The 10 Best Lines From Nas' "Life Is Good"

Image via Complex Original

Song: "A Queens Story"

The Calvary Cemetery in Queens is directly beside a courthouse, giving Nas a focal point within the area to build the story. The individuals being tried there have often murdered so many people that their list of crimes resembles an obituary. It's just another tragic element in Nas' vivid narrative.

Song: "No Introduction"

Nas was one of the first to protest the gross injustices of the banking industry. Starting in 2008, he actively joined protest groups and sought solutions to the financial crisis before Occupy Wall Street existed. Not surprisingly, Nas has a few plans for the New World Order should he get the chance to create it. After gathering a billion “black motherfuckers” in the previous line, Nas sets out to crush the banks that everyone hates: JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs.

Song: "Loco-Motive" f/ Large Professor

How does a man born in poverty-stricken Queens survive? Blackmailing God! Career stalls become irrelevant at that point.

Song: "Back When"

Nas condemns the bias and hate within his own rap community, where slurs against race and religion are often justification for failure and crime. Blaming “Jews” or stereotypes for career fouls is typical, so prevalent that the stereotype in Nas' eyes actually becomes the hateful man. Nas has faced loss enough times in his life to know that the driving force behind success is his own efforts, rarely the responsibility of another.

Song: "Stay"

“Enemy” is a loose term, as we often respect or value the people that we dislike. Nas' old rivals and former friends are impossible to shake without some acknowledgment. While he would gladly see his enemies dead and buried, Nas is quick enough to know that the best revenge is success. This twisted respect becomes the true “thug mystery,” leading Nas to question how far hate can go.

Song: "Cherry Wine" f/ Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse's premature death led to the release of last year's duet “Like Smoke,” where Nas and Winehouse shared close desires in love but could never connect. Still lamenting the death of his close personal friend, Nas' newest duet strings a similar story upon a new web. Nas' contributions to “Cherry Wine” play up the girl who “likes the champagne [Nas] likes” and has values, while Amy desperately seeks someone “just like [her].” Nas personally provided the explanation to RapGenius for this song, stating that “Cherry Wine” is “a song about soulmates.”

Song: "Trust"

After years of pumping out some of the best lines in rap history, Nas sits at a position above rap, serving now as a mentor rather than a soldier. Comparing himself to the high-soaring, sharp-clawed eagle, Nas has the freedom to move where he wants and observe the game, keeping a close eye on the future and the streets below. In comparison, those below Nas who challenge his abilities find themselves nothing but a caterpillar, not only reduced to ground level, but also only able to reach a butterfly phase at best. Without ever stepping into Nas' shoes, they will always lack an awareness of his mindset.

Song: "Where's the Love" f/ Cocaine 80s

Noticing the hypocritical movements of hip-hop and its artists, Nas wonders if rap has lost its roots. Starting off as thugs and hustlers, rappers became CEOs and stars, garnering respect outside of the community for the first time and holding what Nas saw as more stable values. Nas is no saint, but watching the game he helped drive U-turn back toward a “goonie” stage makes him veer.

Song: "Nasty"

“Ezekiel's Wheel” references the Bible, where the prophet Ezekiel witnesses God's chariot, shaped like a wheel, descending from Heaven. The message is clear: Nas is gifted by God to come to Earth, live it up, and heal through rhymes. Somehow, Nas steers clear of religious blasphemy and produces a line that sums up the entire message of not only the album, but his career. If we can combine good times, good music, and the comforts of home, life actually is good.