[Intro]

Braveheart...

[Chorus]

I carry the cross, if Virgin Mary had an abortion

I'd still be carried in the chariot by stampedin' horses

Had to bring it back to New York

I'm happy that the streets is back in New York

For you rappers, I carry the cross

I carry the cross, if Virgin Mary had an abortion

I'd still be carried in the chariot by stampedin' horses

Had to bring it back to New York

I'm happy that the streets is back in New York

For you rappers, I carry the cross

[Verse 1]

Y'all can keep y'all weak beats from your corny producers

There's a new king of the streets, you're gonna get used to

I was the old king of the streets, that y'all once hated

But now I reinvented myself, and y'all all waited

NAS – N.A.S. mean Niggas Against Society

Noisy I aim, not silently

Noose all surroundin' me

I hang 'em, I string 'em up, ain't no thing, I just drop 'em

To which doctor you copped

And you locked and it ain't what it was

I changed it up from that Pop shit, it's hard to see

R&B rappers, arguably, started fuckin' up the game horribly

'Cause I parted the sea, then these novices targeted me

Bitches infatuated, say they love me, lyin' to me

What I've discovered is my brother's tryin' to be

The next me, yeah, I support him, but he's blinded, I see

Jealousy, he love me to death — am I'm buggin'?

I love him for life, we both still mournin' on our mothers' life

And I don't need much but a Dutch, a bitch to fuck

A six, a truck, some guns to bust

I wish it was that simple, the last emperor, hit yo' ass

With the Nasty Nas diary, get out my path

[Chorus]

I carry the cross, if Virgin Mary would've an abortion

I'd still be carried in the chariot by stampedin' horses

Had to bring it back to New York

I'm happy that the streets is back in New York

For you rappers, I carry the cross

I carry the cross, if Virgin Mary had an abortion

I'd still be carried in the chariot by stampedin' horses

Had to bring it back to New York

I'm happy that the streets is back in New York

For you rappers, I carry the cross

[Verse 2]

I can't keep a bitch, 'cause none of them come before little Des

I can't be too rich, too many hoes lined up for sex

I can't rest until my niggas in houses with pretty maids, watering flowers in 'em

While my niggas walk around in they trousers grinnin'

Gotta keep a lot of heat; .30 cals, 10 millimeters

.40 cals, plus the Heckler to set y'all straight

You too light? I shoot your freckles out

You too dark? The infrared show you what the TEC about

Huh? I'm stressin' out, need more offices for bosses

Secretaries and meetings with big sharks who mad greedy

We can sell mo' boats on the coast

Give coats to the po', and give hope to the broke, then live low

But that ain't reality; I look happy, but under the smile, you see a nigga who know –

Out of three women, two out of three

Will love you but lead you to they own hidden evil

Bitch! You the reason niggas be beefin' – ho, get on

'Posed to be Earth, ain't worth the pussy that you sit on

From here on, it's a new day

Million dollars ain't what it was yesterday

Many problems, many niggas, most involved, but they fake

Hope y'all relate

[Chorus]

I carry the cross, if Virgin Mary had an abortion

I'd still be carried in the chariot by stampedin' horses

Had to bring it back to New York

I'm happy that the streets is back in New York

For you rappers, I carry the cross

I carry the cross, if Virgin Mary had an abortion

I'd still be carried in the chariot by stampedin' horses

Had to bring it back to New York

I'm happy that the streets is back in New York

For you rappers, I carry the cross

I carry the cross