Black Republican

[Produced by L.E.S & Wyldfyer] [Intro: Jay-Z] & (Nas) I know you can feel the magic baby Turn the motherfuckin lights down Esco whuttup? (Whuttup homey) I mean.. it's what you expected ain't it? Let's go... uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh Turn the music up in the headphones Uh, Yea, that's perfect (Yea, right) Uh, we got to take our time and make a nigga wait on this motherfucker (hahaha!) Make niggas mad and shit like Niggas usually just start rappin' after 4-bars, nigga go in Start dancin' in this motherfucker Yea, (Yea) we just come outta nowhere [Hook: Jay-Z] 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 'em Probably end up back in the hood, I'm like "Fuck it then" [Verse 1: Jay-Z] Huddlin' over the oven, we was like brothers then (What?) Though you was nothin' other than a son of my mother's friend We had covenant, who would of thought the love would end Like Ice Cold's album, all good things Neva thought we sing the same song that all hood sang Thought it was all wood-grain, all good brain You wouldn't bicker like the other fools talk good game Neva imagine all the disasters that one good reign Could bring!, should blame, the game, and I could It's kill or be killed, how could I refrain? And foreva be in debt, that's neva a good thing To 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 Though we rehearsed, it's just ain't the same When you put in the game at age sixteen Then you mix things: like cars, jewelry, and miss things Jealousy, ego, and pride, and this brings It all to a head like coin, cha-ching The root of evil strikes again, this could sting Now the team got beef between the Post and the Point This puts the ring in jeopardy - indefinitely [Hook: Jay-Z] [Hook: Nas] 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 'em Probably end up back in the hood, I'm like, "fuck it then" [Verse 2: Nas] I'm back in the hood, they like, "Hey Nas" (Uh) 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 5's, hatah's wishin' our reign dies Pitch, sling pies, and niggas they sing, "why"? Guess they ain't strong enough to handle their jail time Weak minds, keep tryin', follow the street signs I'm standin' on the roof of my building 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 forms street politics - makes a sweet honest kid Turn illegal for commerce - to get his feet out of them Converse That's my word [Hook: Jay-Z] [Hook: Nas]