N.Y. State of Mind - Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley

[Nas] Uhh Yo, yo-yo, y'all Whattup? Whattup It's time man (Word, it's time?) Straight up, it's time man Aight, set that shit off (Set it off then nigga, set it off) Broken glass in the hallway, bloodstained floors Neighbors, look at every bag you bring through your doors Lock the top lock, momma shoulda cuffed me to the radiator Why not? It might've saved later from my block N.Y. cops, hookers crawlin off the stroll, coughin Stitches in they head, stinkin and I dread thinkin they be snitchin But who else, could it be, shook at these, unmarked vans Parked in the dark -- NARC's, where's your heart? Hustlers starve; they bust a U-e I jog To my building -- come out later wearin camouflage See the sergeant and the captain -- strangle men Niggaz gaspin for air; til they move no more and just stare With dead eyes -- tired of riots, shit is quiet Simple-minded fools infiltrate grimy crews Overcrowded cribs, uncles home from bids, sister's pregnant Father's on drugs, moms is smokin, beds is piss-infested Had eight partners growin up, eight turned to seven Seven turned to six niggaz, got two in heaven Six of us, holdin it, now it's five rollin thick The sixth one's parole flipped; five niggaz, went to fo' quick When he went O.T., college life, converted into gangbangin Four niggaz still hangin, years passed and slang changin Three of us now, fourth nigga ain't around We all thought he was real -- he did the snake shit Fake shit -- beat his ass down, yo his mouth Could've got us all wasted, what a fuckin clown All I got left in the end is two of my best friends And we all goin out, to the death for these ends, WHAT? New York, New York ("New York state of mind" - Rakim) New York, New York ("New York state of mind" - Rakim) *Repeat while Nas is talking* You heard about it, you see about it You read about it, it's in your papers It's in your daily news ("Get money!") New York chronicles, every day The crime rate, the murder rate The money rate, the paper chase, youknowhatImean? New York state of mind baby, check it out [Nas] I'm at the, gamblin spot, my hands on a knot New York Yankee cap cover my eyes, stand in one spot I take a nigga dough, send him home, to a shoebox You lost that nigga I put your dollar in the jukebox Hear my favorite song, all these niggaz sing along All the ciggarette smoke's cloggin my lungs, hoodrats flashin they tongue Young thugs blastin they gun, we got reputations Bitches and niggaz both on parole or probation Shit is sick, niggaz got gats, army fatigues I got my eyes glued on, whoever walk in the lead Cause I ain't playin, niggaz'll run up in here and shoot up this shit Stick yo' ass up, niggaz'll find the loot in your kicks Bunch of triple-cross niggaz, just New York niggaz Lift you off your feet when they was just talkin with you Some of these dudes the Feds be on em, you knew em for years Be the type when you walk in a pub, they offer you beers That ain't gangsta, niggaz is up North with tatted tears Your name's on the affadavit, you ratted kid Faggot-ass niggaz that be scared to do they bids Fuck you, we run you out of N.Y, you can't live Got your quiet niggaz, that relocated down South Comin back to floss, then you got the jealous loudmouths All of a sudden we got Crips and Bloods, D.T.'s Runnin round quick to split your mug, it's ea-sy to score But it's hard to get the shit off Niggaz fightin over hundred sales, jump in the car and drive off When the fiend come around the block, happy as hell Niggaz, mad cause they ain't get a piece of that sale Cutthroat connivers, universal, ghetto survivors Go to any hood that's live and make it liver A lot of niggaz scheamin, some real, some niggaz frontin But I'm a big dreamer, so watch me come up with somethin New York, New York New York, New York

Turn your thoughts, away from sadness Don't be mad, be glad you're happy Fear is what, we cannot help We tell ourselves, what really hurts Crazed by attention, in your eyes Surprised to feel, the music thrive Disgusted that, I cannot find The spark within, my State Of Mind Turn your thoughts, away from sadness Don't be mad, be glad you're happy Fear is what, we cannot help We tell ourselves, what really hurts Crazed by attention, in your eyes Surprised to feel, the music thrive Disgusted that, I cannot find The spark within, my State Of Mind Being a rapper Don't mean you, talk faster Don't mean you got, Drops that drop from Where your tears, fall outta It mean you got rhymes that Flow with time, making points Like, crossing double lines On private streets, causing fines Messing with your mind Being a writer Don't mean you, type quicker Don't mean you, use words Outside of your, everyday language It means you put, pen to paper And your thoughts, all come with angles Touching hearts, around the nation Jot that down, you'll thank me later Turn your thoughts, away from sadness Don't be mad, be glad you're happy Fear is what, we cannot help We tell ourselves, what really hurts Crazed by attention, in your eyes Surprised to feel, the music thrive Disgusted that, I cannot find The spark within, my State Of Mind Looking funny, in a headset Just to get rid of the, head jack Wireless, is how we do shit Spend more money and, get way less Cuz nowadays, we reckless Put your money, where your mouth is I've been living, bland for ages Gotta stop, making excuses How the fuck you, gonna be famous Wanna be apart of ASAP But they don't know, I exist yet But I know that I, can change that Comfy Cozy's, gunna drop next It's a lifestyle, wrapped in blankets Check my IG, check my outfits Comfort's all that's on my mindset Turn your thoughts, away from sadness Don't be mad, be glad you're happy Fear is what, we cannot help We tell ourselves, what really hurts Crazed by attention, in your eyes Surprised to feel, the music thrive Disgusted that, I cannot find The spark within, my State Of Mind Going oppositely From apparently, normality But that's a chance, I must take This should be a, piece of cake For me, it's what's at stake Here's proof I'm gunna, be real great My thoughts mosaic, like Monet XXL I'm running real late I have a message to relay

None of those games, love I want none of those games, love None of those games, love I want none of those games, love Oh it took days to cross the desert It's like a copy of a copy My mind in a haze of delusion And nothing made sense there but you And if somebody holds you close You are mine, you are mine And if somebody tears your clothes off You are mine, you are mine An elastic state of mind, oh I don't know if I'm hallucinating An elastic state of mind, oh I don't know if I'm hallucinating None of those games, love I want none of those games, love All lost years are illusion I'm like a mirror against a mirror In one ear and out the other We keep repeating, repeating, repeating And I'm wondering if you know You are mine, you are mine And if somebody tears your clothes off You are mine, you are mine, ooo An elastic state of mind, oh I don't know if I'm hallucinating An elastic state of mind, oh I don't know if I'm hallucinating (I don't know if I'm hallucinating) I don't know if I'm hallucinating I don't know if I'm hallucinating Oh, I (If somebody tears your clothes off) (You are mine, you are mine) And I'm wondering if you know You are mine, you are mine And if somebody holds you close now You are mine, you are mine An elastic state of mind, oh I don't know if I'm hallucinating An elastic state of mind, oh I don't know if I'm hallucinating (I don't know if I'm hallucinating) (I don't know if I'm hallu...) Oh, I (I don't know if I'm hallucinating) I don't know if I'm hallucinating

Him still a move weight cross the border Contraband by the loads And when the fiends pre order He doesn't ship by a boat Dem say him too out a order Disrespecting the Pope And dem a say this nuh call fa And it's about to explode (Accurate Immaculate) Hey, yo Eleven years in the game, an still a chop it Just pick the topic, me philosophic with the skill me dropping Me used to tour and never see no profit Now me fill and pack it, anywhere me go With scammers ticket scalping Kicking like Mbappé, my lyrics dem try fi copy Syllables microscopic delivered in fiber optics I'm killing it, try fi stop me Shift them like Ronaldinho Streaming like Sean Paul, dem feel like man a Latino The proof is in the pudding Just look at what we've been doing Start we own labels with artiste weh we producing Me, Chron, and Diggy undeniable, it's proven The shadow weh we cast so big it's hard to remove it Inspired a generation of artists, my presentation is flawless My resume is retarded, the said I blaze it the hardest Gong Zilla, Sizzla, Capleton and Stephen Marley is my inspiration Now the preservation is my target Gimmi the riddim a mek me dismantle it and trample it Producers dem a ask Zill what the sample is Me show dem what a lyrical example is Nuff a unnuh rhythming but you nah say nothing strong with it Big man still a sing about the gun dem weh them handling It's fucking embarrassing While the pedophile dem see the child dem and a strangle him And raper dem a traumatize all girl inna dem family, sickening I a play my part inna di music, put my heart inna di music From me start me never lose it, Kontraband this Every verse me write, me check Zilla if him approve it Smile on him face from the moment we done recouping Record sales moving, still cyaan' believe me still improving Yuh favorite lyricist's favorite lyricist Pyramid dem choosing Beats I'm abusing, left them bruising 'Til the next episode catch me cruising Him still a move weight cross the border Contraband by the loads And when the fiends pre order He doesn't ship by a boat Dem say him too out a order Disrespecting the Pope And dem a say this nuh call fa And it's about to explode

Me name Jr. Gong, me tellin' you Youngest veteran, me tellin' you Me name Jr. Gong, me tellin' you Youngest veteran I man say excuse me for a moment for aduction Fus one fi mi Muma but mi Pupa last son Like some fruits in due season a so Jr. Gong come And mi deh 'round dis ya music from mi small and mi young Mi use to play family man bass, knock Carly's drum And any question you can ask I man can answer mi son Me name Jr. Gong, me tellin' you Youngest veteran, me tellin' you Me name Jr. Gong, me tellin' you Youngest veteran Well Jr. Gong is coming up and doing well excellent Treat the people right you stand out predominant Loving don't cost not a farthing neither a cent But should you spend the money that a money well spent Anyway, bigging up jah jah, blowing breath like a vent Listen to the girls dem with angelic talent Chant Nyahbinghi, burning up the serpent Please we teach the youths them loving not violence And from you naw say loving we beg you keep silent I say loving loving not violence And from you naw say loving me beg you keep, Lord I said, look who is driving Ms. Daisy The whole world is getting so hazy The people they are getting so crazy The wonders they don't seem to amaze me It's been a long time the world's been waiting for this And them love Raggamuffin thru him style and tactics Me name Jr. Gong, me tellin' you Youngest veteran, me tellin' you Me name Jr. Gong, me tellin' you Youngest veteran I man say excuse me for a moment for aduction Fus one fi mi Muma but mi Pupa last son Like some fruits in due season a so Jr. Gong come And mi deh 'round dis ya music from mi small and mi young Mi use to play family man bass, knock Carly's drum And any question you can ask I man can answer mi son Me name Jr. Gong, me tellin' you Youngest veteran, me tellin' you Me name Jr. Gong, me tellin' you Youngest veteran It's been a long time the world's been waiting for this Well Jr. Gong him come again, him have some brand new... It's been a long time the world is waiting for this I man greet you with a smile or I man greet you with a kiss Them love Raggamuffin through him style and tactics Them love Ju Ju royal through him fun and gimmicks The love Mr. Marleycause him... Lord Me name Jr. Gong, me tellin' you Youngest veteran, me tellin' you Me name Jr. Gong, me tellin' you Youngest veteran Ha

Yow me tell dem caution Wen yuh see lion pon patrol We nuh kin teet, yuh cudda be the richest also Wid yuh fortune, yuh money, yuh platinum an gold Yuh cyaa buy people life, yuh cyaa save people soul Slaughter, wen bwoy a stop di cash flow An a live comfortable while resentment a grow Yow a torture, di less fortunate a die slow How yuh fi reap wealth, wen a pure death yuh sow So di pauper, doesn't have a cash in him billfold An cyaa buy di knowledge weh di rich man own Nor look afta his family or his humble household Wahapen wen him get up and decide fi roll Wid di scorcha Real fiya torch, real fiya sparka Wen di fiya start Well not even wata weh quench wen di river dem flow Cudda out dis ya fiya wen it bun and start glow Well a wah dem wudda do if hungry belly stop fear An decide fi tek from all who nah share An one man pull up and kick off anywhere Cah hungry nuh business a who life a spare A wah dem wudda do if hunger keep conference An mek criminal and police tun fren And decide fi tek it from all who nah sen (Caution, caution, caution, caution) Yow me tell dem warning Listen up if yuh have ears to hear You nuh mek hungry belly tun unu inna gun engineer Man a trespass and man a overcome and get there Wen di dutty get tuff and everyting is despair Warning Talk up if yuh have mout fi talk An nah speak up on ghetto yute dem behalf Cah dem a play like a dummy and dem nah pay di staff An a mek di most noise, dem hear dem front door kickoff Warning Look out all who have eyes to see An still a play blin like injustice nuh real Memba hungry nuh hav mercy pon bakklefield Man will eat yuh food fasta dan ten Navy Seal So caution Have you white collar extortion Di dirty politican and yuh tricks dem a turn di yute dem inna orphan Smoke di cigar and a laugh an Since yuh smart ansa dis Yow Well a wah dem wudda do if hungry belly stop fear An decide fi tek from all who nah share An one man pull up and kick off anywhere Cah hungry nuh business a who life a spare A wah dem wudda do if hunger keep conference An mek criminal and police tun fren And decide fi tek it from all who nah sen (Caution, caution, caution, caution) Yow me tell dem action Always louder dan words An no school nah build outta di money transfer You too greedy, you wuddnt even lef a one third fi di needy Yuh bend up and gadda like herd Option, scarce wen it come on to job Man cyaa find nuh work till go road go rob You a try save face but it done gone bad It's a gamble dem lie fi raise dem living standard An its a sign dat unless you being kind One day you may find dat you cannot stop the crime You system designed that, stony is the hill dem cyaa climb Even if dem work a lifetime Dem cyaa gain no traction Cyaa find no satisfaction Election is just a distraction Write it inna caption Caution Warning to all Yuh tink hunger cyaa jump yuh wall Yow Well a wah dem wudda do if hungry belly stop fear An decide fi tek from all who nah share An one man pull up and kick off anywhere Cah hungry nuh business a who life a spare A wah dem wudda do if hunger keep conference An mek criminal and police tun fren And decide fi tek it from all who nah sen (Caution, caution, caution, caution)

Yes, give thanks and praise To the most high Jah Rastafari, you know Yeah, you know As I would say ya, you know The father is the strong hold for the oppressed And stronghold in the time of trouble, you know And those who put their trust in him Shall endure for iver, you know As I and I would say, you see Bless my eye this morning Jah sun is on the rise once again Way earthly things are going Any thing can happen, you see So much trouble (in the world) in the world So much trouble (in the world) in the world So much trouble (in the world) in the world So much trouble (in the world) in the world You see, we've got to face the day Ju Ju, hoo we come what may We the street people talking, true, true We the people struggling, you see So much trouble (in the world) in the world So much trouble (in the world) in the world So much trouble (in the world) in the world So much trouble (in the world) in the world Jr. Gong So much trouble, so much violence Nah say loving, better you keep silent So much trouble, so much violence Nah say loving, better you keep silent You got to face the day no matter the consequence World ain't getting better, ain't no improvement Everywhere you go that's another problem Work everyday still you can't find a cent Land lord on hunt cause you don't pay no rent No mother, no father, you are a lone parent Everyone all around such a bad temperament No chains round your feet still you can't free yourself Laws cause crime and violence, so much trouble in the world So much trouble (in the world) in the world So much trouble (in the world) in the world So much trouble (in the world) in the world So much trouble (in the world) in the world And all we've got to do Is give a little (give a little) Take a little (take a little) Give a little (give a little) One more time Yeah, yeah (give a little, take a little, give a little, give a little) So they sitting on their time bomb Now I know the time has come Telling you what goes on up is coming on down Goes around and comes around, yeah So much trouble (in the world) in the world So much trouble (in the world) in the world So much trouble (in the world) in the world So much trouble (in the world) in the world Jr. Gong So much trouble, so much violence Nah say loving, better you keep silent So much trouble, so much violence Nah say loving, better you keep silent You've got to face the day no matter the consequence World ain't getting better, ain't no improvement Everywhere you go that's another problem Work everyday still you can't find a cent Land lord on hunt cause you don't pay no rent No mother, no father, you are a lone parent Everyone all around such a bad temperament No chains round your feet still you can't free yourself Laws cause crime and violence, so much trouble in the world Yeah yeah yeah So much trouble (in the world) in the world So much trouble (in the world) in the world

Ladies like the party better (yeah) I think these fellas like the party better (that's true) I think the ladies like the party better (yeah) Ladies (I think the fellas like party better, that's true) Fellas (I think the ladies like party better, yeah) (I think) I know (these fellas) some of (like the party) the (better) most Intelligent women in (I think the) the (ladies like) world Is (party better) listenin' right now (I think these) and (fellas like the) all the (party better) realest brothers as vibe (I-I-I) uh Get light with it Day party to midnight with it I sweat like if I hide, you hit it While the girls double dutch I double my digits Dice game pop, peace and one love to my niggas New York, New York All sorts of bosses, who walk the walk Look how long the blocks is Ruthless, close range they shoot shit Wall Street, racquetball, oysters, masseuses Bourgious-zee, the mood y'all be Then it's back to the hood where you knew I'd be Driver license and the face card, two IDs Get light off the rosé (uh) bottle we sip New shorty in my life, she my lottery pick And if the economy slips, she gon' ride with the kid City girl like J-T, M-I-A to the bridge Ladies like the party better (yeah) Get light (I think these fellas like the party better) Get light with it (I think the ladies like the party better, yeah) Get light (I think these fellas like the party better) Yo Hit-Boy, hold up (I-I-I-I) bring it back Yeah Get light with it Day party to midnight with it I sweat like if I hide, you hit it While the girls double dutch, I double my digits ATVs, quads with speed Doin' wheelies, black 'long-gone' sneaks Family first, a holiday feast, I constantly seek Moments like this is peace to say the least We used to play ball when girls watched, we played smoother I had to try to be light, Michael could be point shooter Couldn't be the loser, takin' Gatorade from the cooler Summer, Fall, Winter, New York girls smokin' hookah Grown ladies with Mercedes Benz keys and chimneys Friendly as little kids on 10-speeds Makes me want to have another seed I'm simply Gettin' light on the track Ripley's, believe It or not I'm still the cream on the crop I was just the tender age of eighteen on the charts Wasn't even dreamin' this far, believe who you are The sun doesn't even know it's a star Get light with it Day party to midnight with it I sweat like if I hide, you hit it While the girls double dutch, I double my digits Dice game pop, peace to my hustlin' niggas New York, New York All sorts of bosses, who walk the walk Look how long the blocks is Ruthless, long range they shoot shit And party, and bullshit And party, and bullshit And party, and bullshit And party, and party And party, and bullshit And party, and bullshit And party, and bullshit And party I think the fellas like the party I think these fellas like the party

Too many changes, you changed from your greatness Become a byproduct of yourself all for the paper regardless The markets see you as a old-ass artist The McCartneys live past the Lennons, but Lennon's the hardest Stay on your path, stay on your craft They just want you to switch your lanes up So they can hate on your ass What's in a name? What's in a name? Suffering and pain Guts, blood, and tears, aim straight, game face, king's grace I came in this thinkin' you was gon' be this great thing 'Cause I seen the greats do it with a great queen What these kings have in common? They had women who solid Malcolm needed Betty, I met some queens who wasn't ready They envy the unhappiness of the greats They don't have a fulfilled life yet, so they searchin' for ways To feel what Sam felt, play the hand Marvin was dealt A Vandross, here's the cure, the antidote A thousand milligrams, make sure you don't overdose Turned to a businessman, used to serve 'em in the cold Cold game, don't get exposed, stories get told You glamorize the game, it ain't a glorious road Rest in peace Kobe and Nip, that's off the rip King shit, if it ain't about fam, it don't mean shit The cure, love all the allure Donuts rotten, the phone tapped, tappin' in with Lord Roll the credits Cuban link QB chain belong in the MOMA So boomerang, you salute my 27 summers Rolls-Royce Brigade just 'cause it go with the moment Pac's on the chain, got his medallion, I won't Insinuate imitation 'cause I copied his stomach Kings honor kings, straight from my pops to my son's shit Steak tartare bloody, mercury levels from raw fish Sushi for lunch, waiter at the table, the cork twist I'm studied like a book by many They give me looks of envy, I took the Bentley White chick like Liz Taylor might get the Bentayga On my Rick James behavior Life is school for the soul and I'm in life seven already Life's simple but heavy, incomprehensible shit Everything from sexy to deadly, I done been through that shit Still goin' deeper like I grew a new inch on my dick We looked at robbin' as a way of resolving our problems My moms cooked food, but some of my niggas was starving And whatever they was down to do, I was with 'em regardless Turns out I was hungry and was hittin' the hardest The scissor was sharper, my predictions was on it No fortune teller, just going off regular signs Niggas often tell you they moves Without a word, just reading they mind Wasn't needin' no nine Corner executive born in ghetto hell Where metal yell especially over necklaces Life lessons is karma Whatever you dish out come back as blessings or to haunt ya Could miss your kids and hit your grandkids for your dishonor That's generational curses, they said they want the old Nas back Play the Clue tapes for old verses Messin' my homies' lives up, sayin' Nas will rise 'em up Like they wasn't live enough, many lives I've touched Can I get a witness? Can I get a witness? I need a witness, drinkin' three at night on some Bridge shit Wearin' shorts and Timbs, summer night on some Bridge shit Party with gangsters, gettin' right on some Bridge shit (Yeah) Like MC Shan and Marley, I be on some Bridge shit Yeah Like Jabari, I'm on some Bridge shit Shooter live on Kings live forever Yeah We go through a lot And nobody wanna hear about what we go through And that's cool too Every man go through the same Mondays and Fridays Same sun, moon, and stars It's just how you stand like a man