Apparently the original version of Ether made by Nas, was much more agressive and harsher than the one we have all heard. And obviously it has even better lines than the original.
Because Colombia asked him up to 3 times to edit the songs, that is probably the big reason why in certain points of Ether sounds like Nas is filling in spaces with saying things like cock a fella and gay-Z. I dont know first hand but this all makes sense because it seems that he was replacing those words with something he had to take out.
And Colombia is probably the reason why people who think Takeover is better, constantly bring up the gay and cock lines that Nas slightly over did it with to make it seem like he lost the battle.
Anyway here is an interview from Fat Joe before Ether was released in 2001 addressing lyrics that were cut from the original song:
AHH: One thing that just came up today, Nas apparently has a response to Jay Zs The Takeover on his upcoming album, which implicates you and Pun and includes the lyrics: Call yourself gangsta but you were begging for pardon that night in Carbon when Terror Squad flipped on your squadron tried to front on their checks till Pun put a gun to your chest.
Fat Joe: We gotta hear it but damn, what a way to put me right in the middle of the beef huh? We dont comment on that, thats old news. Like I said all the negative energy all that sht you can throw that out the window.
Nas is crazy. No question that we are allies with Nas Escobar. We love Nas. I almost named my son after Nas. As far as him and Jay Z with the beef: thats they stuff. Until somebody tries to involve me in that sht, thats it. I aint got no problem with the whole Rocafella. Its well documented. Everybody keeps trying to get me to talk about that sh*t in every interview. Why dont they ask Jay Z that stuff? I read his interveiws, nobody asks him. If you interview him, ask him.
Verse 1:
So you call yourself god mc
J-hova\
drunk the glass of blasphemy & forgot to pray over\
your games over\ crossed the warpath of a brave soldier\
youre a makeover\ my protege trying to takeover\
I was the sheperd that led you\ But you bit the hand that fed you\
mad cause since I met you i never did respect you\ and as hard as it seems\
you know that I fathered your dreams\ you was a groupie always begging to be part of my team\
another case of a boy and his teacher\ I was the first to poison your speakers\
so kill all that noise that your preaching\ I understand\ all your plans to underhand\
aired threats of you pullin my card next summerjam\ let me make this clear hova\
You had my left overs\ she told me your little problem of the day when you slept over\
but thats another subject homey\ ***** you phony\Im coming to collect the debt from the years that you owe me\
so what you capitlized... only cause i allowed\ Im taking aim at your dome\ and reclaiming my throne\
Who said I that i aint still nasty
Verse 2:
How you planned on facing\ the half man half-amazing\
Dont need a fam, Nas is a one man invasion\ claim you hot but you flopped with your roc-familia\ cause real recognize real and youre not familiar\
call yourself gansta but you were begging for pardon\
that night in carbon\ when terror squad flipped on your squadron\
Tried to front on their checks\ till pun put a gun to your chest\
YOu said it yourself dog, Nas is one of the best\
Dont need to search for some dirt to expose you\ I leave it up to the flow dispose you\ when i oppose you\ This is it Im calling ya\ come out and play like warriors\
studied my blueprint then pieced together your formula\
Guess the knowledge I speak too deep to follow\
that`s why your stomach to weak to swallow\ The real truth
that Nas is\ the greates of all timers\
f*ck skeletons, keep only weaponry in my closets
