Student Of The Game
N.O.R.E. Lyrics

I feel like something special bout to happen
I have a strong feeling that something great is about to take place.

Queens nigga but the meetings be up in Manhattan
I'm from Queens, but I often attend meetings in Manhattan.

Move the packs fast, hoops ain't full crick
I move the drugs quickly and efficiently, just like a perfectly executed basketball play.

We up to cook another one, bullshit
We're going to start cooking more drugs, none of this is just talk.

We should have the hood Olympics, a cook off
We should have a competition amongst our peers to see who can cook the best quality drugs.

Let's see which coke is terrific and who is gifted
Let's determine who has the best cocaine recipe and who has a natural talent for cooking it.

With the coffee pot, biggest hold the cookie jar
We'll use the coffee pot to cook the drugs and make the most profit.

Let us separate the hustlers from the rookies y'all
Let's differentiate between the real hustlers and inexperienced drug dealers.

I knew enough Spanish not to get jerked when I want work
I know enough Spanish to get the best deals when I'm looking for work.

Plus plus, plus I let my gun off, beserk
I always carry a gun and I'm not afraid to use it recklessly.

Got my cousins in the pink houses, never had job niggas
My cousins are from the Pink Houses projects and they've never had a real job.

They was into murdering, kidnaps and rob niggas
My cousins were involved in dangerous criminal activities like murder, kidnapping, and robbery.

I was to rhyme as a hobby in my closet lobby
I started writing rap lyrics as a hobby in the lobby of my apartment building.

Fuckin' up ounces, take it back to quarters then
I used to mess up when measuring drugs by the ounce and had to go back to using smaller measurements like a quarter ounce.

Ho sales with Sa Kimble, even show I water min
I used to sell drugs with a man named Sa Kimble and even stretched them out by adding extra ingredients like baking soda.

Fast forward, got locked for a shooting
I got arrested and sent to jail for shooting someone.

Hits whop it, back when like kings first recruitin'
I was making music back when my rap group, Capone-N-Noreaga, first started getting popular.

Locked in the zone, mind separate - guidance counselor,
While I was in jail, I focused only on making music and didn't really need a guidance counselor.

I went to school with a weapon, not for protection
I carried a gun to school, not to protect myself, but to show off and intimidate others.

Just to show it off, but I'm gon really use it
I only brought the gun to school to show it off, but I stayed ready to use it if necessary.

The power of the gun, it gave me strength, I would abuse it
Having a gun made me feel powerful and I would use it irresponsibly.

I never ever ever thought I'd make it out in music
I never believed that I would become successful in the music industry.

Started writing rhymes harder, and to vision the youth
I started writing more challenging and meaningful lyrics to inspire the younger generation.

Locked up, readin' Daniel Gorren's books
While I was in jail, I read books written by historian Daniel Gorenstein to educate myself.

Expanding my imagination, I got created with the bendo
Reading books helped me expand my imagination and become more creative with my music.

Started writing rhymes loud the streets, stand a symbol
I started writing powerful lyrics that people in the streets identified with.

My persona identified
My personality was recognizable and distinct, even in my music.

Hood pride, logical, wrote about the blocks, streets and the obstacles
I had pride in my neighborhood and wrote lyrics that reflected the realities of living in tough neighborhoods.

Man, this shit work when you think about it
Making music can really be effective when you think about it.

I mean I still get money when you think about it
I'm still making money from my music when you really think about it.

Rap, probably saved my life twice with it
Rap music most likely saved my life twice through the opportunities it provided me.

I'm still nice with it, let's forget all the ice with ice
I'm still really good at rapping, even though I don't have the flashiest jewelry.

Forget my accolades and other big things I did
Don't focus too much on my past successes, there's still more to come.

I was a wild kid, I would've ran up in yo crib
I was reckless as a young man and would've robbed people if given the opportunity.

Remember war report, CNN legacy
Remember my debut album, The War Report, and the legacy it left in hip-hop culture.

Hip-hop pedigree, rhymes is a felony
I come from a background of true hip-hop culture and my rhymes are top-notch.

Student of the game, I take responsibility
I'm constantly learning and growing in the rap game and I take ownership of my actions and successes.

Give me tranquility so niggas can't belittle me
I want peace of mind so that others can't bring me down or make me feel inferior.

I'm still doing what I do way past you
I'm still relevant and successful in the music industry long after others have fallen off.

This album's home the heart, sorta feel like I have to
This album is important to me and I feel compelled to put my all into it.

Prove shit, do the new shit
I want to prove my worth and try new things in my music.

And the true school shit, wild with the deuces
I want to keep the true essence of hip-hop alive while also being fresh and innovative with my sound.

Little guns for the little guns gala
I have smaller guns now for minor threats that don't require major weaponry.

Blade back, in a leather couch, harawana
I'm relaxed and comfortable, smoking weed on a leather couch with a knife nearby for protection.

Eye vision clearer, I love who I see in the mirror
My perspective is now clearer and I'm happy with who I've become.

I couldn't make that clearer
I'm very clear about my intentions and feelings.

Try to compete with a real street nigga
It's impossible to compete with someone who has real street smarts and experience.

Doing street shit, you as soft as aloe vera hah?
If you're not involved in real street activities, then you're weak and insignificant compared to me.