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Fame and fortune were always on Nas' top priority because he grew up poor, but after he achieved them, they only served as a means of getting through to the people, unfolding his scroll and creating the force that would stampede the globe.
Of course, this is all metaphorical. He’s talking about connecting to his listeners and lyrically reaching out to them.
Also note the alliteration of the gs:
Through the lights, cameras, and action, glamour, glitters, and gold
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Been on this plane way too long, I can't wait to see you again Logic – Metropolis
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Logic compares Nikki’s love to the addictive trance of smoking.
Most commercial airpanes have a very strict “no smoking” rule, so not only is he being held back from smoking in the metaphoric sense of loving Nikki, he is also being restricted from literally smoking.
To actually be the ones
To free our people from gun K'naan – Until the Lion Learns to Speak
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The new generation of Somalis need to be the ones to end the cycle of violence (free them from the gun) that has plagued Somalia for so much of its history.
This is in line with the theme of the song – the lion represents the Somalis, and the hunting tale is the story of Somalia. Until Somalis take control, the narrative of the nation will be weak.
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What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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When someone’s jaw extends further than his/her chin, that person is said to have a weak chin.
A weak chin is usually seen as unattractive and for guys, less macho.
A person is said to have a glass jaw when he/she isn’t very resilient and gets knocked out easily.
As always, Watsky embraces his appearance, and instead of getting caught up in trying to hide it, he celebrates his strength of character.
What is this?
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What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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He’s not a demon but he did arise from the underground in the form of a rose in cement (something like a diamond in dirt).
There are several nuances in this line:
cement : Concrete is a characteristic feature of the ghettos and projects that are usually neglected by society. That is the cement hell that Jay came from. Additionally, the cement is like the surface that sits on top of this large hidden world of the streets. Jay Z grew like a plant and rose through this world till his ‘flower’ breached the surface and blossomed for everyone to see.
This line is basically describing his transition from the underground to the mainstream. Hence the play on the devil.
a rose : Wordplay. Jay Z arose from the depths of hell.
A similar reference to tupac’s poem the rose that grew from the concrete.