Walk With Me
DMX/Big Stan Lyrics

Sometimes I will take my brother by the arm
At times, I will offer support and guidance to my brother

Other times I will take my brother by the shoulder
In different situations, I will be there to guide and protect my brother

Then there are times I will take my brother by the neck
On occasions, I will assert my authority and control over my brother

Any way I touch you, walk with me..
Regardless of how I approach you, stand by my side and support me

This ain't the way it's supposed to be (B.S.!)
The current situation is not how things are meant to be, it's unacceptable

This ain't the way, shit is supposed to be!!
The current circumstances are completely contrary to how they should be

Now I done seen the streets turned into a beast with sharp teeth
I have witnessed the streets becoming a dangerous and ruthless place

Put claws in the strong and just devour the weak
It preys on the strong individuals and consumes the weak ones

Make them proud niggaz humble (uh-huh)
It forces proud individuals to be humbled

Then turn around and make them loud niggaz mumble (uh-huh)
It silences those who were once outspoken and confident

In the jungle I done seen niggaz voted 'Most likely to win'
In this challenging environment, I have observed people with great potential being chosen as the likely winners

Lose it all at the end of a stem; what a lame (uhh)
However, they lose everything due to their addiction, which is truly disappointing

Friends killin friends for paper, what a shame (uhh)
Witnessing friends betraying and killing each other for money is truly disgraceful

And everybody thinkin they players, what a game (damn)
Many people falsely believe that they are players in this game of life, but it's all just an illusion

I done seen this whole shit change
I have observed the complete transformation of this situation

Looked again and realized that ain't shit changed (WHAT?!)
Upon closer inspection, I noticed that nothing has truly improved or evolved

Except the fact that I'm a grown man now (uhh) standin on my own two
The only significant change is that I have matured into a capable, independent man

Used to hate guns, now a nigga own two (C'MON!)
In the past, I despised firearms, but now I own two of them

Twin glocks for cops and use I promise to
I vow to use my two guns, both symbolizing protection, against corrupt police officers

I ain't goin out like Amadou, you know what I'ma do (AIGHT?)
I refuse to meet the same tragic fate as Amadou Diallo, and I will take certain actions to prevent it

So sit back and try to visualize if you can
Take a moment to relax and attempt to imagine, if you are capable

All the stories of a wise man - walk with me
Engage in a journey alongside me, experiencing the wisdom and knowledge I have acquired

Look at my life.. look at how I live
Examine my existence and observe how I navigate through life

Look at what I go through.. so what I've got to give (THIS IS IT!!)
Observe the challenges I face, which ultimately shape what I can offer

Now I've done seen life play jokes with death as a punchline
I have witnessed life taunting death, using it as a source of amusement

In a world with no hope, struggle to get mine
In a seemingly hopeless world, I strive to obtain what is rightfully mine

I was raised in a time of regret and bad news (uh-huh)
I was brought up in an era filled with remorse and constant negative information

So I was taught my values by bad dudes (uhh)
As a result, I learned my morals and principles from individuals involved in wrongdoing

Hustlers and killers.. they taught me wrong from right
The hustlers and murderers taught me distorted concepts of what is right and wrong

Told me everything that's wrong is right, like
They instilled in me the belief that actions traditionally seen as wrong are actually correct

Hopin' a train, poppin' the thing
Engaging in dangerous activities like train hopping and carrying firearms

And havin' hot blocks poppin with 'caine, lockin' the game (Come on!)
Participating in drug-related activities, such as selling cocaine, to establish control in the criminal world

And the more shit, change, the more it's the same
Interestingly, despite attempts to alter the circumstances, they often remain unchanged

And the more you try to get rid of it, the more it remains
Paradoxically, the more one tries to eliminate the problem, the more it persists

You remember when the kid's dream to get to the top
Do you recall how children used to dream of achieving success and reaching the pinnacle of their aspirations?

Was bein' doctors, firemen, even the cops?
They aspired to become doctors, firefighters, and even police officers

Look at the kids now, lost, no hope
However, observe the current state of children - they are directionless and lack hope

To get ahead they plan to rap, play ball, or sell dope (ooooh)
To succeed, their strategies now involve pursuing careers in rap, sports, or engaging in drug dealing

And if you thinkin we the problem you wrong
If you believe that we, as individuals, are the root cause of the issue, your assumption is incorrect

A generation died at the same time our fathers was born
Simultaneously, a generation of young individuals perished while our fathers were being born

I've seen a broken home influence a good kid to go bad
I have witnessed how a dysfunctional family environment can cause an innocent child to become corrupted

'Cause boys with sane minds to go mad (uhh)
Even boys with initially sound mental states can become mentally unstable due to their upbringing

And young girls to lose they innocence so fast
It is disheartening to see young girls lose their innocence at such a rapid pace

And so often the results are so sad
Frequently, the outcomes are incredibly sorrowful

Losin' her skirt, don't even know what flirt means
They are prematurely engaging in sexual behavior without even understanding the concept of flirting

So a baby's poppin' up with a baby at thirteen (damn)
As a consequence, teenage pregnancies arise, with children having their own children at the age of thirteen

A few years, she tried to settle down with her man
After a few years, she attempted to establish a stable life with her partner

Tried to stop fuckin' all them other niggas and can't
She struggled to cease engaging in sexual relations with multiple men

Though she want to, the curse got her doin' this dirt
Despite her desire to change, the circumstances she is trapped in push her to continue behaving immorally

'Cause she saw mommy do it whenever daddy went to work (damn)
The reason for her behavior stems from observing her mother engaging in similar actions whenever her father was absent

And it hurts, I know the pain call it the truth
I am aware of the pain caused by these situations, and I consider it a harsh reality

Bad parents are destroyin' the youth, I been there (WHAT?!)
I have personally experienced the destructive impact that irresponsible parents have on young individuals

I've watched men beat on my mother my whole life
Throughout my entire life, I have witnessed men physically abusing my mother

So when I hit my baby mother I thought it was alright (NO!!!)
Therefore, when I physically assaulted the mother of my child, I believed it was acceptable behavior

Maybe if I woke up and them niggas was gone
If those individuals were suddenly absent from my life when I woke up, perhaps I would have realized their negative influence

I would of knew that all the hittin' was wrong, talk to me
I would have understood that resorting to violence was entirely inappropriate, engage in a conversation with me

My niggaz
My close companions

This, is, for my niggas
This expression is dedicated to my comrades

B.S. baby! Uh-huh, uhh
Big Stan, my partner! Yes, indeed

Bloodline, bloodline, bloodline!
Emphasizing the importance of loyalty and family ties

All my dogs, off the motherfucking chain!
Referring to all my close friends who are fearless and unstoppable

Arf, arf, arf, arf, arf-arf, ya heard?
Expressing my dominance and commanding attention like a dog's bark

Bitch ass nigga (bitch ass nigga!)
Using derogatory language to contemptuously address weak individuals

Iceberg, hoo, B.K.! Ali X! St. Claire! Jinx!
Mentioning various names, possibly referring to neighborhoods or associates