Blunt Ashes

[Intro: Nas]

Yo, I want the Langston Hughes and Alex Haley

got blazed before they told stories

I'ma get blazed before I tell y'all stories

I saw on tv today, this man lost his son, his son died

So he had him cremated, took his ashes, and then made it to a Diamond ring

Now he watches his son shine everyday

I just thought about that, while I sit here ashing in this ash tray, yea

[Verse 1: Nas]

The makin' of a mad band

Intricate stories of DeVante Swing

Ava Gardner, the crashin' of James Dean

Bobby Brown influenced by Rick James and it goes..

Prince wanted Alexander O'Neal to be Morris Day or Jerome

But Alex was puttin' coke in his nose, nigga whylin'

Could be a myth but I swear that the source was close, Phyllis Hyman

Killed herself, it was crazy, mommy was bad they say

Donny Hathaway freefall from a balcony, he swings

[HooK: Nas]

As the blunt ash falls into the ash tray

I could see my whole life fly past me

Did I?, did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?

And will the money and fame out last me?

The blunt's ash falls down in the ash tray

Will I see my whole life fly past me?

I'm askin' did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?

Did I?... anything else you wanna know, just wanna ask me?

[Verse 2: Nas]

Sam trusted Womack with his main lady

He tossin' in the grave, like, "this is how you repay me"?

A change gon' come, wish you didn't trust me so much

Marvin said "no mountain's high enough, fly stuff"

David Ruffin was punchin' Tammy Terrell, gave her concussions

While the Funk Brothers was layin' down the percussion

When Flo from the Surpremes died, Diana Ross cried

Many people said that she was laughin' inside

[HooK: Nas]

As the blunt ash falls into the ash tray

I could see my whole life fly past me

Did I?, did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?

And will the money and fame out last me?

The blunt's ash falls down in the ash tray

Will I see my whole life fly past me?

I'm askin' did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?

Did I?... anything else you wanna know, just wanna ask me?

[Verse 3: Nas]

John F. Kennedy's, enemies dealt with treachery

It interests me, Judy Campbell in Gucci sandals

She's what a temptress be

The death of Ennis Cosby, what a mystery

Or the Chicagoan Harold Washington

Someone is sabotaging them

Watch out for the traps

Larry Troutman killed his brother Roger Troutman

Then he killed himself, that's the end of Zapp

And I wouldn't change a thing, mistakes of the greats

This is what came from their pain

From their hurt we gain, an unfair exchange

[HooK: Nas]

As the blunt ash falls into the ash tray

I could see my whole life fly past me

Did I?, did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?

And will the money and fame out last me?

The blunt's ash falls down in the ash tray

Will I see my whole life fly past me?

I'm askin' did I keep it gangsta or keep it classy?

[Outro: Nas (over the hook)]

I could smell old bogey cigars

Long record perfumes, smellin' just as sweet, ha-ha

Me and my wife K, flyin' in a drop-top like Ruby and Ottis Davis baby

Knaw'mean?, yo man, I get smoked out, and start thinkin' about

Patty McDaniels got a Oscar, for playin' Mami in 'Gone With The Wind'

And she didn't get allowed, wasn't even allowed to go to the premier

Could'ya'believe that?, couldn't go to premier to her joint

Tssk. man, you know they were strong back then man

Blunt from my ash tray, nothin' gon' to live past me, yea, yea, yea