A lo largo de su carrera Miles Davis introdujo continuamente variaciones en la forma y el sonido del jazz. El rapper Nas ha trasladado este mismo nivel de innovación artística, transformación y liberación al mundo del hip hop. Alabado por la crítica por la complejidad de sus versos poéticos, por mostrar la dinámica de la calle y penalidades del ghetto, Nasir Jones a sus 25 años restauró la importancia del lirismo en el mundo del hip hop con su ya clásico álbum debut "Illmatic" en 1994. Dos años más tarde su "personaje" de Nasir Escobar inauguró la corriente "Mafioso" en la cultura del hip hop, con "It was written". Ahora, con 12 cortes que mezclan diversos estilos dentro de la nación global del hip hop, con su característica poesía profética, Nas presenta "I am..." otro hito creativo en la historia del hip hop y en el artista mismo. Nas recibe la clase de respeto que identifica a los verdaderos artífices de la palabra en el rap, para ellos todo se reduce a sus letra...
El rock es un género musical que se originó en Estados Unidos a mediados del siglo XX y se popularizó en todo el mundo en las décadas siguientes. El rock es una fusión de varios géneros musicales, como el blues, el country y el folk, entre otros.
El sonido del rock se caracteriza por el uso de guitarras eléctricas, baterías y bajo, aunque también se utilizan otros instrumentos como teclados y sintetizadores. Las letras de las canciones suelen hablar sobre temas como el amor, la política, la sociedad, la rebeldía y la juventud.
A lo largo de los años, el rock ha evolucionado en muchos subgéneros diferentes, como el rock and roll, el rock progresivo, el punk, el heavy metal, el grunge, el indie rock y muchos más. Algunas de las bandas más influyentes en la historia del rock incluyen a The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Nirvana y Radiohead, entre otras.
[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