Nas - Music For Life lyrics

[Produced Hi-Tek] **NEXT MESSAGE** [Message #1: J Dilla] Yo, I don't know where to start Uh, check it out, music is - my total existence, dawg, straight up Everything with my life revolves around music It's like... you can't get a relationship with.. I'm still with.. my first love which is music You'know'what'I'm'sayin'?, fo'real The reason I'm here is.. is J Dilla, just like that, peace **END OF MESSAGE** **PRE-SAVED, NEXT MESSAGE** [Verse One: Nas] Yea, yea It started with rhythms I heard listenin' to the wall The bouncin' of basketballs on playgrounds and all The empty bottles that's hollow, wind blowin' inside 'em The flow and the rhymin' got my alignment to a Science Mixin' with my moms in the kitchen, them spoons rattlin' Pots and pans, faucet water pourin', tunes managin' To come from all the fussin' and ramblin' What I noticed was -- pure music, untampered with By things show biz does; older thugs showed us stuff Like how to hold a plug, juice from the street light It almost could have blowed us up Crates of records, great sessions had the whole hood jammin' Large speakers, fresh made, smell the wood sandin' Father did his blues smooth, legendary jazz man Saw his wife secondary to his true pa**ion Started with my crew rappin', new jacks in '82 Never looked back, now look what it changed me to.. music [Hook #1: Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry] We gotta believe the future We gotta believe the past We gotta believe in more Didn't know that we had it We gotta believe each other We gotta open up our minds Cause music is for life.. for life **NEXT MESSAGE** [Verse Two: Hi-Tek] Uh, what's the difference between me and you? It's that I'm real kind show, this rap sh**, I'd really do it My whole life man is really music Through my ba** line, I'm livin' through it Another expression of life, I couldn't live without it I like my music pure, not watered down DAMN!, it felt good to fulfill the dreams of gettin' out the hood Kept me busy, gave me a chance to stop sellin' d** Spinnin' time in the basement kept me from actin' up Zonin' out, wishin' Dre. could check it out I'm here now, I can't believe it, Proof in the puddin' Everything happened for a reason Through this music I'm able to feed the family When I'm stressed out, it's my sanity It's a life style, all in the streets and in Hollywood Music in my DNA, it's my livelihood.. music [Hook #2: Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry] We gotta believe the children We gotta believe in hope We gotta believe in more Didn't know that we'd know See we gotta believe each other We gotta open up our minds Cause music is for life.. for life **NEXT MESSAGE** [Verse Three: Common] Keep the music alive The good and the strong survive I closed my eyes and imagined I was 'Jackson Five' Randy and Michael goin' through life cycle Music alive leader, let life go So vital to a youngster, comin' up amongst street hustlers The big be the toucher's, since such a special place Givin' the ghetto a taste of what freedom is like I reached a point in my life where I was needin' the mic No second guessin', self-expression in lessons learned Aggression, became sessions where sessions burned Put my soul into it, 'naw my feet is firm And the game, where name is hard to earn And hot cat's career gets scared and burn Through the years, mine took a Godly turn This is the story of my life here trapped in a verse No matter the money or the movies, music is first, yea.. [Hook #1: Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry] [Hook #2: Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry] **NEXT MESSAGE** [Message #2: Busta Rhymes] Ayo, Hi-Tek whattup?, you know who this is It's your boy Busta Bus down, Flip Mode Squad, aiight Now, you know, this is serious thing behind the music that we're doing It's like.. music, for me man, it mean, it means everything, feel me You know when we going through, our personal strives in life You'know'what'I'm'sayin', we get up in that studio Close that door, lock ourselves in, that little four-wall space man Get in the vocal booth and become whoever you wanna be Express whatever you wanna feel, you'know'what'I'mean? When you going through your most frustrating time in life You'know'what'I'm'sayin', you can realize that.. When you can't find nobody else to speak to You can speak through the music Help other people feel your pain, your struggle, your pa**ion You'know, what you live and die for, your values in life You'know'what'I'mean?, music man Is the voice of every being in the Universe What God had provided for us to communicate, when all else fails It's what allows us to be able to connect With touching our hearts & the soul of the streets **FIRST SKIPPED MESSAGE** [Message #3: J Dilla] Yo, I'mma Rosemont legend n***a, I'mma felony n***a Keep rollin' the motha'f**ers in my n***a Like the bait, they..they.. hopin' on it When the bait go in n***a, they can't playa hate on it I'm comin' back n***as, stronger than ever Watch this n***a, bony bones, clever if ever Playa hater, can't motha'f**er, f** with this My baby momma even talk about my sh**, haha I'm hotter than hot, hotter, what?, tell 'em boo (Hang up the damn phone), yea, I'm on, alright Bony bones in the house, n***a **END OF MESSAGE**