One Mic
Nas
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One time, yeah, yeah Yo, all I need is one mic, one beat, one stage One nigga front, my face on the front page Only if I had one gun, one girl and one crib One God to show me how to do things his son did Pure, like a cup of virgin blood, mixed with 151, one sip'll make a nigga flip Writin' names on my hollow tips, plottin' shit Mad violence who I'm gon' body, this hood politics Acknowledge it, leave bodies chopped in garbage's Seeds watch us, grow up and try to follow us Police watch us, roll up and try knockin' us One knee I ducked, could it be my time is up But my luck, I got up, the cop shot again Bus stop glass bursts, a fiend drops his Heineken Richochetin' between the spots that I'm hidin' in Blackin' out as I shoot back, f*ck gettin' hit This is my hood, I'ma rep to the death of it 'Til everybody come home, little niggas is grown Hoodrats, don't abortion your womb, we need more warriors soon Sent from the star, sun and the moon In this life of police chases, street sweepers and coppers Stick-up kids with no conscience, leavin' victims with doctors If you really think you ready to die with 9s out This is what Nas is 'bout, nigga, the time is now Yo, all I need is one mic All I need is one mic (that's all I need) All I need is one mic (all I need, niggas) All I need is one mic (yeah) All I need is one blunt, one page, and one pen One prayer, tell God forgive me for one sin Matter of fact, maybe more than one, look back At all the hatred against me, f*ck al of them Jesus died at age 33, there's thirty-three shots From twin Glocks there's sixteen apiece, that's thirty-two Which means, one of my guns was holdin' 17 Twenty-seven hit your crew, six went into you Everybody gotta die sometime, hope your funeral Never gets shot up, bullets tear through the innocent Nothin' is fair, niggas roll up, shootin' from wheelchairs My heart is racin', tastin' revenge in the air I let the shit slide for too many years, too many times Now I'm strapped with a couple of MACs, too many 9s If y'all niggas really with me, get busy, load up the semis Do more than just hold it, explode the clip until you empty There's nothin' in our way, they bust, we bust, they rush, we rush Lead flyin', feel it? I feel it in my gut That we take these bitches to war, lie 'em down 'Cause we stronger now, my nigga, the time is now All I need is one mic (that's all I need, nigga, that's all I need) All I need is one mic (there's nothin' else in the world) All I need is one mic (that's all a nigga need to do his thing you know?) All I need is one mic (this is all I need) All I need is one life, one try, one breath, I'm one man What I stand for speaks for itself, they don't understand Or wanna see me on top, too egotistical Talkin' all that slick shit the same way these bitches do Wonder what my secrets is, niggas'll move on you Only if they know what your weakness is, I have none Too late to grab guns, I'm blastin' 'cause I'm a cool nigga Thought I wouldn't have that ass done? Fooled you niggas What you call a infinite brawl, eternal souls clashin' War gets deep, some beef is everlastin' Complete with thick scars, brothers knifin' each other Up in prison yards, drama, where does it start? You know the block was ill as a youngster Every night it was like a cop would get killed, body found in the dumpster For real a hustler, purchased my Range, niggas throwin' dirt on my name Jealous 'cause fiends got they work and complain Bitches left me 'cause they thought I was finished Shoulda knew she wasn't true, she came to me when her man caught a sentence Diamonds are blindin', I never make the same mistakes Movin' with a change of pace, lighter load, see now the king is straight Swellin' my melon 'cause none of these niggas real Heard he was tellin' police, how can a kingpin squeal? This is crazy, I'm on the right track, I'm finally found You need some soul searchin', the time is now All I need is one mic (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) All I need is one mic (that's all I ever needed in this world, f*ck cash) All I need is one mic (f*ck the cars, the jewelry, uh-huh) All I need is one mic (spread my voice to the whole world, whole world, baby)
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Written by: Nasir Jones, Chucky Thompson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Origin"One Mic" is a song by American rapper Nas, originally recorded for his fifth studio album, "Stillmatic," released in 2001.
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InspirationThe song is notably inspired by Phil Collins's "In The Air Tonight." The intensity of the drums mixed with the melodious beat in Collins's song served as a basis for Nas's powerful, conscious rap.
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ProductionThe hit single was produced by Nas himself and Chucky Thompson. As an influential figure in East Coast hip hop, Thompson adds his signature touch to the track, imbuing it with a sense of authenticity and lyrical excellence.
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Song MeaningThe lyrics of "One Mic" emphasize the power of voice and expression. Nas uses the concept of needing only one microphone to express himself and reach out to the world, a metaphor for the significance of individual expression in social and political contexts.
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Music VideoThe music video for "One Mic" is just as powerful as the song. It takes viewers through Nas's journey of survival in different scenarios symbolizing the ghettos, wars, and social issues rampant in America.
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Chart SuccessDespite its serious subject matter, "One Mic" saw commercial success. It reached number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which was quite a feat for a conscious rap song at that time.
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Critical Acclaim"One Mic" is often cited as one of Nas's best songs. Critics praised its lyrical depth and unconventional structure, with Rolling Stone placing it on their list of the 100 greatest hip-hop songs.
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Cultural ImpactThe song is more than just a piece of music — it has become a hip-hop anthem, a scream for justice and equality, making it a cultural and political statement.
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Live Performances"One Mic" has been a staple of Nas's live performances. He usually performs it towards the end of his set, often drawing great crowd response.
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SampleNas samples a speech from a film titled "Gods Must Be Crazy" in "One Mic", further adding depth and meaning to the song's lyrical content.
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Citation
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"One Mic Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/18750064/Nas/One+Mic>.
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