The Rude Awakening

Sittin in my lab, lookin over formulas and ?fresh shit in bags
Oh .....yeah......oh yeah yeah
Oooooh gotta keep on pushin oooooh
(gotta keep on pushin, keep on pushin if i wanna make it)

Now i realize, i gotta get my eyes on the prize
The road to success is a long ri-ide yeah
Now i struggle and strive, just to stay alive
So i been told, only the strong will survive , only the strong will
Survive yeah ooooh
(only the strong survive, only the strong survive, only the strong
Survive -2x)
Oooooh only the strong will sur-vive
(gotta keep on pushin, keep on pushin if i wanna make it -2x)

Steele
Up early in the mornin, take position on the streets of ny
My state like bed-stuy, either do or i die (do or you die)
So i try not to rely on godz in times of need
And focus on my dough cause i must proceed (must proceed)
Mama used to say id make it and i take her advice
She was on her 9 to 5, i was out on heists
Tryin to get mine, how to commit crime
Only way ma dukes find out is if i get time
Jucks after jucks, til i got hit with the book
Even though i hurt her ma dukes still looked out
Kept me strong ever since she let the seed out
The womb
Wanna take it from em, or take it to em

Tek
Whats the reason of life, stack doe or live trife
Become a family man supportin kids and a wife
Like your pops who break his back to bring home ?likkel? scratch
Or black who pushed the ?ak? ot with gpacs
Makin a killin by fulfillin dreams so by his man borne
Who says duke ?kasoffer? hate the ground that he walk on
Or do i greez my steez, purchase a 2-piece
Walk in some company, talkin bout hire me
Watch your heart catch money bags
With kids from nostrand ave
Poured out some liquor when i heard
My nigga black passed (pour out some liquor)
From multiple gunshots between 3 and 5
Mama always told me only the strong survive

And now....

I realize that i gotta keep my eyes on the prize
The road of success is a long drive, 2x
So i struggle and strive cause i'm told
Only the strong survive, only the strong survive

Only the strong survive 3x
(only the strong survive)


Now i realize, i gotta get my eyes on the prize
The road to success is a long dri-ive yeah
So i struggle and strive, just to make it right
So i been told, only the strong will survive , only the strong will
Survive

Tall sean/ruck
Ladies and gentlemen
In shoes, sneakers, timbalands,
Get out your seat, move your feet, with more love than wimbelton
For who sean price, no relation to vincent
Probably seen my face up in the 73rd precinct
Or indiesent exposure
In possesion, the verbal weapons
Cause crews

*sample repeated in background during entire song*

"guess who's the black trump" [raekwon]

[steele] (raekwon)
I had to get some real professionals for the job, son
(numerous cats) word up
(that's right) official niggas word up
(this is what you call ?) straight blazin through what
Raise the roof is what we came to do (like hash browns)
Blazin through, blazin through (pass that african black gold over here)
Raise the roof is what we came to do
Blazin through, blazin through (you know how we rock)
Raise the roof is what we came to do (smiff-n-wess-n-lex set up shop)

[steele]
Attack mode, time to strike like a cobra
Poisonous venom into your system killin you slower
Than niggas wit blowers to your jugler
My brother's keeper but i put my brother to sleep
If my brother try to creep up
You know my son, show respect when i'm rockin the podium
Steam-rollin on niggas, my team straight blowin em
Got em throwin they gunz in the air like onyx
Chef and smiff-n-wessun crime shit, new york's finest

[raekwon]
Let me warn y'all killas upstairs
I seen all y'all, heavy like fuck, thinkin my niggas might flaw y'all
Blow ya ammo, shallah seen the god fly commando
Handle, gun on my leg, blow his hand off
I'm lookin at you why, like "fuck, you probably think i'm high"
Seems luck, chain around my neck, bought it from e-gypt
Me what? hennesy drink, mahogany guns, we treesed up
Come out your shirt, buckle knees-up
This casablanca rap nigga throw some cheese up
Let's poly, slow-mo status, bring the keys up
Wonderin, runners is lookin mighty fees'd up
Right stupid, fbi sell em ? guns

[tek]
Make this money, niggas hold up guns
Armed full of licks, plus your dick, drop your ones
Baby need new shoes and a outfit
I see you stick-up kids, you came wit the dick lick
You see my set of twin-hitmen from bushwick?
Two chicks wit the twenty-two tecs, bitch
You heard about em
Now open up the circle so the dice can breathe
Pay you double, if you triple, if you push you pay me

[chorus]
Gotta poly wit ya crew to stack ya loot up
Get your weight up, big up, pull ya boots up
If you step into the club wit your guns up
If the tension's on your mind then raise the roof up
You gotta keep it in the fam, stack ya loot up
Get your weight up, big up, pull ya boots up
When you step into the club wit ya guns up
If the tension's on your mind, then raise the roof up
Raise the roof up, raise the roof up
Never before we came to raise the roof up
Raise the roof up, raise the roof up
Still in all we came to raise the roof up

[r] minolta flash
[s] gun in the stash
[t] rollin for mo' hash
[r] tek, why you slap fire out em, hold fast
[t] these niggas gotta pay the hard way
[all] three the hard way
[r] allah swingin on em like a san diego padre

[steele]
You heard what the god say, let's start this
Professional marksman, swimmin like killa sharks
We lethal and heartless
On point like a dart, bitch
Bomb your camp if you want this
Connect wit convicts on some don shit

[tek]
And spread the camouflage cats to get the money in stat
Go to war like saadam if he pushes you that
Keep his movements discreet when he out in the streets
Had to stash built to high heat for those who creep

[steele]
Ha, peep the ghetto bastards
Run in your crib like two masked men
I run wit a tek, and we ain't askin, we blastin
Chef brought the extra cannon from staten
Rhyme official live broadcastin, makin it happen

[tek]
You gotta make power moves, black guns and cash rules
Hold my eight straight cuz i been payin dues
Wave king from way back tryin to make a mill stack
Miami money cats that leave you layin down flat

Chorus
*replace "when you step into the club wit ya guns up"
W/ "when you layin in the cut wit ya guns tucked"*

*steele chanting "raise the roof up*

[raekwon]
It's on again
Word up, put your hands down
Word up, this shit is multi
Y'all gonna see it, word up
Smiff, wess, lex
*steele chanting "the roof, the roof, the roof is on fire*
From the projects, phony projects
Next!
(we don't need no water, like the cocoa b's burn)
(gotta poly wit your crew to stack ya loot up)
(get ya weight up, big up, pull ya boots up)
(when you step into the club wit the guns up)
(if the tension's on your mind, then raise the roof up)

Lookin out my window hypnotized by the rain
In a trance reminicing bout the soldiers slain
Fighting wars in the brain trying to maintain
Hoping mama won't have to feel the pain
Looking at a closed casket or a picture frame
Even shorties that you banged won't forget your name
Still feel strange how times do change
We doing our thing and in our minds you remain

As i uncap a 5th of henny for my soldiers that's a memory
Thinking 'bout the fun times we had together
Blazin' 'till the sunshine
Drinkin' the cheap wine
I know i never find a ? of the same kind
But at the same time, i'm constantly writin' eulogies
For my big homey locs and my loco g's
Since '73 it seems death followed me to my man ?tyshan wells?
Rest in peace

Chorus
Oh why oh why oh why
It's always the good ones that have to die
Oh why oh why oh why
Bob marley die, ?jacob miller? die
(repeat)

Another day another burial
Got you wondering 'bout the day when he bury you
Tear drops stain the wally's that you rockin'
On the block candles burn guns popin'

I just came from the cemetery where my dog was buried
Drop some buds in the earth to grow in they memory
Thinkin' 'bout the fun times we had as fam
Remembering the beef we got into but never ran
I seen a kid get ate up by his own man one time
Hid behind a car now look and duck and bust a ?
On some harlem nights script
But this some real life shit
Heard his scull split when you seen the slug hit
I watched the vultures swarmin'
Prayin' on his garments
They stay robbin' dead men cuz they don't give 'em problems
Heard the good die young be it by god or gun
Paint my mural on the wall sayin' my job was done

I shed tears when i hear news from my peers
That my nigga shawn crady was no longer here
Had me mad at my girl ready to take it to the world
Drinkin' liquor 'till i'm damn near 'bout to 'url
Got a jewel from my dog locked up in jail
Told me son is in the essence resting
All is well
While you still here: accomplish your deads
Cuz you never know when it's your time to leave

Repeat chorus several times

[tek]
To all my peeps locked down, comin back 2 life
I know it's been a mega zone, since i sen't you this kite
But i had to k.i.m., you know the city don't sleep
Put 50 cents in your commisary, reach you next week
The streets still in a shangle, since we last broke bread
And baby ra got left, o.t. two in the head
Seen black cop the ack, you know his numbers ain't match
He still runnin tack jobs from the days of way back
And look at jose, is wild now, gave birth to my first child
And they move john back to the isle
Still tryin to hold my dough to see mom straight
Gotta scribe from jahard said he maxed a rapper's weight
For a rep to 5-10, before we lock in
Askin how's my rappin, wanna know if i'm still boxin
In the center that's the sum, now he been gone for 12 summers
Round the same time a vapor leather b bombers

[scratched up samples of mobb deep's "trife life"]

[tek]
For the love of money, red is facin a 8-20
Could of had a 1-3 but the streets were hot and days were sunny
Some niggas stayin runnin for the love of money
Went up to antarc, slick mix sergeant country

[steele]
A god a scribe from the god foundation
Same thing nuthin changed, he's maintainin
Just takin everyday, he stay inside and stride
Build a whip, a tard, a nepher, trying to stay alive
Tell the god ja rule, i'm comin to see him in the fu'
Next v.i., soon as i finish takin care of b.i.
I see why that nigga kay be ready to flip
But let him know rhino's home, fuckin wit the clique, shit
Imagine if blueman was there, oh my god
I know that's somethin for the ward and the fair
Oh yeah, if you bump into my nigga rubble
Tell him me and his brother sigh got the bundle when he come thru

[more scratched up samples of "trife life, and talking]

[tek]
Told ya moms, tell me stop shittin on me, take the block with my phone
Don't forget about a dog when he away from home
You know i'm trying to blow, but i can still spread love
Cuz he been down for too long, and i ain't seen him in the hood
Plus i always say i'll visit, switch at the last minute
He respect and overstand that i'm takin care of business
But still ain't all, he needs to accept these calls
The one you pass on your way, be the same one you fall
And that's a fact that's been proven till this day it don't pay
To go against the grain and betray family
Plus i just seen shack he said you change, actin funny
But he don't even wet it, cuz he still gettin money
Son, i be straight, fuckin wit the day from when ya bitch show
Niggas be frontin, but i be reppin bad bro
You know the inside coincide with the out
When i come out, that's half the things we talk about

[steele]
To all my people lock down, comin back 2 life
We workin hard to bring you home, so we can do this right
I know it's rough in the day, even rougher at night
Hold ya crown, cuz we ready, and we down to fight

[more samples of "trife life"]

Smoky lah, me got flav
Smoky gunz, cocoa b's

Who wanna look like, wanna act like us
Wanna be like, roll the trees like us
Wanna talk like wanna walk like us
Wanna flip like get ripped like us
Wanna act like know you're black like us
Wanna flip like kick shit like us
Wanna bust like you ain't rough like us
Tek and steele, won on won, smoky guns, what?

Ding! that's the sound of the bell
"oh shit!" is all you heard before you fell
To the canvas, all washed up like my dirty drawers
And pants get, try to challenge get damaged
Plain and simple, with bandages around your temple
Easily erased out the picture like pencil
Peeped me once, saw me again got your pistol
I put permanent fear in your heart like a dimple

Son hold my a.v. let me rock this no-body
Comin out the closet tryin to stop my money?
Actin like you're sweet cause he ain't see me in the streets
Spit that blood out and get back up on your feet
You called me i was there on some candyman shit
Wear that ass out in front your kids and your bitch
Hurt you to the boards, put the ten to your jaw
Walk away, parley in front of achmed's store

We don't give a what about you, tell them niggaz who sent you
Let em come, have em all open wide like dentals
Heard they work for cheap, think i might rent you
If you feel i disrespected you, good, i meant to
Nigga i'd wish you'd, talk about runnin for guns
Get your bankhead bounce like insufficient funds
Left ass-out a home beggin like bums
Cut off, swept off the floor like crumbs

I'm from n.y.c.i.t.y. stay high
Lazy eye ghetto celeb rap guy from bed-stuy
Splash in two lines, me no long rhymes
Losing your attention taking up your time
I gets mine and breathe, bout it bout it like p
Too many wannabe me, wanna flow blow hold dough
Like smoky (smoky lah), fly across seas
Blow shows for b.c.c. (knock you out), but you can't be
You heard me, you soft like porridge
You ain't gettin money and you have no courage
(aiyyo son, let me at they ass son)

Introducing, the one who gets you bugged like a lucie
Same height, same weight, same fight skills like bruce lee
Try me, ready for those who wanna harm me
Don't toy with me, you wanna be all you can be, join the army
I swarm like bees plus sting too, bring grooves
I blow em out like hankies (hachoo!) nab you like cops do

For the longest i've been waitin, to take it to these jafaicans
Corner eyeballin on the moves that we was makin
Thinkin that we lost it cause our line was closed
Can't stop a hungry nigga with nuttin to live foe
I'ma see that dough, many hustlers i know
Three car longshark white chalk and celo

Yo, i think i'll take this time to remind you
Not to sit by the line, test mine, crimestoppers won't find you
Before we come kickin your door to the floor
Throw you to the wall, making you our prisoner of war
Cut you too short to take walks with tattoo
Attack you from your front open you back with my scalpel
Snatch two, niggaz from the crew if they got
Anything to do with motherfuckers coming back to avenge you
I intend to, get down for my temple
Keep a strong mental when dealin with evils that men do
Them who, fail to comprehend i
Recommend you remember you're dealin with men who'll
Send you - - off in a coffin
Cause far too often niggaz are gettin lost and it's costin
Body parts, from anybody that starts
We play the hackers, takin rappers apart
Dissect em, from they rectum, to they necks
Double check them make sure shit's correct then direct them
To the section, where the session's, in progression
Where you come to get blessed by smif-n-wessun

(various talk to outro)

[steele]
I got so much trouble on my mind, refuse to lose
But sometimes the flesh get's weak
And i regret the decision i choose,
But i'm not trying to sing the blues
Cuz life goes on, remembering the verse,
Nitty showed me the song
Kept me calm for a minute though
Got me mellowin juda blaze the cocoa
But in the back of my mind i still know
I still got a job to do, for real yo
Give thanks for the meal, it's time to peel though
Lick em off, soon be back to bill yo
On the bricks side where it's real for sho
But what's really buried deep in the mind, no one knows
My peeps keep me grounded, so my head don't blow
It's a struggle but the mo, i smoke the mo, my mind flow

Losin my mind, tryin to stay high
Everybody fuckin wit me, cuz they know i keep a pound of trees
Cuz i gotta maintain in me
But i'm losin my mind, tryin to stay high
Gotta link with my b.n.c.

[tek]
It's the life of my man who lived for the root of all evil
I can't knock him though, cuz we was once consider peoples
We broke bread at the same chicks crib, two ribs
We just roughed up gums, we just brushed up
I burglarize my first joint playin with stack money
Who motto was "i die for it" quote from stack money
Head cappo, cuz shots round the big apple
Ain't never been no punk, my guns bust directly at you
Would of sworn he was the throughest, came threw like the prettiest
Big boy benz, 500-s series
Dump him for the love of money, by the root of o.j.'s
Bout it to half smoke philly comin out the ash tray
I didn't even know, just knew my man mr. brown
And i've been linkin up with dunn for 3 months now
Looked at my kiko asked him, which body cocked thee
Returned to death stair, eye full of blood shot
Try to block it wit a chuckel, hit that shit nigga fuck you
Fuck him, pull my coat, just hop up on the dust too
Like it's cool to be smokin on the rulers
Don't hit the spliff, less until you twist the buddhas

[steele]
I'm losin my mind, rollin my dime
Frame of mind, tryin to lace my weed
That's a muthafuckin friend i don't need

[buckshot]
It's a shame, it's a shame, how you blamed your man
For some shit that you been through, but you don't understand
It's a price to pay, the price when you play the game
If you get up in the game, get hit up in the game
I seen niggas snitch just to come home quick
Money came home, but he got hit
In the bubble whip, with the system in it
One shot, fire two, then burst
Shit that's what happen when you thrust
You think you comin home, but you meetin chrome
You really thought you had the throne, cuz you was the bone
On the block, as the bomb rock, now you
Under a rock, so the money stop, gettin
All the rules of the game, so you plan flop
Niggas seein a vision, tryin to make it to the top

[steele]
Now i'm losin my mind, gotta take time
If i wanna roll that weed, cuz you know i gotta roll it in the leaf
Can't fuck with no stemi
I'm losin my mind, smokin my dime
On the lo lo from these
Cuz you know them niggas lookin for me
From some shit back from the 80's
I'm losin my mind, fuckin wit ya niggas one time...