Nas and DJ Premier are capping off a historic year with Light-Years, their long-teased collab album dropping December 12 via Mass Appeal, and Bouquet (To The Ladies) stands out as that smooth, reflective toast to the women who’ve shaped the game from the shadows.
This track feels like Nas tipping his hat to the queens behind the throne—mothers, partners, muses—who hold it down through the highs and lows of street life and stardom. It’s got that classic boom-bap pulse Premier’s famous for, with dusty soul samples looping under Nas’s layered bars that mix gratitude with sharp storytelling. Think warm horns fading into crisp snares, creating space for lines about resilience and quiet strength, all while keeping the energy intimate, like a late-night cipher. The genre stays true to their roots: pure East Coast hip-hop, no frills, just razor wit over production that nods to Illmatic without chasing it. Creatively, it’s Premier handling every beat on the project, letting Nas stretch into vulnerability that’s rare for him these days—less battle rap, more legacy-building homage.
The whole Light-Years rollout has been a masterclass in patience. Announced back in April 2024 with the single Define My Name to mark Illmatic’s 30th, it built slow through Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It series—dropping fresh albums from Wu-Tang vets, Mobb Deep, De La Soul, and more all year. Tracklist hit socials just yesterday: 15 cuts like My Life Is Real, NY State of Mind Pt. 3, and a rare AZ feature on Welcome…, with Bouquet sliding in at number 12. Nas posted it with a cryptic “5.88 trillion miles” caption, and fans lost it in the replies. Pre-save on Spotify now for the full lineup and drop alerts—it’s already teasing vinyl exclusives at indie spots.
For Nas and Preem, this lands like a full-circle win. Nas has been on a tear since King’s Disease snagged that Grammy, evolving from raw storyteller to elder statesman with Magic 3 last year, but Light-Years pulls him back to the lab where it all started. Premier’s been everywhere in 2025—collabing with Roc Marciano and Ransom—yet this feels personal, like closing a 20-year loop from those Scratch magazine talks. In a year of hip-hop tributes, they’re not just reflecting; they’re redefining what timeless sounds like, bridging ’94 to now without skipping a beat.
Dive into the Bouquet (To The Ladies) lyrics below and unpack its raw narrative. Don’t miss other Light-Years tracks for more of Nas & DJ Premier’s golden-era glow.
| Lead Vocals | Nas & DJ Premier |
| Songwriter | Nas & DJ Premier |
| Music Producer | DJ Premier |
| Label | Mass Appeal Records |
| Release Date | December 12, 2025 |
| Song Language | English |
| Copyright © | Mass Appeal Records |
Lyrics of Bouquet (To The Ladies) by Nas & DJ Premier
[Chorus: Parrish Smith, Ll Cool J & Dj Premier]
To The Ladies And All Party-goers
Where The Ladies At?
And If You Know Who You Are, Why Don’t You Make Yourself Seen?
To The Ladies And All Party Goers
Where The Ladies At?
And If You Know Who You Are, Why Don’t You Make Yourself Seen?
What Would The World Be Without Beautiful, Powerful Women?
The Meemaws, The Grandmas, The Nation Buildin’
Who Educates Us, Challenges, Teaches, Love And Support Us
And Gives Birth To All The World’s Sons And Daughters
And Y’all Deserve Props ’cause Y’all Running Hip-hop
Started With Sha-rock, 50 Years Later, Women Is On Top
Bahamadia, Missy, Monie, Lyte And Queen Latifah
Ms. Lauren Hill, It’s An Honor For Me To Even Meet Ya
Where Would We Be Without Queens Of The Microphone?
Roxanne Shante We Both Call Qb Home
Doechii Pushing The Culture, I’m Inspired By Salt-n-pepa
Nikki, Foxy And Kim, And Megan, Cardi, And Left Eye (Plus)
Nothin’ Realer Than Latto, Glorilla, And Rah Digga
Remy, Rhapsody, And Eve, All Straight Killers
And I Was Signed By A Woman, She Created A Movement
So Much Love To Faith Newman, What We Doin’?
This One Goes Out To The Whole Woman Nation
To The Ladies And All Party-goers
Where The Ladies At?
And If You Know Who You Are, Why Don’t You Make Yourself Seen?
With Love From Nas And Preem, This One Goes
To The Ladies And All Party Goers
Where The Ladies At?
And If You Know Who You Are, Why Don’t You Make Yourself Seen? [Verse 2: Nas]
Yeah, Divine Feminine, Beyond Fine Shit
Not A Ting, Not A Joint, When My Eyes Squint
You’ll See What I See, Our Presence Together Is Always A Pleasure
So I Figured I’d Write You A Letter
You A Queen, You A Star, Supernatural
Pure Gratitude By Your Side, But Let Me Ask You
Why Don’t The World Recognize Your Hard Work?
You Being Unappreciated Makes My Heart Hurt
Aphrodite Almighty, It’s No Myth You Remind Me
Of All Motivating Women That’s Been With Me, Beside Me
Real One
Love You From Now To Infinity
In Every Way From Spiritual, Mentally, Physically
You Showed Me How To Be More Empathetic
Shout To The Female Djs Mixing This Record
And You The Flyest By Far, Stop Playin’ With Her
Every Glass Raise It Up, This Is For My Ladies
This One Goes Out To The Whole Woman Nation [Chorus: Parrish Smith, Ll Cool, Dj Premier & Nas]
To The Ladies And All Party-goers
Where The Ladies At?
And If You Know Who You Are, Why Don’t You Make Yourself Seen?
With Love From Nas And Preem, This One Goes
To The Ladies And All Party Goers
Where The Ladies At?
And If You Know Who You Are, Why Don’t You Make Yourself Seen?
[Outro: Nas & Dj Primier]
This Goes To All Of Y’all
Mia X, Yo Yo, Y’all Been Puttin’ It Down
Lady Of Rage, Dimples D, Sparky D, Sweet Tee
Pebblee Poo, Antoinette, Jean Grey, Lola Brooke, Sexyy Red
Coi Leray, City Girls, Kash Doll, Honey Baby, Bernadette Price
Charli Baltimore, Trina, Doja Cat
La Chat, Rest In Poetry Gangsta Boo, Mc Trouble
Shout To Conscious Daughters And Oaktown 3.5.7, Saweetie, Isis
Bia, Shout Out To Ladybug Mecca, The Sequence, Debbie D And Lisa Lee
Heather B, Nikki D, Azalea Banks, Champ Mc, Michie Mee
All Y’all Lit, Frick And Frack, Finesse And Synquis
I Could Go On And Keep Going, Shout To Eternia
Ice Cream Tee, Rest In Peace Boss
Shout Out Nefertiti, Storm, Shorty No Mas, Iggy, Paula Perry, Chez Noir, Yeah
Sonja Blade, Khia, 3D Na’tee, Armani Caesar, Ice Spice, Yeah
Nonchalant, Five O’clock In The Morning, Imani Montana
Dej Loaf, Nitty Scott MC, Hurricane G, Ms, Melody, Suga-T, Young M.A
What Up Scar Lip? Shout To Lady London, What Up JJ Fad, Yeah
To The Whole Queendom Of Rap (Brrah), Love To All Of Y’all
Whoever I Ain’t Name, I Still Love You For Life
Love From Nas And Preem, Yeah
