(Paris)
Peace - what's happenin' rookie?
It's been a while since I've been gone - I'm tryin to fall in
Ain't nothin' new, shit, I keep it mannish
It's different now then when I was out - let's examine
What's happenin' junior? What's goin' down?
How the women actin'? Heard you was crushin' em in the town
Look good don't they - hell yeah, you shoulda saw
The ones last week at the mall - hella raw
And all trying to come up - like video queens
So fine they make some of us do the stupidest things
But be careful though, you'll get caught up - know what you doin'
Fuck around and be a teenage pop - and life is ruined
How ya mama doin'? She cool? Is that right?
Seen ya sister last week at the bank - lookin' tight
Keep your eyes on her - cause niggas, nowadays
Always looking for some new ones to train - so many wayz
And I'm amazed - but not amused as such
We all brothers but some of us getting caught in the clutch
Another, day go by, another, day's the same
Another, day of stife, I say a, prayer for change
But I can't complain, and if I did so what?
The best we can do is try to find the truth and come up
I'm still bangin' on these tracks still keep hope for us
Yeah I'm back, still rough on wax and still bustin'
(Chorus)
Everybody gotta do they own thang
Seem the whole world goin' insane
Before we see sun it'll be rain
Lay low, lay low, lay low
Everybody tryin' to maintain
Brothers gonna work it out in the end
'Till we get peace it'll be pain
And they know, they know, they know
(Paris)
What's on ya mind? What, ya homie died?
Over what, some bull shit? Is that right
I known him since back in the days - we was tight
Used to date his older sister back in late '85
I just wonder why? This shit don't make no sense
How many gotta die before these niggas convinced
Death is final every day for my people I'm prayin
Seen so many lose our futures fucked around by the game
A motherfuckin' shame... Another life is ruined
Know you wanna ride but gunnin for them niggas is useless
See we all confused, damn - but everything is a test
Don't let ego and emotions be the reason you slip
Cause though ya boys might all, fall for doin' wrong
Friends drop like drawers, nobody mobbin' like the law
And we don't need no more in the pen or at war
It's open season every brotha on the street is a target - believe
(Chrous)
Everybody gotta do they own thang
Seem the whole world goin' insane
Before we see sun it'll be rain
Lay low, lay low, lay low
Everybody tryin' to maintain
Brothers gonna work it out in the end
'Till we get peace it'll be pain
And they know, they know, they know
(Paris)
Now even though I'm anti-pop, I still rise
And though it seem it ain't gon' stop - I still rise
Above this bullshit hip-hop - I still rise
Supply - wise words disguised in rhyme verse
I curse - what these niggas is sayin' ain't nothin' real
Just fairy tales of pimpin' these sistas and making mail
I see em pose, see the bitchy roles they play
See these videos is shitty - see the way we portrayed
See these sellin'out acts that's sellin' out rap
Bleed wanna be macks with powerhouse tracks
Redefine black manhood - defy the lie we rise up
Fuck this bullshit - survival or die
See em thuggin' niggas muggin with that criminal pout
See em frown in every photo - see that shit in they mouth
See em tatted lookin' battered chasin' pussy and weed
They making hookers outtas queens - every video feed
I see these labels sit back, push this shit like crack
Every record every act has gotcha thinkin' it's black
To act a fool chasin' pussy like it's hard to get
I see these crackas think it's cool bein' niggas for chips
I split jiggabo chins, analyze these trends
If it's down to me and them I'm sendin' flowers to kin
Ain't nothin' easy in this world - struggle makes the man
Don't let these motherfuckas do you - understand the plan
and believe
(Chorus x2)
Everybody gotta do they own thang
Seem the whole world goin? insane
Before we see sun it'll be rain
Lay low, we lay low, lay low
Everybody tryin' to maintain
Brothers gonna work it out in the end
'Till we get peace it'll be pain
And they know, they know, they know