Let Nas Down (remix) Lyrics - J. Cole

Freedom or jail, clips inserted 

A baby's bein' born same time a man is murdered 

The beginning and end, so far as rap goes 

It's only natural, I explain my plateau 

And also what defines my name 

Yeah, long live the idols, may they never be your rivals 

Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible 

Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin 

No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin 

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I used to print out Nas raps and tape 'em up on my wall 

My niggas thought they was words, but it was pictures I saw 

And since I wanted to draw, I used to read 'em in awe 

Then he dropped Stillmatic, rocked the cleanest velour 

Fast forward, who thought that I would meet him on tour? 

I'm earnin' stripes now nigga, got Adidas galore 

Backstage I shis hand, let him know that he's the man 

When he said he was a fan it was too hard to understand 

No time to soak up the moment though, cause I was in a jam 

Hov askin' where's the record that the radio could play 

And I was strikin' out for months, 9th inning feeling fear 

Jeter under pressure, made the biggest hit of my career 

But at first, that wasn't clear, niggas had no idea 

Dion called me when it dropped, sounded sad but sincere 

Told me Nas heard your single and he hate that shit 

Said you the one, yo why you make that shit? 

I can't believe I let Nas down 

Photos 

Damn, my heart sunk to my stomach, I can't believe I let Nas down 

I got defensive on the phone, resentment was in my tone, fuck it 

Yeah, long live the idols, may they never be your rivals 

Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible 

Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin 

No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin 

I couldn't help but think that maybe I had made a mistake 

I mean, you made "You Owe Me" dog, I thought that you could relate 

But while I shot up the charts, you mean tellin' me 

That I was not up to par, when I followed my heart 

Granted, my heart was tainted by my mind, I kept on sayin' 

Where's the hits? You ain't got none 

You know Jay would never put your album out without none 

And dog, you know how come 

Labels are archaic, formulaic with their outcomes 

They don't know, they just study the charts 

Me, I study the shows, the fans, study their hearts 

I had a feelin' I was killin', and this music we were spillin' out 

Would change lives forever, fuck the label, put it out 

Friday Night Lights blew, that was classic number 2 

Now it seemed as if the Nas comparisons was comin' true 

Still no release date from the label, are they insane? 

Gucc told me play the game to change the game but on the way 

I let Nas down, I got no one to blame, I'm ashamed I let Nas down 

But this is God's plan, you could never understand, fuck it 

Yeah, long live the idols, may they never be your rivals 

Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible 

Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin 

No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin 

I always believed in the bigger picture 

If I could get them niggas to listen outside my core then I can open a door 

Reintroduce 'em to honesty, show 'em that they need more 

The difference between the pretenders and the Kendrick Lamars 

And so, I took the fall like the son of the Lord 

On the cross, dyin' for that fake shit you niggas bought 

For the past decade, if I should pass please let this be my last essay 

Therefore I write from the heart 

Apologies to OG's for sacrificin' my art 

But I'm here for a greater purpose, I knew right from the start 

I'm just a man of the people, not above but equal 

And for the greater good I walk amongst the evil 

Don't cry mama, this the life I choose myself 

Just pray along the way that I don't lose myself 

This is for the nigga that said that hip-hop was dead 

I went to Hell to resurrect it, how could you fail to respect it? 

Lettin' Nas down, I got the phone call quietly I mourned dog, I let Nas down 

Yeah, and on this flight may I never lose sight, fuck it 

Yeah, long live the idols, may they never be your rivals 

Pac was like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible 

Now what you're 'bout to hear's a tale of glory and sin 

No I.D. my mentor now let the story begin