[Verse 1: Pharoahe Monch] My mom is in the bedroom, crying again Sister's on the street corner, lying again Just heard about another one of my n***as dying again I'm trying again to make moves I'll be damned if we go hungry Ever since my Pops pa**ed, the responsibilities belonged to me This song you see is like an ode to God That he blessed my last breath to be Allahu Akbar And this city is hard, tenement buildings are barred Incarcerated and scarred, no sentiment for when it becomes time for war I'm trying to score like Bernard King My vocal box sling verbal c**aine like the government I told you I'd hurt the music Travelling back, busting shots at (*gunshots*) before Christ was persecuted Mathematically, we live at right angles f** the Star Spangled, the mayor's the fallen angel Dangling from moon crescents, I persevere, breathe the air Inhale the effervescence of life This street game is stifling I'm trifling, upholding a rifle Peering from behind the eyes of God, we at odds with ourselves What is it worth when this barren metropolis prevail? Scale the walls of hell, trail of a octopus [Chorus: Pharoahe Monch] I've seen it all through the eyes of a needle Depletion of the planet, brainwash of the people n***as'll never learn (sh**) we just concerned about Who's f**ing who, when time is of significance Ghost, we disregard the most magnificent Eat of the fruit that is poisonous and lethal
Stuck in the crux of the spell with the evil Credits about to roll and hell is the sequel [Verse 2: Prince Poetry] Incarcerated Scarfaces in all places Crack sales rise, failed lives, cops and robber car chases Y2K f** up, you're left faceless Hustlers bury money in Garcia Vega cigar cases Give the drummer some pianos, guitar ba**es Trumpet in tune, Pharoahe and Prince legitimate reasons for why they thumping Hi, I'm the most endangered species By all means, survival is what I teach these First time offenders catching seven to fifteen Now my vision of life is hell and heaven on split screen Bust your sh** like Mitch Greene (Snitch), I switch scenes Bring drama to that a**, that's how we on it in Queens (What?) Stray bullets continue shattering dreams, battering spleens I'm gathering schemes, had only cream just as bad as a fiend Take food from a table and get drunk to your d**h Now feel it in your heart from the love in my breath [Chorus: Pharoahe Monch] I've seen it all through the eyes of a needle Depletion of the planet, brainwash of the people n***as'll never learn (sh**) we just concerned about Who's f**ing who, when time is of significance Ghost, we disregard the most magnificent Eat of the fruit that is poisonous and lethal Stuck in the crux of the spell with the evil Credits about to roll and hell is the sequel