☝️ Key Points
- The song is a tribute to forgotten or underrated artists from the hip-hop scene.
- Nas asks about the whereabouts of some well-known names who were successful in the 80s and 90s but have since been forgotten.
- He emphasizes that these artists had a great influence on the development of rap and are the reason why rap can be addictive.
- Nas mentions various forgotten artists and groups and remembers rapper Craig Mack, who returned to the studio after a long hiatus.
- The song ends with a tribute to some of the legends of hip-hop.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song 'Where Are They Now' by
Nas are a tribute to forgotten or underrated artists from the hip-hop scene. Nas asks about the whereabouts of some well-known names like Redhead Kingpin, Tim Dog, Kwame, and King Tee, who were successful in the 80s and 90s but have since fallen into obscurity. He also mentions groups like Black Sheep, Group Home, and Busy Bee, who were once popular but are now rarely heard.
Nas emphasizes that these artists had a great influence on the development of rap and that they are the reason why rap can be addictive. He recommends parents to expose their children to music from artists like Spice 1, Positive K, Father MC, and the Skinny Boys from an early age to teach them the diversity of hip-hop.
In the second part of the song, Nas mentions other forgotten artists like Fu-Schnickens, Buckshot, and Finesse. He also remembers rapper Craig Mack, who returned to the studio after a long hiatus. Nas wonders what has become of the Funky Four Plus One, the Force M.D.'s, and Miss Melody, and hopes that they are financially successful.
The lyrics of the song end with a tribute to some of the legends of hip-hop, like Moe Dee, Jam-Master Jay, and the Juice Crew. Nas emphasizes that this song is not a diss track, but a reminder of the great contributions of these artists to hip-hop culture.