Book of Rhymes Lyrics

[Intro]
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 shits up in the crib, man, in boxes, man
I don't even remember when I was writin' these shits
Or what's in these shits, man
Probably a bunch of bullshit, man… fuck it, check it


[Verse 1]
How can I trust you when I can't trust me?
Picture myself a old man, a O.G.
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
[Break]
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?

[Verse 2]
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 Campho-Phenique
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
[Break]
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?!

[Verse 3]
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)

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About

Genius Annotation

The Alchemist revealed that “Book of Rhymes” essentially happened how it sounds–Nas bringing several “books of rhymes” to a studio in Orlando, Florida, and going through lyrics in them over the beat, which samples Tommy Tate’s 1981 track “For the Dollar Bill.” Al said he wanted to spruce up the track with breakdowns but Nas wanted to keep the track sounding raw. Al said the following to Complex about Nas and the song’s creative process:

He’s an artist in every sense. We all know from his track record how great he is and it’s not like he stumbled on it. I wish I could say I had something more to do with that song than me making the beat. But, no, sorry guys. Give all the credit to Nas.

Q&A

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

What did Nas say about "Book of Rhymes"?
Genius Answer

The Alchemist: “That happened like how the song sounds, I couldn’t even front. We were sitting there one day, working on his album in Orlando. I had a bunch of beats going through the ASR.

“Nas had brought a bunch of books out to Orlando because I guess he writes in his off time. He was going through shit and I was playing a beat and he said, ‘Yo that shit would be ill right?’ And I said, ‘What?’ And he said, ‘Yo I’m just going through rhymes.’

“I didn’t even know what he meant to be honest, then he just told the engineer to track the beat in. We tracked it in and he just did what he did. He went in there like he was on a mission. He knew what he was about to do. And it was ill!

“I remember later I wanted to spruce the beat up and put breakdowns in it and he was like, ‘Nah, it has a vibe like we’re really just in the studio and you put on a rough beat and I am just going through rhymes. If you put in breakdowns then its gonna sound too contrived.’ As a producer, I want to do all the bells and whistles but he made a good call.

“He’s an artist and I don’t wanna reveal his magic tricks, but I remember after recording a few lines or so, he went back and recorded the sound of the paper flipping the page. When he stopped the line or crumpling the page.

“He’s an artist in every sense. We all know from his track record how great he is and it’s not like he stumbled on it. I wish I could say I had something more to do with that song than me making the beat. But, no, sorry guys. Give all the credit to Nas.”

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