Reacting to Life's a B*tch | First Time Hearing NAS | Behind the Beat (Reaction!)

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Welcome to BandHouse Poddcast Rock Dudes React!
"Nas - Life's a B*tch" is a classic hip-hop song that was released in 1994 as part of Nas' debut album, "Illmatic." The song features AZ and is produced by L.E.S.
The song is a reflection on the struggles and harsh realities of life in the inner city, and the lyrics touch on themes of poverty, crime, and mortality. The chorus famously declares "Life's a b*tch and then you die," a sentiment that is echoed throughout the song.
Despite the somber subject matter, the song also includes moments of hope and resilience. Nas and AZ both deliver verses that showcase their lyrical prowess and provide insight into their personal experiences growing up in Queensbridge, New York.
Overall, "Nas - Life's a B*tch" is a powerful and poignant song that remains a staple of the hip-hop genre more than 25 years after its release.
Nas - Life's a B*tch
• Nas - Life's a Bitch (...
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Reacting to Life's a Bitch | First Time Hearing NAS | Behind the Beat (Reaction!)

[@eelinam]

You guys should do Wu-Tang Clan! They are going on tour with Nas this year actually. You should do C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) by the Wu tang Clan. Their most popular song. From their debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). They are 9 members I think. You can also do Protect Ya Neck from the same album. The album is a classic.

[@eelinam]

They also have a series on disney+ that is really good.

[@BandHouseStudios]

9 members! that is a clan! lol we will def listen to them soon!

[@hoop6822]

@@BandHouseStudios there’s a core crew of 9 but they have a huge posse that have occasionally appeared on there catalog

[@backstagepassreactions8225]

@@BandHouseStudios J.COLE 1.Lion King on Ice 2.Let Nas Down 3.Villematic 4.Last Call 5.Farwell 6.Lights Please 7.Cole Summer 8.Revange of the Dreamer(song) 9.Close 10.world is empty 11.Close 12. 2Face

[@MRLUTHOOOR]

Keeping this #Effervescent street ghetto essence

[@oldschoolhip-hopheadriorea9178]

ILLMATIC is the GOAT HipHop Album and every song is a MASTERPIECE! 🙏🏿🐐

[@BandHouseStudios]

we stoked to hear the rest!

[@Makaveli13Xroy]

Im a white boy from europe but i got Illmatic Vinyl still in the plastic framed on my wall , its the greatest hiphop album EVER , no contest

[@rondalowe8855]

NAS is the G.O.A.T!!!

[@oldschoolhip-hopheadriorea9178]

FYI- Nas wrote the majority of this album when he was 17-19 yrs old! #GENIUS

[@jdon8060]

Facts

[@yobartenda]

He said he been writing it his while life. That's even iller.

[@jdon8060]

@@yobartenda Nas is the truth

[@Makaveli13Xroy]

m a white boy from europe who grew up on metal , i transitioned to hiphop around the age of 13 but i got Illmatic Vinyl still in the plastic framed on my wall , its the greatest hiphop album EVER , no contest

[@darrencharles]

it’s wild how perfect AZ’s verse is. people who don’t even listen to rap recognize it within a bar.

[@Makaveli13Xroy]

m a white boy from europe who grew up on metal , i transitioned to hiphop around the age of 13 but i got Illmatic Vinyl still in the plastic framed on my wall , its the greatest hiphop album EVER , no contest6

[@sammy2954]

@@Makaveli13Xroyit’s great yeah

[@Adversital]

Az had the first verse and chorus, Nas was second. Great reaction!

[@johnvosarogo1785]

The difference in the 90s east n west aesthetics is west coast beats tend to sample more funk records while the east sampled more jazz records. The signature west coast style is sometimes called p-funk and east coast is known as boom bap

[@Njdevil]

And whats crazy about that is , P-Funk started on the east coast the parliaments from Plainfield NJ went from do wop to switch up the style to Funkadelic 💯

[@ThePreMoveObserver]

Schweppervesensce was from a commercial for Schweppes during that time. Basically it meant doing the cool thing. AZ rhymed first then Nas was second

[@jayonep]

AZ, who is the only featured artist on this seminal album, was unknown back then. This song was the first time we heard him on wax, and he managed to land a record deal off this one verse (which is considered a hip hop classic). Nas has released (and continues to release to this day) many amazing songs. Here are some of his most iconic songs if you want to react to one of those: "NY State of Mind", "The World is Yours", "Memory Lane", "It Ain't Hard to tell", "The Message", "I Gave you power", "Nas is like", "One Mic", "Made you look"... Also, Nas and AZ have many songs together and they always sound good as a duo. They were also part of a supergroup called The Firm, which released one album on Dr Dre's label Aftermath.

[@fyabirdphenix]

Nas is the Undisputed Best Ever in Hip Hop period... And His latest Run with the KD Series and Magic is Unbelievable...

[@Nikki-kh8tt]

Fun fact..Nas’ father is a jazz musician.That’s him playing in the background

[@BandHouseStudios]

What a talented family!

[@JA-mj9re]

Exactly! The greatest to ever touch the mic Nas untouchable aint no debate. Do more nas 🔥

[@BandHouseStudios]

We would love to!

[@jameshayes3387]

Facts

[@rondalowe8855]

Nas is the G.O.A.T!

[@AlphaDwg]

I switched my motto. Instead of saying fuck tomorrow that buck that bought a bottle could have struck the lotto. Those lyrics literally changed my life 🤯

[@Eclecktro]

You became a gambler instead of an alcoholic? ;-)

[@Champagneonly]

I love to see people who LOVE music, and it’s dope to see the perspectives of brothers from other walks of life appreciate our art… glad I found this video

[@BandHouseStudios]

Thank you :)

[@TheLordAI]

Large Professor is known as one of the greatest iconic hip hop producers he also is an MC (rapper) he played a big part in launching Nas career

[@BandHouseStudios]

That's dope

[@icebergo6]

Large Pro was the mastermind behind so many successful artists, and it wasn’t just because he sat in the booth and personally produced their songs. He knows EVERYBODY and connected so many folks together! He was a hip hop consierge who, personally, introduced A LOT of musicians, singers, writers and MCs to each other. What’s crazy is that you never hear his voice but can dig his name up in the liner notes. But deep-dive interviews reveal that he did even more without credit. Many hip hop artists of the time drop his name as the one who helped make some of their masterful collaborations possible.

[@tartan360]

Nas is truly the GOAT! Illmatic never disappoints on every listen

[@bonisabonani1259]

As a life long Hip-Hop listener I appreciate Hip-Hop reactions from people who are from outside the genre because they bring in perspectives, analysis and observations traditional Hip-Hop reviews are not able to define or describe because they are too inside the culture and artform so therefore they take for granted.

[@BandHouseStudios]

Thanks!

[@QGTM868]

my favourite part of the solo as well is when it hits that flat note, adds so much emotion

[@justincasano1041]

Fun fact about this record is it was the last one they recorded last minute before they had to turn the album in. Another fun fact not a Dropout of school in the beginning of 9th grade as a fourteen-year-old and somehow recorded the greatest hip hop album of all time between the ages of 18 and 20

[@dealowmorgan885]

NaS is our greatest poet in hip hop history

[@ducatarina]

2Pac Is

[@dealowmorgan885]

@@ducatarina Pac is great but he couldn’t put words together like NaS. He loved NaS and was listening to his It Was Written album when he was killed in Vegas.

[@Guccivelli]

@@dealowmorgan885 Both Nas and Tupac inspired each others. Nas was inspired by Pac's first studio album and Pac was listening to Nas through times especially when he went to court. Nas was better at rapping but Pac brought such strong emotion with his lyrics and rhymes like no other else. Nas captivated with his great street poetry and Pac captivated with his emotion. Pac even studied poetry so I guess its a fair comparsion.

[@dealowmorgan885]

@@Guccivelli agreed

[@teeblack06]

AZ did the 1st verse and Nas was the 2nd verse. Nas father is a jazz musician and that's him playing at the end.

[@BandHouseStudios]

✅✅✅👍

[@fahimtajwaar2521]

I hope you guys give more of the album a listen. When this album dropped in 94, it changed the rap game forever and is heralded today as one of the best and most influential rap albums ever.

[@Njdevil]

And whats crazy about that is , P-Funk started on the east coast the parliaments from Plainfield NJ went from do wop to switch up the style to Funkadelic 💯

[@mikedevine2977]

Good review and listening to and picking out how fantastic musically this song is and was from beginning to end!!!!!

[@roi3761]

The song they sampled is the Gap Band “ Yearning for your love”

[@lovejones1897]

His dad is a big jazz player he plays the sax at the end and I love how they covered the Gap Band’s Yearning for your love

[@brickcityaz429]

NAS & AZ IS PURE MAGIC AND WOULD PUT THEM UP AGAINST ANY DUO IN MUSIC PERIOD!!!! 💯😎

[@robertmoore4555]

Blackstar.....go.

[@narotic6133]

Songs by Nas that i would recommend checking out because they demonstrate how creative of a writer he is are I gave you power, fetus, Nas is like, Undying love

[@djmoedee2929]

The person playing the cornet is Olu Dara who is Nas father.

[@bigmils44]

I love these guys perspective coming from a different Genre

[@57kwest]

AZ was his only feature on this debut album which was the first guy and the chorus

[@BandHouseStudios]

That's amazing. Lover his flow

[@RedJohnTheLastCzar]

LARGE: Is old school New York vernacular. As in reference to, "How you livin' Gawd?!? You livin' large?" i.e. "Yo, look at Money wit Da Q45 n mad ice, he livin' large, yo! Also there's a 90' movie with Damon & Marlon Wayans called, "Livin' Large" with Stacy Dash.

[@BandHouseStudios]

Dope dude! Thanks for sharing!

[@ceedubb365]

This sample is from The Gapp Band classic Keep running out of my Life

[@axelahonlonsou]

Good job guyz. "new york state of mind" by Nas and you will defenatly put him on "the best lyricst of all time list"

[@MRLUTHOOOR]

These are 20 YEAR OLDS, Brov!!

[@rwahid82]

This was hilarious 😂 loved it AZ was first Nas verse was 2nd Nas the greatest rapper of all time

[@vadamane]

The west coast genre you’re talking about with the high pitch synth lead is g-funk

[@danielhead8123]

Illmatic is a masterpiece

[@Ant_Mo4]

Love the reactions when rock and roll folks and rap folks react to certain songs for the first time it's always a good time

[@BandHouseStudios]

Haha we enjoy it!

[@DIXIFREELY]

90s WestCoast is called G Funk. The sound you're thinking of is the funky worm (anything from Ice Cube or DeathRow for reference). 90s Eastcoast is called Boom Bap (chopped/looped samples with old drums, hi hats with swing)

[@celestialbody7986]

Who can tell these guys love music

[@BandHouseStudios]

Sure do!

[@nahomberhane6814]

He was 19 years old can you believe it?

[@sayeyadolo109]

Greatest Rapper Ever

[@BandHouseStudios]

Agreed

[@rondalowe8855]

NAS is the G.O.A.T!!

[@CorkyKneivel]

illmatic is a perfect album. Hip Hops Citizen Kane because its a debut that might be the greatest of all time.

[@TeeBarr]

Nas is in the second verse. The artist named AZ is in the first verse. Nas is heavily influenced by jazz as his father I believe was a jazz artist

[@karljjr]

You got a bunch of brothas stoned that are chiming in on what he about to say. It is basically people chilling talking about life.

[@BandHouseStudios]

Dope

[@aidan9]

For my money AZ’s verse at the beginning is the best 8 bars ever spit

[@juliusangel2774]

I like this dudes

[@BandHouseStudios]

good :)

[@Adversital]

Nas - I gave you power

[@MRLUTHOOOR]

It’s just effervescence

[@OnlyCrowTV-CRTV]

I went to school with Shad (Lil Bow Wow) from Columbus, Ohio, Reynoldsburg, to be exact. But whatever, I enjoyed the ya'll reaction.

[@stollinroned5090]

Great reaction.Nas is the goat🎉

[@j24g.54]

a Nas Reaction ? oh im subscribing right now

[@BandHouseStudios]

Thanks! More to come!

[@BThaSmoovUno]

AZ "Mo Money Mo Murder Mo Homicide" off his debut album feat. NaS!!!🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯

[@casteltheghettomonk4392]

Everybody after illmatic either learned how to rap or improved x10 strated a career

[@Playboimatrix200]

nas you're da man reaction fr

[@BandHouseStudios]

Will do!

[@shelltoefrose]

This was really before the east coast/west coast beef

[@eddybillrutajoga9234]

1st verse is AZ and second verse is Nas

[@karljjr]

The thing about most of these rappers they come from music families.

[@BandHouseStudios]

Makes sense. You dont have rhythm like that without exposure!

[@vredeling]

Big Poppa (Biggie) with the high melodical synth is really a West Coast sound.

[@BandHouseStudios]

Hella

[@illson2019]

That's Nas's farther playing the horn at the end he's a famous blues musician

[@BandHouseStudios]

makes sense it was beautiful

[@JonathanLittle001]

Anthony Cruz is AZ, he went first. Nas came in second.

[@yourfriendlyneighbourhoodvue]

You guys should do reactions to his recent albums, he’s still dropping great albums right now

[@TaylorJohnHardin]

These guys glow

[@eelinam]

I love your reactions

[@BandHouseStudios]

Thank you so much!!

[@bagley232]

scwheppervesence was a reference for the brands ginger ale from back in the day

[@jahova10]

Lil or BIG are usually nicknames you pick up in your neighborhood. It’s not specific to being a rapper but I know several people who we call “lil, or big” (insert their name) and they don’t rap. Like for example a Jr we usually call little and a Sr. We call big.

[@BandHouseStudios]

That makes sense! Thanks Javon!

[@precise3291]

The L.O.X, Kool G Rap, Prodigy, Ransom, Cormega, Large Amount and DISL Automatic. Few of my favorite lyricists

[@BandHouseStudios]

Dope thank you!

[@clarkbar]

dude, aside from the last guy you named we have the almost exact same taste in rap. Large Amount,-wow Im glad someone besides me knows who he even is. He was/is the best of non-LOX D Blacok crew. Ransom is taking over the world right now, by far best rapper out. 90s Prodigy and Cormega were unstoppable. Mega fell off hard though. G Rap 456 is a top 20 album to me, and Styles and Jada both in my all time top 10.

[@onlyjustcommentAry]

9:40 "Wait let's give this guy a shot" hahah. "This guy" is Nas. What a musically inclined reaction. Cool.

[@BandHouseStudios]

embarrasing

[@meuniversity8681]

LMBO !!! FORGIVEN !!!​@@BandHouseStudios

[@bbkingme8831]

They came close to guessing swcheppervescence. Back at this time we were out of our mind.

[@palmtrees6228]

That biggie song was definitely a west coast sound on purpose. Biggie is a genius cus he is the right amount of West with his hard core lyrics but still slick in his rhyme schemes like a real east coast rapper. He is the ultimate rappers rapper but Tupac transcends rap and is bigger in that way. So dude on the right was right that high pitch sound whatever it’s called is west coast staple and is a homage from Biggie obviously cus that sound is synonymous with west coast hip hop. West coast hip hop is slower in tempo, heavily sampling strictly funk, New York sample soul, rock, etc west coast producers found their niche in funk and stuck to it. East coast is up tempo and mono snd gritty in sound on purpose, west coast is slower tempo and more stereo sonically. East coast is lyrics heavy. West coast is minimal in lyrics and more music centric. West coast make car music East coast make subway music. You put earphones on and close your eyes and hear all the lyrics west coast make music that feels good coupled with aggressive lyrics when you ride around on a sunny day you making head turn with your music or people dancing to it on the side walk. East vs west was definitely battle of the styles of who does it better. Clever lyrics vs gangster lyrics, east coast slang vs west coast gang lingo, Mono vs stereo. Jazz vs funk, old school vs new school, New York vs Cali. Muslim vs non Muslim, It’s everything that makes them unique from each other. The killings are definitely not hip hop at all I’m not with that.

[@eelinam]

Ohhh Bojack Horseman. I love Bojack Horseman. I remember the quote, it was the first i thought of when i heard this song. Bojack says "Yeah well what are you gonna do. life's a bitch and then you die, right?." Diane answers "Sometimes. Sometimes life's a bitch and then you keep on living". Its basically the last line of the entire show

[@BandHouseStudios]

Love that show! great show annd great end!

[@sammastersful]

WEST COAST LOVES THAT PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC P FUNK SOUND. EAST COAST IS JUST DIFFERENT

[@certifieddrips4165]

You should do Drunk by myself by Nas. 🔥🔥🔥

[@BandHouseStudios]

Will ad it to the Nas Marathon comin up ;)

[@clarkbar]

no way, thats like Nas's 87th best song.

[@ninak2182]

Ohhh i love Nas especially One MiC, If I ruled the World, NY state of Mijd but also Thugs Mansion featuring 2PAC. And guys you should listen 2 TUPAC. Hé was a true lyrical genius en poet. Influenced by Machiavelli and rapping about life in the hood.

[@BandHouseStudios]

Tupac Is def coming next ;)

[@seanant69]

NaS: I GAVE YOU POWER UNDYING LOVE BEEF NY STATE OF MIND ONCE A MAN TWICE A CHILD

[@a.russel1196]

All incredible tracks to react to

[@yobartenda]

Nas dad is playing the trumpets at the end. Old Dara Jones. ( jazz player)

[@shameegbastiaan1723]

you into hardcore music? listen to nas' "got ur'self a gun"

[@tcon5310]

You guys made a mistake; the first verse is AZ (Anthony Cruz), Nas is second.

[@evadtrent5607]

BIG POPPA beat was actually g-funk rythm and its westcoast

[@seriozha3254]

I would recommend take it in blood by nas

[@BandHouseStudios]

sounnds good!

[@dealowmorgan885]

NaS “Rewind”

[@fungshui13]

I don't know if you guys still take request but y'all should check out Kool G Rap - Blowin up in the world. If I'm not mistaken G Rap the one created the mafioso rap style. He's the one who inspired the Greats like BIG, Nas, Jay-Z, Big Pun etc.

[@hoop6822]

Must know Hip Hop songs: Biggie: Juicy, Hypnotise, Suicidal Thoughts 2pac: Changes, Dear Mama, Brenda’s got a baby, Keep ya head up, ambitionz as a ridah Nas: NY State of Mind, Life’s a bitch, If I ruled the world, Rewind, I Gave You Power, The World is Yours, It ain’t hard to tell Eminem: Stan, The Way I Am, Mockingbird, Lose Yourself, The Real Slim Shady NWA: Straight Outta Compton, Fuck tha Police Public Enemy: Fight the Power Wu Tang: CREAM, Protect Ya Neck Scarface: On My Block, My Mind is Playing tricks Kendrick Lamar: mAAd City, Sing about me I’m dying of thirst, How Much a dollar cost Immortal Technique: Dance With the Devil Pete Rock: The pay Reminisce over you Mobb Deep: Shook Ones part 2 Ice Cube: It was a good day Dre: Still DRE, Nuthin but a G Thang Big L: Put It On MF DOOM: ALL CAPS

[@BandHouseStudios]

Thank you!!

[@hoop6822]

@@BandHouseStudios no problem lads

[@Rosspark100]

Great list! I would add Chino XL: Wordsmith, No complex, Deliver Big Pun: Beware, You aint a killer, Deep cover Kool G rap: Fast life, ill street blues, On the run

[@dealowmorgan885]

AZ aka Anthony Cruz rapped the first verse and NaS rapped the second verse.

[@BandHouseStudios]

wow they both rock

[@dealowmorgan885]

@@BandHouseStudios AZ got a record deal off that verse

[@johnvosarogo1785]

Check out Nas second album - It Was Written. It's produced by Dr Dre so you get the top east coast lyricist x the top west coast beat maker

[@palmtrees6228]

Btw The first verse was AZ y’all should react to AZ-The Come Up

[@BandHouseStudios]

Hey, thanks for the heads up! We'll add AZ-The Come Up to our reaction list and give it a listen. Stay tuned for the video! 🎧

[@shakejuunt]

Good shit🙏🏼 Wu Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M is another classic should definitely try out

[@eelinam]

yesss

[@BandHouseStudios]

Super stoked to get into Wu Tang!

[@whetumackie3202]

I would say start with protect ya neck because everyone is involved.

[@Lin-sz7hc]

Az is the first verse and chorus. Nas is second verse.

[@vadamane]

Nas is the second verse just so you know

[@g.berenstein683]

That Biggie song is actually a West coast beat but he’s from the East coast. I understand the confusion

[@BandHouseStudios]

I feel validated -tay

[@420_momentum]

i believe a big part of what type of music people like the most has too do with there Life Experinces imo. Nas grew up in 90s in a part of new york where boom bap, Hip Hop and jazz was very popular. Nas expressed his experiences in his music very well Like a Poet imo

[@melferriera333]

NY state of mind guys by Nas is a must!

[@BandHouseStudios]

We did it!

[@BabyGeneral96]

Check Out; "Nas Will Prevail" "Everything Is Real" "On The Real" - Nas (Feat. Kamikaze,Akinyele & Cormega)..All 3 songs from his 1991 Demo Tape "Live at the Barbeque" - Main Source (Feat. Nas,Joe Fatal & Large Professor) "Back To The Grill" - MC Serch (Feat. Red Hot,Nas & Chubb Rock) "The Cross" - Nas (Prod by Eminem)

[@brotherd9904]

RAKIM the GOD mc "in the ghetto" or "lyrics of fury"

[@keenap8312]

🙏🏽❤️🔥🔥🔥

[@757to704]

First verse is Az and 2nd verse is Nas.

[@Aviator30]

Great work lads 👌

[@derrickzorns6506]

Check out 2nd childhood by Nas

[@BandHouseStudios]

Will do thanks!

[@jahova10]

You guys should check out where the sample comes from. “Yearning for your Love” by the great Gap Band

[@meuniversity8681]

Awesome review style !!!!!!!! You guys are destined for greatness, don't get jaded, an attach yo tubes !!!!

[@BandHouseStudios]

Thanks!!