Some cats grow by the laws of the wild Some learn slower and lag in the mud Some stand up in defense of a style Some let the big dogs eat them up At exactly 11:35pm on January 21st I fell asleep sound At exactly 11:35pm on January 21st some shit went down
[Aesop Rock] Now Benny was a New York City graff kingpin Five Borough fame guaranteed to itch pigskin Raided near the Brooklyn Naval Yards, juxed an undercover When they asked him what he pled he said, "You're fuckin' up my cover!"
[Mr. Lif] Okay, Jose is working in the slaughterhouse Said he's living in the hood, but he wants to get his daughter out Slipped off a ledge, and fell into a machine Another dead immigrant, that's the American Dream
[Aesop Rock] Miss Molly, helpless, made a penny with a data entry temp gig Overqualified with the rent stick Red brick bash with a texted green screen Like, "I entered my data right into your screen"
[Mr. Lif] Jane went insane, she's an anchorwoman Sick of pushing skewed information And abusing the nation Had a few options: Either jump or run Critical ways or waving a gun Time for C-H-A-N-G-E Held a knife to the VP on TV She demanded that the format be expanded Beyond fear, everybody clear, understand it?
[Aesop Rock] Billy was a coke fiend [Mr. Lif] Maggie was a cop [Aesop Rock] Like a dope he stole green [Mr. Lif] She patroled the block [Aesop Rock] Banking off his old scheme [Mr. Lif] She recognized his plot [Aesop Rock] He thought he was home free [Mr. Lif] She knew that he was locked [Aesop Rock] Now it's off to the jail in a blue squad car [Mr. Lif] She pocketed the crack before they got far [Aesop Rock] Billy watches Maggy from behind steel bars Like "Where the crack went" [Mr. Lif] "I'ma smoke it tomorrah"
[Aesop Rock] They call him Larry Luck Blackjack, big spender He was married once Till he bet her ring finger Seen him leaving Las Vegas With a pick up truck, diamond Forty large, and beautiful wife piece Less than what he came with Itched to get rich found nickels in the couch Hitched back to the casino with in an hour Said "I'm here to make a dollar out of fifteen cents" And was immediately shot to his death over debts
[Mr. Lif] As Colin died, his mother cried Then the EMS survived Said that he could be revived but they lied Afterlife realized that water from the skies Washes pain from our eyes so our hopes could rise
[Aesop Rock] Now, J.J. punch drunk, acts like a dumb fuck Bum touched girls looking young enough to thumb suck One saw the light, thought it right to rat him out Now gets raped by Aryans in the big house (OUCH!)
[Mr. Lif] Ted did 20 years for rolling some weed Though he used to snort coke and dabble with speed Welcome home, homie, here's a blunt with hash You know the rules, bitch, take two and pass
Some cats grow by the laws of the wild Some learn slower and lag in the mud Some stand up in defense of a style Some let the big dogs eat them up At exactly 11:35pm on January 21st I fell asleep sound At exactly 11:35pm on Januray 21st some shit went down
[Aesop Rock] I got one Jack or Jill Jill won't, Jack will Jill didn't, then did it Jack fell No cellophane secrets, b I guess I sense two felt bumps in the tar No cell But hell, you jump the bar so well Parted your partners veil and dipped I'm New York harbor Tale of a sail, ripped sorta Stuck on purpose for tha love of birthplace But would have carried you home inside of my teeth anyday Turns out I wasn't cast in the master plan anyway He holds no grudge, holds his tongue, wild Same one she used to hold in both smiles [?] instinctual last shout if it killed me So you can ride up in the sun city guilt-free One year passed, the table is wobbling and your hollerin' back Sippin the fits you skipped when shit cracks They never missed it Not a long haul, bullshit, kids kicked into the same Shoebox with the flicks and lipstick I'll love you forever, cuz you know me better For the record, that one time I would've married you in a second But kill the rekindling dreams and navigate the friendship Or else by the time the stress wears out we'll both be dead and friendless