AZ Album

How can I be torn from the pages of history? huh?
How can my name scraped off the pyramid walls
when I sat with Pharoahs and Kings?
You think you know, but you have no idea

This track's here it's like a breath of fresh air
That shaved thru sunrays families suffer on Sundays
Had to run astray, pack up and run away
Fountain of youth, found it, feel like da younger A
Make sure my son okay, shit, that's the da mission
College tuition, hope he get accepted to Princeton
If not got his bail for prison
I know the pressures of the oppressor It's hell living
Feel like I'm Mel Gibson, killing 'em kindly finally
Niggas untied me mami, love the punani, but I
Can't make you my Boni never, made for the cold weather
Hatas y'all know better, how can I fold? I was told to hold it together
Listen, no intermissions, I am, so in position, like, Ali and Liston
Who could? box me to distance, try me
Now the police call to give orders to creep on ya
I master the street corners relax in the feet sauna and
Fuck if y'all don't like I'm here and I'm shown niceness
Appear in my own likeness, I zone as my own phychic

Flow if a niggas holding my clothing'll get you open
I'm toasting in bitches posting approaching wit mixed emotions
And ready like military I'm varied like Ben and Jerry's
Comparing me to him is scary I'm leery as cemeteries
And losing is not inside me stay moving from paparazzi
I'm proving the angels got me, I'm cool but my game is cocky
And money can never make me, my guns they don't come wit safeties
I hung wit the ones that's crazy I come from the front of Macy's
Shopping and dropping eighties show stopping wit proper ladies
I'm hearing a lot of maybe's but nigga it's hot as AZ

Ha ha ha
Eyo it's a wrap baby, we got 'em right now, going platinum man, 202k
Brooklyn Stand up!

[Talking]
Y'all can't be serious, this is A-1 performance
Your boy wit' the million-dollar vocal chords
No more Cristal and DoM P, straight Gatorade
And they say in death, all life questions shall be answered
But this here started before the womb
and will not end after the grave
Y'all can't disturb me

[Verse One]
Critically acclaimed, verbally I'm sickly insane
Officially, I remain the Ripleys of the game
Believe or not, the hustler's here to retrieve his spot
From y'all dungaree thieves that mislead the block
No rehearsal, nothing's controversial
Relax homie, react, one response'll hurt you
I know death, I was there when souls left
Froze holdin' my nose, over decomposed flesh
It's deeper, brown reefer, no beeper, low ceaser
Outta sight, the life make the doe sweeter
The raps Derrick Jeter, veggie-eater, half-ebonizer
Love leisure, crewed up, in the stretch 11-seaters
It's either; move accordin' or, lose an organ
It's sorta like an abortion, you choose what's more important for ya
Pimp to poet, from prince to heroic to
Now, King of New York now, as if y'all don't know this.

[Chorus]
If you, If you think you want it
You know y'all can get it
Nobody doing it better than AZ, no, no, no [2x]

[Verse Two]
I done did the ostrige, the gators, silver foxes
Silk boxers, rocked ice so obnoxious
Wore pradas, Taj Mahal more dollars
What other motherfucker y'all could call hotter
Street affilly, sweet swisher, switch from willy
This so amazing, MJ style the flows Cajun
Connect wit me, absorb, reflect wit me
Respect im so N-Sync, I could sex Britney
Been about it, no comparison, send 'em a stylest
They too old for gold, and they dress code is childish
I'm grown music, so I ask don't confuse it
Consider, I'ma soul food this Howard Heuwit
Sos the don, so seductive overdose 'em wit' charm
Paranoid, sorta, so please approach me calm
Clothes and money, hydro, hoes among me,
Emphatically, the truth is y'all can't take nothin' from me.

[Chorus]
If you, If you think you want it
You know y'all can get it
Nobody doing it better than AZ, no, no, no [2x]

[Verse Three]
Although it's all music, at times we misuse it
Confuse it, like we back on the block suited
Born-thugs now get recruited, but listen youngin'
You still a student I spit twirlin' tricks wit' a toothpick
Taught ya teacher, I'm the source for seekers
Resurrected like christ off the cross on easter
Zone excessive, seven different home addresses
So many years lost through tribulations, I've grown possessive
I, earned my title, I learned survival
Self made, never too concerned wit' idols
The earth and the moon is one, and I'm the sun
So all competition is none, get ya gun.

[Chorus]
If you, If you think you want it
You know y'all can get it
Nobody doing it better than AZ, no, no, no [2x]
Nobody, doing it better than AZ

Yeah, you see, some men see things the way they are, and say, why?
I see things that never was and say, why not?
Just wanna be there, you know? y'all realize, I hold this down

East New York, Eighty-two, First pumas navy blue
First wife Kiesha Wilson with love, she was my baby boo
Crazy crew, paying dues, few of us made it thru
Front window, Ms. Glady's, that was my favorite view
Hated school, never went, hookie was better spend
Right around the time the god rocks smoking dead presidents
Devilish ever since, seeking for hope, needing some form of nourishment
It's eighty-eight skin starting to radiate
Hit on my baby-face mama bear could see that I'm there
She finally gave me space change of pace moving quicker
Consuming liquor, humping on some chicks pussy
Trying to undo her zipper
Gucci slippers who can diss us? 40 deuce movie pictures
What other way but poetically can I prove we scriptures?
Drugs sold 'em, cars rode 'em, guns near my scrotum,
Got locked, got right out, gave what I owed 'em
Five when they buried Will killed 'Po killed Phil
Murdered Donald Jones, shot clip hit Bill
Prince in prison, damn, Yam still living
I can see him up in heaven my nigga dance to the rhythm
God, show me a better way, give me another day
Open the lane up so I can make these fuckers pay

Fo sho, I just wanna be there, you know?
Realize what I'm worth, the work I put in
And I brought to the table through the years
I ain't the average, ya heard?
Respect my gangsta, it's all hustle
Steal it on 'em, you know?

Loving da game you gave me, loving my name is AZ
Never sold millions, but fuck it I'm here to save the babies
Look how a lady raised me, so would say he crazy
I'm just a nigga from Brooklyn repping the streets that made me
Rapping for quite a while, all around, tighter style
One of the flyest with the brightest smile, try me how?
Save all the aggra-zations, keep all the confrontations
I'm sitting contemplating trying to crack the combination
Move mystique mostly months that I keep cozy
At time I creeped only this is what the East showed me
More on to music making trying to renew relations
Ducking the dudes that's hatin', please don't make me lose my patience
I put it down for y'all my face surrounds Allah
My catalogue consists of a hundred thousand bars
The god, please respect me, ya heard?

Yeah, go 'head, back it up, you can hold me baby

I just wanna see you take it off

Baby you got what I need now
Couple bottles of cris, let's get it on now
From the front of the club to the back now

I just wanna see you take it off

Watch me move and it shake the whole place down
Pull up in the whips so we can get down
'Cuz it me and my girls now, you and ya boys now

Sarafina, grace of a ballerina, small waist
Ass shake like Trina's
Pretty face, tougue taste like zima, if I
Wasn't a pimp I put a ring on ya finger
Freak for sure, knew her for a week or more
And already wanna beat up raw
On the dance floor dancing 'til my feet were sore

I just wanna she you take it off

Even willing to, piece her off, had my
Hands on her rear, cheeks was soft
I was all in the air letting that reefer talk
And like magic, in seconds, I eased her thoughts
Told her, get a drink if she need support
Just order don't think, I eat the cost
The car's close if ya legs are too weak to walk

I just wanna see you take it off


Baby you got what I need now(what)
Couple bottles of cris, let's get it on now (what)
From the front of the club to the back now (what)

I just wanna see you take it off

Watch me move and it shake the whole place down(what)
Pull up in the whips so we can get down (what)
'Cuz it me and my girls now, you and ya boys now (what)

Weekend's here, told boo, be sincere
I wanna see you in ya evening wear
had her doubie wrapped up, made her release her hair
lights on, made sure the grease was near, Nikes on
Kicked 'em right off beneath the chairs
Tan lines lit up nice, made her features glare
Tattoos, smooth skin, plus her teeth was fair

I just wanna see you take it off

Doe is here, I, know affairs, love cars like clothes
I, drove for years
Love a massage and a chick to let me hold her ears
Who's willing, no feelings, I'm cold as beer
As long as the zone is there
And as long as she bathe and comb her hair
We can light something nice and cologne the air

I just wanna see you take it off

Baby you got what I need now
Couple bottles of cris, let's get it on now
From the front of the club to the back now

I just wanna see you take it off

Watch me move and it shake the whole place down
Pull up in the whips so we can get down
'Cuz it me and my girls now, you and ya boys now

Now you good, quote ya price if ya toes is nice
And if you got fitted jeans that promote you right
It's never a such thing as clothes too tight
Hype, hair color, skin-tone too, light
I love sights, I'm a old school type, tits, lips
Even marry hoes I like
Rarely kiss but I lick, twist, roll it right

I just wanna see you take it off

We can do it with a, bowl of ice
Take you out, you could, pose as wife
Teach you how to hold heat, unload and wipe

I just wanna see you take it off

Give you a different roll in life
Lemme show you that tonight's your, chosen night
Take that, take that. Uh huh.

I just wanna see you take it off

Baby you got what I need now
Couple bottles of cris, let's get it on now
From the front of the club to the back now

I just wanna see you take it off

Watch me move and it shake the whole place down
Pull up in the whips so we can get down
'Cuz it me and my girls now, you and ya boys now

I just wanna see you take it off

Baby you got what I need now
Couple bottles of cris, let's get it on now
From the front of the club to the back now

Watch me move and it shake the whole place down
Pull up in the whips so we can get down
'Cuz it me and my girls now, you and ya boys now

I just wanna see you take it off

Yeah, AZ, Quiet Money, L.E.S. Big Thangs, Throw 'em down

[N] Aiyyo God, yo meet me at the Denice Williams concert tonight man
[N] E'rybody there, Stacy Lattisaw, Teena Marie, e'rybody man
[A] Yeah yeah no doubt
[N] I'ma bring one of my baddest stallions man
[A] {*laughing*}
[N] You do the same aight?
[A] You know how we play baby, listen
[A] I'm at a car wash right now
[A] but I'ma hit you as soon as I'm right over there
[A] Right in front right? (yeah) Okay, aight gotchu

[N] Son who laced you with the ill haircut?
[A] Lenny, he blessed me with the sharp blade, that nigga's paid
[N] He make a pretty penny
[A] Fo'sho, you hurt 'em with the new Prada's (true)
[A] Check mines they royal blue
[N] My shits is baby blue
[A] They powder blue (yo' shits is hotter)
[A] You hotter with them frames on
[N] Nigga you James Bond, and you stay low
[A] Y'know my style babe bro (yeah, make dough)
[N] Manicure, facial, face glow
[A] Fuck it if you say so; I keep you P.I.!
[N] That's how we break hoes
[N] We throwin ivory dice across the concrete
[A] And of course that don't make him your man because y'all palm weed
[N] We had boxed bumpin La-Di-Da-Di (word?)
[N] Shotties was blastin, pellets jumpin into everybody
[A] They never got me
[A] Was cool with all the park shooters, sparkin bazookas
[A] Sharpen your tutors, cause we don't pardon the snoozers
[N] Yo son I wouldn't change my life for nuttin
[A] And that ain't like you for frontin
[N] Who's the nicest? (Nuff talkin, light somethin)

[Chorus: Nas + AZ]
Yo we hard hit, just like Comacho and Vargas
Who's the target? Now watch how we close the market
We both hard hit, just like Hagler and Hearns
Add the math, be concerned, if it's beef you burn
Yo it's sorta like, Poitier and Bill Cosby
'Let's Do It Again,' a beautiful blend, let's do it to win
My nigga - my nigga - my niggaz - my niggaz
My niggaz - my niggaz - uhh..

[N] What's today's mathematics?
[A] We had it, we let 'em hold it, we shoulda sold it
[N] We back it, we could grabbed it
[N] But fuck it, just let 'em have it
[A] Al 'Humdulillah
[N] Allahu Akbar
[A] God is the greatest
[N] Planet Mars, we carvin the faces
[A] You couldn't catch us in a car without the bangers
[A] Believe, I touched a couple of movie stars and entertainers
[N] Indeed, one in particular, almost started to name her (ha ha)
[N] I was there when you first pushed up and started to game her
[A] Been a long journey, certain shit just don't concern me
[N] They ain't hurtin shit; we flip, they hire attorneys
[A] Yo I'ma stay custom, 'til I'm old grey and rustin
[A] Reminiscin the number of chickens that claim we fucked 'em
[N] Bet some badda hoes than them other funky rappers chose
[N] I'm tryin to wife a chick, light a spliff (okay)
[N] This might be like another part to "Life's a Bitch"
[A] Write ya lips, who's nice as this? We righteousness
[A] No mic assists, it's murderous - granted the right to flip

[Chorus] - repeat 2X

[Nas]
Like, Spinks and Hearns..
Sorta.. Poitier and Bill Cosby
'Let's Do it Again,' nigga..

When the song come on hands in the air , (4x)

We surfaced consumer's pre-purchase
Guess who's back on the charts and he's nervous
Elite service, amongst men that beat murders
Fish-fillet lover, brother, don't eat burgers
Rap slowest, those that hold the gats know this
Biblical facts I'm about to re-enact Moses
Uh huh
Misery's back, I'm calligraphy on niggery tracks
Epidemy, it's seems like most consider me that, literally
It's like wizardry with me and the raps
And getting rid of me, somebody's insecurity lacks
Lucid, never biting or track boosting, it's too confusing
I supply what the fiends shooting
Front's is needed, I was once young and anemic
'Till I found a few players to team with

When the song come on hands in the air (4x)

I'm like the spring in a .45 colt pistol
Know the initials I gleam like a coke crystal
With most fickle, too serious to joke with you
Weak lungs was too laid-back to blow whistles
Far away and two cellphones with calls waiting
Parlaying two red-bones and I'm more patient
Spreeing on the form's fragrance
Leaving stores on every floor evermore vacant
We all chasing the thoughts of assort places
Bringing serenity back from all the court cases
And lost races, chose to expose little
Rap rugal, cockback smack your screw's loose
Axe Noodles rose amongst who ever
A Jewel tellers smooth fellas
Elders schooled me to do better

When the song come on hands in the air (4x)

O's kept, dice out, no bets
Lights out, I'm a Vet, y'all no threat
Piped out, something stretch, it's cold sex
Nice house, run around, in old sweats
Can't see me, don't try it, can't be me
Won't tire, y'all cowards can't leave me
Locked in, flow-wise I'm top ten
Hop in, low-ride, I'm not him
Hold heavy, it's hot, hope glow's ready
So deadly, this is not Hov' and Kelly
We hog tie 'em, nothing's plated, dark iron
The god's rhyming, thru the conduit the car's flying
Coke wit it, the doe did it, hoes get it
Unstable, still able to blow digits.

When the song come on hands in the air (5.5x)

(AZ) Baby bring that ashtray in here

Aiight

(AZ) And bring my mail it's on top of the counter

Here baby

(AZ) Check, what's this

I don't know some mail came thru today

(AZ) Fishscale, Professional, what's this about men
lemme see what this about

Anyway, the food will be ready in 20 minutes


Peace Allah, hope tha scribe reach ya hands in good health
As for self, no sense of worrying my cards been dealt
Sunk in a cell, fishscale, fifth year of my bid
Finally got a chance recent to connect with my kids
It's kinda hard thru carelessness I scared they moms
And temporary I was barred voluntary the bond
Nevertheless, it's issues I need to address
Pertaining the certain statements that made me confess
Faced with life, it bites when reality hit
And wit crime come a lot of technicality shit
Thru many co-defendants conspiracies linking
Like the court system designed to keep the mind from thinking
Fog ya vision, guess it's just the odds of living
But like me, most great men became god in prison
Since Illmatic, first heard ya bars of life
I was up in Cansaki, *****s started to fight
You touched souls to a lost population of men
And no doubt, if ever out they'll never lock me again
Faced wit 10 on state time, wit life on the back
It's fucked up when your own folks ain't writing you back
Learn to relax, spoke wit certain cats that helped adapt
You know the streets to the pen it's kinda hard to transact
All the cars and the pretty women, condos,
The clothes and the city living
I seen division, breakdown of the population
It's either submit, death or incarceration I felt the combination
Torn between reality rap and the fakes
Some do it for the salary cap few relate
And been thru what I been thru at least in fraction
So when they spit you could feel the passion I see you maxin'
That Nas and that Jigga riff started some shit
It departed the prison system we should argue a bit
It's a glimpse of what's to come
The past follow, hold the voice just hunger me holdin' my last bottle
I live like that of a star without the title, I had to write you
It's beyond trying to enlight you
It's a token of appreciation for being that poet with no abbreviations
Much respect from us all wish you much success
Get yours take money nigga fuck the rest I'm signing off
And leave in the way that I greet and say peace
Keep in mind always rep the streets, you that nigga.

Word,........... Gotta write homey back

(AZ) Ayo, boo I got any more of that mail out there

Got a few more

(AZ) You gotta read this one, the shit right here is deep, man

Alright, gimme a minute

(AZ) Okay, What's this one right here
oh shortie from Nashville, alright lemme see this

AZ, this is Camille since Sugarhill been a fan
And since then to me you still a man
A real card player rarely reveals his hand
And sincerely, I could say the hood feel ya jam
I sit and listen to your last edition
Washing dishes in the kitchen
Or twisting the baby dreads on little Christian
It's so sickening his father we both miss him
He was killed in a '99 car collision
I guess the best ones God get them the tar sniff 'em
It's just the way it is in this bizarre system
You remind me of his one concerning words when you speak
You and him both got that funny type of slur in y'all speech
At night it's like his face just emerge in my sleep
I smoke herb so that grief can stop disturbing my peace
My life's deep, it coincide with the way that you rap
I hate it when them commentators say that you back
You never left you was always years ahead of the rest
My baby-father even felt your style he say you was best
How you dress how you move when you in the public
Without a lot of luggage gotta love it that's how you thug it...

Know that, that's right, it's bigboy, okay, okay

This is life (echo 2x)
But it's paradise for me.

From the cradles to the stiff coffin, legit fortune
I lean for them corner fiends, crip-walking
Wedding-bells I'm out of that shell of slick talking
Honeymoon, deep scuba diving, kissing the dolphins
I lived though, I quit flossing, I forgive though this shit's costing
At the crib with the kids often, coasting
Ski-boating on the beach ocean
Hoping them old closed cases never re-open
Moving, y'all minor leagues, I'm like speed motion
Muscles thru my white tee's woken, he's holding
Hypnotic, spit shit you sit and vibe wit, melodic
I mental escape thru all the garbage

This is life (echo 4x)

One in a million, I'm strong young and appealing
Was born son a villain, put on in front of my building
Peeping how the street structure decease brothers
Critique, but I was placed here to reach others
Incomplete, stand feet from the deep cover
Eternal sleep, I wonder if the Beast love us
The frail weaken, the stronger be in jail eating
The average male will make it home if the bail's decent
I inhale frequent, it alleviate great, to be a part of the game
Can't be a day late to be a part of the same
Need a g' a day take, five if you live, slide mines on the side

This is life (echo 4x)

Mics, money and music my life's for you to view it
I stand militant, my stripes came from the sewage
Interrogation lights, spend nights up in the cubics
Fistfights, I'm nice like Earl Huvick
Harmonizing, narration is traumatizing
Here since '94, it's still kinda surprising
I touched topics, safe-boxes, unlocked it
Complete zone keep my tone on one octave
Owe nothing, won't ask to hold nothing
Clean behind the scene, but control buttons
Brought it back for the essence that got watered in rap
'Cuz I'm a aura I bring more to track

[Chorus]
Let me call shortie up
If tonight's the, night then let me know
Hit me up as soon as possible
Got it on right here for you baby, take it from me
(AZ) Keep doing this, man
We could do that little bit ya like
You know the one that keeps us up all night
I'm a little uptight baby, baby take it from me
(AZ) Amusing me, huh? Okay

Look, I just landed, your request is granted
I'm in some 2-seater, pumping the best of Janet
Be through in a minute or two, I'm wit the fellas
Bullshiting, trying to finish my brew
But I'm here, it's nice weather, short-sleeve
Ice weather, had on the matins but the nikes was better
Hope you relax and tonight's whatever
Fatal attraction,the life of pleasure
Got bottles of the L-I-Q, champagne a little 'gnac
You can tell I knew, talk to me
The house or the 'telly suite, I need to know
The perception on my celly's weak, batteries low

[Chorus]

If tonight's the, night then let me know
(AZ) Hello? Yo
Hit me up as soon as possible
(AZ) Damn
Got it on right here for you baby take it from me
(AZ) Keep on doing this shit, wordup
We could do that little bit ya like
(AZ) Gotta give all this up, man
You know the one that keeps us up all night
(AZ) Crazy
I'm a little uptight baby, baby take it from me

Listen, I need a diva that could roll cheeba
Blow in and out of town on her own leisure
Love shopping, kalhua's when she club hopping
Pretty toes, love the pose when the thug's watching
Play fair, hair done, face clear,
Type of chick any playa wanna take care, she that nice
The truth is that I've been trapped twice
Told her my life, need a wife for me to act right
Or could it be, just me on a hoe spree
Nowadays, live alone and I'm lonely, spreading my wings
A player in prokeds and some jeans, a pioneer
And gettin' slow head is my thing
I'm in the mix, wit the lies come along wit the tricks
Improvise, pretty thighs come along wit the hips
I can't knock it, try it but I can't stop it
It's in my blood, like the same way I love chocolate
And all I hear is

[Chorus]

If tonight's the, night then let me know
(AZ) Whoa
Hit me up as soon as possible
(AZ) It's on now
Got it on right here for you baby, take it from me
(AZ) Gotta get away man, gotta leave this alone man
We could do that little bit ya like
(AZ) Can't keep living like this
You know the one that keeps us up all night
(AZ) Just one shortie, one, one
I'm a little uptight baby, baby take it from me
(AZ) That's all I need one, wordup

I'm in my prime wit a lot on my plate, the party life
Clear my mind when I'm out of the states
Feeling relieved, revived when I'm feeling the breeze
I'm at my best when I'm chilling and I'm feeling at ease
Ladies respect
It's hard when I'm backwards balling, playing the field
And a whole lotta ass be calling, nothing is real
Is it wrong 'cuz I'm doing my thing?, pimping if, either or
But I do what you dream
Follow the leader, I've seen what I needed to see
Leave it to me, and believe I'm not easy to g
Don't even try it, so ladies, all together, let's sing it
I know your needs and your wants
And if you want me to bring it, I gotta hear it

[Chorus]

If tonight's the, night then let me know
(AZ) Okay
Hit me up as soon as possible
(AZ) I'ma figure this all out
Got it on for you right here baby, take it from me
(AZ) I don't if I'm getting used
We could do that little bit ya like,
(AZ) Or if I'm using them, I'ma figure this all out though
You know the one that keeps us up all night
(AZ) I'm getting ready to go thru though
I'm a little uptight baby, baby take it from me
(AZ) Try that, you'll find out where you at

(AZ)
Hold up
Yo dun lemme use your cell for a minute, men, my
Mine's dead man
Getting ready to break out, yeah, try that
I'll see y'all tomorrow, man, wordup
Eyo, save some of that too for tomorrow
We outa here, man, we going to Vegas
Our year, tomorrow

Chorus

If tonight's the, night then let me know
Hit me up as soon as possible
Got it on for you right here baby, take it from me
We could do that little bit ya like
You know the one that keeps us up all night
I'm a little uptight baby, baby take it from me

[AZ]
Yeah.. this is it right here.. this defines me..
Turn my mic up.. let's do it, let's do it..

Spirit of Marcus Garvey, Farad Muhammad
Medgar Evars and Bob Marley, I'm God-Body
The scripture says Allah's inside me, show love
I was hugged by the arms of Gandhi, gave me my strength
You could tell somebody raised me with sense
We all need somethin to help us through our daily events
Bear with me; the toughest niggaz tear quickly
No lie - pops still cry and he near fifty - freedom or death
I give niggaz a reason to sweat, there's no test
Verbally it's like I'm seen as the best, who wanna try me?

(Yeahhhhhhh, yeah-e-yeah.. I'm back!)

[AZ]
Sent to express grace
Seperate the weaker niggaz is the best way, fuck how y'all feel
Y'all cowards now fuckin with real
I return like McGrady got caught with a pill, let's get it poppin
I move like a nigga coppin
I know the stress from the streets when I was diddy-boppin
Playin the corners face to face with the faces of mourners
It's hard to trace the informers until it's too late, Jake rest on my corners
The focus is back, I play a part in this culture of rap
Bought some whips so I relate on how these vultures attack
Flippin and runnin, double-park, rippin up summons
How many niggaz hittin twin sisters and flippin they cousins?
Call it finesse, the game give it all I posess
Nothin changed, I'ma ball to the death

(Yeahhhhhhh, yeah-e-yeah.. I'm back!)

[El Shaber]
Yeah, that's right
Show these cats how we do this here nigga

I'm like a, rose in the desert but how can one grow without rain?
How can one experience happiness without pain?
And how could I fall to the violence of hell and still remain sane?
And how could I still remain on top of my game?
When both the black and white devils seek the power to rebel
Seek to defy my radiance, I shift gears to another level
I'm focused, but it's like I'm playin a cold hand of spades
I got a lot of hearts, but these fools tryin to cut me
and I'm tired of these jokers
Vengeance is mine, I plague the whole planet with locusts
I survived the mayhem, my advantage I've been the brokest
I wasn't drugged and inhaled by all the smokers
Then I became the love absorbed by all the cultures
I can't trust women because my heart was scorned
It's hard to trust yo' comrades, when yo' heart was torn
One-nine-seven-oh the God was born..

(Yeahhhhhhh, yeah-e-yeah.. I'm back!)

I'm a hustler, not by choice (1x)

[AZ]
I didn't fall from heaven, I rose from hell
Bigboy, get bagged, he gon' hold my bail
It's like Attica '67 when they, closed the jail
Be careful, but promote yo'selves that's what they told me
Involved but unconcerned fuck beef when it dissolve it does not return
I don't leave, stagnate nor move off-beat
So discrete very rarely do I move on feet
I rough-ride twin rugers on the sides of my seats
Drive-by's, bodies left on both sides of the streets
I blacks out never blind by the size of the image
No disguise, homocide don't rely forensic
Homes's finished, scrambling caught in the scrimmage
12 shells ricocheting and it pours from the hemorrhage
Get the casket embalm and forget the bastard for moving backwards
New York's number one draft pick

I'm a hustler, not by choice (4x)

[Trav]
All this nigga know is, get money burn a lot of smokes
Lazy niggas was sleeping, I was wide awoke
Not a joke, creep on snitches, niggas gotta choke
When it's time to sleep with the fishes I supply the boat
And I swear it hurts, I supply the coke
'Cuz don't nothing scare me worse than dying broke
Iron poking on my ribs while I'm laying in a Taurus
I live this shit y'all just performers, it's a dirty game
I seen thugs turn informers, crooked cops run in the crib, no warrants
Money talk though, never stuck in a grudge,
Got a female lawyer and she fucking the judge
I was once told, that you reap what you sow
And a, the scent of weed always seep in your clothes
And a, it's Quiet Money so we speaking in codes
Like, why should I trust ya?, nigga, I'm a hustler

I'm a hustler, not by choice (4x)

[Animal]
Unh, Yo, Jesus Christ yo, he just nice
Like a ginszu blade nigga, he just slice
And get y'all out the game, dog, it's not long
Anybody can spit, faggot, but can you make a hot song?
You're not wrong, like Biggie said you're dead wrong
Need to get your flow tight, gotta get your head strong
Watch us, the way we floss up in coat lockers
Walk right past security, flippin' poppers
Like what? who the fuck gon' stop us?
Y'all wait until the summer, when this fucking album drop us
I know y'all hate it, because y'all flows outdated
You finished as an artist and I finally made it
But I paid my dues, in this game patiently waited
Niggas ain't gimme shit, I had to take it
It's A dot, all year 'round I stay hot
Nigga I play not, ride thru you're block in that grey drop
They call me headhunter, the head is all I aim for
The top spot nigga, what you think I came for?
These words touch you, cut you open like a chainsaw
And now you're your man is like, what y'all said his name for?
Fucking hustler, motherfucking Animal

I'm a hustler, not by choice (5x)
I'm a hustler
I'm a hustler

I'm back first and foremost; I'd like to thank Nas
For allowing me to have be on the Illmatic, and that Stillmatic Joint
Changed the game a whole lot, secondly I'd like to thank the Notorious B.I.G.
Who put Brooklyn on the map, you the revolution of that era
And all the artists that came after the era we started
I'd like to Thank the East Coast, West, the North, Dirty dirty
This is my story, welcome me back

For all those I still speak to guess we still peoples'
Life's more peaceful when you low and you eating legal
Certain niggas never spoke now it's peace to see you
It's a different side 'cuz it's the streets too, pleased to meet you
Just think I was a thief and kieful
Sold coke even dabbled in a bit of diesel
Scare ridded saw the light and I slid wit it, left the life
But for the price I can live wit it we all pawn
Know a few niggas that's coming home
Could see 'em now in that '86 summer zone
Hope they adapt, whatever led niggas to smoking cracks
Knew a few that went too far for me to coach 'em back
What a waste, this little blood niggas'll cut ya face
Catching a case'll make you fuck around and touch your safe
This all I know, intelligence is all I show
I'm from the roots and the truth is that I love the doe, welcome me Back huh

You attract some of the baddest when you platinum status
That's why I stay with prophylactics after what happened to Magic
Six days of my creation had to relax on the Sabbath
Remember asking certain niggas to past me a package
I was blind moving ass backwards
But you can bet it was the grind that made the cash massive
Back on my feet, accapella used rap to no beats
On the run, dun, was the first one to clap at police
I ever saw, can never catch me in the presents of flaws
Push the Accord in '94, Mack11 in the board
Who wanna bring it? Since Nas, niggas swore I was Queensbridge
That's surprising from the wise I was taught to be lenient
Move in silence, my moms claimed my music was violent
Had to school her, let her know that I'm a user of talents
Many faces, Gucci sneakers with the skinny laces
Fendi sweats and Begets all up in the bracelets
Welcome me home, huh

Yeah, yeah
Realism of life in actuality
Uh huh,
Yeah
I wanna tell you
Uh huh
Fuck who's the baddest , only the real could relate
Bigboys,
Nothing changed, they know
The Players of the game
Realism of life in actually
The Pioneers
I wanna tell you
This is the essence right here
Fuck who's the baddest, only the real could relate
AZiatic,
Nothing changed, they know
I rep pure realness younahmean?
I wanna tell you
For the deceased, and those still carrying the torch
Hold your head though, ya heard?
Once again
I wanna tell you
Realism of life in actuality
I wanna tell you
Fuck who's the baddest, only the real could relate
Nothing changed, they know
Realism of life in actually

I know, it get kinda hard sometimes
we all looking for some kind of, outlet
to plug into, but ahh,

From the corners of street, in every hood and every ghetto
Every hood
I'm the proof of what could be, if you try
If you wanna try
It's on you
All the haters wanna see,
Uh uhn
A niggas life in misery
Uh uhn
But I'ma keep on doing me, 'til I die

Handcuffed by the wrist and tied in the feet, so stressed
Wish that I could die in my sleep
And Lord knows, thru his grace I done tried it wit peace
But it's like niggas ain't happy 'til they find me deceased
Feel the grief, of a street, nigga that turned to rap
And just applied Everything that he learned from crack
I'm in now, it's life ain't no turning back, it been foul
So what kinda concerns is that
Peep the signs of the eyes 'cuz it tell it all
One of the few in the Streets that was selling it raw
Made mistakes, but it made me intelligent more
And how I move, you could still look and tell I was poor
How can the hate from another man stop my flow
That's like another pimp thinking he can knock my hoe
I'm here now, just trying to copp and blow, couple of cars and lot's of Doe

From the corners of street, in every hood and every ghetto
I'm the proof of what could be, if you try
If you wanna try
All the haters wanna see
A niggas life in misery
But I'ma keep on doing me, 'til I die

One by one, seen 'em rise, seen 'em fall, you seen one nigga ball
you done seen 'em all
Even standup niggas seen 'em lean and crawl
What makes a man wanna fiend for more
Life itself is more than a trial or a quest
Intelligent wise, it's like I done ran with the best
And very rarely, you can catch me casually - dressed
I'm more relaxed in a hat and some sweats
Doing me, been amongst some of the street's most strongest men
Around for months then they gone again
Incarcerated, penalized for the love of they acts
Criminals, cold-hearted, now what's fucing wit that?
Where we at? hit inside of a life that's rarely exposed
Spoken in codes for the killers that daily'll dose
Get yours, hit a quota then get indoors, get legit
Then hit them stores

From the corners of street, in every hood and every ghetto
I'm the proof of what could be, if you try
If you wanna try
All the haters wanna see
A niggas life in misery
But I'ma keep on doing me, 'til I die

So now it's on y'all, could see, I figured it out
Only a few could say that they been in my house
And caroused at my wall color, blend with my couch
I'm as low as you can go in the south
When it's too deep, it's hard for the mind to relate
Some say I'm too street and way too involved wit the snakes
What make a man bigger that life, I'm twice his age
Understand I'm a sinner but I'm nice some ways
Knee deep in what I speak 'cuz I spit the truth
I become angelic when I sit in the booth
Just a thought of all the ill sh*t that lurk in streets
How can another real nigga wanna work wit police
Bad enough you got thiefs and the beef is rough
I took an oath just to smoke, eat, sleep and fuck
Knowledge of self, I'ma do this regardless of wealth
Regardless of how the deck and how the cards get dealth

From the corners of street, in every hood and every ghetto
I'm the proof of what could be, if you try
If you wanna try
All the haters wanna see
A niggas life in misery
But I'ma keep on doing me, 'til I die

I know, it get kinda hard sometimes,
We all looking for some kind of, outlet to plug into, but ahh,

From the corners of street,
In every hood and every ghetto
(AZ) Every hood
I'm the proof of what could be, if you try
If you wanna try
(AZ) It's on you
All the haters wanna see,
(AZ) Uh uhn
A nigga's life in misery
(AZ) Uh uhn
But I'ma keep on doing me, 'til I die

Handcuffed by the wrist and tied in the feet
So stressed, wish that I could die in my sleep
And Lord knows, thru his grace I done tried it wit peace
But it's like niggas ain't happy 'til they finally deceased
Feel the grief, of a street, nigga that turned to rap
And just applied everything that he learned from crack
I'm in now, it's life ain't no turning back
It been foul so what kinda concerns is that
Peep the signs of the eyes 'cuz it tell it all
One of the few in the streets that was selling it raw
Made mistakes, but it made me intelligent more
And how I move, you could still look and tell I was poor
How can the hate from another man stop my flow
That's like another pimp thinking he can knock my hoe
I'm here now, just trying to copp and blow
Couple of cars and lot's of doe

From the corners of street, in every hood and every ghetto
I'm the proof of what could be, if you try
If you wanna try
All the haters wanna see
A niggas life in misery
But I'ma keep on doing me, 'til I die

One by one, seen 'em rise, seen 'em fall
You seen one nigga ball, you done seen 'em all
Even standup niggas seen 'em lean and crawl
What makes a man wanna fiend for more
Life itself is more than a trial or a quest
Intelligent wise, it's like I done ran with the best
And very rarely, you can catch me casually dressed
I'm more relaxed in a hat and some sweats
Doing me, been amongst some of the street's most strongest men
Around for months then they gone again
Incarcerated, penalized for the love of they acts
Criminals, cold-hearted, now what's fucing wit that?
Where we at? hit inside of a life that's rarely exposed
Spoken in codes for the killers that daily'll dose
Get yours, hit a quota then get indoors
Get legit then get them stores

From the corners of street, in every hood and every ghetto
I'm the proof of what could be, if you try
If you wanna try
All the haters wanna see
A niggas life in misery
But I'ma keep on doing me, 'til I die

So now it's on y'all, could see, I done figured it out
Only a few could say that they been in my house
And caroused at my wall color, blend with my couch
I'm as low as you can go in the south
When it's too deep, it's hard for the mind to relate
Some say I'm too street and way too involved wit the snakes
What make a man bigger that life, I'm twice his age
Understand I'm a sinner but I'm nice some ways
Knee-deep in what I speak 'cuz I spit the truth
I become angelic when I sit in the booth
Just a thought of all the ill shit that lurk in streets
How can another real nigga wanna work wit police
Bad enough you got thiefs and the beef is rough
I took an oath just to smoke, eat, sleep and fuck
Knowledge of self, I'ma do this regardless of wealth
Regardless of how the deck and how the cards get dealth

From the corners of street, in every hood and every ghetto
I'm the proof of what could be, if you try
If you wanna try
All the haters wanna see
A niggas life in misery
But I'ma keep on doing me, 'til I die