album cover
Back When
5,634
Hip-Hop/Rap
Back When was released on January 1, 2012 by Def Jam Recordings as a part of the album Life Is Good
album cover
Release DateJanuary 1, 2012
LabelDef Jam Recordings
LanguageEnglish
Melodicness
Acousticness
Valence
Danceability
Energy
BPM93

Music Video

Music Video

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Nas
Nas
Performer
Steve Wyreman
Steve Wyreman
Guitar
James Poyser
James Poyser
Keyboards
Kevin Randolph
Kevin Randolph
Keyboards
Kaye Fox
Kaye Fox
Additional Vocals
Hannah Sidibe
Hannah Sidibe
Additional Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Ernest Wilson
Ernest Wilson
Composer
Barry Richard Forgie
Barry Richard Forgie
Composer
Shawn Moltke
Shawn Moltke
Composer
Marlon Williams
Marlon Williams
Composer
Chris DeGarmo
Chris DeGarmo
Composer
Nasir Jones
Nasir Jones
Composer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
No ID
No ID
Producer
Rob Kinelski
Rob Kinelski
Mixing Engineer
Anna Ugarte
Anna Ugarte
Assistant Recording Engineer
Stuart White
Stuart White
Recording Engineer
Keith Parry
Keith Parry
Assistant Recording Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Warning
New York
The sound
You about to hear
[Verse 2]
You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started
Got started (Start it off)
You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started
Got started (Ah, yeah)
You love to hear the story,  how it all got started
Got started (Start it off, start it off, start it off, start it off)
Back when
Yeah
Yeah
[Verse 3]
The ill reminisce and think about the fly days
Nothing like them 80s summer NY days
Hop on the MB5 days
Mopeds, PRO-Keds, city split five ways
How it all started, fifth floor apartment
A jigsaw puzzle, aerial view of the projects (Back when)
A kid saw struggle, buried a few of his partners
Now I chill in resorts, enjoyin' massages (Ah, yeah)
Check out the oracle, bred from city housing
Nas, I arise the dead by thousands
I remember seein' Shan chillin' near his Audi
Hollis had Run and them, but I proudly
Put a poster up of Shan and Marley, that was art, kid (For real)
You love to hear the story how it started (Back when)
The bubbly I'm pourin' wasn't popped yet
Before there was a audience to watch us
I assure you, there was a process, yeah
[Verse 4]
You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started
(How it all got started, yeah)
Start it off
You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started
(How it, how it all got started)
Ah, yeah
You love to hear the story, how it all got started
(Hear the story, how it all)
Start it off, start it off, start it off, start it off (Back when)
(How it all got started)
Back when (Back when)
Back when (Ah, yeah)
[Verse 5]
To call 'em fake today is hate, real **** extinct
Pac left me inside a rap world with **** that wink
At other rappers, undercover **** spit every way
Won't be surprised if all they rides have federal plates (Ah, yeah)
Let alone they wardrobes and Studio 4 flow
It was real when I appeared, it would've been some jaws broke
(Back when)
Nas, my real name, stage name, same thing
How could you let these lames claim king? I'm so ashamed, mane
(Ah, yeah)
I light a L for Vernon, for **** who would burn in hell for Vernon
10th Street, 12th Street, Nightmare of Elm Street
Pimps creep, delve deep inside the editorials
Of the ghetto queens, kings, stories true (Ah, yeah)
Who possesses the testicular fortitude
To blow away myths? That's a hinderance to all of you (Back when)
You blame your own shortcomings on sex and race
The mafia, homosexuals, and all the Jews (Ah, yeah)
It's hogwash point of views, stereotypical
Anti-Semitic like the foul words Gibson spewed
And it's pathetic, I don't get the credit I deserve
That's why I hate doin' interviews
But I don't sweat it, study long, study raw
My man Dion said Nas overthink the songs he writin' (Back when)
I'm not a wack performer standin' near no corny hype man
I got the donism in me, I'm here to enlighten
[Verse 6]
You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started (Yeah)
Got started (How it all got started, yeah)
Start it off
You love to hear the story, how it all, how it all got started
Got started (How it, how it all got started)
Ah, yeah
You love to hear the story, how it all got started (Hear the story)
Got started (How it all)
Start it off, start it off, start it off, start it off (Back when)
How it all got started
Back when (Back when)
Back when
Back when
Written by: Barry Richard Forgie, Chris DeGarmo, Ernest Wilson, Marlon Williams, Nasir Jones, Shawn Moltke
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