Gerald Alston is a solo artist and original lead single of R&B/Soul group T… Read Full Bio ↴Gerald Alston is a solo artist and original lead single of R&B/Soul group The Manhattans. He carried his sophisticated brand of Soul into his solo recordings beginning. He has recorded five studio albums as solo artist beginning with his self titled album. His most recent album, "Sings Sam Cooke" was released in 2008. Visit both his official website www.gerald-alston.com and official MySpace http://www.myspace.com/geraldalston for more information. While underrated by both the R&B and Pop mainstream, he scored several hit albums and singles because of his fanbase. Alston continues to perform and record music.

Stick Me for My Riches
Gerald Alston Lyrics

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[Intro: Gerald Alston]
Ooh-wee... mmmmmmmm, yeah...

[Gerald Alston]
See I was raised out on these mean streets
I'm from the projects, right, where poverty and hell meet
I'm searching everyday to find a better way, I've got a
Hustle still to get my pay before I hit bottom

Now some might say that I'm already there
But who are they to judge or question what I do, son, so I don't care
Tired of eating cheese sandwiches with no meat
Tired of watching all the playas from the same seat
So it's a life of crime, some might sing or rhyme
To escape the ghetto before the flatline
Choices to make, what am I gonna do
Got to use my talents, they gonna pull me through

[Chorus: Gerald Alston]
Now with success, I become a target
They wanna set me up, I guess more money equals more problems
They wanna get me, wanna hit me, strip me of my riches
They wanna cut me up in pieces, leave me deep in ditches

[Hook: Gerald Alston]
And I can't take it.... but I'm gonna make it...
Yeah... oh... I'm gonna make it... yeah... ohhhhhh
Fight to stay alive

[Method Man]
I was raised out on these mean streets
You know where poverty and hell meet
Brothers get jail and life's for sale, cheap
Since momma held me, in her arms, to tell me
That it's a cold world, I done held heat
And held myself down, lotta bodies and shells found
And niggas into taking everything, that ain't nailed down
We fell down, ain't hard to tell now
I ain't trying, to see the cell now
or see momma put her house up for bail now
So I'mma give all I got, to try and get that gwop
Nigga I'm hot with this hustle, go 'head and get the cops
I use my talent to get more figures
Unlike these little corner store niggas
Go change your drawers, niggas

[Chorus: Method Man & Gerald Alston]
Now with success and I've become a target
They wanna set me up, take me hostage, or take me down some notches
They wanna hit me, wanna stick me, get me for my riches
They wanna diss me, want a clip me, leave me stiff in ditches

[Hook: Gerald Alston (Method Man)]
And I can't take it, no, no, but I'm gonna make it...
(This ain't no game, my life ain't nothing to play with)
Yeah... I'm gonna make it... oooh...
(Face it, money is power and I'ma make it)
I'm gonna make it... oooh...

[Inspectah Deck]
Yeah, I'm gon' survive, yo, yo, aiyo
N.Y. City, gritty blocks, little love, plenty cops
Few rise, many drop, True Lies, semis cocked
Fishscale, already rocked, heavy shots, that we drop
New guys on every block, blue eyes and red dots
Pregnant mothers, broke fathers, more money, more problems
So hungry, won't starve 'em, work hard and so pardon
I got mouths to feed, I got pounds of weed
I need some more, another store, another house, indeed
An X amount of G, the reason pounds'll squeeze
And strip you naked, basic, trying to make it out the P's
Don't ever doubt a G, and have me spaz like
'Face with the K, and my nose all powdery
It ain't about the streets, it's 'bout the beast within
That won't give in to 'lice, down to bleed, G

[Chorus: Inspectah Deck & Gerald Alston]
Now with success and I've become a target
They wanna set me up, take me hostage, or take me down some notches
They wanna hit me, wanna stick me, get me for my riches
They wanna diss me, wanna clip me leave me stiff in ditches

[Hook: Gerald Alston (RZA)]
And I can't take it (yeah), no, no, but I'm gonna make it...
(Yeah, yea, turn the beat up a little right here)
Yeah... I'm gonna make it... oooh...
(Yo, yo, yo, yeah, yo, just, Wu-Tang, Wu-Tang)

[RZA]
Aiyo, RZA, Meth, GZA, Deck, Ghost and Chef be cashing checks
Killa, Cap be snapping necks, Street and 'Zilla flash the tech
Sacrifice a savage life, if he trying to bag my ice
Tag a price on merchandise, tell me, is it worth ya life?

[Gerald Alston]
No... it's a cold, cold, cold world
You can't be playing games with my life
I've gotta fight to survive, fight to stay alive

[RZA]
Aiyo, metal pipes ignite, sparking fire, light the darkness night
Trying to stick me for my riches, now y'all bitches taking flight
Major business, raise the digits, tried to strike me for my life
Slice and dice, men or mice, GZA tell 'em what it's like

[GZA]
Aiyo, money making, people flaking, Cash Rules, fuck the bacon
Earthquaking, head is aching, bank stop, dice shaking
Times are hard, sew a job, scheming niggaz wanna rob
Use a hoe to slob ya knob, hit you with unruly mobs
Stab you in the back and smile, watch you bleed for a while
Hating on the agile, steal ya name and bite ya style
Hold you for a ransom note, Goliath cutting David's throat
Grab ya vest, abandon boat and leave you out at sea to float

[Chorus: GZA & Gerald Alston]
Now with success and I've become a target
They wanna set me up, I guess more money equals more problems
They wanna hit me, wanna stick me, get me for my riches
They wanna diss me, want clip me, leave me stiff in ditches

[Gerald Alston]
And I can't take it.... no, no... but I'm gonna make it...
Yeah... oh... I'm gonna make it... ooh... yeah...
It's a cold, cold, cold world
I got my hand on my gun, they got a brother on the run
Yeah... it's a cold, cold, cold world
You can't be playing games with my life
I've gotta fight to survive, fight to stay alive
This ain't a game, this is my life
Keep pushing me to the edge, I'm gonna push back

And you won't like that, it's guaranteed you won't like that
When ya laid down, laid flat...

Overall Meaning

In "Stick Me for My Riches," Gerald Alston tells a story of his struggle to make a living and his determination to reach success despite the dangers it brings. He paints a picture of growing up in the projects, where poverty and challenge exist at every corner. The chorus emphasizes that once you attain success, there's always the risk of becoming a target for those who want what you have. Method Man and Inspectah Deck echo Alston's message, expressing that they, too, have had to fight to survive in this world. RZA provides a final verse that emphasizes how hard it is to avoid being victimized in a society that values money over human life.

Line by Line Meaning

See I was raised out on these mean streets
The singer grew up in a poor and dangerous neighborhood

I'm from the projects, right, where poverty and hell meet
The singer is from a neighborhood characterized by poverty and violence

I'm searching everyday to find a better way, I've got a Hustle still to get my pay before I hit bottom
The singer is trying to find a way out of poverty and must work hard every day to make enough money to stay afloat

Now some might say that I'm already there
Some people may think that the artist has already hit bottom

But who are they to judge or question what I do, son, so I don't care
The artist doesn't care what others think of him or his situation

Tired of eating cheese sandwiches with no meat
The singer is tired of being poor and unable to afford basic necessities

Tired of watching all the playas from the same seat
The singer is tired of observing others succeed while he remains stuck in poverty

So it's a life of crime, some might sing or rhyme
The artist is considering turning to a life of crime as a way to escape poverty

To escape the ghetto before the flatline
The artist wants to leave the ghetto before it kills him

Now with success, I become a target
Once the artist becomes successful, he becomes a target for those who want to take advantage of him

They wanna set me up, I guess more money equals more problems
The singer believes that the more money he makes, the more problems he will encounter

And I can't take it.... but I'm gonna make it...
The artist is determined to persevere despite the challenges he faces

Fight to stay alive
The singer must work hard to maintain his success and continue surviving

Aiyo, RZA, Meth, GZA, Deck, Ghost and Chef be cashing checks
The singer is listing members of the Wu-Tang Clan and implying that they are all financially successful

Sacrifice a savage life, if he trying to bag my ice
The singer is willing to defend his possessions and lifestyle even if it means resorting to violence

And I can't take it (yeah), no, no, but I'm gonna make it...
The artist remains determined to succeed despite the risks and challenges he faces

It's a cold, cold, cold world
The artist is highlighting the harshness and cruelty of life

I got my hand on my gun, they got a brother on the run
The singer feels threatened and must be prepared to defend himself

Keep pushing me to the edge, I'm gonna push back
The singer will not back down and will fight back if provoked

And you won't like that, it's guaranteed you won't like that
The artist is warning his enemies that they will not enjoy the consequences of their actions

When ya laid down, laid flat...
The artist implies that his enemies will be defeated

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ROBERT F. DIGGS, GARY E. GRICE, JASON HUNTER, CLIFFORD SMITH, RONALD MAURICE BEAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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