[Intro: Nas]
Yo, I want the Langston Hughes and Alex Haley
got blazed before they told stories
I`ma get blazed before I tell y`all stories
I saw on tv today, this man lost his son, his son died
So he had him cremated, took his ashes, and then made it to a Diamond ring
Now he watches his son shine everyday
I just thought about that, while I sit here ashing in this ash tray, yea
[Verse 1: Nas]
The makin` of a mad band
Intricate stories of DeVante Swing
Ava Gardner, the crashin` of James Dean
Bobby Brown influenced by Rick James and it goes..
Prince wanted Alexander O`Neal to be Morris Day or Jerome
But Alex was puttin` coke in his nose, nigga whylin`
Could be a myth but I swear that the source was close, Phyllis Hyman
Killed herself, it was crazy, mommy was bad they say
Donny Hathaway freefall from a balcony, he swings
[HooK: Nas]
As the blunt ash falls into the ash tray
I could see my whole life fly past me
Did I?, did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?
And will the money and fame out last me?
The blunt`s ash falls down in the ash tray
Will I see my whole life fly past me?
I`m askin` did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?
Did I?... anything else you wanna know, just wanna ask me?
[Verse 2: Nas]
Sam trusted Womack with his main lady
He tossin` in the grave, like, "this is how you repay me"?
A change gon` come, wish you didn`t trust me so much
Marvin said "no mountain`s high enough, fly stuff"
David Ruffin was punchin` Tammy Terrell, gave her concussions
While the Funk Brothers was layin` down the percussion
When Flo from the Surpremes died, Diana Ross cried
Many people said that she was laughin` inside
[HooK: Nas]
As the blunt ash falls into the ash tray
I could see my whole life fly past me
Did I?, did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?
And will the money and fame out last me?
The blunt`s ash falls down in the ash tray
Will I see my whole life fly past me?
I`m askin` did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?
Did I?... anything else you wanna know, just wanna ask me?
[Verse 3: Nas]
John F. Kennedy`s, enemies dealt with treachery
It interests me, Judy Campbell in Gucci sandals
She`s what a temptress be
The death of Ennis Cosby, what a mystery
Or the Chicagoan Harold Washington
Someone is sabotaging them
Watch out for the traps
Larry Troutman killed his brother Roger Troutman
Then he killed himself, that`s the end of Zapp
And I wouldn`t change a thing, mistakes of the greats
This is what came from their pain
From their hurt we gain, an unfair exchange
[HooK: Nas]
As the blunt ash falls into the ash tray
I could see my whole life fly past me
Did I?, did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?
And will the money and fame out last me?
The blunt`s ash falls down in the ash tray
Will I see my whole life fly past me?
I`m askin` did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?
[Outro: Nas (over the hook)]
I could smell old bogey cigars
Long record perfumes, smellin` just as sweet, ha-ha
Me and my wife K, flyin` in a drop-top like Ruby and Ossie Davis baby
Knaw`mean?, yo man, I get smoked out, and start thinkin` about
Patty McDaniels got a Oscar, for playin` Mami in `Gone With The Wind`
And she didn`t get allowed, wasn`t even allowed to go to the premier
Could`ya`believe that?, couldn`t go to premier to her joint
Tssk. man, you know they were strong back then man
Blunt from my ash tray, nothin` gon` to live past me, yea, yea, yea Send " Blunt Ashes" Ringtone to your Cell