Halftime

Nas

About Halftime

"Halftime" is the 1992 debut single by American rapper Nas, released under his original moniker of Nasty Nas. It was originally recorded for the Zebrahead soundtrack album, released October 13, 1992, on Ruffhouse Records. "Halftime" was produced by Large Professor and features samples from "Schoolboy Crush" by Average White Band, "Soul Traveling" by Gary Byrd, and "Dead End" by Japanese Hair. The song was later included on Nas' influential 1994 debut album, Illmatic.


Year:
2011
4:20
77 
#2

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Check me out y'all, Nasty Nas in your area
About to cause mass hysteria

Before a blunt, I take out my fronts
Then I start to front, matter of fact, I be on a manhunt
You couldn't catch me in the streets without a ton of reefer
That's like Malcolm X catching the Jungle Fever
King poetic, too much flavor, I'm major
Atlanta and braver, I pull a number like a pager
Cause I'm am ace when I face the bass
40 side is the place that is giving me grace
Now wait, another dose and you might be dead
And I'm a Nike head, I wear chains that excite the feds
And ain't' a damn thing gonna change
I'm a perform a strange show the mic wonder was born the game?
Nas, why did you do it
You know you got the mad fat fluid when you rhyme, it's halftime

It's halftime

It's like that, you know it's like that
I got at him, now you never get the mic back
When I attack, there ain't an army that could strike back
So I react never calmly on a hype track
I set it off wit my own rhyme
Cause I'm as ill as a convict who kills for phone time
I'm max like cassettes, I flex like sex
In your stereo sets, Nas will catch wreck
I used to hustle, now all I do is relax and strive
When I was young, I was a fan of the Jackson 5
I drop jewels, wear jewels to never run it
Wit more kicks than a baby in a mother's stomach
Nasty Nas has to rise, kid, surprise
This is exercise til the microphone dies
Back in '83, I was an MC sparking
But I was too scared to grab the mic's in the park and
Kick my little raps 'cause I thought niggas wouldn't understand
And now in every jam I'm the fucking man
I rap in front of more niggas than in the slave ships
I used to watch C.H.I.P.S, now I load glock clips
I got to have it, I miss Mr Magic
Versatile, my style switches like a fagot
But not a bisexual, I'm an intellectual
Of rap, I'm a professional and that's no question, yo
These are the lyrics of the man, you can't near it, understand
'cause in the streets, I'm well known like the number man
In my place wit the bass and format
Explore rap and tell me Nas ain't all that
And next time I rhyme, I be fouled whenever I freestyle
I see trial niggas say I'm wow
I hate a rhyme biter's rhyme
Stay tuned, Nas, soon the real rap comes at halftime

It's halftime

I got it going on, even flip 'em on this song
Every afternoon, I kick half the tune
And in the darkness, I'm heartless like when the narcs hit
Word to Marcus Garvey or heartless Sparkton
'cause when I blast the herb, that's my word
I be slaying them fast, doing this, that in the third
But chill, past the entree and let's lay
I bag bitches up at John Jay and hit a matinee
Putting hits on 5-0
Cause when it's my time to go, I wait for God wit the fo-fo
And biters can't come near
And yo, go to hell to the foul cop who shot Garcia
I won't plant seeds, don't need an extra mouth I can't feed
That's extra Phillie change, more cash for that weed
This goes out to Manhattan, the island of Staten
Brooklyn, Queens is living fat and
The Boogie Down, enough props, enough clout
I'll will, rest in peace, yo, I'm out

It's still halftime

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Nas

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones ( /nɑːˈsɪər/; born September 14, 1973), better known mononymously as Nas ( /ˈnɑːz/), is an American rapper and actor. He is also the son of jazz musician Olu Dara. Nas has released eight consecutive platinum and multi-platinum albums since 1994, four of which topped the Billboard charts upon release and has sold over thirteen-million records in the United States alone. Nas was also part of the hip hop supergroup The Firm, which released one album under Dr. Dre's record label Aftermath. Aside from rapping, Nas is also an occasional actor and has appeared in feature films such as Hype Williams' directorial debut Belly, Ticker and In Too Deep and the television show Hawaii Five-0. more »

4 fans

Written by: Gary Byrd, Gerome Ragni, James Rado, Nasir Jones, Galt MacDermot

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Background Information
"Halftime" is a single from Nas, an acclaimed American rapper from New York. The song first made its appearance as a track on the soundtrack for the film "Zebrahead" in 1992.
Album Appearance
"Halftime" was later included on Nas's debut studio album, "Illmatic," released in 1994, often considered one of the most influential hip-hop albums of all times.
Producer Information
The song was produced by rap legend Large Professor, a member of the famous hip hop group Main Source.
Visual Component
A music video for "Halftime" was produced and released in sync with the song to help popularize it.
Lyrical Content
This song is celebrated for its vivid depiction of street life, social inequality, and Nas's propensity for intricate narrative story-telling, which elevated the lyricism within hip hop.
Nas's Age
At the time of writing and recording this track, Nas was still a teenager, and the song has been praised for the maturity and depth of its lyrical content considering the artist's age.
Critical Reception
Nas's 'Halftime' has been recognized for its influential beats and lyrical skills. Many believe the track helped to re-define East Coast hip hop during the 90s.
Sampled Music
Musically, "Halftime" samples tracks such as "Schoolboy Crush" by Average White Band and "Dead End" by Japanese musician Yuji Ohno.
Legacy
The song has left a lasting influence in the hip-hop genre and has been sampled or covered by numerous artists.
Song Style
"Halftime" showcases Nas's intricate rhyming style and complex lyrics, elements that would become hallmarks of his career. The rapper's smooth flow and clever wordplay on the track were praised as groundbreaking at the time.
Nas's Cultural Background
Born as Nasir Jones, Nas hails from Queensbridge, New York, and through his songs like "Halftime," he paints a realistic picture of growing up in urban American housing projects. His African and African-American heritage plays a significant role in his music.
Accolades
The entire album "Illmatic", of which "Halftime" is a part, is often recognized as a classic in the hip hop genre, and it has received numerous accolades from respected music publications like Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and NME.
Live Performances
Nas has performed "Halftime" at numerous concerts and music festivals, further cementing its status as an iconic hip hop track.

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