[rakim]

Yeahit's the God rakim

Word upI'm blazin this out to all my comrades

Yanamean? from the slums of new yorkto the gutters all over the world

This is for y'all....

Through my travels I try to take righteous steps

Because right or left could mean life or death

No matter how trife it getmy sights is set

But it's twice the threat when the ? nights is death? 

My mental windows refuse to closethey get exposed

To the neighborhood info where the poison wind blows

A deadly plague spreadin negativityviciously

Unto every city be in ghetto misery

Don't let it get to methe writer be left to die

But it get mesmerize if it catch your eye

Shines enormousfrom pure revered kool's and garments

But it's tormentjealousy drug wars or warring

Tallyingslowly turnin into barbarians

More scary when the whole boulevard's carryin

Livin in the world of sinmy ghetto girls and men

Waiting for the world to end



[chorus] 2x

"tryin to paint a perfect picture and excel"

"in case you didn't know"

"never movin backwards" [rakim]

"complicated" [rakim]

"know what I mean? " [rakim]



I see destruc-tioneven little kids trust none

They bust gunsthat's what they get a rush from

When I see emwe build and have a real discussion

"yo rawhat's the jewel of the day? " "what upson"

"you got ambition? " shorty said"man listen

I got demands for livincan't stand division

Make grands on my missiontill everything glisten

Women in the expeditionno plans for prison

In a vision the city get2 milleni g

Sittin in my msc sippin hennesy

Gettin highand watch life pass me by"

So I asked him whywit a fast reply

He said "i'm livin just to die without any feelings

So I wait here for my maker till it's time to go

Wit this dime I know

Wit all of her girls and all of my mens

Waitin for the world to end"



Chorus 2x



Shorty was taught to keep his head to the skyand never cry

But the streets left him to dienow it's death in his eye

Livin a sin of hitmena sinister grin

From be-ginning to endin it to win

Evil rebelsdoin what we doin in the ghetto

Thinkin if we was thorough we can deceive the devil

You can't winyour life be endtry again

Shorty said"why we born again to die again? "

That's what I said when I realized I had a gift

To uplift and be one of allah's advocates

Teach the youth and speak the truth

Show em what peace can do when ? ill? reach for you

And my reward won't be jewels or cheeseit's even better

I can be one of the greatest mc's ever

If I tell em they intelligent women and great men

And livestop waitin for the world to end



Chorus 2x



"i'm raginrippin up the stage an'

Don't it sound amazinknow what I mean? " [rakim]

"don't it sound amazinknow what I mean? "

"rakim"