[Verse 1: Nas] Blessings of life to the children, they say life is like five days Words of a old man with silver hair, in his wheelchair His eyes were bloody while describin what lies before me Said evil bitches and jealous men would try to destroy me It occurred to me, this old nigga's words couldn't be realer I'm on top now, slightest drama, I'll have ta kill ya Cause animals sense weakness, sharks smell blood in water Ishmael, Moses and Job knew the divine order Shit is plastic material, havin' no life I crash whips and leave it no matter the price As long as I survive, cop a new five Circle the block where the beef's at And park in front of my enemy's eyes They see that it's war we life stealers, hollow-tip lead busters There's no heaven or hell - dead is dead fuckers And your soul is with God, your mind keeps lurkin the earth Watchin your own murder reoccur
[Hook: repeat 2X] For ever struggle, every strip, and every ghetto For every nigga totin inner pain and heavy metal For every child that's born, and every nigga gone And for every breath I breathe and live to see another morning
[Verse 2: Blitz] It's Blitz nigga the streets glory many die for me Got knocked, refused 3 to 9's, went to trial for me Basically I'm just reality, loaded with foul stories of lust Greed and contempt, no street is exempt Extended clip shots, hoods barricaded for 6 blocks I sip shots, watchin em hustlers pitch rocks Oil paintin pictures of my pain, illustrate the city in vain Fallin deep into the pits of the game This is for the sickest state of mind, in these fatal times Vest crimes, nickel-plated nines and niggas for the dime Hear the sounds of them babies cry, still I'm sayin why do we reside In the ghetto with a million ways to die Stayin high to relieve the pain, breathin in the game Exhalin guilt sin and shame, misery and strain What the fuck will tomorrow bring; luck or anthrax I stand back, hopin I'll make it through tomorrow
[Verse 3: Nas] My skin is a art gallery, right - with paintings of crucifixes Hopin' to save me from all the dangers in the music business Was once a young gangsta hangin' with youth offenders But since I tasted paper it started losin the friendships Watchin' kids freeze in winters, they still poor How could I tease them with Benz's and feel no remorse Drivin' past them in the lively fashion, diamond colors clashin' Red stones, blue stones, red bones and black ones Fuck did I expect with bucket seats in a Lex And spendin' time in Chuckie Cheese with Little Des Got guns when I'm with my daughter Hate to bring a violent aura in her presence She knows what daddy taught her, it's lessons Black princess it's a ugly world I put my life up for yours, see I love that girl Could you believe even my shadow's jealous My skin is mad at my flesh, my flesh hates my own bones My brain hates my heart, my heart makes the songs Though my songs come from the Father I'm lonely... Hold me, it's gettin' darker