[Verse 1]
It ain't hard to tell, I excel and prevail
The mic comes in contact with the third rail
My raps react, they attack the wack just like a maniac
With this, see, I'm a brainiac
I'll call you tattoo, you never come off
I flip the script with a sawed-off, boss
A modern Shakespeare — reincarnated
Brains are elevated, I'm bein' R rated
This style is terror, drastic
Meltin' the plastic, and I eat mics just like acid
Burn your pen and pads, mics you'll need not
'Cause I be packin' like a Rasta in a weed spot
Hittin' your heart with a hollow-tip, verbally illin'
Minds manipulated, my raps are nickel-plated
I execute rap like I'm swingin' an axe around
This is a mic shut down
Notify the President that I'm bombin' your residence
And I'm leavin' no evidence
Voice box yells, lyrics'll excel
Rappers gettin' smoked, you can smell the hot shells
Your style is fake, snake, well dramatized
You might as well be a singer but ain't harmin' Nas/harmonized
Here's the break, I'mma translate lyrics so well
I excel, it ain't hard to tell
[Hook]
It ain't hard to tell

[Verse 2]
I got a case of vocal fever, I'm here to make you a believer
Nas wrecks the tweeters and receivers
Lyrics'll explode, my brain overloads
Gimme a Grammy, competition is dead just like Sammy
I leave minds magnetized like slaves
Your style is old fashioned like waves
Holdin' a pistol at a pastor, pullin' the trigger faster
Tell him I was sent by his Master
But that topic's too deep for your ear
Here's the science you can comprehend clear
Advanced intellectual, a time bomb speeder
I'll know your whole card just like a palm reader
Non-stop, I'm bustin' heads like the Feds, baby pops
This is not the Kindergarten Cop
Put on your blindfold, I'mma release and stand tall
I detonate bombs at the Policeman's Ball
This is art from the heart
I leave 'em marked for death in each breath
In this game, I'm the ref
Already I'm ill, but I can only get better
With lyrics as pretty as a nickel-plated Beretta
I master dialects of uncommon languages
A black man caught by the Klan couldn't hang with this
These are proverbs, copy cat attackers
Huh, I'm wanted dead 'cause I'm a genocide to rappers
Battlin' Nas is dead when my brain reacts
You might as well have fell asleep on a train track
This ain't the same track that you're used to
This is rhythmatic, automatic — try it, you oughta have it
Slaughter your tape recorder, givin' thanks to my supporters
And keep flowin' like water
No matter the obstacle, Nasty Nas will prevail
A-yo, it ain't hard to tell
[Hook]
It ain't hard to tell

[Verse 3]
Check it
I catch wreck with my intellect, suckers are incorrect
I'm gonna win 'cause you slept
On Nas, word is bond, I leave the microphone torn
False rappers, you need to write your own song
Metaphors are murder, man, hittin' like Roberto Duran
Hold the mic in my hand, my life span
Imitators will sweat me like gym class
Your raps are fat, shit, then I'll be Slim Fast
New rap recruits — I salute then delete 'em
Verbally eat 'em, because my ears don't need 'em
Nas is a terrorist, analyst
Swingin' my fists like a n***a breakin', possessed by Satan
You couldn't compete with a beat that was fast or slow
Brothers is gettin' shipped out like I was Castro
I can eat your flavor, but I'm not a candy lover
I use a Lethal Weapon, just like Danny Glover
I execute monologues, sabotage entourage
Mutilate mics like a maniac at large
I talk with slang, and use my brain
Generate pain, penetrate your vein
Move like a maniac, Nas is nice, son
Talk to your conscience and hit like Tyson
No competition, 'cause I cause wonders
Nas will battle rappers by the football numbers
A motor mouth killer, rhyme-writin' thriller
Hold a MAC-11, and attack a reverend
Don't sleep 'cause you might not wake
I speak deep, dialects I translate
Me and friends commit sins on the regular
Murder my competitors, and et cetera
Nas is a gypsy, Egyptian
Flippin' the script and microphone manufacturers are victims
My voice makes your ear drums swell
It ain't hard to tell