[Verse 1: Omega]
Where I was born, nothing is promised
My life is filled with less hope than the prophecies of Nostradamus
Omega marks the ending of predictability,
Birth of agility
Who will it be to test me and expose their futility
Iron like a lion from Zion
Stop tryin' so hard, I think I smell your brain cells fryin'
The family's behind you if you're worthy
Philosophies developed deep in the back streets of dirty Jersey
Troops with scully hats and Timberland boots
No more break-dancing for loot
n***as hustle and shoot
In the Garden State, it grows stink weeds and criminals
Government funds are minimal
Oppression's subliminal
[Verse 2: Wyclef]
These days its hard for we to find peace of mind
Between insanity and sanity there lies a thin line
Some dwell in hotels with Jezebels
A stone age and fall a victim to the Plague
Unclean bad dreams of Wyclef being a fiend
One last kiss from my sweet serpentine
Eliminate, break, navigate
To rejuvenate thoughts of suicide with my nickel plate
Reconcilation came from my enemy-friend
Who said, "family don't bend, we stay silent till the end"
Now who would think that your best friend
Would be your worst enemy and your enemy your best friend
Stare into the air inspiration from the atmosphere
I think of old ghosts that ain't even here
Like Alex Haley, take notes on this biography
My family tree consists of street refugees
A ghetto land where we talk slang
Stolen cars bang like my chitty bang-bang sh-bang
For the heads, we ain't sellin' c**aine today
So refrain and let my family reign, okay
[Hook: Omega & Wyclef]
Just walkin' the streets d**h can take you away
It's never guaranteed that you'll see the next day
At night the evil armies of Shaton don't play
So defend the family that's the code to obey
But if I fall asleep and d**h takes me away
Don't be surprised, son, I wasn't put here to stay
At night the evil armies of Shaton don't play
So the family sticks together and we never betray
[Verse 3: Wyclef]
Nah, f** that
Fifty-two pick up, no cops around
Fifty-two thousand in cash, I don't want no savings bonds
Have the money ready, I smell something fishy
Your wife's in my custody, one false move and you'll find her body in the sea
That's the voice of the kid, that's the kidnapper
I do my work and then I catch my ticket to Jamaica
Meet me in the alley, make sure you bring the money
This ain't the seventies, I'm far from a jive turkey
[Verse 4: Lauryn]
My circle it can't be broken open, cut-throatin', provokin'
Record promotin', tokin', chokin' on they words like smoke, and
Cause we soft spoken, doesn't mean that we've forgotten
Your booty smells rotten and one day you will be gotten
See, jokers is scatter-brained, their focus is unrestrained
My army is trained, you never find us beefin' in vain
Cause I've seen fire and I've seen rain
You claim fame, while modest n***as remain
I can judge a character like Ito judge a verdict
And if you bringin' threats I give you s** if I ain't heard it
See, poppin' sh**'s about your attitude and how you word it
I seen the biggest n***as on the block get murdered and they deserverd it
Or so the beast said when they served it, that sh** is nervous
So what's my purpose? Family, we must preserve it
Your number's retired, I hope you like the hell fires
You'll be screamin' "Murder She Wrote" like Chaka Demus and Pliers
[Hook: Omega & Lauryn]
Just walkin' the streets d**h can take you away
It's never guaranteed that you'll see the next day
At night the evil armies of Shaton don't play
So defend the family that's the code to obey
But if I fall should asleep and d**h takes me away
Don't be surprised, son, I wasn't put here to stay
At night the evil armies of Shaton don't play
So the family sticks together and we never betray
[Verse 5: John Forte]
We used to jump rope, but now we gun hope
Bustin' shots off of project roof tops
Sending signals with the blunt smoke
Ock, don't talk a lot if you can't hold it in lock
If you think lips sink ships, imagine full Glock clips
I hold a gla** of Remy Martin, gettin' milks by the carton
Extortin' the lightweights for thinkin' they important
The night pays in heavenly ways, ain't nothin' free
I acknowledgin' your family and steppin' to your B.I
You see I stay on top of sh** like a fly
My n***as reach when they got beef, then jet down to South Beach
Yo mouthpiece is yappin', I hear it in your rap and
My family is thick so that bullsh** could never happen
[Hook: Wyclef & Lauryn]
Just walkin' the streets d**h can take you away
It's never guaranteed that you'll see the next day
At night the evil armies of Shaton don't play
So defend the family that's the code to obey
But if I should fall asleep and d**h takes me away
Don't be surprised, son, I wasn't put here to stay
At night the evil armies of Shaton don't play
So the family sticks together and we never betray