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[ti:pray] |
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[ar:jay-z] |
| [00:20.771] |
Mind state of a gangster from the 40's, |
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meets the business mind of motown's Berry Gordy, |
| [00:25.771] |
turned crack rock into a chain of 40/40's, |
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sorry my jewerly is so gaudy,slid into the party with my new pair of Mauri's, |
| [00:32.851] |
America,meet the gangster Shawn Corey,hey young world, |
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wanna hear a story, |
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close your eyes and you can pretend you're me, |
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I'm cut from the cloth of the Kennedys,Frank Sinatra havin'dinner with the Genovese', |
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the is the genesis of a nemisis, |
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mother America not witnessed since, |
| [00:51.251] |
the harlem renaissance birthed black businessman, |
| [00:52.721] |
this is the tale of lost innocence, |
| [00:56.731] |
and the incense burns and the turntables turn, |
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and that Al Green plays, |
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I see my mothers afro,as mama taps her toes, |
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as she rolls her j's, |
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and my papa just left the house, |
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in search of a killer of my uncle Ray,and she's trying to calm her nerves, |
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as i observe this is just one day, |
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and what tomorrow has in store, |
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we can never be sure,so all we can do is...pray |
| [01:32.611] |
As i head to my home-room, |
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I observe the ruins,dope needles on the ground, |
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i hear a car go vroom, |
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drug dealer in the bm with the top down, |
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as the girls start to giggle, |
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i ask why you laugh?? |
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they say you're to little, |
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one day you'll understand, |
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when you become a man, |
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'bout things you have to get you, |
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fast forward freeze frame, |
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on my pistol fistful of dollars, |
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ignorance is so blessful, |
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I ain't choose this life, |
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this life chose me, |
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around here it's the sh*t, |
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that you just do, |
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i just left school,the same bm is pulled over, |
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by the boys dressed in blue, |
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they had their guns drawn, |
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screaming "just move", |
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or is there something else you suggest we can do?, |
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he made his way to the drunk, |
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opened it like "huh",a treasure chest was removed, |
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cops said he'll be back next month, |
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what we call curpt,he call's payin'dues, |
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now when rules is blurred,as they were, |
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what am i to do but ....pray. |
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pray the lord forgives me, |
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pray he guides me for what i'm 'bout to go through....pray |
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anywhere there's oppression, |
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the drug profession,flourishes like beverages, |
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refreshing,sweet taste of sin, |
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everything i seen made me everything i am, |
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bad drug dealer or victim,i beg, |
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what came first,moving the chickens or the egg?, |
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this is why i be so fresh, |
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i'm trying to beat life,'cause i can't cheat death, |
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treat shame like shamelessness,aim, |
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stainless at anuses, |
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you know the game this is, |
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move coke like pepsi,don't matter what brand name it is, |
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i stand behind mine,everything i do i'm a man behind mine, |
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I'm not an angel,I'm sure, |
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but every night before i lay,I drop my knees to the floor, |
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and I pray. |