Hip Hop Is Dead

will.i.am, Nas

About Hip Hop Is Dead

"Hip Hop Is Dead" is the first and title single taken from Nas' 2006 album of the same name. It is produced by and features will.i.am. It peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, as well as number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. On December 31, 2007, the music video for "Hip Hop Is Dead" appeared at number 93 on BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2007 countdown, even though the video was released in December 2006.


Year:
2006
3:45
168 
#8

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If hip hop should die before I wake
I'll put an extended clip inside of my AK
Roll to every station, murder the DJ
Roll to every station, murder the DJ

If hip hop should die before I wake
I'll put an extended clip inside of my AK
Roll to every station, murder the DJ
Roll to every station, murder the DJ

Hip hop just died this mornin'
And she's dead, she's dead

Yeah, niggaz smoke, laugh, party, and die in the same corner
Get cash, live fast, body their man's mama
Rich-ass niggaz is ridin' with three llamas
Revenge in their eyes, Hennessey and the ganja
Word to the wise with villain state of minds
Grindin', hittin' Brazilian dimes from behind
Grindin', hittin' Brazilian dimes from behind
(Grindin', hittin' Brazilian dimes from behind)
Whenever, if ever, I roll up, it's sown up
Any ghetto will tell ya Nas helped grow us up
My face once graced promotional Sony trucks
Hundred million in billin', I helped build 'em up
Gave my nigga my right, I could have gave left
So like my girl Foxy, a nigga went Def
So, nigga, who's your top ten?
Is it MC Shan?
Is it MC Ren?

If hip hop should die before I wake
I'll put an extended clip inside of my AK
Roll to every station, murder the DJ
Roll to every station, murder the DJ

If hip hop should die before I wake
I'll put an extended clip inside of my AK
Roll to every station, murder the DJ
Roll to every station, murder the DJ

Hip hop just died this mornin'
And she's dead, she's dead

The bigger the cap, the bigger the peelin'
Come through, something ill, missin' the ceilin'
What influenced my raps?  Stick-ups and killings
Kidnappings, project buildings, drug dealings
Criticize that, why is that?
'Cuz Nas rap is compared to legitimized crap
'Cuz we love to talk on ass we gettin'
Most intellectuals will only half listen
So you can't blame jazz musicians
Or David Stern with his NBA fashion issues
Oh, I they like me in my white tee
You can't ice me, we here for life, B
On my second marriage, hip hop's my first wifey
And for that we not takin' it lightly
If hip hop should die, we die together
Bodies in the morgue lie together
All together now

If hip hop should die before I wake
I'll put an extended clip inside of my AK
Roll to every station, murder the DJ
Roll to every station, murder the DJ

If hip hop should die before I wake
I'll put an extended clip inside of my AK
Roll to every station, murder the DJ
Roll to every station, murder the DJ

Everybody sound the same, commercialize the game
Reminiscin' when it wasn't all business
If it got where it started
So we all gather here for the dearly departed
Hip hopper since a toddler
One homeboy became a man then a mobster
If the guys let me get my last swig of Vodka
R.I.P., we'll donate your lungs to a Rasta
Went from turntables to mp3s
From "Beat Street" to commercials on Mickey D's
From gold cables to Jacobs
From plain facials to Botox and face lifts
I'm lookin' over my shoulder
It's about eighty niggaz from my hood that showed up
And they came to show love
Sold out concert, and the doors are closed shut

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Nas

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones ( /nɑːˈsɪər/; born September 14, 1973), better known mononymously as Nas ( /ˈnɑːz/), is an American rapper and actor. He is also the son of jazz musician Olu Dara. Nas has released eight consecutive platinum and multi-platinum albums since 1994, four of which topped the Billboard charts upon release and has sold over thirteen-million records in the United States alone. Nas was also part of the hip hop supergroup The Firm, which released one album under Dr. Dre's record label Aftermath. Aside from rapping, Nas is also an occasional actor and has appeared in feature films such as Hype Williams' directorial debut Belly, Ticker and In Too Deep and the television show Hawaii Five-0. more »

4 fans

Written by: JERRY LORDAN, NASIR JONES, DOUGLAS INGLE, WILL ADAMS

Lyrics © REGENT MUSIC CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Album Release
"Hip Hop Is Dead" is the titular track from Nas's eighth studio album, which was released on December 19, 2006.
Musical Collaboration
The song features American singer-songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist Will.i.am, who is known as a member of The Black Eyed Peas.
Billboard Performance
Following the release, "Hip Hop Is Dead" peaked at number 41 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Genre and Style
The song is recognized as East Coast hip hop and alternative hip hop. It is noted for its strong, controversial message about the state of the Hip Hop music industry in the mid-2000s.
Sampled Music
The song heavily samples "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly, an instrumental track that is widely regarded as a significant influence on hard rock music.
Controversy
The song's title sparked controversy among hip hop fans and artists, leading to public debates about the current quality and future of hip hop music.
Grammy Nomination
In 2008, the song was nominated for the Best Rap Solo Performance at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.
Album Success
Despite the controversy, the "Hip Hop Is Dead" album achieved commercial success, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 355,000 copies in its first week.
Critical Reception
The song received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Nas's ability to create controversial and thought-provoking music.
Inspirations
Nas was quoted as saying his inspirations for the title were both the 1985 album "Rock is Dead-Long Live Rock!" by The Who and the fact that much popular hip hop music had become mainstream and formulaic.

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    Hip Hop Is Dead

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 2007

    Billboard #41


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