Up early in the mornin', dressed in black
Don't aks why 'cause 
I'm down in a suit and tie
They killed a homie that 
I went to school with
I tell ya life ain't shit to fool with
I still hear the screams of his mother
While my nigga laid dead in the gutter
And it's gettin' to my temple
Why is that the only time black folks get to ride in a limo?
It makes me so mad 
I want to get my sawed in
And have some bodies hauled in
But no, I pay my respects and 
I'm through
Hug my crew and maybe she'd a tear or two
Then I wanna get blitz
Grab my 40 ounce and then 
I reminisce
About a brother who had to be the one and only
So I dedicate this to my dead homiez
Another homie got murdered on a shakedown
And his mother is at the funeral, havin' a nervous breakdown
Two shots hit him in the face when they blasted
A framed picture and a closed casket
A single file line about 50 cars long
All drivin' slow with they lights on
He got a lot of flowers and a big wreath
What good is that when you're six feet deep?
I look at that shit and gotta think to myself
And thank 
God for my health'
Cause nobody really ever know
When it's gonna be they family on the front row
So I take everythin' slow, go with the flow
And shut my motherfuckin' mouth if 
I don't know'
Cause that's what pops told me
But I wish he could have said it to my dead homiez
I remember we painted our names on the wall for fun
Now it's rest in peace after every one
Except me, but 
I ain't the one to front
Seems like 
I'm viewin' a body every other month
Plus, I knew him when he was yea big
Pour beer on the curb before 
I take a swig
But somethin' ain't right
When it's a tragedy that's the only time that the family's tight
Lovin' each other in a carin' mood
There's lots of people and lots of food
They say be strong and you're tryin'
But how strong can you be when you see your pop's cryin'
So that's why 
Ice Cube's dressed up
Because the city is so fuckin' messed up
And everybody's so phony
Take a little time to think about your dead homiez