Featured In

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Nas
Nas
Vocals
JAY-Z
JAY-Z
Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Shawn Carter
Shawn Carter
Songwriter
Carmine Coppola
Carmine Coppola
Songwriter
Leshan Lewis
Leshan Lewis
Songwriter
Nasir Jones
Nasir Jones
Songwriter
Wyatt Coleman
Wyatt Coleman
Songwriter
Wyldfyer
Wyldfyer
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
L.E.S.
L.E.S.
Producer
WYLDFYRE
WYLDFYRE
Producer
Kevin Crause
Kevin Crause
Mixing Engineer
Jessie Gladstone
Jessie Gladstone
Assistant Mixing Engineer
Chris Gehringer
Chris Gehringer
Mastering Engineer
Wyldfyer
Wyldfyer
Producer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I know you can feel the magic, baby
Turn muhfuckin' lights down
Esco, what up?
(What up homie?)
I mean, it's what you expected, ain't it?
Let's go
Turn the music up in the headphones
Yeah, yeah, that's perfect
You gotta take ya time
Make a **** wait on this muhfucker
Make **** mad and shit like
**** usually start rappin' after four bars, ****, go in!
Just start dancin' in this muhfucka
Yeah (Yeah), we just come outta nowhere
[Verse 2]
I feel like a black republican
Money I got comin' in
Can't turn my back on the hood
I got love for them
Can't clean my act up for good
Too much thug in him
Probably end up back in the hood
Like, "Fuck it then"
[Verse 3]
Huddlin' over the oven
We was like brothers then
Though you was  nothin'
Other than a son of my mother's friend
We had covenant
Who would've thought the love would end?
Like ice cold album, all good things
Never thought we'd sing the same song that all hoods sing
Thought it was all wood grain
All good brain
We wouldn't bicker like the other fools
Talk good game
Never imagined all the disaster that one good reign could bring
Should blame the game, and I could
It's kill or be killed, how could I refrain?
And forever be in debt, and that's never a good thing
So the pressure for success can put a good strain
On a friend you call best and, yes, it could bring
Out the worst in every person
Even the good and sane
Although we rehearsed it, it just ain't the same
When you put in the game at age sixteen
Then you mix things like cars, jewelry, and Miss Thing
Jealousy, ego, and pride and this brings
It all to a head like a coin, cha-ching
The root of evil strikes again, this could sting
Now the team got beat between the post and the point
This puts the ring in jeopardy indefinitely
[Verse 4]
I feel like a black republican
Money I got comin' in
Can't turn my back on the hood
I got love for them
Can't clean my act up for good
Too much thug in him
Probably end up back in the hood
I'm like, "Fuck it then"
[Verse 5]
I feel like a black militant
Takin' over the government
Can't turn my back on the hood
Too much love for them
Can't clean my act up for good
Too much thug in him
Probably end up back in the hood
I'm like, "Fuck it then"
[Verse 6]
I'm back in the hood
They like, "Hey Nas"
Blowin' on purp, reflectin' on they lives
Couple of fat cats, couple of A.I.'s
Dreamin' of fly shit instead of them gray skies
Gray 5s, haters wishin' our reign dies
Pitch sling pies and **** they sing, "Why?"
Guess they ain't strong enough to handle they jail time
Weak minds keep tryin'
Follow the street signs
I'm standin' on the roof of my buildin'
I'm feelin' the whirlwind of beef, I inhale it
Just like an acrobat ready to hurl myself
Through the hoops of fire
Sippin' 80 proof, bulletproof under my attire
Could it be the forces of darkness
Against hood angels of good that form street politics?
Makes a sweet honest kid turn illegal for commerce
To get his feet out of them Converse
That's my word
[Verse 7]
I feel like a black republican
Money keep comin' in
Can't turn my back on the hood
I got love for them
Can't clean my act up for good
Too much thug in him
Probably end up back in the hood
Ah, fuck it then
[Verse 8]
I feel like a black militant
Takin' over the government
Can't turn my back on the hood
Too much love for them
Can't clean my act up for good
Too much thug in him
Probably end up back in the hood
I'm like, "Fuck it then"
Written by: C. Coppola, L. Lewis, Niqua Jones, Shawn Carter, W. Coleman
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