Mos Def: [Keep rising] Medina Green [Keep rising] DCQ [Keep rising] Lord Atu [Keep rising] the Mighty Mos Def [Keep rising] can't forget Cess [Keep keep keep...] Mercenary from the De La [Keep rising to the top...] Lace the beats up tight, yo tell 'em D DCQ: Four a.m. laid up at the res Got a call made my heart jump out my chest My man's got beef at the dance, exits is blocked Enemies outside with they heat on cop He's says that if he goes outside He knows he goin' get clapped My man from way back Ain't going out like that He got peoples in the club and his ties is strong But he know that they can only hold it down for so long So now he's trapped off and he's calling on me To come and represent like I'm G.O.D Of course I must agree, cuz this is family If tables was turned he would do it for me So now I'm hopping out my bed Ready put a n***a never seen 'pon dead Guess a black man can't have no peace Pull out my heat Woke up out my sleep over crosstown beef CHORUS: Crosstown beef be like crosstown traffic, thick! Brothers be on some real sh** Everyman get scared when prepared for confrontation "When the slugs penetrate you feel a burning sensation" Crosstown beef be like crosstown traffic, thick! Brothers be on some real sh** Everyman get scared when prepared for confrontation "Getting closer to God, in a tight situation" Mos Def: Yo check it It was a Friday in the month of may Around the time when everybody put they game on play See my girl was out of T so it was all on me I figured I would hit the metro on the mad L.D Now everybody know what the spring time is about Players polish up they game cause the shorties be out I was rocking j**-els and my wears was crisp My man said there was a jam that I should not miss I hopped in the livery without a moment to spare And when I rolled up on the function everybody was there I was catching s**y stares from the shams in the rear Saw my peers and heads I haven't seen in years Now I was getting caught up in the nightlife mix Then I see my main man from my old time clique "Oh sh**, not my n***a Mos Def in the house" "Oh sh** baby-paw, I ain't know you came home" We talked about that and this and way back since When I seen a caravan sporting wild dark tints Had its window half cracked and was cruising slow And was circling the block like they was po-po Said I was jibbing with my man so I paid it no mind That's when the shots rang out from the pa**enger side It was a forty-five bark that made us all duck down Girls was letting out screams as shells hit the ground I was looking for my man so we both could split That's when he turned to me and said "yo Mos I'm hit" I guess the street life don't leave a n***a alone Laced up at the party and he just came home If he survive I know he goin' retaliate If he don't, they bought theyself a burial plate Either way situation status on code red I'm on the horn to tell the fam its on like ConEd CHORUS [Phone ringing...] [DCQ] Eh yo, son get that? [Mos Def] I'm saying man you sitting right there! [DCQ] C'mon man I'm twisting this right now [Mos Def] Saying man, with the lazies, word up man?! [DCQ] C'mon man, get the phone, man! [Mos Def] Yeah...who dis?...Who? Yo D take the phone, man [DCQ] Peace [Lord Ato] Peace [DCQ] Who dis? [Lord Ato] The God 2 [DCQ] Yo whattup son? [Lord Ato] Nothing much, maintaining you? [DCQ] Right [Lord Ato] I just came out the bing and sh** is mad real This sh** ain't bout nothing son [DCQ] Son I know how you feel [Lord Ato] My girl is in the world trying to raise my seed There's mad sh** that she want and mad sh** that she need [DCQ] true dat [Lord Ato] Plus she got some n***a, knocking at her door [DCQ] Who dis? [Lord Ato] Some crab-a** cat that she messed with before [DCQ] From where? [Lord Ato] Always acting wild disrespecting my G [DCQ] Stop playing... [Lord Ato] I think he gotta go, what's the verdict DC? DCQ: Verdict guilty, left hand on the scene You might be locked down but you're part of the team If you say he gotta go, then that's what he gotta do Ain't nothing sweet son, yo you know I'm here for you Lord Ato: No doubt, come check me on the day of knowledge born Cause this phone sh** ain't real, yeah that tap sh** be on Plus the God wanna see you so pull his name too Cause he soon come home son, you know how he do DCQ: Yeah the God get down so I see you on the V-I I'm a do my best to get this broad to bring you some Lah Peace to the Gods, read your math, hold your head And as far as that kid goes, remember what I said- Peace CHORUS [Keep rising...]