Surviving The Times Lyrics - Nas

I was young, I was surviving the times 

Waiting for my moment, I was destined to shine 

Little Ray had an NSX, I was hoping I'm next 

Wanting bracelets, never had a rope on my neck 

Unless I was holding Taiyeh chain--Rest In Peace 

Even though that night you flipped on us 

You warned us If you came back and we still on the corners, 

We goners, moving on to... 

Move your arm in your watch To another time on the block 

'Cause this 40 Side Where they say Shorty rhyme 

Tragedy he used to come through all the time 

I'm talking Juice Crew, not what the word define 

He had a sister named Erin, for sure was fine 

That was my first crush; I bought my first mic 

I wrote my first verse, I was about nine 

I was about mine, fantasize house-buying 

Met Paul, he wore some big glasses 

Him and Melquan took me where G Rap lived 

I was happy, just getting some answers 

I ain't even know what a record advance was 

I'm seeing hoes sex in the studio bathroom 

With rap dudes, thinking wow she moved me 

Same girl then, right now's a groupie 

Back then, she was like the star in the movie 

Large jewelry and expensive Gucci 

Next stop, Paid In Full posse recruits me 

Knew they were some millionaires, their ropes were dookie 

Eric B man looking like touch-it-he-shoot-me 

You see, every time Ra didn't show 

I get to record demos at attempts to blow 

I wonder could they tell, how did they know 

Sixteen years later, here I go 

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[Chorus] 

Can it be we've run out of time? 

You're alive, Oh-O 

In these streets we live in and die, when its your time 

you will know, cause it ain't hard to tell... 

[Verse 2] 

I'm with Akinyele in the street, trying to get us a deal 

G Rap tried to get us to sign to Cold Chill 

But Fly Ty didn't have the contract we wanted 

Clark Kent just signed Das, he didn't want us 

Russell said I sounded like G, the nigga fronted 

Reef and Matty C offered me a little money 

Shit a little funny, feel a little laughter 

Rebel of Hip-Hop coming through a white rapper 

My boy MC Serch nevertheless 

Took me to Columbia, back then CBS 

Chris Schwartz, RuffHouse, he was the best man 

Now bugging because the label had just dropped Def Jam 

Could you picture Russell needing a check, man 

But he smart, he plotted a plan for Polygram 

Life is ill, again life's a movie 

Then, the roster's: Cypress Hill, Nas, and Fugees 

Before I sold records, no promotion 

The rap world like, what's all this commotion 

Went plat', mad bottles I'm toasting 

20/20 hindsight, but how did they know then 

Photos 

[Chorus] 

[Verse 3] 

Invincible, lyrical, miracle man, huh 

But back to the matter at hand 

'Cause ten years ago we all strived to be twenty-five 

Some cats didn't make it alive 

Dated some stars but respect their privacy 

Copped mad cars, laying back in the driver's seat 

Held myself down, just steering the wheel 

Here I am, completed my whole record deal