Jay-Z - The Blueprint Album Lyrics

[Jay-Z]
Uh-huh uhh, uhh, uh-uhh
Uh-huh uhh, uhh, uhh
Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!
I, am, back, niggaz
Ha ha ha ha ha.. uh-oh, uh-oh - whoo!
Ladies and gentlemen.. H, to the Izzo
I wanna thank everybody out there for they purchase
I surely appreciate it - whoo!
What you about to witness is my thoughts
Just my thoughts man - right or wrong
Just what I was feeling at the time, uhh
You ever felt like this, you vibe with me
Walk with a nigga man - just vibe with me

Yo, gather round hustlers that's if you still livin
And get on down, to that ol' Jig rhythm
Here's a couple of jewels to help you get through your bid in prison
A ribbon in the sky, keep your head high
I, Young 'Vito, voice of the young people
Mouthpiece for hustlers I'm back motherf*ckers
Your reign on the top was shorter than leprechauns
Y'all can't f*ck with Hov', what type of X y'all on?
I got great lawyers for cops so dress warm
Charges don't stick to dude he's teflon
I'm too sexy for jail like I'm Right Said Fred
I'm not guilty, now GIMME back my bread
Mr. District Attorney I'm not sure if they told you
I'm on TV every day, where the f*ck could I go to
plus - Hov' don't run, Hov' stand and fight
Hov's a soldier, Hov' been fightin all his life so
What could you do to me? It's not new to me
Sue me; f*ck you - what's a couple dollars to me?
But you will respect me, simple as that
Or I got no problem goin back
I'm representin for the seat where Rosa Parks sat
Where Malcolm X was shot, where Martin Luther was popped
So off we go, let the trumpets blow
And hold on, because the driver of the mission is a pro
The ruler's back

Uhh, uh-huh uhh uhh
I, am, BACK, niggaz - whoo! whoo! whoo! whoo!
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Turn the motherf*ckin music up
The ruler's back
I, am, back, niggaz
Yeah, geah, yeah, geah, yeah, geah, yeah

Well in these times, well at least to me
There's a lot of rappers out there tryin to sound like Jay-Z
I'll help you out, here's what you do
You gonna need a wide lens cause that's a VERR' big shoe
And you got a couple of +Beans+ and you don't have a +Clue+?
You situation is +Bleek+, I'ma keep it +Rell+ cause
F*ckin with me, you gotta drop +Amil+
Cause if you gonna cop somethin you gotta cop f'real
Don't only talk it, walk like it - from the Bricks to the booth
I can predict the future like Cleo the psychic
You can't date skee-os and wife it (uh-uh)
And you can't sell me bullshit, we know the prices
So what your life is? We gon' roll
'til the wheels fall off, y'all muh'f*ckers check the tires
Off we go, let the trumpets blow
And hold on, because the driver of that Bentley is a pro
The ruler's back

Uhh, uhh
I, am, back, niggaz
Feels good! Ha
Pah, holla at me!
The ruler's back
Yeah.. whoo!
Yeah.. yeah.. yeah..

Now bounce, c'mon, bounce
Uhh, whoo! Whoo!
Bounce, c'mon, bounce
Uhh, uhh, yeah, yeah
Bounce, c'mon, bounce
Uhh, yeah, just my thoughts ladies and gentlemen
Just what I'm feelin at the time, you know what I mean?
Knahmean? [music fades w/ ad libs]

Bus' it

We gon' go through a couple of things tonight
We gon' go- we gon' party, of course
Go through some 'motional songs, we gon' take it all the way back for y'all
Then we gon' keep it in the truest essence of hip-hop: the battle
We gotta keep it at the battle, right y'all?
Y'all ready for that?
Alright
Let's do it

Lemme hear y'all

R.O.C., we running this rap sh-
Memphis Bleek, we running this rap sh-
B. Sigel, we running this rap shit
Uh, uh, uh, yeah
Freeway, we runnin' this rap sh-
O and Sparks, we runnin' this rap sh-
Chris and Neef, we runnin' this rap shit

(Watch out, we run New York!)

The takeover, the break's over, homie
God MC, me (Jay-Hova)
Hey lil' soldier, you ain't ready for war
R.O.C. too strong for y'all
It's like bringing a knife to a gunfight, pen to a test
Your chest in the line of fire with your thin-ass vest
You bringing them boys to men, how them boys gon' win?
This is grown man B.I., get you rolled into triage, bi-atch
Your reach ain't long enough, dunny
Your peeps ain't strong enough, uh-uh
Roc-A-Fella is the army, better yet the navy
Sure, we will kidnap your babies, spit at your lady
We bring knife to fistfight, kill your Grandma
We kill you iddy bitty ants with a sledgehammer
Don't let me do it to 'em, dunny, 'cause I overdo it
So he won't confuse it with just rap music

R.O.C., we running this rap sh-
B. Sigel we running this rap sh-
M Easy, running this rap sh-
Get zipped up in plastic when it happens, that's it
Freeway, we running this rap sh-
O and Sparks, we running this rap sh-
Chris and Neef, we running this rap shh
(Watch out! We run New York!)

I don't care if you Mobb Deep, I hold triggers to crews
You little, I got money stacks bigger than you
When I was pushing weight, back in '88
You was a ballerina, I got the pictures, I seen ya
Then you dropped "Shook Ones," switched your demeanor
Well, we don't believe you, you need more people
Roc-A-Fella, students of the game, we passed the class
'Cause nobody can read you dudes like we do
Don't let 'em gas you, like, "Jigga is ass and won't clap you"
Trust me on this one, I'll detach you
Mind from spirit, body from soul
They'll have to hold a mass, put your body in a hole
Oh no, you're not on my level, get your brakes tweaked
I sold what your whole album sold in my first week
You guys don't want it with Hov
Ask Nas, he don't want it with Hov, no!

R.O.C., we running this rap sh-
B. Sigel we running this rap sh-
M Easy, we running this rap sh-
Get zipped up in plastic when it happens, that's it
Freeway, we running this rap sh-
O and Sparks, we running this rap sh-
Chris and Neef, we running this rap sh-
(Watch out! We run New York)

I know you miss it, Nas, the (fame!)
But along with celebrity comes 'bout seventy shots to your frame, homie
You's a (lame!)
Know you's the fag model for Karl Kani, Esco ads
Went from Nasty Nas to Esco's trash
Had a spark when you started but now you're just garbage
Fell from top ten to not mentioned at all
To your bodyguard's Oochie Wally's verse better than yours
Matter of fact you had the worst flow on the whole entire song
But I know the sun don't shine, then son don't shine
That's why your (lame) career's come to an end
It's only so long fake thugs can pretend
Homie, you ain't live it, you witnessed it from your folks' pad
You scribbled it in your notepad and created your life
I showed you your first TEC, on tour with Large Professor
Then I heard your album 'bout your TEC on the dresser
So yeah, I sampled your voice, you was using it wrong
You made it a hot line, I made it a hot song
And you ain't get a coin, homie, you was getting plugged then
I know who I paid, God, Serchlite Publishing
Use your (brain!)
You said you've been in this ten, I've been in it five, smarten up, Nas
Four albums in ten years, homie? I could divide
That's one every two, two of them things was due
One was (nah), the other was Illmatic
That's a one-hot-album-every-ten-year average
And that's so (lame)
Homie, switch up your flow
Your shit is garbage, what you trying to kick, knowledge?
You cats gonna learn to respect the king
Don't be the next contestant on that Unplugged screen
Because you-know-(who) did you-know-what with you-know-who
But let's keep that between me and you, ma

R.O.C., we running this rap sh-
B. Sigel, running this rap sh-
M Easy, running this rap sh-
Get zipped up in plastic when it happens, that's it
Freeway, we running this rap sh-
O and Sparks, we running this rap sh-
Chris and Neef, we running this rap sh-
(Watch out! We run New York)

R.O.C

Get your damn hands up
Get your damn hands up
That's the anthem, y'all got to feel me

Get your damn hands up
Get your damn hands up
That's the anthem, y'all got to feel me

Get your damn hands up
Get your damn hands up
That's the anthem, y'all got to feel me

Get your damn hands up
Get your damn hands up
That's the anthem, y'all got to feel me

Get your damn hands up
Get your damn hands up (Holler!)
That's the anthem

Get your damn hands up
Get your damn hands up
Get your damn hands up (Holler!)
That's the anthem, that's that's the anthem

Get your damn hands up
Get your damn hands up (Holler!)
That's the anthem

Get your damn hands up
Get your damn hands up
Get your damn hands up (Holler!)
That's the anthem
Get your damn hands up (Holler! Holler!)

Get your damn hands up
Get your damn hands up (Holler! Holler!)
Get your damn hands up
Get your damn hands up (Holler! Holler!)

Y'all got to feel me, y'all got to feel me
Get your damn hands up
Get your damn hands up

(Push 'em up)
(Push 'em up) Ladies!
(Push 'em up)
Get your damn hands up

(Push 'em up) Ladies!
(Push 'em up) Ladies!
(Push 'em up)
Get your damn hands up

(Push 'em up) Ladies!
(Push 'em up) Ladies!
(Push 'em up)
Get your damn hands up

H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the 8th Wonder of the World
The flow of the century
Always timeless: HOV!
Thanks for coming out tonight
You could've been anywhere in the world
But you're here with me, I appreciate that

H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
For shizzle, my nizzle, used to dribble down in VA
Was herbing 'em in the home of the Terrapins
Got it dirt cheap for them
Plus if they was short with cheese I would work with them
Brought in weed, got rid of that dirt for them
Wasn't-born-hustlers, I was birthing 'em
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
For sheezy, my neezy, keep my arms so breezy
Can't leave rap alone, the game needs me
Haters want me clapped in chrome, it ain't easy
Cops want to knock me, D.A. wants to box me in
But somehow I beat them charges like Rocky
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Not guilty, he who does not feel me
Is not real to me, therefore he doesn't exist
So poof! Vamoose, son of a bitch!

H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
For shizzle, my nizzle, used to dribble down in VA
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
That's the anthem, get'cha damn hands up!
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Not guilty, y'all got to feel me
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
That's the anthem, get'cha damn hands up!

I do this for my culture, to let them know
What a nigga look like when a nigga in a roaster
Show them how to move in a room full of vultures
Industry is shady, it needs to be taken over
Label owners hate me, I'm raising the status quo up
I'm overcharging niggas for what they did to the Cold Crush
Pay us like you owe us for all the years that you hoed us
We can talk, but money talks, so talk mo' bucks

H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
For shizzle, my nizzle, used to dribble down in VA
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
That's the anthem, get'cha damn hands up!
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Not guilty, y'all got to feel me
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
That's the anthem, get'cha damn hands up!

Hov is back, life stories told through rap
Niggas acting like I sold you crack
Like I told you sell drugs; no, Hov did that
So hopefully you won't have to go through that
I was raised in the projects, roaches and rats
Smokers out back sellin' their mama's sofa
Lookouts on the corner focused on the ave
Ladies in the window, focused on the kinfolk
Me under a lamppost, why I got my hand closed?
Crack's in my palm, watching the long arm of the law
So you know I seen it all before
I've seen Hoop Dreams deflate like a true fiend's weight
To try and to fail: the two things I hate
Succeed and this rap game: the two things that's great
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
What else can I say about dude? I gets bu-sy

H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
For shizzle, my nizzle, used to dribble down in VA
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
That's the anthem, get'cha damn hands up!
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
Not guilty, y'all got to feel me
H to the izz-O, V to the izz-A
That's the anthem, get'cha damn hands up!

I'm the definition of "half man, half drugs"
Ask the clubs, Bad Boy

I'm the definition of "half man, half drugs"
Ask the clubs, Bad Boy, that's wussup

After bucks, crush crews after us
No games, we ain't laughing much
Nothing but big things, check the hit list
How we twist shit, what changed but the name?
We still here, you rockin' with the best
Don't worry if I write rhymes, I write checks

"I'm not a one girl's guy... (real talk for ya, peep game)
aint they know it, when it comes to love, I don't lie (we don't lie man)
and the girls respect me for it (you gotta respect that)
aint gonna say my nose? can't be over (I may never say never)
right now it's just too many fine ladies out there to choose one from"
(too many ladies, ha)

[HOOK:] I love girls, girls, girls, girls, girls I do adore
Yo put your number on this paper cuz I would love to date ya
Holla at ya when I come off tour

[Verse 1]
Whoo! Who you lovin, who you wanna be huggin, heh
who you wit, who you wanna be f*ckin
got this smarty art chick to whom I pose this question
I read a couple books to add to her soul's progression
to put this in laymen's term, I gave her some knowledge
she gave me, brains in return, she had to drop out of college
knowin she does this homework, I give her in house tutoring
in and out I'm movin through her student body union and
she, call me professor, say daddy come and test her
so she could fail on purpose and repeat the semester
I'm like, at this rate ma you never graduate
she said, I aint no fool I make it up in summer school

[HOOK:]
I love girls, girls, girls, girls, girls, I do adore
Yo put your number on this paper cuz I would love to date ya
Holla at ya when I come off tour
Now let the people sing
I'm tryin girls out, (just tryin girls out) just tryin girls out
Yo put your number on this paper cuz I would love to date ya
Holla at ya when I come off tour

[Verse 2]
Heh, who you lovin, who you wanna be f*ckin
who said what, why you trippin girl, why's you fussin?
got this model slash actress slash part time waitress
spend a whole day she hangin round with part time haters
all they do is diss dirt and put a up on my latest
itinerary, but since I tend to vary see
I tend to carry, more rumors than ten Mariah Careys
tend to hurries in ten places at once
plus she can't front just peep how I run mines
ma, our time together is our time together, and uh
our time apart is our time apart
so love Jay with your mind girl and not your heart
and some day I slow down, but for now I get around
like the late Makiavelli or Perelli twenty inches
or caine and O-dog, stick up tape from menace
you tell 'em chicks if they must know my buisness

[HOOK:]
I'm tryin girls out, just tryin girls out
put your number on this paper cuz I would love to date ya
holla at ya when I get off tour
I'm tryin girls, girls, girls, girls, girls I do adore
yo put your number on this paper cuz I would love to date ya
holla at ya when I come off tour

[Verse 3]
I'm lookin for, southern girl that cook like Patti LaBelle
big ghetto booty, scarf over doobie
Chanell under the louie, Gucci over booty
Vicki covered titties, attitude of the city
pretty, witty, girly, whirly
one who likes to party but come home early
light kinda dark, short sorta tall
slim, kinda thick I swear I love 'em all
she can cook the coke and got hook up on the license
but she can get you first class seats for coach prices
isn't this great, my flight leaves at eight
her flight lands at nine, my game just rewinds

[HOOK:]
I'm tryin girls out, just tryin girls out
put your number on this paper cuz I would love to date ya
holla at ya when I get off tour
I'm tryin girls, girls, girls, girls, girls I do adore
yo put your number on this paper cuz I would love to date ya
holla at ya when I come off tour

"I'm not a one girl's guy, and they know it
when it comes to love, I don't lie, and the girls respect me for it
aint gonna say my nose? can't be over,
but right now it's just too many fine ladies out there to choose one from
I'm tryin girls out, waiting patiently,
just tryin girls out, until I find the one for me"

Roc-A-Fella y'all
[Jay] It's the Roc!
Jigga, Jigga, that nigga Jigga
[Jay] R.O., R.O.C. niggaz, R.O.
Jigga, Jigga, that nigga Jigga
[Jay] Hov'! R.O.C. niggaz, R.O., whoo!
Jigga, Jigga, that nigga Jigga
[Jay] It's Hov'! R.O.C. niggaz
Jay-Z..

[Jay-Z]
Come on the track duh duh da-da
With a throwback jersey and a fitted
Might blow a bag of hershey in the sidd-ix
Or might take sips of army with a chidd-ick, I'm so sick widdit
Lampin in the Hamptons, the weekends man
The Stan Smith Adidas and the Campers
Or playin guts on the cruise, Hermes bow shoes
The Izod bucket on I'm so old school
Yellow wrist watch, Gucci flip flops
Six top model chicks, who is this hot?
J-A, ladies help me say it now
Y-Z, mami why you playin with me?
Ride with me, get high as me
It's how it's supposed to be, when you rollin with G's, Hov'!
Back up in this bitch like whoa
Jigga get this whole bitch jumpin like six-fo's

[Chorus]
(Hov'!) V is I, and I am him
(Jigga, Jigga, that nigga Jigga!)
Slim with the tilted brim on twenty inch rims
(Jigga, Jigga, that nigga Jigga!)
And if y'all got love for me I got love for y'all
(Jigga, Jigga, that nigga Jigga!)
And if y'all go to war for me I go to war wit y'all
(Jigga, Jigga, that nigga Jigga!)

[Jay-Z]
Hov'! And so I breeze through, jeans is Evisu
She's respondin, top of C. Bronson
We in Luan (whoo!) gettin our groove on
Buyin out the bar, on our way to Spa'
She never seen a hundred on the wrist before
Never seen twenty-two's on the 6 before
I am, killin 'em out there, they needin first aid
Cause the boy got more 6's than first grade
The crib got, killer views and square feet
You have to film MTV Cribs for a week
So, sleep if you need to, mami I will leave you
Right where you stand, nah I don't wanna dance (I'm good)
I just wanna see what's in your Frankie V pants
Waist is low enough to let your waist show
Top like a rock star, I got a fast car
We can cruise the city, doin a buck-sixty

[Chorus]

[Jay-Z]
"He did it again!" Haters no like
But they gotta f*ck with it cause the flow's so tight
Gnarly dude! I puff Bob Marley dude
All day, like Rastafari's do
Now I'm stuck to the point I could hardly move
You f*ckin up my high, don't bother me dude
But Red Rover, send your hoes over
She can do WHATEVER, sip somethin with soda
She can leave WHENEVER, sip somethin with Hova
We can play HOWEVER, slay bed or sofa
And the prognosis, sex is explosive
Left her with wet bedsheets, nigga I'm focused

[Chorus]

[Jay-Z]
R.O., R.O.C. niggaz..
R.O.C. niggaz
(Roc-A-Fella y'all!)

Turn my music high, high, high, higher
(You don't know what you're doing, doing, doing)
Sure I do

I'm from the streets where the hood could swallow 'em and
Bullets'll follow 'em and
There's so much coke that you could run the slalom
And cops comb the shit top to bottom
They say that we are prone to violence, but it's home sweet home
Where personalities clash and chrome meets chrome
The coke prices up and down like it's Wall Street, holmes
But this is worse than the Dow Jones, your brains are now blown
All over that brown Brougham, one slip, you are now gone
Welcome to Hell, where you are welcome to sell
But when them shells come, you better return 'em
All scars, we earn 'em
All cars, we learn 'em like the back of our hand
We watch for cops hopping out the back of vans
Wear a G on my chest, I don't need Dapper Dan
This ain't a sewn outfit, holmes, holmes is about it
Was clapping them flamers before I became famous
For playing me, y'all shall forever remain nameless (you don't know)

I am Hov (what you're doing, doing, doing)
Sure I do

I tell you the difference between me and them
They're trying to get their ones, I'm trying to get them Ms
One million, two million, three million, four
In just five years, forty million more
You are now looking at the forty million boy
I'm raping Def Jam 'til I'm the hundred million man

R-O-C (you don't know what you're doing, doing, doing)
That's where you're wrong

I came into this motherf*cker hundred grand strong
Nine to be exact, from grinding G-packs
Put this shit in motion, ain't no rewinding me back
Could make forty off a brick, but one rhyme could beat that
And if somebody woulda told 'em that Hov would sell clothing
Not in this lifetime, wasn't in my right mind
That's another difference that's between me and them, ha
I smarten up, open the market up
One million, two million, three million, four
In eighteen months, eighty million more
Now add that number up with the one I said before
You are now looking at one smart black boy
Mama ain't raised no fool
Put me anywhere on God's green earth
I'll triple my worth, motherf*cker

I will not lose (you don't know what you're doing, doing, doing)
Put something on it

I sell ice in the winter, I sell fire in Hell
I am a hustler, baby, I'll sell water to a well
I was born to get cake, move on and switch states
Cop the coupe with the roof gone and switch plates
Was born to dictate, never follow orders, dick face
Get your shit straight, f*cker, this is Big Jay

I, hahaha (you don't know what you're doing, doing, doing)
Will not lose, ever
F*cker

[Jay-Z]
(J) uhh (A) uh-uh (Y) uh uh-uh
Ah ch-ch ah, ch-ah, ah uh-uh
Ah ch-ch ah, ch-ah, ah uh-uh
It's that hop I'm talkin bout right here Timbo!

I can't be stopped when it hop like this family, uhh!
(Uno, dos, tres, cuatro!)

They say hola' hovito
That's what they sayin when I roll up with my people
My music bangin like - them vatos locos got rap in a chokehold
And I won't surrender it with, beats by Timbaland
Calle de la boca, my baby
All I wanna, do is, stroke ya all crazy
My, dick game is vicious, insane at bitches
Mami keep comin back cause mami came vicious
Catch Hov' in the drop, nasty thang lane switchin
Once you turn your neck for a sec your dame's missin
Bujando, bujando, the cops is comin
Got that rap patrol behind yo, get to runnin
I'm unstoppable Hov', untoppable flows
I'm the compadre, the Sinatra of my day
Ol' Blue Eyes my nigga, I did it my way
If y'all not rollin with Hov' then hit the highway

[Chorus]
(Hola' hovito!) Yeah, yeah (Hola' hovito!)
Yeah that's what they sayin when that music get to bangin
Put it down for my PEO-PLE!
(Hola' hovito! Hola' hovito!)
Yeah that's what they sayin when that music get to bangin
Put it down for my PEO-PLE!

[an extra "yeah" before the 5th line first time, 2nd line second, and the 5th line the third time]

[Jay-Z]
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah naw I don't f*ck around, stay on my J.O.
Hov' been about that dough since I was a day old
Oh, push perrico if I need to for the rule of evil
Was born in the belly that's the way the streets breed you
One life to live - notice you get no sequel
So I truly got to live this like my last movie
Six oohie, jewels drippin, big toolie
I ball for real, y'all niggaz is Sam Bouie
And with the third pick - I made the earth sick
M.J., hem Jay, fade away perfect
I rhyme sicker than every rhyme spitter
Every crime nigga that rhyme or touch a mic because my mind's quicker
I'm a eighty-eighter, nine-six to "Reasonable Doubt"
Temper short, don't take much to squeeze you out
Yeah you shinin but the only thing you're leavin out
You're a candle in the sun - that shit don't even out

[Chorus]

[Jay-Z]
Hold up; naw muh'f*ckers - y'all muh'f*ckers
better run to the post office and get a job muh'f*ckers
A star muh'f*ckers, cause Jay's been the only one
eatin thus far sub-par muh'f*ckers
Naw even though y'all hate I love y'all muh'f*ckers
"Friend or Foe," y'all all my muh'f*ckers
If you haven't heard, I'm Michael Magic and Bird
all rolled in one - cause none got more flows than Young
Plus got more flows to come
And if I ain't better than Big, I'm the closest one
So move over - hoes, choose Hova
My food for though so hot it give you dudes ulcers
Rovers, roasters, poseurs
gettin it in with me, livin like they supposed tah
Watches, chain, front row at the game
Sold out arena, all screamin my name, c'mon

[Chorus]

Uh, uhh, listen
First the Fat Boys break up, now every day I wake up
Somebody got a problem with Hov'
Whassup y'all niggas all fed up cause I got a little cheddar
And my records moving out the sto'?
Young f*cks spitting at me, young rappers getting at me
My nigga Big predicted the shit exactly
"Mo' Money, Mo' Problems" gotta move carefully
'Cause fagots hate when you getting money like athletes
Yung'uns ice-grilling me, oh, you not feeling me?
Fine, it cost you nothing, pay me no mind
Look, I'm on my grind cousin, ain't got time for fronting
Sensitive thugs, y'all all need hugs
Damn little mans I'm just trying do me
If the record's two mill' I'm just trying move three
Get a couple of chicks, get 'em to try to do E
Hopefully they'll menage before I reach my garage
I don't want much, f*ck I drove every car
Some nice cooked food, some nice clean drawers
Bird-ass niggas I don't mean to ruffle y'all
I know you waiting in the wing but I'm doing my thing
Where's the love?

Ain't no love, in the heart of the city
I said where's the love?
Ain't no love, in the heart of town
Yeah

And then the Fugees gon' break up, now everyday I wake up
Somebody got something to say
What's all the f*cking fussing for? Because I'm grubbing more
And I pack heat like I'm the oven door?
Niggas pray and pray on my downfall
But every time I hit the ground I bounce up like round ball
Now I don't want to have to kill sound ball
Don't want to have to cock back the four pound bar
Look scrapper I got nephews to look after
I'm not looking at you dudes, I'm looking past ya
I thought I told you characters I'm not a rapper
Can I live? I told you in ninety-six
That I came to take this shit and I did, handle my biz
I scramble like Randall with his
Cunningham but the only thing running is numbers fam
Jigga held you down six summers, damn, where's the love?

Ain't no love, in the heart of the city
Niggas, where's the love?
Ain't no love, in the heart of town
Holla at me!
Ain't no love (take 'em to church) in the heart of the city
Uh, uh, uh, my nigga where's the love?
Ain't no love, in the heart of town
F*ck

Then Richard Pryor go and burn up, and Ike and Tina Turner break up
Then I wake up to more bullshit
You knew me before records, you never disrespected me
Now that I'm successful you'll pull this shit
Nigga I'll step on your porch, step to your boss
Let's end the speculation, I'm talking to alla y'all
Males shouldn't be jealous that's a female trait
What you mad 'cause you push dimes and he sell weight?
Y'all don't know my expenses, I gotta buy a bigger place
Hehehe, and more baggies, why you all aggie?
Nigga respect the game, that should be it
What you eat don't make me shit, where's the love?

Where's the love?

Ain't no love, in the heart of the city
Ain't no love, in the heart of town

Ain't no love, in the heart of the city
Ain't no love, in the heart of town

Ain't no love, in the heart of the city
Ain't no love, in the heart of town

Ain't no love

(Never, never, never, never, change)
I'll never change, this is Jay every day
(I'll never change)
I'll never change, this is Jay every day
(I'll never change)
Never change, this is Jay

I am a Roc representer (oh)
Summer to winter (oh)
Dead or alive (uh)
24/7, three-sixty-five
One CD or three hundred and sixty pies
What's up to E and Kirk?
Welcome home to Taj
Let no amount of money ruin this thing of ours (uh)
We run streets like drunks run street lights
We colliding with life as we speak
We knee deep in coke, we key deep in ice
We flood streets with dope, we keep weed to smoke
We all fish, better teach your folk
Give him money to eat, then next week he's broke
'Cause when you sleep, he's reaching for your throat
Word on the street, you reap what you sow
Not out of fear, but love, love for the game
Roc family first we never change, man

(Never, never, never, never, change)
I'm still f*cking with crime, 'cause crime pays (I'll never change)
Out hustling, same clothes for days (I'll never change)
I'll never change, I'm too stuck in my ways, I'll never change
Who you know like Hov? (Never, never, never, never, change)
I'm still f*cking with crime, 'cause crime pays (I'll never change, that's right)
Out hustling, same clothes for days (I'll never change, come on)
I'll never change, I'm too stuck in my ways, I'll never change

What's up to my Miami and St. Thomas connects? (What up?)
I'll never mention your name, I promise respect
Death before dishonor, correct?
Yup, that's what you promised me since the Bomber League
Along with if we stay strong
We can get paper longer than Pippen's arms (woo)
Plead the Fifth when it comes to the fam
I'm like a dog, I never speak, but I understand
Where my dogs at? Where my soldiers at war?
Where your balls at? Whoa, gotta pause that (whoa)
Lost ninety two bricks, had to fall back
Knocked a nigga of his feet, but I crawled back
Had A1 credit, got more crack
From the first to the fifth, gave it all back
If I'm not a hustler what you call that?
This is before rap ('fore), this is all fact (fact)
I'll never change

(Never, never, never, never, change)
I'm still f*cking with crime, 'cause crime pays (I'll never change)
Out hustling, same clothes for days (I'll never change, that's right)
I'll never change, I'm too stuck in my ways, I'll never change
Who you know like Hov? (Never, never, never, never, change)
I'm still f*cking with crime, 'cause crime pays (I'll never change)
Out hustling, same clothes for days (I'll never change, come on)
I'll never change, I'm too stuck in my ways, I'll never change

'Fore the streets robbed me, wasn't educated properly
But f*ck y'all, I needed money for Atari
Was so young, my big sis still playing with Barbie
Young brother, big city, eight million stories
Old heads taught me, "Youngin, walk softly"
Carry a big clip that'll get niggas off me
Keep coke in coffee, keep money smelling mothy
Chains is cool to cop, but more important is lawyer fees (uh)
That's how it is now (uh)
That's how it always be (uh)
I'll never change, this is always me
From the womb to the tomb
From now 'til my doom
Drink Army from one cup, pass it around the room (that's a family, nigga)
That's the ritual (yup)
Big Ran, I ain't forgot you, fool
And all that bullshit you tryna get through
This is crew love, move music or move drugs
Rival crews, get your black suits up, I'll never change

(Never, never, never, never, change)
I'm still f*cking with crime, 'cause crime pays (I'll never change, come on)
Out hustling, same clothes for days (I'll never change)
I'll never change, I'm too stuck in my ways, I'll never change
Who you know?
(Never, never, never, never, change)
I'm still f*cking with crime, 'cause crime pays (I'll never change)
Out hustling, same clothes for days (I'll never change, come on)
I'll never change, I'm too stuck in my ways, I'll never change

This is Jay every day
Who you know like Hov? Nigga

Picture all the possibilities
Picture all the possibilities
Sounds like a love song
Sounds like a love song
The most incredible, baby
Uh, mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm
Yeah, yeah, uh

I can't see 'em comin' down my eyes
So I gotta make the song cry
I can't see 'em comin' down my eyes
So I gotta make the song cry

Good dude, I know you love me like cooked food
Even though a nigga gotta move like a crook move
We was together on the block since free lunch
We shoulda been together havin' Four Seasons brunch
We used to use umbrellas to face the bad weather
So now we travel first class to change the forecast
Never in bunches, just me and you
I loved your point of view 'cause you held no punches
Still I left you for months on end
It's been months since I checked back in
We're somewhere in a small town, somewhere lockin' a mall down
Woodgrain, four and change, Armor All'd down
I can understand why you want a divorce now
Though I can't let you know it, pride won't let me show it
Pretend to be heroic, that's just one to grow with
But deep inside a nigga so sick

I can't see 'em comin' down my eyes
So I gotta make the song cry
I can't see 'em comin' down my eyes
So I gotta let the song cry, uh
I can't see it comin' down my eyes
So I gotta make the song cry
I can't see it comin' down my eyes
So I gotta make the song cry

On repeat, the CD of Big's "Me and My Bitch"
Watchin' Bonnie and Clyde, pretendin' to be that shit
Empty gun in your hand sayin', "Let me see that clip"
Shoppin' sprees, pull out your Visa quick
A nigga had very bad credit, you helped me lease that whip
You helped me get the keys to that V dot 6
We was so happy poor, but when we got rich
That's when our signals got crossed, and we got flipped
Rather mine, I don't know what made me leave that shit
Made me speed that quick, let me see, that's it
It was the cheese, helped them bitches get amnesia quick
I used to cut up they buddies, now they sayin' they love me
Used to tell they friends I was ugly and wouldn't touch me
Then I showed up in that dubbed-out buggy
And then they got fuzzy and they don't remember that
And I don't remember you

I can't see it comin' down my eyes
So I gotta make the song cry
I can't see it comin' down my eyes
So I gotta make the song cry
Yeah, I seen 'em comin' down your eyes
But I gotta make the song cry
I can't see it comin' down my eyes
So I gotta make the song cry

A face of stone, was shocked on the other end of the phone
Word back home is that you had a special friend
So what was oh so special then?
You have given away without gettin' at me
That's your fault, how many times you forgiven me?
How was I to know that you was plain sick of me?
I know the way a nigga livin' was wack
But you don't get a nigga back like that
Shit, I'm a man with pride, you don't do shit like that
You don't just pick up and leave and leave me sick like that
You don't throw away what we had, just like that
I was just f*ckin' them girls, I was gon' get right back
They say you can't turn a bad girl good
But once a good girl's gone bad, she's gone forever
I'll mourn forever
Shit, I gotta live with the fact I did you wrong forever

I can't see 'em comin' down my eyes
So I gotta make the song cry
I can't see 'em comin' down my eyes
So I gotta let the song cry
I know, I seen 'em comin' down your eyes
But I gotta make the song cry
I can't see 'em comin' down my eyes
So I gotta make the song cry

It's f*cked up, girl

It's the Roc! Wooo!
My gear is right... (check)
My bucket is low... (check)
My Rocawear is fittin' incredible...

F*ck it...
I guess I got my swagger back
Mama that said I killed her man
Well I guess I got the dagger back
It's the Roc bastards we are BACK!
In the heezy
Jiggaman, B. Sieg to M-Easy (what up fam?)
Oskino and Sparks and Freeweezy (holla!)
Mickey, Mallory, Chris and Neef, hey!
All I need is the love of my crew
The whole industry can hate me I thugged my way through
And all...I...need is a chick to hold a jimmy like
Meth and Mary, like, Marvin and Tammi, unnnh...
Now understands we can't be stopped
From blowin' Swisher Sweets outta candy drops
Like we underground kings, ridin' dirty
A nigga been focused since I said hi to 30 (what up?)
Young niggas ya'll can't hurt me
Better watch and observe me
And learn how to earn better, I burn cheddar
I set fire to your empire
I blow smoke in your face, burn rubber off the rim tires
Yes I-ah...Jay I-ah...
Double G-A livewire nigga holla back

[CHORUS]
All I need...
Rocawear... (check)
Nike Airs... (check)
Mean bucket... (uh huh)
Armadale in the club couple o' duckets (yeah)
Couple chicks by my side, let's ride
All I need...
That new coupe (got that)
A doo-rag and a pocket full o' loot (got those)
A sunny day some chicks that wanna play
And I'll be on my way

C'mon...now...
All I need in this world o' sin
Is me and my girlfriend! (ha ha)
I got a little two-two I call 'er Peggy Sue
When I'm off in the club she fit right in my shoe (wooo!)
Gotta switch her to my waist, just in case (uh huh)
A clown wan' flip gotta reach for my bitch
Wanna act out a movie I could give you a clip (buk!)
But no adlibbin' nigga stick to the script
Now all...I...need is a high-priced lawyer
Cuz it's foul ways nowadays everybody saw you
And they comin' to court too, I thought you knew
Can't even steal on a nigga muhf*ckas'll sue
In this time and age, cuz real muhf*ckas'll do
When I'm surrounded by squeal muhf*ckas like you
But real niggas don't fret cuz the number one crew?
R to the O to the C comin' true

[CHORUS]

Listen...
The cream too long, my team too strong
Bleek is too hot, Beans is gone
Ya'll niggas in the crosshair, the beams is on (see ya'll)
Ya'll whole block deserted, ya'll fiends are gone (bye bye!)
The whole Roc is jumpin', we reached our zenith
Got fiends throwin' up on themself like Willy Beaman [giggle]
Any given Sunday gunplay's optional
However niggas want it like Soul II Soul (however do you waaaaant it)
Whoever got hops get blocked go to the hole
Dikembe Mutumbo of this rap shit
Plus the jab is sick, and it's that quick
Left hand'll lean 'em like a little past six
Now run along wit'cha little ass hits
Read my rap sheet nigga, THREE CLASSICS
Shut ya bumba' got A-Rod numbers
All you muddaskunks get buried in the trunk
When I blast the pump, I leave you relaxed
In the hospital lookin' at M*A*S*H for months
Then I dumps dough on the D.A. desk
And the fleece got free and pee-pee on the steps...
We've got no respect
No law or governin' why you f*ckin' wit' him?
Matta'fact, why you f*ckin' wit' them?
All ya'll need is the R-O-C baby

[CHORUS]

Listen...
(All I need)
Rocafella Records...
Freeway...
Oskino and Sparks...
Chris & Neef
(All I need)
Mickey and Mallory...
Broad Street Bully...
M-Extra Money, ha...
YOUNG!
(All I need)
H to the izzo...
CLUE!
Rell...
Uh huh...yeah, yeah...
(All I need)

[Jay-Z]
Motherf*ckers -
say that I'm foolish I only talk about jewels (bling bling)
Do you fools listen to music or do you just skim through it?
See I'm influenced by the ghetto you ruined
That same dude you gave nothin', I made somethin doin'
what I do through and through and
I give you the news - with a twist it's just his ghetto point-of-view
The renegade; you been afraid
I penetrate pop culture, bring 'em a lot closer to the block where they
pop toasters, and they live with they moms
Got dropped roasters, from botched robberies niggaz crotched over
Mommy's knocked up cause she wasn't watched over
Knocked down by some clown when child support knocked
No he's not around - now how that sound to ya, jot it down
I bring it through the ghetto without ridin 'round
hidin down duckin strays from frustrated youths stuck in they ways
Just read a magazine that f*cked up my day
How you rate music that thugs with nothin relate to it?
I help them see they way through it - not you
Can't step in my pants, can't walk in my shoes
Bet everything you worth; you lose your tie and your shirt

[Eminem]
Since I'm in a position to talk to these kids and they listen
I ain't no politician but I'll kick it with 'em a minute
Cause see they call me a menace; and if the shoe fits I'll wear it
But if it don't, then y'all'll swallow the truth grin and bear it
Now who's these king of these rude ludicrous lucrative lyrics
Who could inherit the title, put the youth in hysterics
Usin' his music to steer it, sharin his views and his merits
But there's a huge interference - they're sayin you shouldn't hear it
Maybe it's hatred I spew, maybe it's food for the spirit
Maybe it's beautiful music I made for you to just cherish
But I'm debated disputed hated and viewed in America
as a motherf*ckin drug addict - like you didn't experiment?
Now now, that's when you start to stare at who's in the mirror
and see yourself as a kid again, and you get embarrased
And I got nothin' to do but make you look stupid as parents
You f*ckin do-gooders - too bad you couldn't do good at marriage!
(Ha ha!) And do you have any clue what I had to do to get here I don't
think you do so stay tuned and keep your ears glued to the stereo
Cause here we go - he's {*Jigga joint Jigga-chk-Jigga*}
And I'm the sinister, Mr. Kiss-My-Ass it's just the

[Chorus: Eminem + Jay-Z]
[Em] RENEGADE! Never been afraid to say
what's on my mind at, any given time of day
Cause I'm a RENEGADE! Never been afraid to talk
about anything (ANYTHING) anything (ANYTHING), RENEGADE!
[Jay] Never been afraid to say
what's on my mind at, any given time of day
Cause I'm a {RENEGADE} Never been afraid to holler
about anything {anything?} Anything {ANYTHING!}

[Jay-Z]
I had to hustle, my back to the wall, ashy knuckles
Pockets filled with a lot of lint, not a cent
Gotta vent, lot of innocent of lives lost on the project bench
Whatchu hollerin'? Gotta pay rent, bring dollars in
By the bodega, iron under my coat, feelin braver
Doo-rag wrappin my waves up, pockets full of hope
Do not step to me - I'm awkward, I box leftier often
My pops left me an orphan, my momma wasn't home
Could not stress to me I wasn't grown; 'specially on nights
I brought somethin home to quiet the stomach rumblings
My demeanor - thirty years my senior
My childhood didn't mean much, only raisin green up
Raisin' my fingers to critics; raisin' my head to the sky
BIG I did it - multi before I die (nigga)
No lie, just know I chose my own fate
I drove by the fork in the road and went straight

[Eminem]
See I'm a poet to some, a regular modern day Shakespeare
Jesus Christ the King of these Latter Day Saints here
To shatter the picture in which of that as they paint me
as a monger of hate and Satan a scatter-brained atheist
But that ain't the case, see it's a matter of taste
We as a people decide if Shady's as bad as they say he is
Or is he the latter - a gateway to escape?
Media scapegoat, who they can be mad at today
See it's easy as cake, simple as whistlin Dixie
while I'm wavin the pistol at sixty Christians against me
Go to war with the Mormons, take a bath with the Catholics
in holy water - no wonder they try to hold me under longer
I'm a motherf*ckin spiteful, DELIGHTFUL eyeful
The new Ice Cube - motherf*ckers HATE to like you
What did I do? (huh?) I'm just a kid from the gutter
makin this butter off these bloodsuckers, cause I'm a muh'f*ckin

[Chorus] - repeat 2X

Yeah, yeah
Right, right, right
Right, right, right, right

Feel me now, listen
Momma loved me, pop left me
Mickey fed me, and he dressed me
Eric fought me, made me tougher
Love you for that my nigga no matter what bro
Marcy raised me, and whether right or wrong
Streets gave me all I write in the song
Hootie babysitted, changed my diapers
Gil introduced me to the game that changed my life up
East Trenton grew me, had me skipping school
Valencia's boyfriend Vovo had me making moves
Momma raised me, pop I miss you
God help me forgive him I got some issues
Mickey cleaned my ears, Annie shampooed my hair
Eric was fly, shit, I used to steal his gear
I was the baby boy, I could do no wrong
Yeah it's goin past fast, let's move along
Kitchen table, that's where I honed my skills
Jaz made me believe the shit was real
Labels turned me down, couldn't foresee
Clark sought me out, Dame believed
Primo laced me, Ski did too
"Reasonable Doubt" classic, should of went triple
Momma loved me, pop left me
Grandma dressed me, plus she fed me
Banana pudding, what's in the hood then
Puffin on L's, drinking pink champelle
Ty rolled with a nigga, V.A. spot
Tone, Mike 'Zo and them niggas, V.A.'s locked
Vigs f*cked with a nigga, whats up ha?
High hated the fact I put rap to the back
Money pouring in, clientele growing now
Birth of my first nephew, time to slow it down
October 21st, Lavelle came to the world
Followed by three more boys and then a baby girl
Momma loved me, T.T. Uncle Jay
Loves you to death won't let no trouble come your way
Oh, can't forget my man down in Maryland
He's gone 'til November, how can I not remember?
Tell your moms I'm there for her and Tiembra
And your son too, there's nothing I won't do
Unless you was me, how could you judge me?
I was brought up in pain, y'all can't touch me
Police pursued me, chased cuffed and subdued me
Talked to me rudely, cause I'm young rich and I'm black
And live in a movie, not living by rules
New rap patrolling the city, follow my crews
Bleek you're still with me, nigga what did I say?
The time is coming you one hit away
Beans I ain't trying to change you, just give you some game
To make the transition, from the street to the fame
My momma loves me