[Intro]

Freedom or jail, clips inserted

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

The beginning and end, as far as rap goes

It's only natural, I explain my plateau

And also what defines my name

[Hook: J. Cole]

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

[Verse: Nas]

I ain't mad at you, young king, this unsung song is hauntin'

Along comes a one son called a offspring

The Earth spins, my Old Earth grin, sung a church hymn

She birthed in September, took my first wind, again, the Earth spins

I jumped in my first Benz, fled out, lead out

Screams got in the game and took bread out

The nerve of these niggas, weak flow, yo, Cole, let's murder this sequel

Freedom or jail from Fayetteville to QB though

'Cause back when I was young there was massive niggas

But I passed them niggas, just bein' nasty, nigga

Military hat, fatigue pants saggin', Henny'd up

Execs askin' will he live to see his own release date happen

Straight off the corner with the armor, Arm and Hammer

But I had appeal, I was a charmer

Yet still bein' my mama's son was my biggest honor

This shit was just kinda just a hobby in my project lobby

We was tryna be the Queensbridge Cosby's

But the street life robbed me of that, so I had to put it in raps

And who could I ask for help? Older niggas was gettin' mad

But that's the gift and the curse, that's the good and the bad

At least you got Jay, but he already one of the greats

And it's hard for the great to tell somebody how to be great

Nigga I tried and niggas threw that shit right back in my face

They took my cosign, but they ain't let me EP their tapes

And when they joint tanked, that's when they point blame

So point blank, young Cole, you won't be the same

The first album freedoms and them fourth album pressures

A big difference between 'em but I get why you said it

Radio records are needed, I just wanted it to bring the warnin'

Global warmin' to that cold world you was breathin'

That's some advice I never got

If I don't sell another record, I'll just steady rock

While you was writin' down my rhymes I was just tryna show you

That if you say what's on ya mind, you can stand the test of time

Now I'm playin' Born Sinner loud, saw you live, rock the crowd

Like wow, you made your nigga Nas proud

[Bridge: Nas]

So you ain't let Nas down

It's just part of the game, becoming a rap king, my nigga

You ain't let Nas down

How that sound? Here the crown, pass it to you like nothin', nigga

You ain't let Nas down

[Outro: Nas]

Long live the idols, may they never be your rivals

Slick Rick was like Jesus, G Rap wrote the Bible

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

Large Professor's my mentor, that's how the story end, ah