N.o.r.e. - Life I Know lyrics

[Chorus: Livio & Noreaga] Understand that I am a man And even when it's time to go (n***a, what, what!) Understand that I live this life Cause it's the only life I know (n***a, what, what!) Live the life, will I die tonight? That's all I'd like to know (n***a, what, what!) I know it isn't right, but I live this life Cause it's the only life I know (n***a, what, what!) [verse one: Livio] I want you to understand why I got this work in my hand Why I sometimes flip out and resort to hurtin' a man Why these city streets turn me to a thug machine? Why my n***as addicted to sellin' d** to fiends? Why do I love the cream? Why am I a ghetto king? Why be down wit petty hustlin' if I ain't bout to get a thing? Why every block I live on full of methamphetamines? Why I see n***as die over watchin' a set of rings? Why is Livio dirty and won't let God get him clean? And why am I thinkin' like this if I'm only seventeen? Why did I see a dead end livin' life on the street? And why'd I get behind the mic and put my life on the beat? Livio, I know ya starvin', I want you to eat You'd have to die and go to Heaven to see who I want you to meet Why me? Why can't I put trust in other people? Why didn't I go out instead of my brother, Rico? Why ya evil? While you thinkin' hate, I'm thinkin' love Life is really meaningless when d**h is all ya thinkin' of And that's what.. you can spread d** or spread love When I shed blood, I'm a be just another dead thug Why is d**h chasin' me and I'm tryin' to hide? Why my body feel live although I'm dyin' inside? Why I got money and feel broke? Who else advances the pay? Yeah, I can hear d**h callin', but I won't answer today And wherever God stay is where I'd like to go But understand I live this life 'cause it's the life I know [Chorus] [verse two: Noreaga] Eh yo, Livio, I hid the blow in the stereo Guns from overseas, coke from right here n***as think I'm missin', but look, I'm right here Got a nawmeanuheard, naw mean you heard? I keep the jump off, cuz they not mean, you heard? sh**, mocking bird, I'll mock ya bird And if ya n***as got weed, then I'll mock ya herb You can check the records, sh**, not a n***a thugs me Wish 'Pac was here, n***a would've loved me Just like Christ, I say f** the ice b**hes hate me, but lovin' my whips wit blue lights Had a gun battle, had to hit the horse cattle Forget Sleepless, have you dead in Seattle Ain't sh** changed, n***a, but my underwear n***as think I like jail, lived under there sh**, slip in ya house, gutter ya spouse Plus I like her, the b**h let me cum in her mouth I'm the same on all albums, thuggin' it out! It go.. [Chorus] [verse three: Livio] I hit the scene thuggin', evil fiends mean-muggin' We from the same place, but that sh** don't mean nothin' Hope it means somethin', especially when them things bustin' I'm young Livio, boy, I'm seventeen, hustlin' I just block out everything, I done forgot the disruption I just keep it goin' on, and I ain't stoppin' for nothin' Skip all the worthless discussion, ya people hurtin' and sufferin' You mothaf**as be actin' like you allergic to hustlin' I gets specific wit you, what you expect 'em to do? What's the real reason ya livin', dog, what's gettin' you through? It's time to get smart, no time to stay dumb Them n***as who stay dumb is who I stay away from 'Cause they just wanna get me high, not be earnin' a thing They don't wanna let me fly, they keep burnin' my wings That's why I am what they isn't and I'm touchin' the sky And you can't tell me different, I ain't trustin' ya lies And I keep on sellin' truth, you keep buyin' the lies And just 'cause I say I'm ready to go don't mean I'm tryin' to die [Chorus: (2X)] *fades out*