In the Rotten Apple, take a bite taste the worm
Embrace the world of reality we're faced to learn

from Nas – One on One Lyrics on Rap Genius

A play on “the big apple” a name for new york. Nas believes its more rotten and corrupt than great

A reference to the Bible story of Adam and Eve. After Eve was tricked into biting into the forbidden fruit, she and Adam were punished by being sent to Earth.

Nas' apple is rotten and infested, juxtaposing the Bible story. He grew up in a harsh world, which those born poor have no choice but to accept and live with. This is a big contrast between the original sin, and something bad that he was forced to accept.

the apple was rotten/deceiving, with a hidden worm inside. The world he grew up in was set up to be bad and rotten, but unlike the bible story, Nas had no say in it. He was pushed into the corrupted world, punished without even committing a crime.

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