Nas - Book of Rhymes lyrics

Alchemist, you know me, man
I'm the type of nigga that write rhymes
Right on the spot in the studio
Soon as I hear the track
You know what I'm sayin'?
Word, but I wanted to bring
A couple of books to the studio today, man
I found these shit's up in
The crib, man, in boxes, man
I don't even remember when I
Was writin' these shit's
Or what's in these shit's, man
Probably a bunch of bullshit, man… fuck it
Check it

How can I trust you when I can't trust me?
Picture myself a old man, a OG
Some niggas will conversate with
Liars all day
Time pass (Nah, let me start somethin' else)
Soul on ice, death threats given by clowns


I guess livin' is prison when
You live around clowns
I'm hexed, cursed, worse I been blessed first
I thought I was abnormal
‘Cause I would overcome any tasked called to
So there it is, I'm a prince
I'm against lames who do minor shit
Swear they on the top of they game
Your rhymin' is called "Vagina Monologue
" it kinda supports
Theories of scary niggas who should
Lie in the morgue
Rarely y'all come in contact with the real
Since Pun passed
He was the last shine of sun I could feel
Yo, said there's a few left
Since music's expressions of life
Damn, I wish I took more time to
Write in my book of rhymes

Oh shit, Tina!
I been lookin' for this bitch number, damn
No, this rhyme is weak this is weak
I remember this bullshit right here
(My book of rhymes)
Gandhi was a… what the fuck?

Gandhi was a fool, nigga, fight to the death
The US Army is a school that
Teach you plights of conquest
(I wonder when I wrote this… nah, it's weak)
The money's your religion, sky the limit
Live life numbers is big business
Makes the poor live trife
The glimmers of hope provoke those
Without dollars to dream
Through your existence become wealthy
Knowledge is king
Pimps and card sharks, thiefs
Murderers with hard luck
Addicts and fiends prostitutes passin' for
Teens is my society
Cops that shoot blacks is
Routine for notoriety
Grow up watchin' well-dressed
Niggas with charms
Beautiful ladies on their arms
Dangerous new cars was my fantasy for Nas
Rubbin' my lips with Campophenique
Still behind the ears wet, turned out to be
Pioneers vets amongst hustlers
Crack sellers, and liars and squares
(Nah, that was weak there)
My people be projects or jail
Never Harvard or Yale
Pardon me type in my two-way
While I'm chargin' my cell
It's hard to be iced up with Gucci, God
Poverty's real
I can't fight you, ‘cause you would sue me
Niggas be groupies
I see imitators tryin' to make albums
Spittin' my style
And they don't even realize that I
Notice they stealin' Nas' shit
I pump some Rick James with that Teena Marie
My nina lean on me like Scoob and Scrap
This can't be my book of rhymes

This can't be my book of rhymes
Writin' this bullshit! (My book of rhymes)
Nah, neva that! Fuck that!
Aw, why you laughin', Alchemist?
Hah, you a funny nigga
Naw, yeah (My book of rhymes)
I'm tellin' you
I'ma come up with some new shit now
Fuck that! I'ma write again now, fuck that!
I musta been high on some shit
What the fuck is this?!

Look how we treat pregnancy
Women in the hood
Our values so low, our values are no good
Things our mothers told us
We should've heeded
‘Cause now we need it, we older
Almost able t i'm jealous of you
How come you so beautiful?
Smellin' fresh, youthful, intelligent
While I'm stressin' and shit
Ayo, I envy you ‘cause all you do is smile
And things come your way
Such a innocent child is what some say
I get upset ‘cause I just want to
Be treated the way you are like a star
Not a worry in this world thus far
But wait a minute
We both need your mother's attention
I must be crazy
Jealous of my own baby infant (Kinda crazy)