Firas Durri

“If there was an old days, we pioneered it.”
— Nas

The lyrical quality of 90s hip hop is astounding in comparison to rap these days; even average MCs were technically proficient, and new kids like Nas came through blazing: “I move swift and uplift your mind, shoot the gift when I riff in rhyme”.

Nas, Live at the BBQ (1991)

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Street’s disciple, my raps are trifle
I shoot slugs from my brain just like a rifle
Stampede the stage, I leave the microphone split
Play Mr. Tuffy while I’m on some Pretty Tone shit

Verbal assassin, my architect pleases
When I was twelve, I went to hell for snuffing Jesus!
Nasty Nas is a rebel to America
Police murderer, I’m causing hysteria

My troops roll up with a strange force
I was trapped in a cage and let out by the Main Source
Swimming in women like a lifeguard
Put on a bulletproof nigga I strike hard

Kidnap the President’s wife without a plan
And hanging niggas like the Ku Klux Klan
I melt mics till the soundwave’s over
Before stepping to me you’d rather step to Jehovah

Slamming MCs on cement
Cause verbally, I’m iller than a AIDS patient
I move swift and uplift your mind
Shoot the gift when I riff in rhyme

Rapping sniper, speaking real words
My thoughts react, like Steven Spielberg’s
Poetry attacks, paragraphs punch hard
My brain is insane, I’m out to lunch God

Science is dropped, my raps are toxic
My voicebox locks and excels like a rocket!

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