Gotta be the illest brother to claim respect
 It takes the illest brother just to get respect
 Got to be the illest brother when it's time to get wreck
 Got to be the illest brother when I get my mic check
 I'm one of the illest brothers known to man
 but if you don't understand  see I'm a grown man
 And I stand 5'8" and 3 quarters
 giving orders to my sqaudron cuz I'm like the sergeant
 or general but let me keep this minimal
 I used to hang with kids who like to live trife with a knife
 Cutting kids for fun and pulling out much guns
 and like riflery champs fellas start to get real amped
 Dead bodies lay stamped to the pavement so I gave it some thought
 remembering the brothers who are gone now
 I will make a strong vow to make things right
 ignite the mic, get hype and all that
 Suckers try to menace but they always fall
 flat to the ground as I astound come around
 I'll put you down about the brothers who think they're the boss
 think they're getting large but in the end they pay the cost
 Of their lives and that ain't the way to go out
 even take their boys with 'em cause they know their boys will go out
 But when it comes to facing some time
 they're like crying like weeping, wanna call mom Dukes
 But mom Dukes is fed, fed up with the shit you did
 she knows that you shot and she knows that you cripples kids
 But who's to judge when you're trying to survive
 the one who moves first might be the one to stay alive
 So when you think you're hard and dominating the set
 just remember the illest brother claims respect!
 Like I said I'm an ill kid, so never dare test me
 they wanna arrest me cuz i'm causing a frenzy
 Fake gangsters come and fake gangsters go
 real gangsters chill cuz real gangsters know
 That quietly you stalk your prey on the down low
 cuz too much talk will get you beef on the street
 And brothers in the city have to live this way
 it may cause dismay but Imma' tell it anyway
 Yo guns are easy to get and like a puppet
 some young kid is gonna be the subject of internal oppression
 An example of hard times
 cuz to make it out the trap in your mind it's a hard climb
 But even if you change and come right and exact
 there's another brother scheming so just watch your back
 I know a brother who thought he had it all
 but little did he know he was bound for a down fall
 He'd pick up the heater and go stick somebody
 he wouldn't give a damn if he killed somebody
 Cuz if somebody would get in the way of him getting loot
 there'd be no hesitation he'd just shoot
 It's like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
 except it's reality and you don't see it on TV
 Brothers keep dying in the streets cuz the streets are designed
 to keep you from having peace of mind
 I know an old man, he's got a rifle to stifle
 any young punk, he hides it under his bunk
 And I know a kid who's been to jail
 and he told me that the system had failed him
 So now he's out the joint and he's like flippin' on kids
 and the people in his neighborhood are flippin' their wigs
 But you gotta check the move cuz there's a reason
 a method to the madness and you know what I'm meaning
 Cuz rather than being the herb, vic, or chump
 you can be just like my man cold holding the pump
 But living like that you take a chance with your life
 but some things in life, sometimes will make you uptight
 I'm like an avalanche of knowledge pounding down all fools
 all fakes, all snakes
 and ones who try to break the rules and regulations
 Stipulations made by the GangStarr
 you try to flex muscle but you know you can't hang ha
 You're making me vexed but yeah you can go next
 just remember the illest brother claims respect
 Chorus repeat
 Yo money don't front you know you blew your chance
 and now it's my turn so Imma' take command
 Cuz I'm like the one who's got all the juice
 I always get loose I got the balls to reduce your crew
 Very easily I got more ammo
 I'm like the ill kid the psycho man yo
 Cuz now I'm past the point and I ain't gonna return
 and when it comes to your destruction I ain't really concerned
 About the consequences cuz I'm living day to day
 So who are you to comment about me and my ways.
 I get my attitude from living and I never forget
 You got to be the illest brother just to claim respect