It Was Written

Nas Is Coming

Nas

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

25

End

205

Internal

117

Multi

255

Slant

6

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 1: Nas]
The Golden✦ Child shot that ass up. You was holdin'✦ out
Let the streets be the court. Αnd corners hold the trial
Fatal,✦ not fictitious. I rock the cable, '86 shit
Foreign cars. Young with crazy✦ bitches
Mad smoke makes✦ me able to quote
Solicitin' ill editions of that murder✦ I wrote
A provocative plan can bring a knot to my hand
As the pyramids that stand on the top of the sand
In the heat of the moment.✦ Like Farrakhan said, we need atonement
Bulletproof glass, S-classes
Chrome kitted✦ up, calicones lit it up
I didn't get touched. Checkin' my nuts, I stood up and lit a Dutch
Clutchin' gats, quick to bust but knowin'✦ how these niggas✦ tattle
I sneak-move, get the drop. One shot without the gun battle
So when you run, the lead travels. I come through, it's taboo✦
Ninety-six ways made to clap you
[Chorus]
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦ (Nasty✦ Nas is coming)✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦ (Nasty✦ Nas is coming)✦
Nas is coming✦
[Verse 2: Nas]
In the black limo.✦ Jack Daniels through the cracked window✦
I spot the fake, red dot his face like a Hindu✦
Snatched✦ the symbol. Tied his hands to make examples
Substantial✦ amounts you owe to the fam', crew
Firm affiliation, paper✦ chasin'✦
Chips glossy.✦ Rich Pablo✦ Escabano. Sophisticado
Blazing hollows like Saddles
Rap apostle. Nacho✦ cheese, I'm Castro✦
Compared to these niggas✦ who swear to be the real
But impostors to Hoffa.✦ Nas plague kills
Countin' bills to send to all my jail niggas✦ who fell
From New York to LA. QB to CPT for GP
A 100G cars, Garcia✦ Vegas✦ cigars✦
Kani shit, mad jiggy✦
The clout — murder✦ material,✦ serial✦ scratched✦ out
My name's✦ passed✦ out like it's somethin' venereal. But back in stereo✦
[Chorus]
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦ (Nasty✦ Nas is coming)✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦ (Nasty✦ Nas is coming)✦
Nas is coming✦
[Verse 3: Nas]
From childbirth to hearses. Flow like the Nile, covers surface
I bit the fruit from the Serpent
Apocalyptic. Get bent, stay splifted
Control the rap game, you got it twisted
Dr. Dre way, the 'Bridge say; "Shake dice and kiss it"
Sip Cris', push the 6 with the biscuit
Jeep full of chickens. Pull up beside,✦ have a listen,✦ y'all
"Nas, y'all" — fly gangsta. Wavy✦ hair, teeth chipped in
My shit bump. In the courtroom drunk. Links truck, rocky✦ bracelet
Cognac kernel, never✦ chase it
Rap hero,✦ black DeNiro✦
Federal Bureau✦ tapped✦ my line and got zero✦
Rap pro, diamond Role', hustlin' low
Pro-file white gold style. Rakin'✦ bloody✦ doe by the pile
Shot down, still alive.✦ He strugglin' for the phone
Fo'-fo'✦ blow him when homicide comes.✦ These three words are sung
[Chorus]
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦ (Nasty✦ Nas is coming)✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦ (Nasty✦ Nas is coming)✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦ (Nasty✦ Nas is coming)✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦
Nas is coming✦ (Nasty✦ Nas is coming)✦
Nas is coming✦
[Outro: Dr. Dre]
Check this out
It's Nasty✦ Nas and Dr. Dre, haha✦
East meets West
That's how we makin'✦ it happen✦
That's how it goes down for the nine-six
Ayo, Nas, let's get this money✦
Let's get paid
Sit back and watch all these motherfuckin' clowns out here riffin'✦ and beefin'✦ about✦ this bullshit
Yo. Hah! While they doin' all that
We just gon' kick back with these honeys,✦ this Cristal
Hah!
And party✦ to the year 2G
Nas is coming✦ (Haha.✦ That's right)
Nas is coming✦ (That's right)
Nas is coming✦ (Ha. Yeah. Nasty✦ Nas)
Nas is coming✦ (Dr. Dre. Making✦ it happen)✦

Technical Breakdown

8.0
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm7.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.98

Production

— Dr. Dre

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Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Nas utilizes his signature 'internal-rhyme-as-percussion' technique, grounding complex street narratives in rhythmic certainty to maintain command over the Dr. Dre-produced soundscape.

B+
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
7.5
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
8
Delivery
Multisyllabic internal rhymingAlliterative densityStaccato phrasingThematic pivot from street nihilism to socio-political observation
Rhyme Architecture: Predominantly AABB or AAAA end-rhymes reinforced by dense, multi-syllabic internal chains (e.g., 'shot that ass up' / 'holdin' out' / 'court' / 'trial' / 'fatal' / 'fictitious').
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Let the streets be the court. And corners hold the trial"

① The literal location where drug dealing occurs serves as the judicial venue.② The inherent danger and judgment faced by individuals living in high-crime neighborhoods.

"Solicitin' ill editions of that murder I wrote"

① Referencing his own discography ('Illmatic' being the 'ill edition').② The act of perpetrating violence ('murder') in a way that is artistically significant or 'ill'.

High rhythmic consistency

Effective use of cinematic imagery

Seamless integration of complex internal rhyme schemes

Commanding vocal presence typical of 1996-era Nas

Occasional filler lines necessitated by complex internal rhyme density

Some metaphors lack the conceptual depth of 'Illmatic'-era introspection

User Scores