Hit-Boy & Nas – The Tide Lyrics

One of Hip-Hops most dominant duos return on “The Tide”, as Nas and Hit-Boy connect for the second track on Hit’s SURF OR DROWN album.

On the song, Hit-Boy and Nas each rap a verse, before switching the beat up and using the “In & Out flow” to trade bars. This style of rapping has been made popular by other notable artists such as EPMD and Jadakiss & Styles P.

The producer-rapper duo has been kidnapping the rap game over the last few years, with multiple high-quality releases to show. Hit-Boy has executively produced all three of Nas’ King’s Disease albums, as well as Magic, a surprise album released on Christmas Eve 2021.

On March 22, 2023, Hit-Boy released the song’s music video two days ahead of the album’s release.

Hit-Boy has rapped alongside Nas before, on their 2021 song, “Composure”, a cut from the King’s Disease II LP, whose sequel track is also included on this album.

The Tide Lyrics By Hit-Boy & Nas

[Part I]

[Intro: Hit-Boy]
Baby, baby, baby
Baby, baby, baby
Tsunami
Surf, yeah, gang

[Verse 1: Hit-Boy]
I caught the bus in the cold, ‘fore I ever touched the icy watch
Stood on my square, now these niggas want me stuck in a box
Checkin’ the rear-view in the Urus, had to circle the block
‘Cause when you make it from the bottom, they gon’ come for your top
Yeah, when you doin’ you, they don’t like that shit
I hold it down for the clique, with the types of grit
G-Malone CD playin’, white lightnin’ sticks
While I twist another rapper and I fire that shit, for real
This make me wanna gеt some game from OGs, you don’t know me
Thеy sleepin’ on me, thats the main reason, I don’t sleep
The times that we livin’ in, it could get frightenin’
Imagine seein’ Tupac body on IG
How they did PnB, how they did Takeoff
They’ll take a hundred years to prove to niggas they ain’t soft
Big Hit’, sittin’ in a hole as I write this
Holdin’ your wrist-high, these days is a high risk
So the only thing I trust is my instincts
I’m squintin’ through the peep hole, nigga, I’ve been peeped
All I gotta do is keep movin’ intently
And if I go today, I’ll live through C3 and this beat
And if I go today, I’ll live through C3 and this beat
And if I go today—
[Verse 2: Nas]
Vocal chords got insurance, not Superman or Invincible
Family we ain’t see in decades, say he don’t give to you
Good ol’ boy system, it’s still shittin’, per usual
Broadway lights, Nas is ghetto-like, that’s the musical
Another statement from the kid who made the fade famous
From the Bridge, swirl, sniff, sip reds — Bailey, Caymus
Her BFF’s so beautiful, told her “I need the two of you”
We only gettin’ older, one day this shit’ll be over
Four seasons in Costa Rica, she pretty as Mona Lisa
Yellin’ at me on the yacht, fuckin’ my inner peace up
Quickly forget a diva, and you don’t forget either
They bite the hand that feed ’em, your man is low-key competin’
Be somebody you helped, that got beside theyself
Movin’ like it’s bodies under they belt
Puttin’ problems on you, they couldn’t juggle theyself
That’s how y’all give it up?
Do anythin’ to feel a rush, well, go ‘head then live it up
That’s why the only thing I trust is my instinct
You squintin’ where you see me, I’m so bright and I’ve been peeped
All I gotta do is keep movin’ immensely
If I go today, I’ll live through Knight and Destiny
Sink or swim, nigga
Surf or drown

[Part II]

[Chorus: Nas & Hit-Boy]
I stand above the surface, another purchase
I know my purpose, hoppin’ out in retro Jordan 1’s
Six-figure whips, my nigga, we all in one
I count up a milli’, don’t care if it’s all in ones

[Verse: Nas & Hit-Boy]
I take it all in hundreds, anythin’ less, that ain’t gon’ cut it (Cut It)
Took over the game, I’m havin’ my way with it
Fuck is they sayin’? This shit is outrageous
It’s niggas, don’t even get fly as my baby is
This shit is easy, I go the craziest (Crazy), craziest
I go insane, that should be my alias
I can’t explain it, sit back in amazement (Amazement)
We really made it, tappin’ my cleats, I’m roundin’ the bases
Stuck to the basics, baby, two-faced it
Hitters weren’t loyal to some of these dudes
I used to tapes with, they gotta face it
Where do I start? They gotta set me apart
Y’all make music, I make art, it’s straight from the heart
It’s straight from the soul, I’m makin’ it known, they gettin’ exposed
I live by the cold, they subject to fold, I get to the o’s, o’s, o’s
Surf or drown

[Chorus: Nas & Hit-Boy]
I stand above the surface, another purchase
I know my purpose, hoppin’ out in retro Jordan 1’s
Six-figure whips, my nigga, we all in one
I count up a milli’, don’t care if it’s all in ones