Respect
G.I.D Lyrics

No big up our gun men, seen? (Big up, big up)
Let's not applaud our violent criminals

Cuh dis ah 94' when ah RAA fi kill people and kyaan dun
This was 1994 when the police could shoot to kill and get away with it

Nuh waan pussy hole hold di kaanah
Don't let weak people have access to weapons

Watch this, lawd
Bear witness to this, God

Me holla respect, to all the gun men dem
I give recognition to all the violent criminals

Gun men alone, keep gun men friend
Criminals only associate with other criminals

Fire bun, fi all the informer dem
I condemn and wish harm to all the people who inform to the police

Informer lone keep informer friend
People who inform to the police take care of each other

Nineteen seventy somethin' nigga I don't sweat the date
I don't remember the exact year, but it was a long time ago

My moms is late so I had to plan my escape
My mother was late to pick me up so I had to make my own way home

Out the skins in this world of fly girls
I have sex with lots of attractive women

Tanqueray and Hennessy until I cold hurl
I drink Tanqueray and Hennessy until I vomit

Ten months in this gut what the fuck
I spent a long time in my mother’s womb

I wish moms'd hurry up so I could get buck
I wish my mother would have given birth to me sooner

Wild juvenile rippin' mics and shit
I was a young rapper performing aggressively

New York New York ready for the likes of this uh
The city of New York was prepared for my music style

Then came the worst date May 21st
May 21st is a significant and tragic date in the artist's life

2:19, that's when my momma water burst
At 2:19, my mother's water broke and she went into labor

No spouse in the house so she rode for self
My mother went to the hospital alone

To the hospital, to see if she could get a little help
My mother went to the hospital seeking medical assistance

Umbilical cord's wrapped around my neck
I was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around my neck

I'm seein' my death and I ain't even took my first step
I was struggling to breathe and feared for my life right after birth

I made it out, I'm bringin' mad joy
Despite the difficult birth, I survived and bring happiness

The doctor looked and said, "He's gonna be a Bad Boy"
The doctor predicted that I would be a troublemaker

Now I'm thirteen, smokin' blunts, makin' cream
As a young teen, I am smoking marijuana and making money

On the drug scene, fuck a football team
I am more interested in drug dealing than playing sports

Riskin' ruptured spleens by the age of sixteen
I am exposing myself to serious health risks at a young age

Hearin' the coach scream ain't my lifetime dream, I mean
Hearing coaches yell is not my life's ambition

I want to blow up, stack my dough up
I want to become wealthy and successful

So school I didn't show up, it fucked my flow up
Skipping school negatively affected my career

Mom said that I should grow up and check myself
My mother advised me to mature and take responsibility for my actions

Before I wreck myself, disrespect myself
I need to correct my behavior before I ruin my own reputation

Put the drugs on the shelf? Nah, couldn't see it
I cannot give up drugs even if it is in my best interest

Scarface, King of New York, I want to be it
I aspire to be like the movie character Scarface and dominate New York

Rap was secondary, money was necessary
I prioritize making money over my music career

Until I got incarcerated, kinda scary
Being arrested and imprisoned was a frightening experience

C74-Mark 8 set me straight
This correctional facility helped me change my ways

Not able to move behind the great steel gate
Being incarcerated limited my freedom and mobility

Time to contemplate, damn, where did I fail?
Imprisonment made me reflect on my past mistakes

All the money I stacked was all the money for bail
All the money I saved was spent on bail

Ninety-four, now I explore new horizons
In 1994, I began to embark on new opportunities

Mama smile when she see me, that's surprisin'
My mother is happy to see me changed and doing well

Honey's is tantalizin', they freak all night
Women are enticing and enjoy sexual activities

Peep duckin' cops on the creep all night
Avoiding the police while performing criminal activities

As I open my eyes and realizin' I changed
I recognize that I have transformed and matured

Not the same deranged child stuck up in the game
I am no longer the same out of control young man involved in crime

And to my niggas livin' street life
To my friends involved in the criminal underworld

Learn to treat life to the best, put stress to rest
Life is valuable and should be treated as such, do not stress

Still tote your vest man, niggas be trippin'
Keep wearing a bulletproof vest, danger is still present

In the streets without a gat? Nah, nigga you're slippin'
You are making a mistake by going outside without a firearm

If I'm trippin' on The F with weed on my breath
If I am intoxicated on the subway with marijuana

Original hustler with the muffler on the TEC
I am an experienced criminal with a silenced firearm

Respect to the Mack's and the Ac's
I show admiration to other popular criminals

To the freaks in the Jeeps, lick shots to my peeps
I shout out to women driving Jeeps and my associates

Now this is Diana King doing a Yankee thing
This is collaboration with Jamaican musician Diana King and myself

In a Biggie Small's thing, do it, Jah
A reference to collaborating with Notorious B.I.G.

Have mercy
A plea for mercy in general

The gunman inna di party
There are armed criminals at the party

And everybody feel irie
Everyone is feeling good despite the dangerous atmosphere

And everybody just follow me, follow me, follow me
Everyone is following me to the next activity

The wul ah we in ah di party
All of us are at the party

And everybody look irie
Everyone appears to be happy

Now di man them sexy, sexy, sexy
The men look handsome and attractive

Do it!
An encouraging statement for everyone to continue having a good time

No mercy fuh nuh big up unnu self
There is no forgiveness for those who boast about their wrongdoing

Cuh we nuh watch nuhtin to say or see
We do not care what anyone has to say or do

Hardcore ting we ah deal with
We are involved in serious, intense activities

Oh yes, we are the best
We are the most skilled and successful

No other guy cyaan
No one else can match our abilities

Say it mami, damn, why you actin' like that man?
Asking why the woman is acting distant or difficult

'Cause I don't be doin' this
She explains that she is not interested in the current situation

I'm sayin', you know it ain't nothin'
The man tries to reassure her that it is not a big deal

It's just part of sex, ya know'm saying
The man implies that this is simply a normal part of their sexual experiences

But you know I don't do this, I don't even know how to do this
She reminds him that she is uncomfortable and inexperienced in this situation

I'm just sayin' mami, jus-just a little peck mami, for daddy
The man continues to push for sexual contact, asking for a small gesture as a sign of affection

Just a little peck
Asking for a small kiss

Like that?
She questions his intentions and whether he is serious

That's what I'm sayin', yeah
He confirms his desire for a kiss

You know I don't be doin' this though tho', you know that
She reminds him that she is not accustomed to this behavior

Whatever bitch, damnit
He responds rudely, expressing frustration that she is not complying with his request