Take It in Blood Lyrics

[Chorus]
I made it like that, I bought it like that, I'm livin' like that
I made it like that, I bought it like that, I'm livin' like that
For you wack MC's

I made it like that, I bought it like that, I'm livin' like that
(Lyrical, ly-lyrical shine)
I made it like that, I bought it like that, I'm livin' like that
For you wack MC's


[Verse 3]
Yo, the time is wastin', I use the mind elevation
Dime sack lacin', court pen pacin'
Individual, lyrical math abrasion
Psychic evaluation, the foulest nation we livin' in
Dangerous lives, mad leak and battered wives
A lifestyle on bad streets is patternized
Wise men build and destroy

While the real McCoy dope fiend named Detroit is still dealin' boy
Coke suppliers actin' biased
'Cause rumors say that niggas wear wires and we liars

But every night the gat's fired, and every day a rat's hired
I still remain the mack flyest in the phat Kani, it's
Just the killer in me, slash drug dealer, MC
Ex-slug filler, semi mug peeler, demi
Bottles of Mo'
, yo, simply follow me flow
Put poetry inside a crack pot and blow

Rough hoes pull crack out pussies and butt-holes
Bring the G's and the D's roll, they can't touch those

Why shoot the breeze about it, when you could be about it?
My degrees are routed toward the peasy-haired brick housing
And studded-up, thick medallions
Rich niggas transportin' thousands
Foreign cash exchange amountin' to millions
Doors is locked, rocks is chopped
Watch the cameras in the ceilings
Trick bitches catchin' mad feelings
Peelin' off in a Lex Jeep, techniques is four-wheelin'
I bet it be some shit when we connect with Stretch
When we catch them sex niggas with the TEC's you blessed
Word! So now it's on, never wasted a slug
Time is money, when it comes to mine, take it in blood

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About

Genius Annotation

This song was on Nas' sophomore album It Was Written

It features a sample of “Mixed up Moods and Attitudes” by the 70’s R&B Group The Fantastic Four and it also samples Kool Keith’s verse from “Ease Back” by the Ultramagnetic MCs

Some people argue that this song really isn’t about anything and just sounds good but if you do the research you’ll see that this is one of the most complex songs Nas has ever recorded. Illmatic was definitely a classic but it didn’t get the record sales it deserved and you can feel his hunger. He is literally rapping for his life

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Nas say about "Take It in Blood"?
Genius Answer

Nas had this to say to Complex:

Nas: I met Stretch [of Live Squad] by some dangerous cats that I was hanging with. Stretch became my brother immediately; we hung out all the time, almost every day. He wasn’t really recognized for the great work he was doing with 2Pac & the hardcore records he did with his group Live Squad, with his brother Majesty.

Stretch was really hurt by 2Pac. I would hear him talking about how ‘Pac was so mad at him because Stretch was with 2Pac when he got set up and robbed in the lobby of Quad Studios in Manhattan, in Nov. 1994. 'Pac was mad at everyone after that. I felt bad for Stretch because he really had a lot of love for 'Pac & couldn’t believe that 'Pac thought he had something to do with it.

Stretch dropped me off at home, then went home & was killed [in Dec. 1995, in Queens]. That was a real great guy. He produced “Take It in Blood” and “Silent Murder”—the irony. It was just a messed up moment for me. It was the last work he did.

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