[Verse 1]

It ain't hard to tell, I excel and prevail

The mic comes in contact with the third rail

My raps react, they attack the wack just like a maniac

With this, see, I'm a brainiac

I'll call you tattoo, you never come off

I flip the script with a sawed-off, boss

A modern Shakespeare — reincarnated

Brains are elevated, I'm bein' R rated

This style is terror, drastic

Meltin' the plastic, and I eat mics just like acid

Burn your pen and pads, mics you'll need not

'Cause I be packin' like a Rasta in a weed spot

Hittin' your heart with a hollow-tip, verbally illin'

Minds manipulated, my raps are nickel-plated

I execute rap like I'm swingin' an axe around

This is a mic shut down

Notify the President that I'm bombin' your residence

And I'm leavin' no evidence

Voice box yells, lyrics'll excel

Rappers gettin' smoked, you can smell the hot shells

Your style is fake, snake, well dramatized

You might as well be a singer but ain't harmin' Nas/harmonized

Here's the break, I'mma translate lyrics so well

I excel, it ain't hard to tell

[Hook]

It ain't hard to tell

[Verse 2]

I got a case of vocal fever, I'm here to make you a believer

Nas wrecks the tweeters and receivers

Lyrics'll explode, my brain overloads

Gimme a Grammy, competition is dead just like Sammy

I leave minds magnetized like slaves

Your style is old fashioned like waves

Holdin' a pistol at a pastor, pullin' the trigger faster

Tell him I was sent by his Master

But that topic's too deep for your ear

Here's the science you can comprehend clear

Advanced intellectual, a time bomb speeder

I'll know your whole card just like a palm reader

Non-stop, I'm bustin' heads like the Feds, baby pops

This is not the Kindergarten Cop

Put on your blindfold, I'mma release and stand tall

I detonate bombs at the Policeman's Ball

This is art from the heart

I leave 'em marked for death in each breath

In this game, I'm the ref

Already I'm ill, but I can only get better

With lyrics as pretty as a nickel-plated Beretta

I master dialects of uncommon languages

A black man caught by the Klan couldn't hang with this

These are proverbs, copy cat attackers

Huh, I'm wanted dead 'cause I'm a genocide to rappers

Battlin' Nas is dead when my brain reacts

You might as well have fell asleep on a train track

This ain't the same track that you're used to

This is rhythmatic, automatic — try it, you oughta have it

Slaughter your tape recorder, givin' thanks to my supporters

And keep flowin' like water

No matter the obstacle, Nasty Nas will prevail

A-yo, it ain't hard to tell

[Hook]

It ain't hard to tell

[Verse 3]

Check it

I catch wreck with my intellect, suckers are incorrect

I'm gonna win 'cause you slept

On Nas, word is bond, I leave the microphone torn

False rappers — you need to write your own song

Metaphors are murder, man, hittin' like Roberto Duran

Hold the mic in my hand, my life span

Imitators will sweat me like gym class

Your raps are fat, shit, then I'll be Slim Fast

New rap recruits — I salute then delete 'em

Verbally eat 'em because my ears don't need 'em

Nas is a terrorist, analyst

Swingin' my fists like a nigga breakin', possessed by Satan

You couldn't compete with a beat that was fast or slow

Brothers is gettin' shipped out like I was Castro

I can eat your flavor, but I'm not a candy lover

I use a Lethal Weapon just like Danny Glover

I execute monologues, sabotage entourage

Mutilate mics like a maniac at large

I talk with slang, and use my brain

Generate pain, penetrate your vein

Move like a maniac, Nas is nice, son

Talk to your conscience and hit like Tyson

No competition 'cause I cause wonders

Nas will battle rappers by the football numbers

A motor mouth killer, rhyme-writin' thriller

Hold a MAC-11 and attack a reverend

Don't sleep 'cause you might not wake

I speak deep, dialects I translate

Me and friends commit sins on the regular

Murder my competitors, and et cetera

Nas is a gypsy, Egyptian

Flippin' the script and microphone manufacturers are victims

My voice makes your ear drums swell

It ain't hard to tell