Nas – The Cross (Audio, Lyrics)

Throwback to Nas’ track titled “The Cross”. Listen, stream, buy, mp3 download and read the lyrics to the song produced by Jeff Bass & Eminem.

Nas The Cross

It’s always welcome to see a pair of hip-hop greats connecting on wax, and though not exactly what some were expecting, Nas and Eminem’s first-ever collaboration remains a big deal. True, they didn’t exactly trade verses, but Slim made sure to bless Nas with a haunting instrumental, one that stood out as a highlight on the fan-favorite album God’s Son. On that note, Nas’ sixth studio album recently celebrated its eighteenth birthday a few days back, and it feels appropriate to spotlight “The Cross,” a reflective piece fueled by some stellar penmanship from the Queensbridge emcee.

Evocative in its use of religious imagery, Nas establishes a striking tone with the bars of the chorus. “I carry the cross, if Virgin Mary had an abortion, I’d still be carried in the chariot by stampedin’ horses,” he raps, asserting his divine roots with a controversial what-if scenario. All the while, Eminem’s spooky piano arrangement floats underfoot, giving Nas ample space to showcase a slew of impressive flows. “I changed it up from that pop shit, it’s hard to see R&B rappers arguably, started fuckin’ up the game horribly,” spits Nas, a relic of what used to bother lyricists back in 2002. “Cause I parted the sea, then these novices targeted me.”

Nas – The Cross (prod. Jeff Bass & Eminem)

Lyrics

[Intro]
Braveheart…

[Chorus]
I carry the cross, if Virgin Mary had an abortion
I’d still be carried in the chariot by stampedin’ horses
Had to bring it back to New York
I’m happy that the streets is back in New York
For you rappers, I carry the cross
I carry the cross, if Virgin Mary had an abortion
I’d still be carried in the chariot by stampedin’ horses
Had to bring it back to New York
I’m happy that the streets is back in New York
For you rappers, I carry the cross

[Verse 1]
Y’all can keep y’all weak beats from your corny producers
There’s a new king of the streets, you’re gonna get used to
I was the old king of the streets, that y’all once hated
But now I reinvented myself, and y’all all waited
NAS, N.A.S. mean Niggas Against Society
Noisy I aim, not silently, noose all surroundin’ me
I hang ’em, I string ’em up, ain’t no thing, I just drop ’em
To which doctor you copped
And you locked and it ain’t what it was
I changed it up from that pop shit, it’s hard to see R&B
Rappers arguably, started fuckin’ up the game horribly
‘Cause I parted the sea, then these novices targeted me
Bitches infatuated say they love me lyin’ to me
What I’ve discovered is my brother’s tryin’ to be
The next me, yeah I support him, but he’s blinded I see
Jealousy, he love me to death and I’m buggin’
I love him for life, we both still mournin’ on our mother’s life
And I don’t need much but a Dutch, a bitch to fuck
A six, a truck, some guns to bust
I wish it was that simple, the last emperor, hit yo’ ass
With the Nasty Nas diary, get out my path

[Chorus]
I carry the cross, if Virgin Mary would’ve an abortion
I’d still be carried in the chariot by stampedin’ horses
Had to bring it back to New York
I’m happy that the streets is back in New York
For you rappers, I carry the cross
I carry the cross, if Virgin Mary had an abortion
I’d still be carried in the chariot by stampedin’ horses
Had to bring it back to New York
I’m happy that the streets is back in New York
For you rappers, I carry the cross

[Verse 2]
I can’t keep a bitch ’cause none of them come before little Des
I can’t be too rich, too many hoes lined up for sex
I can’t rest until my niggas in houses with pretty mazes
Water and flowers in ’em
While my niggas walk around in they trousers grinnin’
Gotta keep a lot of heat; .30 cals, 10 millimeters
.40 cals plus the Heckler to set y’all straight
You too light? I shoot your freckles out
You too dark? The infrared show you what the TEC about
Huh? I’m stressin’ out, need more offices for bosses
Secretaries and meetings with big sharks who mad greedy
We can sell mo’ boats on the coast
Give coats to the po’, and give hope to the broke, then live low
But that ain’t reality; I look happy, but under the sky
You see a nigga who know, out of three women two out of three
Will love you but lead you to they own hidden evil
Bitch! You the reason niggas be beefin’, ho get on
‘Posed to be Earth, ain’t worth the pussy that you sit on
From here on it’s a new day
Million dollars ain’t what it was yesterday
Many problems, many niggas, most involved but they fake
Hope y’all relate

[Chorus]
I carry the cross, if Virgin Mary had an abortion
I’d still be carried in the chariot by stampedin’ horses
Had to bring it back to New York
I’m happy that the streets is back in New York
For you rappers, I carry the cross
I carry the cross, if Virgin Mary had an abortion
I’d still be carried in the chariot by stampedin’ horses
Had to bring it back to New York
I’m happy that the streets is back in New York
For you rappers, I carry the cross, I carry the cross