Da Story
N.O.R.E. Lyrics

It was, four in the mornin got a call on the cell
Received phone call at 4am

What the hell, you niggaz just shot at?
Asking why someone just fired at him and his crew

Yo they missed her, blazed most fired pistols
Shots fired but missed their target

Now it's our turn, to play calypsos
Retaliation time

Bring both your arms, Rel and Moose down in St. John's
Asking two allies to bring their weapons to a location

I wish my nigga was home, the black Fonz
Regretting that a friend, known as the black Fonz, isn't present

Yo we rock charms as big as Vegas
Proud of their jewelry and wealth

Different crews of different size try to player hate us
Other gangs are envious of their success

Top of the league like Bulls and y'all cats is Lakers
Comparing their success to the Chicago Bulls basketball team and insulting their rivals by comparing them to the Los Angeles Lakers

Trash since Magic left, but he was the greatest
Continuing the insult to the Los Angeles Lakers

Aiyyo we call Shan, yo Shan peace God
Calling a friend named Shan and greeting him

You and Maze got the info?
Asking if they have information about the attackers

Them cats that tried to shoot Moose's hitmen yo?
Referring to the attackers who targeted Moose's henchmen

A nigga named Ricky, from the Bronx, cold wop city
Identifying the attacker named Ricky and where he is from

Thugged out, shoot his gat mad sickly
Describing Ricky as violent and reckless

I laid low, called Big Pun and Fat Joe
Contacting allies Big Pun and Fat Joe

Them niggaz my click, we three amigos -- they said
Referring to Big Pun and Fat Joe as members of his group

that they knew the cat, exactly where he live at
Big Pun and Fat Joe know where Ricky lives

And when I get there, just blaze God and don't look back
Plan to attack Ricky and not hesitate

Cause Ricky got no kids and no wifey
Justifying why they do not feel bad for attacking Ricky

So when I get there God it's like more than likely
Expecting to find Ricky at his home

There's Ricky like Ricardo, plus Renaldo
Identifying Ricky and another person at his home

So when I get there, take the coat, plus the cargo, what?
Plan to steal things from Ricky's home

We strong-arm, blazin firearm long kong
Using physical force and firearms in their retaliation

When the beef come niggaz storm on
Gang members attack aggressively in retaliation

Yo like a day pass, I'm bandana'd up with a mask
Describing his appearance during the attack

Just shot up the whole spot, crib to grass
Fired their weapons at every location within the targeted home

Pissed in his toilet, on his walls, in his halls
Showing disrespect and vandalizing Ricky's home

Cut Ricky from his neck to his balls
Brutally killing Ricky

Anyone can bust a gun and stab a nigga is real
Asserting the importance of being able to follow through with violent actions

Cause you gotta have the guts for the way that it feels
Emphasizing that violent actions aren't for the faint of heart

Word got back, them niggaz said Ricky a rat
Rumors suggesting Ricky was an informant

All that, coke we took yea we cooked the crack
Admitting to cooking and selling cocaine

The police don't really want us, they want the coke back
Police are not interested in arresting them but in confiscating the illegal drugs

It's impossible, just ask the word by the hospital
Difficulty of getting back the drugs if police have taken them to a secured location

Across from the mall right in Hoffman Park
Identifying the location of where the drugs are being kept

It's in tennis bags, guarded by a hundred Iraqs
Describing the number of people guarding the drugs

Yo we swerve low, beside the Jake, there go, Roberto
Driving away from the drug location and seeing another person named Roberto

The brother of Ricky, he 'posed to be wild, it's gettin deep
Identifying Roberto as Ricky's brother and expecting things to escalate further

How he knew where I'm at, how he knew how I eat?
Why Roberto has an understanding of their activities and location

The fools pulled out, no doubt, Roberto grabbed the sick ?
Roberto pulls out his weapon during their confrontation

We hit the spot, then we hopped in the whips
Returning to their vehicles after the altercation with Roberto

Now it's a chase on the highway, the L-I-E's
Pursued by Roberto and other gang members on the Long Island Expressway

Yo them fools ?, niggaz drive by me
Being followed and shot at while driving

Iraq banner, not he, ? aqui
Unclear what this line means

Yo any nigga be a man for a minute y'know
Anyone can put on a tough exterior for a moment

Then he, turn around once he know you got dough
But they will back down once they know how wealthy you are

It's like a cycle, that read psycho, man in the mirror
A never-ending cycle of violence and insecurity

like Michael, my whole click down to snipe you
Referencing Michael Jackson's song and emphasizing how loyal his gang is

Since then, Roberto had beef, with melanin men
Roberto has conflict with people of color

Every nigga he hate, was darker than him
Further evidence of Roberto's prejudice

Older niggaz than him, stay buggin on him
Older gang members are giving Roberto a hard time

Tellin him he weak, he ain't touch my skin
Insulting Roberto's fighting abilities

But once again CNN prevail, tho-rough
Suggesting the media is involved and covering the retaliation

Cause even the G-est don't really understand Hell
Even experienced gang members don't fully comprehend the violence and destruction they cause

I did this, from Iraq, to livin the cell
Reflecting on his journey from serving in the Gulf War to being incarcerated

So y'all niggaz know, what?
Asserting his capabilities and power

Meet you back in Hell what?
Challenging his enemies to continue the war