Represent

## Song by Nas

"**Represent**" is a song by American rapper Nas, released as the ninth track from his first studio album, *Illmatic* (1994). It was produced by DJ Premier, with the beat sampling the song "Thief of Baghdad" by Lee Erwin

Nas informed *XXL*, "That was a serious weight, representing Queensbridge. I was honored to do it, because of what Shan & Marley had already done. I just wanted to grab the flag & hold it up as high as ever. I felt like they had already paved the way, & now they needed an unbeatable solider to hold that flag up high. After the battle with BDP, you can't ignore the doubt that people had in my hood. So it was like, I'm here now, & I got it, & I'ma hold it down to the death."

## Music video

The official music video, directed by Brian Katz, was uploaded to the Mass Appeal YouTube channel in celebration of the 20th anniversary of *Illmatic*. Nas held a contest inviting fans to collaborate and produce the official music video for "Represent," where they would fly out at the YouTube Space Los Angeles. Katz was inspired by the 1924 silent film *The Thief of Bagdad*. Nas noted of his decision to *Rolling Stone*, "He did something that I probably would've thought of. You go back to an old film and the song that was sampled is the music from this old film. That, to me, is the shit."

## Gallery

* Audio
* Story Behind 'Represent'
* VEVOSXSW 2012

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Chorus]

Represent, represent

Represent, represent

Represent, represent

Represent, represent

[Verse 1]

Straight up, shit is real

And any day could be your last in the jungle

Get murdered on a humble, guns'll blast, n\*\*\*as tumble

The corners is the hot spot, full of mad criminals

Who don't care, guzzling beers

We all stare at the out-of-towners

(Aiyyo, yo, who that?) They better break North

Before we get the four pounders and take their face off

The streets is filled with undercovers, homicide chasing brothers

The D's on the roof tryin' to watch us and knock us

And killer coppers even come through in helicopters

I drink a little vodka, spark a L and hold a Glock for

The fronters, wannabe ill n\*\*\*as and spot runners

Thinking it can't happen 'til I trap 'em and clap 'em

And leave 'em done, won't even run about gods

I don't believe in none of that shit, your facts are backwards

Nas is a rebel of the street corner

Pulling a TEC out the dresser; police got me under pressure

[Chorus]

Represent, represent

Represent, represent

Represent, represent

Represent, represent

[Verse 2]

Yo, they call me Nas, I'm not your legal type of fella

Moët drinking, marijuana smoking street dweller

Who's always on the corner, rolling up blessed

When I dress, it's never nothing less than Guess

Cold be walking with a bop and my hat turned back

Love committing sins and my friends sell crack

This n\*\*\*a raps with a razor, keep it under my tongue

The school drop-out, never liked the shit from day one

‘Cause life ain't shit but stress, fake n\*\*\*as, and crab stunts

So I guzzle my Hennessy while pulling on mad blunts

The brutalizer, crew de-sizer, accelerator

The type of n\*\*\*a who be pissing in your elevator

Somehow the rap game reminds me of the crack game

Used to sport Bally's and Cazals with black frames

Now I'm into fat chains, sex and TECs

Fly new chicks and new kicks, Heines and Beck's

[Chorus]

Represent, represent

Represent, represent

Represent, represent

[Verse 3]

No doubt, see my stacks are fat, this is what it's about

Before the BDP conflict with MC Shan

Around the time when Shante dissed the Real Roxanne

I used to wake up every morning, see my crew on the block

Every day's a different plan that had us running from cops

If it wasn't hanging out in front of cocaine spots

We was at the candy factory, breaking the locks

Nowadays, I need the green in a flash just like the next man

Fuck a yard, God, let me see a hundred grand

Could use a gun, son, but fuck being the wanted man

But if I hit rock bottom, then I'ma be the Son of Sam

Then call the crew to get live too, with Swoop

Bokeem, my brother Jungle, Big Bo cooks up the blow

Mike'll chop it; Mayo, you count the profit

My shit is on the streets, this way the Jakes'll never stop it

It's your brain on drugs, to all fly bitches and thugs

'Nuff respect to the projects, I'm ghost, one love

[Chorus]

Represent y'all, represent

Represent y'all, represent

Represent y'all, represent

Represent y'all, represent

[Outro]

One time for your mothafuckin' mind

This goes out to everybody in New York

That's living the real fucking life in every projects, all over

To my man Big Will, he's still here

The 40 side of Vernon, my man Big L.E.S

Big Cee-Lo from the Don, Shawn Penn, the 40 busters

My crew the shorty busters, the 41st side of Vernon posse

The Goodfellas, my man Cormega, Lakey the Kid

Can't forget Draws, the Hillbillies

My man Slate, Wallethead, Black Jay, Big Oogie

Crazy barrio spot, (Big Dove), we rock shit a lot, PHD

And my man Preemo from Gang Starr

'94 real shit y'all (word up Harry O)

Fuck y'all crab-ass n\*\*\*as though!

[Nas' posse]

Bitch ass n\*\*\*as! Bitch ass n\*\*\*as!

You bitch ass motherfuckers!

Come to Queensbridge, motherfucker!

Yeah, yeah, let's bring it back

That's just a warm up

‘Cause I can– on anybody, anybody

## References

1. ↑ "An Oral History of Nas' Classic Debut Album 'Illmatic'". *XXL*. April 16, 2014.
2. ↑ Bell, J. (July 15, 2014). "Nas Takes *Rolling Stone* Behind the Scenes of New 'Represent' Video". *Rolling Stone*.

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