Broken glass in the hallway, bloodstained floors
Neighbors, look at every bag you bring through your doors
Lock the top lock, momma shoulda cuffed me to the radiator
Why not? It might've saved later from my block
N.Y. cops, hookers crawlin off the stroll, coughin
stitches in they head, stinkin and I dread thinkin they be snitchin
But who else, could it be, shook at these, unmarked vans
Parked in the dark -- NARC's, where's your heart?
Hustlers starve; they bust a U-e I jog
to my building -- come out later wearin camouflage
See the sergeant and the captain -- strangle men
Niggaz gaspin for air; til they move no more and just stare
with dead eyes -- tired of riots, s*** is quiet
Simple-minded fools infiltrate grimy crews
Overcrowded cribs, uncles home from bids, sister's pregnant
father's on d****, moms is smokin, beds is piss-infested
Had eight partners growin up, eight turned to seven
Seven turned to six niggaz, got two in heaven
Six of us, holdin it, now it's five rollin thick
The sixth one's parole flipped; five niggaz, went to fo' quick
when he went O.T., college life, converted into gangbangin
Four niggaz still hangin, years passed and slang changin
Three of us now, fourth nigga ain't around
We all thought he was real -- he did the snake s***
Fake s*** -- beat his ass down, yo his mouth
could've got us all wasted, what a f***in clown
All I got left in the end is two of my best friends
And we all goin out, to the death for these ends, WHAT?

NY state of mind is the best song of all time, so it can't possibly come close, sorry pal

Never really f***ed with it tbh. I always thought he should have just left it alone.

OG is top ten OAT

But this sequel did it justice

Fair enough

I like this as much as original tbh

His verses on it are fire

I don’t f*** with I Am at all tho. I even like Nastradamous more

I actually like more than the original lol

Imma relisten. It’s been years tbh.

I find myself listening to this one more often nowadays but overall ive played the OG a lot more

U guys are insane ngl

REAL

I DEADASS WAS HOPING PREMO WOULD PLAY THIS VERSION DURING RZA VERZUZ

Album is trash

This is a gem amongst the waste

y he do a sequel

I can understand why someone would you included

the f***ing piano riff just takes it to another level

Its great who cares

Really?
I Am has some of Nas' best songs in there imo

Beat is fire as well true

RT

I also heard the sequel before the original lol

Some of his best work is on I Am, lots of slaps