Maybe my favorite song. Truly Powerful
A track that makes you look out at the world.
This might just be my favorite song from Nas, and most definitely my favorite song from Illmatic. In terms of my whole library it is right up there with Late by Kanye West. Just to give you an idea of how much I love this song. The song is certainly famous, with a now classic feel to the song, incredible, and I mean
incredible verses, all the features are just great. And the message is just deep, a real track to just think about life. I mean this song is just incredibly touching, something that you can reflect your whole life on. Ah man, it is ridiculous, words can't describe this song.
The song is very quotable. AZ and Nas spit some of the best verses ever. I really haven't heard better, but thanks to the beat that also puts them above other verses with potential. Still, you just have to listen to AZ and Nas multiple times, as you can't possibly tell what they are saying the first time. That is when you know a rap is good, you just get lost in the words. All that is rapped is clearly hot and philosophical, so I will post stuff with the best message, in my own opinion of course:
(AZ):Others such as myself are tryin to carry on tradition
Keepin the schwepervesence street ghetto essence inside us
Cause it provides us with the proper insight to guide us
I really saw this as AZ saying stick to your roots. If you don't take experience with you; specifically the "street ghetto essence" in this case(which could otherwise be the struggles in your life, in which case you learn a lot of life); you won't learn and be able to make good choices later on in life. Take everything you have experienced throughout life. That line really gives you nostalgia, making your past flash bye as each words takes you somewhere else.
(Nas): I switched my motto -- instead of sayin fuck tomorrow
That buck that bought a bottle could've struck the lotto
Small choices can lead to the biggest possibilities. That is what that line means simple and plain, really another crazy philosophy, makes you think about everything you do.
Nas and AZ really do a great job rapping. Even if you are a shallow thinker when it comes to music, you would have appreciate there lyricism. On the other hand, they really build a lot of thought in my head. Taking you through their past, some important decisions, and their life now. Really they do equally well to give their own spin off. It doesn't feel repetitive either, considering how well the verses are constructed.
The beat was produced by L.E.S. Although it was more sampled actually. If you listen to "Yearning For Your Love" by the Gap Band and the smaller portion of the sample is from "Black Frost" by Grover Washington, Jr. The track really relaxes you and just blends with the verses to feel absolutely changed every time you listen. It has a nice jazzy feel to it, as the bass helps me vibe to the song. It has some mysterious aura to the whole sound, I can't quite break down the whole hum of it by instrument. Oh well, beautiful regardless. The beat keeps it fairly simple, nothing too complex or any transitions. Thank goodness, or I wouldn't be able to handle my thoughts transition as I heard the volley of words from Nas and AZ at the same time of a more elaborate beat, I suppose anyways. Then as if the song couldn't get better, I just get swept away by Olu Dara playing the cornet. Man the jazz feel just fits right in with the beat. Olu is actually Nas' father, which makes the track even more special. The cornet just carries me all the way to the end as I picture all these things in life. Then silently goes out...
I imagine a lot of scenarios each time I hear the song. But if I look at it from the Queensbridge projects, a lot of stuff happens. As I mentioned before, Nas makes me fascinated in the project life. Yet, instead of the violence and grittiness of N.Y. State of Mind, Life's A Bitch holds a more peaceful feel to it. I imagine a beautiful sunny day in the streets of QB. Somehow it was a good day, and you are just standing on the roof looking at the sunset. I picture someone at ease, as if they have just succeeded, and have gotten a guarantee that life may just work out. Then as the cornet starts they just walk away, just like the song walks away, and perhaps everything I have ever experienced, I have just walked away from. I am moving on to something I just don't know what. It is really the prelude to We Major, it is the plan to reach that success. Oh it really paints a beautiful world in my head, not the projects, but just as if something beautiful is going to happen in life. Yet, maybe it already has, and you are just reflecting.
That is why Life's A Bitch is a legendary track, it takes you back, but moves you forward. That is why the track is so powerful, it moves you so quickly through a flash of your life, but makes you dream of what is ahead, and all that can happen. Giving the song the opportunity to shine anytime in your life(Which actually relates to Nas' quote up above, those small decisions can lead to something ultimate). That means during: success, times of peace and hope, or when you are depressed, and perhaps hopeful to one day reach your goals, whatever that may be.
No other way to say it, for now anyways.
Hope you enjoyed reading this, sorry if it doesn't all flow together very well, just wanted to spit some philosophy.
