[Intro: Nas] Peace y'all, yeah This one right here goes to my most loyal, loyal, loyal, loyal ones You for me and me for you We see things alike We live alike, in truth [Verse 1: Nas] The craziest things already happened, get me Could tell you 'gon be laughing at me or you laughing with me? My baby's mom made a book about me, she tried to out me In Barnes & Nobles new release section she's confessin' Now the streets guessin' the beefin' started over some woman Couldn't be the furthest thing from the truth Was she looking for fame? yo I hope she got it Since then I been the object, gossip people tried to target All women should bid For keeping real fathers away from their kids These rappers talkin' real sh*t I lived How many been married, divorced, their ex lady wildin' Hires a lawyer, judge awards 'em monthly eighty thousand Stevie Wonder sent me word that he was in my corner Blind but still sees the pain of a young performer Used to be my rib thought it was 'til death do us She married again and I'm wishin' all the best to her Got me looking for my mother, all I see is su*kers She lookin' over me now sayin' don't trust 'em Come on I'm livin', I don't need many to pray for me Her bad, she wanna keep the kids away from their dad Tell you lames something, spit some game Planes carry me to Madrid, Spain, so why complain? When you place blame, then you're defective When you take blame, then you're respected You gotta give me credit [Chorus: RaVaughn] Woah Life is good, I must admit it Woah Ups and downs, we've all been through it Woah Ain't no other way to do it Woah Life is good, it's good, it's good [Verse 2: Nas] Uh The craziest things just happened to me, get me So now whatever happens next it probably won't affect me How many people owe the feds, keep it real especially If you an artist in this music game, the smartest ones get abused for their change And my life is sex, super stardom, and stupid cash So unpredictable not aware you could lose it fast I signed my own checks, swore we paid the IRS Somebody's stealin', I swear to God Tsk, for now, I invest To my incarcerated team who got life It's not right but you still got your life Rest in peace to Gil Scott from the kill or be killed blocks Not from Philly but a ni**a done hustled them hilltops Commercial pop artists get all the accolades I give a million cash away to be revered like Donny Hathaway Probably not as half as paid as I should be But I stay in some cars and stay in some pussy It's a beautiful life Beautiful life, beautiful life [Chorus: RaVaughn, Nas] Woah Life is good, I must admit it (Yeah) Woah (Beautiful life) Ups and downs, we've all been through it Woah (Life's still good) Ain't no other way to do it Woah (Yeah, yeah) Life is good, it's good, it's good [Verse 3: Nas] A thin line from this gangsta life and rap stuff I can say I never been punked, robbed, or smacked up Proud to say I never been chased, jumped, or backed up Or extorted for my pay stubs Lucky or blessed from what prayer does 'Cause hey, I was riding in caravans with AK's and gloves inside 'em And if I should spare that man who violated my trust I gave him a pass My man called and I value his judgement I let it ride and thought no more of it, it's over So if it's my turn to be on the other side of the gun I'm granted my four leaf clover, no one's leaving me colder 'Cause I chilled and let you breathe, yes Let's go our own ways and let the beef digress I done seen insanity close up, schizophrenia shows up in most us My younger brother knows this Not Jungle, got another brother in PA Spazzed on' em, hurt me to put hands on 'em 'til this day I gotta say I got some fam across the USA Cackalack to Kansas but my mans around the way had contacts They was Spanish coppin' grams and cooking 'ye Willie, Bo, blowing haze, Mayo next door Joe, Martin, Slade, I'm solo these days It wasn't my fault I never knew the time of death and maturity would sever my crew up in New York Barely survived Large, I thank you for teaching me not to pop my letter P's in the booth How to control my vocals and spit poetically smooth I could nail it, you knew I was your brother 'til death Back when you put me on to NiQuay from Lefrak You was a dime, we was nobodies Say what's up to Shameek, send my love to Yadi I pray we all get old if I never again go gold and sell tickets We could all still kick it It's a beautiful life Beautiful life, beautiful life [Outro: Nas] Rest in peace to my brother Talik Gone too soon God bless your soul brother He was wild Some things we just can't explain Life It's messed up how much time get wasted that you can't get back With your kids at an early age First steps, first words I can't see 'em cause you mad Don't put yourself before the babies Don't say crazy things to hurt that man You hurt him enough The good times outweighed the bad When it was good, it was great But because I could see him now through the courts, you mad Okay that's how it is out here That's life huh You see we can't be selfish out here We gotta live and let love Let the light in To the beautiful mothers of my kids And all the mothers around the world Knight, Destiny Life is good