[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. Turn the music up and the headphones. Uh yea that's perfect (yea right). Uh we gots to take and make a nigga wait on this motherfucker. (hahaha!) make niggaz mad and shit like... Niggaz usually start rappin' after 4-bars nigga go in. Start dancin' in this motherfucker. Yea (yea) niggaz 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 in the back of 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 governin' who would of thought the love would end. Like ice cold 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 could reign. Could bring! should bling 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's insane. 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 rule of evil strikes again this could sting. Now the team got beef between the post and the point. This puts the ring in jeopardy - until liberty. [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 in 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 hate guys wishin' our reign dies. Pitch sling pies and niggaz 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 though 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]