It's foul what this money could do, cash corrupts the loyal.
The sound of the '90s, to me, is a combination of soul and street - it's a feeling.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The essence of the 1990s music is a blend of soulful melodies and raw street experiences, creating a unique emotional atmosphere.
Nas reflects on the defining sound of the 1990s, illustrating how it intertwines elements of soulful music with the authentic and often gritty narratives of street life. This combination not only characterizes the era's musical output but also evokes a deep emotional connection, capturing the complex feelings that music can evoke in listeners. It speaks to the idea that music is not just about sound, but also about the feelings and stories behind it.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a music appreciation class, one might reference this quote to discuss the cultural impact of the 1990s.
More from Nas
All quotes βIt's a thin line between paper and hate,_x000D_ _x000D_ Friends and snakes, nine millis and thirty-eights,_x000D_ _x000D_ Hell or the pearly gates...I was destined to come,_x000D_ _x000D_ Predicted, blame God, He blew breath in my lungs.
I pledge allegiance to the fair and balanced truth._x000D_ _x000D_ Not the biased truth,_x000D_ _x000D_ Not the liest truth,_x000D_ _x000D_ But the highest truth.
Every time I get in the studio, I feel like I wanna have some fun. My fun is not doing the easy work. My fun is doing what's me.
If you scared to take chances, you'll never have the answers...
I don't respect killers, I respect O.G. knowledge,_x000D_ _x000D_ Codes of the streets got new rules, but no guidance._x000D_ _x000D_ Lessons, detrimental to a young disciple;_x000D_ _x000D_ Folks, take care of your brothers, niggas do as I do._x000D_ _x000D_ Keep your enemies close, where they can see you._x000D_ _x000D_ It's not your enemy who get you, it's always your own people.
Similar quotes
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If you wanna make money in music, you're better off being on the business end of it a lot of the time. And also as a musician, if you do make money, it means you had to bite and scratch and kick the whole way to not get ripped off, because at every corner, there's somebody there waiting to trip you up and take a bigger chunk.
Average band with a great drummer sounds great, great band with an average drummer sounds average.
Of emotions, of love, of breakup, of love and hate and death and dying, mama, apple pie, and the whole thing. It covers a lot of territory, country music does.
There are two golden rules for an orchestra: start together and finish together. The public doesn't give a damn what goes on in between.
It wasn't until I hung out with Dead Prez and understood how to make, you know, raps with a message sound cool that I was able to just write "All Falls Down" in 15 minutes.