Justify My Thug
Danger Mouse Lyrics

Uhh, this feel right right here Quik
This feels like the perfect moment, Quik

It's like it's 'sposed to happen this one right here
This moment feels predestined

Young! God damn..
Wow, it feels great to be young

.. let me justify my thug on this one right here
Let me justify my actions on this track

It goes one o'clock, two o'clock, three o'clock rock
Time is passing and the party is picking up

Five six seven o'clock, eight o'clock rock
The party is going strong

Eleven o'clock, twelve o'clock, the party bout to pop
The party is about to reach its peak

Then - Roc-A-Fella y'all, it's your boy S. Dot
The Roc-A-Fella crew is representing and Jay-Z is here

And I ain't never been to jail; I ain't never pay a nigga
Jay-Z has never been to jail and has never paid someone to do his dirty work

to do no dirt for me I was scared to do myself
He was afraid to commit crimes himself

I will never tell even if it means sittin in a cell
Jay-Z will never snitch, even if it means going to jail

I ain't never ran, never will
He has never run from a situation and never plans to

I ain't never been smacked; a nigga better keep his hands
No one has ever hit him and they shouldn't try

to himself or get clapped for what's under that man's belt
Don't touch Jay-Z or you'll get shot

I never asked for nothin I don't demand of myself
Jay-Z doesn't expect anything from others he wouldn't expect from himself

Honesty, loyalty, friends and then wealth
Jay-Z values honesty and loyalty above wealth

Death before dishonor and I tell you what else
He would rather die than be dishonorable

I tighten my belt 'fore I beg for help
He is self-reliant and would rather suffer than ask for help

Foolish pride is what held me together through the years
Jay-Z's foolish pride has kept him going through tough times

I wasn't felt which is why I ain't never played myself
He wasn't respected early in his career, but he never let it get to him

I just play the hand I'm dealt, I can't say I've never knelt
He plays the cards he's given and has had to humble himself at times

before God and asked for better cards at times to no avail
He has prayed for better circumstances, but sometimes things don't work out

But I never sat back feelin sorry for myself
Jay-Z never wallows in self-pity

If you don't give me heaven I'll raise hell
If he doesn't get what he wants, he'll make things difficult for everyone else

Justify my thug!
He wants to explain his way of life

"For you!" - [Run-D.M.C.]
This is for the fans

My thug.. (hoping..)
Jay-Z wants to explain his actions, hoping to be understood

My thug.. (praying..) for you
He is praying the listener can relate

to justify my thug!
He wants to explain why he lives the way he does

Now if you shoot my dog, I'ma kill yo' cat
Jay-Z will go after anyone who hurts his own

Just the unwritten laws in rap - know dat
This is how it works in hip-hop

For every action there's a reaction, don't have me relapsin
There are consequences for your actions

Relaxin's what I'm about, but about mine
He is all about staying calm and collected

Don't be actin like you can't see street action
Don't underestimate Jay-Z's street smarts

Take me back to +Reasonable Doubt+ time
He wants to go back to his early days in the rap game

You see my mind's on the finish line, facin the wreck
He is focused on the goal, even if there are obstacles ahead

I put my muh'fuckin faith in the tec, tell Satan not yet
He trusts in his weapon to keep him safe

You understand I am chasin my breath
He is running extremely hard

I am narrowly escapin my death, oh yes
He is fighting for his life

I am the Michael Schumacher of the Roc roster
He is the best of the best

Travellin Mach 5, barrelin, my power can stop God
Jay-Z is unstoppable

God forgive me but I can't let them deliver me to you
He is willing to take matters into his own hands, even if it goes against religious teachings

Until, I won this race, then eventually
When he reaches his goals, he'll change his ways

My engine gon' burn out, I get whatever is meant for me
He will work himself to the bone to achieve his goals

However it turns out fine - red line!
He'll push himself to the limit, no matter the outcome

They say an eye for an eye, we both lose our sight
Retaliation only causes more harm

And two wrongs don't make a right
Violence is not the answer

But when you been wrong and you know all along that it's just one life
When you've been wronged, there's only one chance to make it right

At what point does one fight? (Good question right!)
When is it okay to fight back? (A rhetorical question)

'Fore you knock the war, try to put your dogs in it
Before criticizing, make sure you understand what you're talking about

Ten-and-a-halfs, for a minute-and-a-half
It only takes a moment for things to change

Bet that stops all the grinnin and the laughs
It's not a laughing matter

When you play the game of life and the win ain't in the bag
Life is unpredictable and success is never guaranteed

When your options is none and the pen is all you have
Sometimes writing is the only way to cope with a situation

or the block, niggaz standin tight, there's limits on the ave
There are limitations when living in a rough neighborhood

Tryin to cop or shot-call theyself cleansin in the cash
People try to get rich by any means necessary

But can't put they name on paper cause, then you on blast
They can't leave a paper trail, or they'll get in trouble

Mr. President, there's drugs in our residence
Jay-Z is calling out the government for ignoring drug problems in poor communities

Tell me what you want me to do, come break bread with us
He wants the government to come see the situation for themselves and help out

Mr. Governor, I swear there's a cover up
There's a conspiracy to keep the truth hidden

Every other corner there's a liquor store - fuck is up?
Why are there so many liquor stores in poor neighborhoods?

Justify my thug!
He wants to explain his way of life

"For you! Fresh" - [Run-D.M.C.]
This is for the fans