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Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Nas
Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Alan Maman
Songwriter
Nas
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
The Alchemist
Producer
Kevin Crause
Mixing Engineer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
A mastermind sees it coming before it comes
A mastermind, before he go to war, he count his ones
A mastermind, everything planned out perfect
In case y'all **** got to get murdered
[Verse 2]
A mastermind sleeps at night real easy
A mastermind, 'cause everything he does is by the book
A mastermind never do a thing irrational
Lives forever, these tales are classical
[Verse 3]
Velvet bowties
Bulletproofs in the tux when I roll by
In the car similar to Osama's, in my diamonds
And my principle is to study drama
[Verse 4]
Look what happened in Manhattan
A couple of years ago when guns started clappin'
Two of my dogs fell, two of my **** ran
They was amateurs in beef with a grown man
[Verse 5]
It taught me the lessons of how the strong stand
And how the weak end up in the coffin
Play it cool, that's the old school rules, man
Keep your ears to the streets, you'll never lose, man
[Verse 6]
Make your enemies believe there's love there
'Cause in war, belief is all fair
Rock 'em to sleep, shots in your Jeep
And you ain't ever know the plot was from me
This for my masterminds
[Verse 7]
A mastermind sees it coming before it comes
A mastermind, before he go to war, he count his ones
A mastermind, everything planned out perfect
In case y'all **** got to get murdered
[Verse 8]
A mastermind sleeps at night real easy
A mastermind, 'cause everything he does is by the book
A mastermind never do a thing irrational
Lives forever, these tales are classical
[Verse 9]
It ain't a game, it's the life
Think it's a game, you lame and I'm nice on that Blackstone Merlot
Toast to my hero, Nat Turner, weather below zero
Gave the keys to Kelis, whispered in her earlobe
[Verse 10]
"Drive home," 'cause she the wife and they freaks
They underneath my girl caliber
They smiled at her and said goodbye
With **** who thug or die, they wild as us
[Verse 11]
My bodyguards are my Denali truck
Knowing I'm surrounded by OGs that I don't really get down with
They got a separate table for their freaks, bought 'em drinks
So we could talk man-to-man so real **** could link
[Verse 12]
I knew they killed hoes too, like Rae Carruth
They used to spray troops, now they managing groups
The main ****, Sunny, had big money since '82
Had two of my dogs whacked, nothing I could do
[Verse 13]
That was back when I had no crew, I switch that
And now I'm strong with **** who feel Sunny was wrong
My money's long, his money is weak, he's losing sleep
Tryna feel me out to see what it's gon' be
But I'm a
[Verse 14]
A mastermind sees it coming before it comes
A mastermind, before he go to war, he count his ones
A mastermind, everything planned out perfect
In case y'all **** got to get murdered
[Verse 15]
A mastermind sleeps at night real easy
A mastermind, 'cause everything he does is by the book
A mastermind never do a thing irrational
Lives forever, these tales are classical
[Verse 16]
I lived a clean life, I don't even steal cable
I speak for myself, my ****'ll slay you
Lucky us, this rap done worked out fine
Feds, check me out, it's no dirt y'all find
[Verse 17]
This kind of New York shit only last fifteen minutes
Every **** get burned, but it's what you did with it
**** who brilliant came in and killed it
Made millions every three months, new jury
[Verse 18]
I'm low, smoking blueberry with a ho that knew a few scary individuals
It's eerie as she gets into it, swears they into voodoo
She says a Hail Mary then she says she knew who
Would come and try to kill you too
[Verse 19]
A mastermind sees it coming before it comes
A mastermind, before he go to war, he count his ones
A mastermind, everything planned out perfect
In case y'all **** got to get murdered
[Verse 20]
A mastermind sleeps at night real easy
A mastermind, 'cause everything he does is by the book
A mastermind never do a thing irrational
Lives forever, these tales are classical
Written by: Alan Maman, Nasir Jones