Life’s a bitch and then you die

Can’t say it much better than that. Nas and AZ get existential and reflect on their lives and life in general.

As well as being AZ’s debut on wax, this song is notable for… Read More [Produced by L.E.S. & Nas]

[Intro: AZ & Nas]

Ayo, what's up, what's up?

Let's keep it real, son, count this money

You know what I'm sayin'? (Yeah, yeah)

Ayo, put the Grants over there in the safe

You know what I'm sayin'?

'Cause we spendin' these Jacksons (Yeah, yeah)

The Washingtons go to wifey, you know how that go

I'm sayin' that's what this is all about, right?

Clothes, bankrolls, and hoes

You know what I'm sayin'?

Yo, then what, man, what?!

[Verse 1: AZ]

Visualizin' the realism of life in actuality

Fuck who's the baddest, a person's status depends on salary

And my mentality is money-orientated

I'm destined to live the dream for all my peeps who never made it

'Cause yeah, we were beginners in the hood as Five Percenters

But somethin' must've got in us, 'cause all of us turned to sinners

Now some restin' in peace and some are sittin' in San Quentin

Others, such as myself, are tryin' to carry on tradition

Keepin' this Schweppervescence street ghetto essence inside us

'Cause it provides us with the proper insight to guide us

Even though we know, somehow we all gotta go

But as long as we leavin' thievin', we'll be leavin' with some kind of dough

So, until that day we expire and turn to vapors

Me and my capers will be somewhere stackin' plenty papers

Keepin' it real, packin' steel, gettin' high

'Cause life's a bitch and then you die

[Chorus: AZ]

Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we get high

'Cause you never know when you're gonna go

Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we puff lye

'Cause you never know when you're gonna go

Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we get high

'Cause you never know when you're gonna go

Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we puff lye

[Verse 2: Nas]

I woke up early on my born day; I'm twenty, it's a blessin'

The essence of adolescence leaves my body, now I'm fresh and

My physical frame is celebrated 'cause I made it

One quarter through life, some godly-like thing created

Got rhymes 365 days annual, plus some

Load up the mic and bust one, cuss while I pus from

My skull, 'cause it's pain in my brain vein, money maintain

Don't go against the grain, simple and plain

When I was young at this I used to do my thing hard

Robbin' foreigners, take they wallets, they jewels and rip they green cards

Dipped to the projects, flashin' my quick cash

And got my first piece of ass, smokin' blunts with hash

Now it's all about cash in abundance

Niggas I used to run with is rich or doin' years in the hundreds

I switched my motto; instead of sayin', "Fuck tomorrow!"

That buck that bought a bottle could've struck the lotto

Once I stood on the block, loose cracks produce stacks

I cooked up and cut small pieces to get my loot back

Time is illmatic, keep static like wool fabric

Pack a 4-matic to crack your whole cabbage

[Chorus: AZ]

Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we get high

'Cause you never know when you're gonna go

Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we puff lye

'Cause you never know when you're gonna go

Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we get high

'Cause you never know when you're gonna go

Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we puff lye

'Cause you never know when you're gonna go

Life's a bitch and then you die

[Trumpet Outro: Olu Dara]