NAS
- Hold Down The Block Lyrics / with translations(feat. Mark B. Mayfield)
[Chorus: Mark B. Mayfield]
I gotta lay down the block, when the block is hot
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
I gotta lay down the block, when the block is hot
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
[Verse 1: Nas]
Yea, Feds feast on street dons, look at their teeth showin'
Salivatin' at the mouth, South to East Orange
Keep pourin' that liquor, but nigga don't sleep on it
You'll be givin' up your Jesus piece to your peeps to pawn it
For legal fees in the penal dorm
Screamin' on the horn with 'bout thirty years on your conscience
I'm watchin' brothers disappear, it's appallin'
Some dudes had just only a year of ballin'
Counter-intelligence found a strange evidence (When the block is hot)
Still we behind the wheel with heat on us, hangin' with predicates
Position we placed in caves in, so they got us caged in
Ways spinnin' like Mike Bivens from New Edition aging (I gotta... When the block is hot)
I got families I'm feeding 'cause my mans is bleeding
Every five seconds look in all directions
I come through prepared; I give 'em a call
I'm close, bring them guns downstairs
[Chorus: Mark B. Mayfield]
I gotta lay down the block, when the block is hot
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
I gotta lay down the block, when the block is hot (hold it down)
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
[Verse 2: Nas]
Uh, uh, it's beef week, Monday, murder
Two niggaz dead, Tuesday
Wednesday and Thursday is hearse-day
Friday, somebody-gotta-die-day
Saturday, put the gat away
Chillin' wit your chick and a bag of haze
Wonderin' how it's all gon' end and what type of way
'Cause Sunday back to gunplay
Mo' shit start over nothin'
And get finished quick 'cause the art of repercussion
Yeah, I seen it, a G' going out indecent (When the block is hot)
Takin' a plea agreement, thinkin' he secret
Escape the crime scene, now you live straight like 9:15
Then one-time intervene (I gotta lay...)
My man ain't like me sayin' I don't care if I die
But the SIG Sauer on me now I'm scared to die
You thinkin' the one I send to clap you be a shorty
But he old school, holdin' a .38, he in his forties
[Chorus: Mark B. Mayfield]
I gotta lay down the block, when the block is hot
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
I gotta lay down the block, when the block is hot
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
[Verse 3: Nas]
(I gotta...) Anytime brothers can't get jobs, then they rob
(When the block is hot) A man rather die than live on his knees and starve
Cops steady askin' your man what happened
First he tell then he stop, like he not really rattin'
Guess he not really in that casket from a sawed-off (When the block is hot)
Listen, peep game from the brain of an all-star
The rain hurt niggaz bones who been shot
Metal pins in their leg, they walk with a limp-hop
The streets lie, (When the block is hot) so you better be cautious
Your man'll fry you plus, everybody talkin'
A vet, a General, don't step where I walked in
Make your own path, be a legend in your skin
(Hold down the block, when the block is hot)
Make your own cash, don't stress what I'm forcin'
Don't expect more when you put in less work than all them
Queensbridge projects has taught him, and that's for life
You heard me right, I got the block (When the block is hot)
[Outro: Mark B. Mayfield]
When the block is hot
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
I gotta hold down the block, when the block is hot
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
I gotta hold down the block, when the block is hot
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
[Chorus: Mark B. Mayfield]
I gotta lay down the block, when the block is hot
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
I gotta lay down the block, when the block is hot
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
[Verse 1: Nas]
Yea, Feds feast on street dons, look at their teeth showin'
Salivatin' at the mouth, South to East Orange
Keep pourin' that liquor, but nigga don't sleep on it
You'll be givin' up your Jesus piece to your peeps to pawn it
For legal fees in the penal dorm
Screamin' on the horn with 'bout thirty years on your conscience
I'm watchin' brothers disappear, it's appallin'
Some dudes had just only a year of ballin'
Counter-intelligence found a strange evidence (When the block is hot)
Still we behind the wheel with heat on us, hangin' with predicates
Position we placed in caves in, so they got us caged in
Ways spinnin' like Mike Bivens from New Edition aging (I gotta... When the block is hot)
I got families I'm feeding 'cause my mans is bleeding
Every five seconds look in all directions
I come through prepared; I give 'em a call
I'm close, bring them guns downstairs
[Chorus: Mark B. Mayfield]
I gotta lay down the block, when the block is hot
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
I gotta lay down the block, when the block is hot (hold it down)
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
[Verse 2: Nas]
Uh, uh, it's beef week, Monday, murder
Two niggaz dead, Tuesday
Wednesday and Thursday is hearse-day
Friday, somebody-gotta-die-day
Saturday, put the gat away
Chillin' wit your chick and a bag of haze
Wonderin' how it's all gon' end and what type of way
'Cause Sunday back to gunplay
Mo' shit start over nothin'
And get finished quick 'cause the art of repercussion
Yeah, I seen it, a G' going out indecent (When the block is hot)
Escape the crime scene, now you live straight like 9:15
Then one-time intervene (I gotta lay...)
My man ain't like me sayin' I don't care if I die
But the SIG Sauer on me now I'm scared to die
You thinkin' the one I send to clap you be a shorty
But he old school, holdin' a .38, he in his forties
[Chorus: Mark B. Mayfield]
I gotta lay down the block, when the block is hot
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
I gotta lay down the block, when the block is hot
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
[Verse 3: Nas]
(I gotta...) Anytime brothers can't get jobs, then they rob
(When the block is hot) A man rather die than live on his knees and starve
Cops steady askin' your man what happened
First he tell then he stop, like he not really rattin'
Guess he not really in that casket from a sawed-off (When the block is hot)
Listen, peep game from the brain of an all-star
The rain hurt niggaz bones who been shot
Metal pins in their leg, they walk with a limp-hop
The streets lie, (When the block is hot) so you better be cautious
Your man'll fry you plus, everybody talkin'
A vet, a General, don't step where I walked in
Make your own path, be a legend in your skin
(Hold down the block, when the block is hot)
Make your own cash, don't stress what I'm forcin'
Don't expect more when you put in less work than all them
Queensbridge projects has taught him, and that's for life
You heard me right, I got the block (When the block is hot)
[Outro: Mark B. Mayfield]
When the block is hot
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
I gotta hold down the block, when the block is hot
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
I gotta hold down the block, when the block is hot
I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation
Facts about Hold Down The Block
✔️
Hold Down The Block is written by Mark Christopher Batson, Nasir Jones.
✔️
It is first released on December 18, 2006 as part of Nas's album "Hip Hop Is Dead" which includes 16 tracks in total. This song is the 9th track on this album.
✔️
When we focus on what the lyrics are trying to say, the song 'Hold Down The Block' by Nas is a great example of the difficulties and risks of urban areas, where people have to rely on their creative skills and tough spirit to deal with violence, crime, and poverty. The lyrics show the hard truth of living in the streets, pointing out the need for constant watchfulness, hard choices, and even finding ways to live and secure one's community in the middle of turmoil and hardships. The lyrics of Hold down the block primarily speak about social commentary, despair, angst, reflection, and anger. However, the song also highlights survival and resilience, violence and its consequences, and the impact of the streets. The lyrics deal with adult subjects like violence, crime, and drug use, thus making them inappropriate for kids. The mentions of murder, shooting, and the repercussions of street life suggest a degree of intensity and seriousness that justify giving the song a restricted rating.
✔️
Hold Down The Block falls under the genres Hip Hop, Rap.
✔️
Hold Down The Block song length is 3 minutes and 58 seconds.
Who wrote Hold Down The Block lyrics?
Hold Down The Block is written by Mark Christopher Batson, Nasir Jones.
✔️
When was Hold Down The Block released?
It is first released on December 18, 2006 as part of Nas's album "Hip Hop Is Dead" which includes 16 tracks in total. This song is the 9th track on this album.
✔️
What is the meaning behind Hold Down The Block lyrics?
When we focus on what the lyrics are trying to say, the song 'Hold Down The Block' by Nas is a great example of the difficulties and risks of urban areas, where people have to rely on their creative skills and tough spirit to deal with violence, crime, and poverty. The lyrics show the hard truth of living in the streets, pointing out the need for constant watchfulness, hard choices, and even finding ways to live and secure one's community in the middle of turmoil and hardships. The lyrics of Hold down the block primarily speak about social commentary, despair, angst, reflection, and anger. However, the song also highlights survival and resilience, violence and its consequences, and the impact of the streets. The lyrics deal with adult subjects like violence, crime, and drug use, thus making them inappropriate for kids. The mentions of murder, shooting, and the repercussions of street life suggest a degree of intensity and seriousness that justify giving the song a restricted rating.
✔️
Which genre is Hold Down The Block?
Hold Down The Block falls under the genres Hip Hop, Rap.
✔️
How long is the song Hold Down The Block?
Hold Down The Block song length is 3 minutes and 58 seconds.
Hottest Lyrics with Videos
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Songwriter(s): Mark Christopher Batson, Nasir JonesRecord Label(s): 2006 The Island Def Jam Music Group and Columbia Records
Official lyrics by
Meaning to "Hold Down The Block" song lyrics
Hold Down The Block
Nas
Nas
