Nas - Soundview Vol.1 - I Might Stutter But I'm Still Crazy Butta.

Nas - Deja Vu

"Through the lights cameras and action, glamour glitters and gold
I unfold the scroll, plant seeds to stampede the globe
When I'm deceased, by then the beast arise like yeast
to conquer peace leaving savages to roam in the streets
Live on the run, police paying me to give in my gun
Trick my Wisdom, with the system that imprisoned my son"

Some call it the greatest hip-hop verse of all time. At the very least, its considered an exemplary piece of lyricism and a fitting representation of New York street rap during its dark and moody mid-90s era. Many will recognize it as Nas' verse from his "Verbal Intercourse" collabo with Raekwon the Chef on the iconic Only Built for Cuban Linx. However, the verse also appeared on the unreleased Nas classic "Deja Vu" backed by a different beat. The somber piano melody marks a stark contrast from the Emotions vocal sample that RZA cleverly chopped on "Verbal Intercourse," giving the verse more of an introspective feel. As good as the first verse is, some prefer the second (myself included), which includes this gem:

"Blunts, thugs, and alcohol, what a mixture
Just picture your life as a whole, judged in court they convict ya
They telling you your state of mind like you worthless
So he curses, his mom saying Bible verses
That's all she works with, But miracles never leave the churches
Instead it hits the pockets of the preacher just to purchase
A house with a swimming pool, labels me a sinning fool
I'm just a nigga who inherited a winning jewel"

The exceptional comparison between the archaic, ghetto-harvesting U.S. Justice system and the faith-fueled - and often misguided - Christian devotion highlights Nas at his finest. With regards to "Deja Vu" and "Verbal Intercourse," it's unknown for sure as to which song came first, but according to Raekwon in XXL Magazine's stellar 'Making of Cuban Linx' piece "he [Nas] had already went through three or four rhymes [for "Verbal Intercourse"], and he couldn't really see which one he wanted it to be. But I heard it. Once it came out his mouth, I was like, 'that's it.'" With this in mind, it's possible that "Deja Vu" had already been recorded and that the other rhymes Nas was auditioning were verses 2 and 3.

If there was ever a track that not only deserved to be on Illmatic, but is arguably one of the best songs Nas has ever recorded, its "Deja Vu." Enjoy.

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Nas - '94 Freestyle from the Westwood Show on Capital Radio

Shortly before Tim Westwood, the European equivalent of Funkmaster Flex, bounced from Capital Radio to the BBC Radio One juggernaut at the tail end of 1994, he featured a young and relatively unknown, up-and-coming lyricist from the Queensbridge Housing projects of New York. At that time, Nas was embarking on a promo tour of Europe in support of his debut masterpiece, Illmatic. As was customary on Westwood's shows, the guest was invited to spit a freestyle. Like most emcees, Nas recited a partial verse to start and semi-freestyled the rest. Beginning with the second verse of "Memory Lane" over a sped-up version of the classic "Ike's Mood" break, Nas drops jewelz galore:

"I keep a gem star razor under my tongue
And near my gums when I'm not strapped
Blow you just before you cock your glock back
Touch your temple, leave ya leakin' while I'm speakin'
The shit that I be freakin' gives me papers when I'm sleepin', chief
Walk around mega hard like 'whateva god'
You couldn't count how many niggas my Beretta scarred"

Even while stumbling verbally in an effort to prevent using curse words, his delivery remains entertaining as he throws in another line from his "waving automatic guns at nuns" phase - a far cry from his future claim of God's Son:

"Pardon the curses, but just send the verses
When I was a kid I used to blow up the churches
But now, I got older, snatchin' purses
walkin' around... I'm a nervous wreck
What the heck, don't disrespect
'cause if you do, you might get hit with the Tech
Off the top off my head, yes, I'm a blunthead
The FI-FBI wants me dead
But chill, I might stutter but I'm still crazy butta
Do whatever you want, I'm from the gutter"