How Real it Is

[Talking] Yeah... ladies and gentlemen... Know what time it is... (it is a man's world)... time to do this You better be taping this (don't front, girl.. come on) *laughs* But you're probably not... are you? You are?? Alrite, then.... that's what I'm talkin bout (you see?) Always prepared... that's why they call them "Teachers" Welcome to my world... [Starts rapping] Where the quarter only gives you one life So you better push your buttons just right(welcome to my world, world) Where any given second, anybody can get it You better hold on tight [echoes out] Cuz life can take a turn for the worse And have you switching from the Coupe to the hearse You better peep this verse The streets ain't no joke but man... The sidewalks might get you first So wherever you rest you better don't sleep Cuz like Denzel said, you could either be a wolf or a sheep And that ain't even criminology I'm talkin bout the everyday 9 to 5 people, still gotta fight to eat You could ride the fast lane or the train The illest weapon you can load ain't your nine, boy, load your brain You ask a real live gangsta and he'll tell ya the same (you know) A lot'a dummies die young, man, simple and plain (fa'real) A lot'a kids wanna show they got heart So they wild out, skip class (come on man) And trade book smarts for streets smarts (you know better than that) But ask yourself, even if you got one target Ain't you better off with two darts? In my world of rent, bills, skills, business MESS AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS (Welcome to my world of) Wins, losses, loyalties, promises MESS AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS (Yo, yo, welcome to my world of) Backstabbers, parasites, slanderers, politics MESS AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS (Y'all don't wanna know) Y'all don't even wanna know (nope) JUST HOW REAL IT IS MESS AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS (Welcome to my world of) Bumps, bruises, scrapes, cuts, aches and blisters Typhoones, monsoons, earthquakes and twisters It's the picture my life fits in My whirlwind rotates, elevates and transcends Watch me shine in the streets like some fresh new rims Watch my enemies retreat as I collect my wins Every 25 thousand I start over again To renew my history so skip repentin my sins Here's some words of advice you can share with'cha friends Tell em not to fall victim to the short term ends Comin up fast, I'm sure you'll impress the skins But if you're too deep you're guaranteed to catch the bends You could spread news... north, east, west and south My universe will expand way beyond New York You got two ears, two eyes and just one mouth So look and listen both over before you talk I'm keepin all my enemies outlined in chalk... On the blackboard, now did you get the wrong idea? I suggest you change the currents in your atmosphere Once you get yourself together I'll remain right here Rent, bills, skills, business MESS AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS Backstabbers [echoes... beat turns off] Hold up... What the? What? Yo, yo Joe what you doin in the vocal booth, man? Oh, aight [beat changes to a dance club beat] Uhh... uhh... uhhh. uuhhh.. uhhh... Just dance with me... dance with me Ah.. yeah, just dance with me, dance with me, dance with me What'cha know bout that? Uh... Just dance with me, dance with me Uh-huh... Uh-ha... c'mon! (We really don't have time for this...)[beat stops again] (Let's get... let's get back on schedule, aight?) [Beat switches back] Aiyyo it's all real, every inhale, every exhale Every extra breath from birth's been a blessin Plus I go through some professin and confessin (stay calm) I stay grounded with common sense in my lessons (what?) Life is a test, I'm studyin not guessin (true) I learn answers, ask and answer questions Like Y is a chromosome, axis, cause and effect So respect what the god's manifestin You can't hesitate but you gotta be patient And use wise words in every conversation You gotta stack paper if you wanna stop chasin There's not much time for cartoons and PlayStation It stays true throughout every nation Whether you be Yankee or Haitian Yard, Trini, or Bajan Spanish or Asian, even African or Caucasian Huh, even if you was born from claymation To live out your birth right, it takes preparation Your job as a man is to be the foundation Cuz All Of The Above will be caused by you But yo, man... [cuts off]... shouldn't need no explanation... whoo.. Talk a lot, might as well just give it to em Yo play the chorus of this shit, they gon' learn Rent, bills, skills, business MESS AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS Wins, losses, loyalties, promises (gon' have to find out the hard way) F AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS (it's on you) Backstabbers, parasites, slanderers, politics F AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS (oh shit) Fat booties, baby mamas, twins, triplets F AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS AIDs, Herpes, Gonorrhea, Syphillis F AROUND AND FIND OUT JUST HOW REAL IT IS ["DJ DP One scratching"] [(J-Live talking)] "D-D-D-D-DP ONE!" [-- Funkmaster Flex (DP One... bring it in) [Scratching] (Come on, we gon' rock) [Scratching] (Show em how... take em home)