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 massages

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. running them, but I probably
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 $$#ure you, there was a process


?You love to hear the story, how it all got started?
How it all got started, yeah

?You love to hear the story, how it all got started?
How it, how all got started
?You love to hear the story how it all got started?

Hear the story, how it all started off
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?


To call them fake today is hate, real ^!$$%s extinct
Pac left me inside a rap world with ^!$$%s that's weak
And other rappers, undercover ^!$$%s spit every way

Won't be surprised if all their rides have federal plates
Let alone their wardrobes are 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 claim king? I'm so ashamed, man
I light a L for Vernon, for ^!$$%s 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 section, race

The mafia, homosexuals 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 Deon said ?Nas over-think the songs he writing?
I'm not a wack performer standing behind a corny hype man
I got the Donism, I'm here to enlighten


?You love to hear the story, how it all got started?
How it all got started, yeah

?You love to hear the story, how it all got started?
How it, how all got started
?You love to hear the story how it all got started?

Hear the story, how it all started off
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?