Cold World
GZA feat. Inspectah Deck & Life Lyrics

Babies cryin' brothers dyin' and brothers getting knocked
Living in a neighborhood where babies cry because of hunger, brothers die due to violence and some get arrested by the police.

Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down
Life is tough on the street and you feel trapped in it.

In this cold, cold world
The world is full of problems and it can be harsh and unforgiving.

It was the night before New Year's, and all through the fuckin' projects
It was the night before New Year's Eve, and everyone was hanging out in the projects.

Not a handgun was silent, not even a Tec
Guns were being fired all night, including the Tec-9 semi-automatic handgun.

Outside as I'm stuck, by enemies who put fear
You're stuck outside and scared because there are people who want to harm you.

And blasted on the spot before the pigs were dere
People were getting shot before the police arrived on the scene.

You know hoods robbers snipers new in sight, fuck blue and white
People in the neighborhood are used to seeing robbers and snipers, and they don't trust the police.

They escape before them flash the fuckin' lights
The criminals are able to get away because they disappear before the police show up.

Gunshots, shatter first floor window panes
Gunshots are so common that they're breaking windows on the first floor of the buildings.

Shells hit the ground and blood stained the dice game
The dice game on the street was interrupted by gunshots and there is blood on the ground.

Whether broke callisthetic, any style you set it
No matter if you're poor or physically fit, you can still be a target of violence.

Beat niggas toothless, physically cut up like gooses
People get beaten up so badly that they lose teeth and end up with cuts all over.

But with iron on the sides thugs took no excuses
The criminals are well-armed and don't give any excuses for their actions.

Therefore, your fifty-two handblocks was useless
Even if you know how to defend yourself, it won't help you when you're outnumbered.

Links was snatched off necks, scars on throats
People are getting robbed of their jewelry and getting hurt in the process.

Jackets took, after bullet rips through coats
People's jackets are getting stolen after they get shot through them.

Against those who felt the cold from the steel made em fold
The criminals don't hesitate to use guns against anyone who gets in their way.

And squeal, once the metal hit the temple of his grill
People scream and cry in pain when they get shot in the head.

Destruction worker, who was caught for his bomber
A construction worker was arrested for using a bomb.

No time to swing the hammer that was hangin' from his Farmer's
He didn't have the chance to use the hammer he was carrying.

And it's bugged how some niggas catch slugs
It's unfortunate how some people get shot and killed.

And pockets dug from everything except check stubs
Even though some people have money, they're still being robbed for everything else they have.

And it does, sound ill like wars in Brownsville
The violence is like a war zone in Brownsville.

Or fatal robberies in Red Hook where feds look
Robberies end up killing people in Red Hook, and the federal authorities are involved.

For fugitives to shoot cops, niggas layin' on roof tops
Fugitives are shooting at the police, and there are people lying on the rooftops.

For his CREAM he stashed in a shoebox
He was killed for the money he kept in a shoebox.

But he was hot, and the strip was filled with young killers
He was wanted by the police, and there are many young people who are violent in the neighborhood.

You don't suspect, so cops creep like caterpillars
The police try to be sneaky and go unnoticed when they're investigating crimes.

And born thieves stay hooded with extra bullets
The criminals always dress in a way that hides their identity, and they carry extra ammunition.

Those who try to flee they hit the vertebrae, increase the murder rate
People who try to run away get shot in the back, which raises the number of murders.

Similar to hit men who pull out Tecs and then
It's like the hit men who use Tec-9s.

Drop those who crack like tacos from Mexican
They kill people easily as if they're crushing taco shells.

Rapid, like recipients cashin' checks again
The violence happens quickly, like when people are cashing their paychecks at the bank.

Back to the motherfuckin' spot on Lexington
They go back to the same spot on Lexington Street where the violence started.

We be runnin' from the cops, bustin' off shots
They're running away from the police while firing their guns.

Yo, no time to freeze, undercovers ease up in Grand Prixs
They don't have time to hesitate, and the undercover police are driving Grand Prix cars.

And seize packages and pocket the currency
The police seize the drugs and money, and they keep some of it for themselves.

Clicks control strips full clips are sprayed
The gangs are in charge of the neighborhood, and they shoot at each other with full clips of ammunition.

Yellow tape barricades sidewalks where bodies lay
The police use yellow tape to block off the sidewalks where dead bodies are.

Madness strikes at twelve o'clock midnight
The violence and chaos happens at midnight.

Stick up kids on the ground broke the staircase light
Robbers are on the ground, and they broke the light on the staircase.

And I stays harassed, scramblin' for petty cash
You're constantly being bothered and trying to find small amounts of cash.

Jakes on my ass young bucks is learnin' fast
The police are after you, and you notice that young people are becoming involved in crime quickly.

357's and 44's
They're using powerful weapons like the .357 Magnum and the .44 Magnum.

Bought inside corner stores, their fire sparks the wars
The guns are bought at corner stores, and they start the violence.

Hospital floors surrounded by the law
There's a lot of police presence around the hospital because of all the violence.

Homicide questioning while the Jakes guard the door
The police are questioning witnesses of homicides, while other police officers guard the door.

My hood stay tense, loyalty puts strength in my team
The neighborhood is always on edge, but the loyalty between the gang members makes them strong.

'Cause niggas main concern is CREAM
Money is the most important thing for the people in the neighborhood.

Some niggas in the jet black Gallant
Some people are driving around in a jet black Mitsubishi Gallant.

Shot up the Chinese restaurant, for this kid named Lamont
They shot at the Chinese restaurant because they were after a guy named Lamont.

I thought he was dead but instead he missed a kid
He wasn't killed, but he missed and ended up hitting a child.

And hit a twelve year old girl in the head and then fled
He shot a twelve year old girl in the head and ran away.

Tactical narcotic, task force, back off fast
The police are trying to catch drug dealers, but they have to back off quickly.

'Cause the crime boss is passin' off cash
The crime boss is distributing money to his underlings.

Extortions, for portions of streets, causes beef
People are extorting others for control of certain areas, which leads to violence.

Havin' followers of Indians trying to play Chief
People are trying to act like leaders even though they're followers.

You witness the saga, casualties and drama
You see all the violence, injuries, and chaos happening around you.

Life is a script, I'm not a actor but the author
Your life is like a story, and you're not just an actor, you're also the one who's writing it.

Of a modern day opera, where the main character
Your life is like an opera, and you're the main character.

Is presidential paper, the dominant, factor
Money is the most important thing, and it has a huge influence on your life.