[Gerald Alston] See I was raised out on these mean streets I'm from the projects, right, where poverty and hell meet I'm searching everyday to find a better way, I've got a Hustle still to get my pay before I hit bottom Now some might say that I'm already there But who are they to judge or question what I do, son, so I don't care Tired of eating cheese sandwiches with no meat Tired of watching all the playas from the same seat So it's a life of crime, some might sing or rhyme To escape the ghetto before the flatline Choices to make, what am I gonna do Got to use my talents, they gonna pull me through
[Chorus: Gerald Alston] Now with success, I become a target They wanna set me up, I guess more money equals more problems They wanna get me, wanna hit me, strip me of my riches They wanna cut me up in pieces, leave me deep in ditches
[Hook: Gerald Alston] And I can't take it.... but I'm gonna make it... Yeah... oh... I'm gonna make it... yeah... ohhhhhh Fight to stay alive
[Method Man] I was raised out on these mean streets You know where poverty and hell meet Brothers get jail and life's for sale, cheap Since momma held me, in her arms, to tell me That it's a cold world, I done held heat And held myself down, lotta bodies and shells found And niggas into taking everything, that ain't nailed down We fell down, ain't hard to tell now I ain't trying, to see the cell now or see momma put her house up for bail now So I'mma give all I got, to try and get that gwop Nigga I'm hot with this hustle, go 'head and get the cops I use my talent to get more figures Unlike these little corner store niggas Go change your drawers, niggas
[Chorus: Method Man & Gerald Alston] Now with success and I've become a target They wanna set me up, take me hostage, or take me down some notches They wanna hit me, wanna stick me, get me for my riches They wanna diss me, want a clip me, leave me stiff in ditches
[Hook: Gerald Alston (Method Man)] And I can't take it, no, no, but I'm gonna make it... (This ain't no game, my life ain't nothing to play with) Yeah... I'm gonna make it... oooh... (Face it, money is power and I'ma make it) I'm gonna make it... oooh...
[Inspectah Deck] Yeah, I'm gon' survive, yo, yo, aiyo N.Y. City, gritty blocks, little love, plenty cops Few rise, many drop, True Lies, semis cocked Fishscale, already rocked, heavy shots, that we drop New guys on every block, blue eyes and red dots Pregnant mothers, broke fathers, more money, more problems So hungry, won't starve 'em, work hard and so pardon I got mouths to feed, I got pounds of weed I need some more, another store, another house, indeed An X amount of G, the reason pounds'll squeeze And strip you naked, basic, trying to make it out the P's Don't ever doubt a G, and have me spaz like 'Face with the K, and my nose all powdery It ain't about the streets, it's 'bout the beast within That won't give in to 'lice, down to bleed, G
[Chorus: Inspectah Deck & Gerald Alston] Now with success and I've become a target They wanna set me up, take me hostage, or take me down some notches They wanna hit me, wanna stick me, get me for my riches They wanna diss me, wanna clip me leave me stiff in ditches
[Hook: Gerald Alston (RZA)] And I can't take it (yeah), no, no, but I'm gonna make it... (Yeah, yea, turn the beat up a little right here) Yeah... I'm gonna make it... oooh... (Yo, yo, yo, yeah, yo, just, Wu-Tang, Wu-Tang)