[Intro: Nas] It's like a cold story repeated over and over In the winters of my mind This shit be real, man Shit's crazy out here Yo Yo, Yo what up y'all? That's my niggas over there. Word
[Verse 1: Nas] If you scared to take chances, you'll never have the answers I could tell the future of a dude how his stance is Wonder will he shoot then you should study where his hands is Is he gonna cock it and pop it? His waistband big But he don't have that thing in him, slangin' just ain't in him Body language is off, he's soft But soft niggas all a sudden start dumpin', frontin' Cause you fell away. My niggas say the eyes is a giveaway One look could tell me if you really came to kill me Be the quiet nigga lookin', layin' with the milli Who dat over there, creepin'? Who homie by the tree? Better safe than sorry, look at p-noid me Few machine guns close, we could squeeze all three Be a cold day in hell ‘fore they creep on me It's a lesson every premonition Lotta niggas killed ‘cause they wasn't payin' attention. Listen
[Hook: Nas] I want a bitch I can trust Some niggas I can trust Accountants lookin' over my figures I can trust A lawyer that's fightin' for my decisions I can trust Damn my nigga trust, I can never get enough A Ruger I can trust, shooters I can trust Goons that know how to spot out a Judas I can trust And if I can't trust you, the fuck is you here for? Some of you niggas' true colors becoming clear more
[Verse 2: Nas] It's been so long, can't remember how we begun this war This is a ever-lasting thunderstorm, ‘cause guns went off I see ya moms she still speak, she don't know I ain't cool wit her son no more It's old shit, see forever we holdin' this grudge Takes real men to squash beef, end it with hugs We buried our dead, been years Why should I worry ‘bout him Constantly watchin' my back Plus niggas tellin' my dread(?) Another day I put a family in black Though I be calm and relaxed Though I know somehow it will come back Even if I'm in the right, ‘cause still a life is a life What was it worth to see you covered in dirt? It's quite redundant, whether you the hunter or the hunted Mother's cry, no statute of limitation on a homicide Just tattoos of my niggas' names. I wonder will it change? Let's ride (?)
[Hook]
[Verse 3: Nas] It's rare I listen to niggas who never been in my position A caterpillar can't relate to what an eagle envisions From the mind of a man who went at it with killers Sit down little man, let me school you in hood business Seen a lotta niggas blow, lotta dreams folded Some wasn't humble, ate too much, got bloated Ain't too much left to buy, bought it I'm loaded I guess Lear jets – I ask myself do I need love or success? They say the artist that truly suffers he suffers the best ‘Cause his heart bleed on his sleeve, pain pistols and sex Remember spraypaintin' the word “Fresh” and then staring at it Older folks angry, pointin', swearin' at it Buildings I sprayed, nowadays drive the Maclaren past it Same old man from years ago told me life is short So from infant to geriatric, trust ya own judgment. Live with it and love it