01:26.10]I wrote my first verse I was about nine [01:28.41]I was about mine fantasize house-buyin' [01:29.97] [01:31.33]Met Paul he wore some big glasses [01:33.46]Him and Melquan took me where G Rap lived [01:36.08]I was happy just gettin' some answers [01:37.70] [01:38.28]I ain't even know what a record advance was [01:40.90]I'm seein' hoes sex in the studio bathroom [01:43.34]With rap dudes thinkin' wow she moved me [01:45.96]Same girl then right now's a groupie [01:48.04]Back then she was like the star in the movie [01:50.90]Large jewelry and expensive Gucci [01:53.40]Next stop Paid In Full posse recruits me [01:55.89]Knew they were some millionaires their ropes were dookie [01:58.39]Eric B man lookin' like touch it he shoot me [02:01.51]You see every time Ra didn't show [02:03.45]I get to record demos at attempts to blow [02:05.94]I wonder could they tell how did they know [02:08.87]Sixteen years later here I go [02:12.19]What what what would I do [02:15.56]What what what would I do [02:20.17]What what what would I do [02:25.41]What what what would I do [02:30.34]I'm with Akinyele in the street tryin' to get us a deal [02:33.65]G Rap tried to get us to sign to Cold Chill [02:36.08]But Fly Ty didn't have the contract we wanted [02:38.27]Clark Kent just signed Das he didn't want us [02:40.88]Russell said I sounded like G the ni**a fronted [02:43.51]Reef and Matty C offered me a little money [02:45.94]Sh*t a little funny feel a little laughter [02:48.37]Rebel of hip-hop comin' through a white rapper [02:51.31]My boy MC Serch nevertheless [02:52.93]Took me to Columbia back then CBS [02:55.74]Chris Schwartz RuffHouse he was the best man [02:58.78]Now buggin' 'cause the label had just dropped Def Jam [03:01.40]Could you picture Russell needin' a check man [03:03.65]But he smart he plotted a plan for Polygram [03:06.45]Life is ill again life's a movie [03:08.51]Then the roster's Cypress Hill Nas and Fugees [03:11.75]Before I sold records no promotion [03:13.70]The rap world like what's all this commotion [03:16.51]Went plat' mad bottles I'm toasting [03:18.68]20/20 hindsight but how did they know then [03:22.24]What what what would I do [03:25.55]What what what would I do [03:30.36]What what what would I do [03:35.60]What what what would I do [03:41.08]Invincible lyrical miracle man huh [03:44.39]But back to the matter at hand [03:46.08]'Cause ten years ago we all strived to be twenty-five [03:48.45] [03:49.29]Some cats didn't make it alive [03:51.35]Dated some stars but respect their privacy [03:53.85]Copped mad cars layin' back in the driver's seat [03:56.72]Held myself down just steerin' the wheel [03:59.27]Here I am completed my whole record deal [04:02.34]What what what would I do [04:05.77]What what what would I do [04:10.70]What what what would I do [04:15.89]What what what would I do [04:23.42]What would I do if I could reach inside of me [04:32.48]And to know how it feels to say I like what I see