[Hook] Queens Day, cash made on Hollis Avenue Make it seem easy [Verse 1: Nas] From the days of arm call n***as hung around blocks and corner stores Herringbone chains and fantasies rushing the door n***as from Rochdale popping shells, snatching rings Fly from Shirt Kings, from Queensbridge to 118 I had my eyes open, stepping out into the world So fiendish, Ole English 'til I hurl, growing pains A young kid, learning early how to know the game USA Roller Skate rink, mobs and crews would take minks Clean streets, hustlers, crack c**aine Gave back by throwing block parties and basketball games A lotta cash made on Hollis Ave., fast and change High rollers was living, until the Task Force came A lotta ghost towns and memories, bad blooded enemies So many died with the same gangsta pride that entered me Peace to them old timers, they who taught us How to stand strong and pa** it on to the sons and daughters We all glow, and I'm proud to be all that I know Q-B-O-R-O, n***a, who I die for Survival, how we came a long way in solidarity Don't let nothing try an spoil this day To Run, D and Jay it's love and my thug salute Cause real love's the only thing that comes above this loot Carhart jeans, it makes me think of LL's Troops Let's celebrate, it's Queens Day, this one's for you [Hook] [Verse 2: Run] Some come out they hometown and they never get dealt But three teens from Queens took over the world and never let go
Just regular cats you know that just happened to blow Not anonymous with Hollis, Jake, Darrell and Joe Ay yo, we made so that others could grow Look at LL, A Tribe Called Quest, Mobb and Nas Esco Ain't taking credit, we showing pride, look at us now Got haters mouths all open wide, wondering how In some cases the only thing that father and son Have in common is they love for Run Been the illest since day one, I'm too advanced to ever be caught Who's more legendary than me... that's what I thought And if somebody wanna test mine, yo, watch this Peter Piper picked peppers... And see I knew you knew the next line, and I bet you said it It's been a minute, I'm still the king of the world so don't forget it [Hook] [Verse 3: Prodigy] This is for my Q dogs who live the block life, pa We grew up on Old English, Summertime Roy Wilkins Park Used to be the sh**, why they have to stop On the Ave n***as looting all the j**elry spots Hit the Shirt Kings for an ill airbrush top That'll match my Cortez Nikes n***as getting robbed at the back door coming out with bags We used to get our gold fronts from Eddie's gold caps What y'all know about that, I bet the whole Queens do Around '86 with the chrome ba** crew The young guns and Lost Boys made the news Queensbridge is story in two, the story is true So let's party for the borough and sh** And everybody come outside, cause it's Queens Day kid [Hook]