Classic Verse: Nas’ “Verbal Intercourse” (Lyrics & Video)

Nas' best verse is a debate that could last for days in and of itself, but I thought I'd take the chance to give some shine to one of my favorites from God's Son, "Verbal Intercourse". Coming off Raekwon's classic in its own right "Only Built for Cuban Linx" album, Nas drops by for a guest verse and ends up taking over the whole track.

Lyrics and below the video:

"Through the lights cameras and action, glamour glitters and gold
I unfold the scroll, plant seeds to stampede the globe
When I'm deceased, by then the beast arise like yeast
to conquer peace leaving savages to roam in the streets
Live on the run, police paying me to give in my gun
Trick my Wisdom, with the system that imprisoned my son
Smoke a gold leaf I hold heat, nonchalantly
I'm grungy, but things I do is real it never haunts me
while, funny style niggaz roll in the pile
Rooster heads profile on a bus to Riker's Isle
Holdin weed inside they pussy with they minds on the
pretty things in life, props is a true thug's wife
It's like a cycle, niggaz come home, some'll go in
Do a bullet, come back, do the same shit again
From the womb to the tomb, presume the unpredictable
Guns salute life, rapidly, that's the ritual"

In his later years Nas often slips into self-aggrandizement, but back in the day he was solely intent on proving he was the most vicious writer alive, and he accomplishes that task with force on "Verbal Intercourse". Fittingly, Nas makes sweet, sweet love to the track with lyrics that don't really make sense (or at least I'm not smart enough to figure it out), but they sound so sick it barely matters. What does "From the womb to the tomb, presume the unpredictable / Guns salute life, rapidly, that's the ritual" mean? I kind of know, but not in any way that I can articulate. And that mystery keeps me coming back years later - exactly the definition of a classic.