Cold World
GZA; Inspectah Deck Lyrics

Babies cryin' brothers dyin' and brothers getting knocked
In this cruel and painful world, young children cry and lose their innocence. People die and loved ones mourn their loss. Brothers get arrested and locked up.

Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down
The streets are harsh and unforgiving, with violence and danger lurking around every corner. I feel trapped and unable to escape.

It was the night before New Year's, and all through the fuckin' projects
The night before a new year begins is usually a time of celebration and happiness, but in these projects, fear and danger are always present.

Not a handgun was silent, not even a Tec
Guns are constantly firing, and even the silence of a Tec-9, a commonly used firearm, cannot be heard in this violent environment.

Outside as I'm stuck, by enemies who put fear
I find myself trapped outside, surrounded by those who wish to cause me harm and instill fear in me.

And blasted on the spot before the pigs were dere
I am shot at before the police show up, leaving me vulnerable and unprotected.

You know hoods robbers snipers new in sight, fuck blue and white
Hoodlums, robbers, and snipers operate freely in the area, with no regard for law enforcement.

They escape before them flash the fuckin' lights
These criminals quickly flee before the police are able to arrive and use their flashing lights to signal their presence.

Gunshots, shatter first floor window panes
The sound of gunfire is so loud that it shatters windows on the first floor of nearby buildings.

Shells hit the ground and blood stained the dice game
Bullets hit the ground, causing shell casings to scatter around, and a nearby game of dice is disrupted by the presence of blood.

Whether broke callisthetic, any style you set it
Regardless of one's financial status or physical appearance, they can still be a victim of this violent lifestyle.

Beat niggaz toothless, physically cut up like gooses
Violence is a common occurrence, with people being physically beaten and mutilated like geese with their teeth knocked out.

But with iron on the sides thugs took no excuses
Those with guns have no tolerance for excuses or reasons why they shouldn't be targeted.

Therefore, your fifty-two handblocks was useless
Even if there is a large number of gang members and hand-to-hand combat experts, it proves useless against the threat of guns.

Links was snatched off necks, scars on throats
Necklaces and other jewelry items are often violently snatched off of people, leaving painful scars on their throats.

Jackets took, after bullet rips through coats
People's jackets are often stolen after being shot at, resulting in bullet holes tearing through the fabric.

Against those who felt the cold from the steel made em fold
Those who are targeted with guns feel the cold metal and are intimidated to the point of giving in and surrendering.

And squeal, once the metal hit the temple of his grill
The sound of someone crying out in pain is often heard once they are shot in the head.

Destruction worker, who was caught for his bomber
A demolition worker who also participates in illegal activities is caught by the authorities for his criminal behavior.

No time to swing the hammer that was hangin' from his Farmer's
He does not have the opportunity to defend himself with the hammer that he carries with him for his job.

And it's bugged how some niggas catch slugs
It is strange and unfortunate how some people become victims of gun violence.

And pockets dug from everything except check stubs
Despite engaging in illegal activities, their pockets are empty, with no income except for pay stubs.

And it does, sound ill like wars in Brownsville
The violence and chaos present in the Brownsville neighborhood is reminiscent of the horrors of war.

Or fatal robberies in Red Hook where feds look
The Red Hook area is known for fatal robberies that have caught the attention of law enforcement.

For fugitives to shoot cops, niggas layin' on roof tops
Fugitives often shoot at the police, while bystanders lay helpless and vulnerable on rooftops.

For his CREAM he stashed in a shoebox
People will do anything for money, even resorting to hiding it in inconspicuous shoeboxes.

But he was hot, and the strip was filled with young killers
He was a wanted criminal and the area was full of young and dangerous gang members.

You don't suspect, so cops creep like caterpillars
The police sneak into the area in stealth mode, trying not to draw attention to themselves.

And born thieves stay hooded with extra bullets
Those who have a natural talent for stealing will stay hidden, while also keeping extra bullets on-hand for protection.

Those who try to flee they hit the vertebrae, increase the murder rate
Those who try to run away are often shot in the back, leading to a higher murder rate in the area.

Similar to hit men who pull out Tecs and then
This type of violence is similar to that of professional hitmen who pull out Tec-9 guns and execute their targets.

Drop those who crack like tacos from Mexican
They drop those who are easily frightened or unable to handle the violence and pressure, like tacos that easily break apart.

Rapid, like recipients cashin' checks again
Violence happens rapidly, like people quickly cashing their checks at a bank.

Back to the motherfuckin' spot on Lexington
Returning to the same dangerous spot on Lexington Avenue, where more violence and chaos are likely to occur.

We be runnin' from the cops, bustin' off shots
We are constantly running away from the police and shooting our guns in order to escape.

Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down
The situation on the streets is intense and dangerous, and I feel trapped and unable to escape.

Yo, no time to freeze, undercovers ease up in Grand Prixs
We have no time to hesitate or freeze, as plainclothes policemen slowly approach in their Grand Prixs.

And seize packages and pocket the currency
The police confiscate illegal packages and take the money for themselves.

Clicks control strips full clips are sprayed
Gangs and cliques control certain areas and violently attack their rivals with full clips of bullets.

Yellow tape barricades sidewalks where bodies lay
The police set up barricades made of yellow tape around areas where bodies have been found.

Madness strikes at twelve o'clock midnight
Chaos and violence often occur at midnight.

Stick up kids on the ground broke the staircase light
Robbers and thieves are sometimes caught and forced to lie on the ground, often breaking nearby staircase lights in the process.

And I stays harassed, scramblin' for petty cash
I am frequently bothered and harassed by gang members, and must constantly scrounge for small amounts of money.

Jakes on my ass young bucks is learnin' fast
The police are always after me, while younger and more inexperienced criminals are quickly learning the ropes.

357's and 44's
Typical guns used in this environment are the powerful .357 and .44 caliber firearms.

Bought inside corner stores, their fire sparks the wars
These guns are often bought from corner stores, and their use is what ignites violent wars between rival gangs.

Hospital floors surrounded by the law
Hospitals are often overrun with police and other law enforcement officials due to the high levels of violence in the area.

Homicide questioning while the Jakes guard the door
The police interrogate possible suspects of a homicide while other policemen guard the entrances and exits.

My hood stay tense, loyalty puts strength in my team
My neighborhood is constantly in a state of tension due to violence and crime, but loyalty to my team keeps them strong.

'Cause niggaz main concern is CREAM
The most important thing to these criminals is money (or CREAM - Cash Rules Everything Around Me).

Some niggaz in the jet black Gallant
Certain people drive around in stylish and expensive jet-black Mitsubishi Gallants.

Shot up the Chinese restaurant, for this kid named Lamont
A group of people open fire on a Chinese restaurant, in order to kill a specific person named Lamont.

I thought he was dead but instead he missed a kid
I thought that Lamont had been killed, but instead he missed and hit an innocent 12-year-old girl.

And hit a twelve year old girl in the head and then fled
Lamont's attackers quickly escape the scene after missing their intended target and hitting a young girl instead.

Tactical narcotic, task force, back off fast
The police task forces that deal with narcotics are very strategic, but they retreat quickly in this dangerous environment.

'Cause the crime boss is passin' off cash
The leader of the criminal underworld is passing off money to his followers.

Extortions, for portions of streets, causes beef
Gangs and other groups extort money from businesses in exchange for the right to operate on certain streets, which often leads to conflict and violence.

Havin' followers of Indians trying to play Chief
People who are not qualified or experienced are trying to become leaders, causing more chaos and confusion.

You witness the saga, casualties and drama
You are a witness to the many violent events, deaths, and conflicts that occur in this area.

Life is a script, I'm not a actor but the author
Life can be predetermined and scripted to a certain extent, and I am in control of my own narrative.

Of a modern day opera, where the main character
This is a story, much like an opera, with a main character and a dramatic plotline.

Is presidential paper, the dominant, factor
Money and wealth are the most important and influential factors in this world.

Babies cryin' brothers dyin' and brothers getting knocked
This song describes the harsh reality of what life is like in the ghetto, with crying babies, death, and violence being constant features of everyday life.

Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down
The situation in the area is serious and dangerous, and I feel trapped and unable to escape.