The Assignment
N.O.R.E. Lyrics

Word up, Busta Bus, my motherfuckin nigga, man.
Opening line expressing friendship and respect for Busta Rhymes.

What, what, yo, you know Nore, type a nigga stay real trump
Noreaga introduces himself as an authentic and honest type of guy.

I ain't the type to fight a nigga, just blaze you up
Rather than engage in hand-to-hand combat, Noreaga prefers to shoot his enemies.

What the fuck? All you niggaz wanna say what, what
Noreaga expresses frustration with other rappers who keep yelling 'what' excessively.

While you half way thugs sound a half way what
According to Noreaga, many rappers who claim to be thugs lack authenticity.

If you ain't with Busta Bus then shut the fuck up
Noreaga warns other rappers to not talk unless they are affiliated with Busta Rhymes, who he sees as a powerful ally.

Niggaz is snakes, in other words just like jakes
Noreaga compares some of his peers to snakes or corrupt police officers.

Yo, I sell raps, used to sell crack on crates
Noreaga contrasts his current career as a rapper to his past life as a drug dealer.

Its like a stock that shot, oh look what it dropped
Noreaga compares the unpredictable nature of the stock market to trends in hip-hop.

Yo, I hate to have to send my niggaz all in you spot
Noreaga warns his enemies that he is capable of sending his thugs to retaliate.

Like Spliff Star
Noreaga mentions Flipmode Squad member Spliff Star as an example of someone who will shoot at his enemies.

Shootin right all in your car
Noreaga describes a violent scene where someone is being shot at in their car.

Busta Bus plug the engine, with bananas
Busta Rhymes will use a banana clip in his gun to cause maximum destruction.

Even if they lose, its like we still got cameras
Noreaga suggests that even if their attack is unsuccessful, they will still have footage of it for intimidation purposes.

We play the game like the movie, smoke Lucy
Noreaga references the movie 'New Jack City' and marijuana use during gang activities.

B.I.G. gone, but my favorite song still Juicy
Noreaga pays tribute to rapper The Notorious B.I.G., whose song 'Juicy' is still his favorite even though Biggie Smalls has passed away.

Before the second thought, make you feel the wrath of my clappin
Busta Rhymes warns that he will shoot first and ask questions later.

(Boom!) Fire flashin, two holes up in your head matchin
Busta Rhymes describes the aftermath of shooting someone in the head.

Dope fiend in the corner, itch from eight scars scratchin
Busta Rhymes paints a vivid picture of a drug addict scratching at their scars in a corner.

We make the nutta butta, thick creamy shit from the gutter
Busta Rhymes boasts about his ability to make high-quality drugs.

Paranoid these niggaz, flip and make they heartbeat flutter
Busta Rhymes suggests that he can cause paranoia and fear in other rappers.

You's a sucker, (ha) lace you up with my box-cutter
Busta Rhymes brags about his ability to cut up his enemies with a box-cutter.

Your mother love your other son like you ain't even his brother
Busta Rhymes insults his enemy's relationship with his mother.

Pose the violent threat immediately, black on you nigga
Busta Rhymes warns that he will become immediately violent towards anyone who threatens him.

Sky maskin', fuck whatever question you askin
Busta Rhymes implies that he wears a mask when committing crimes and is not interested in answering any questions about his actions.

Busta Rhyme and Nore connect on the train, we attachin
Busta Rhymes and Noreaga have connected and are now working together as a team.

Locked in Whitney, tipsies Specifically, and twist me when its Cristy
Maze describes their enjoyment of fancy drinks such as Whitney and Cristal.

Let me go again, make sure the shits soakin
Noreaga wants to continue rapping and ensure that his words make a big impact.

Thugged Out and Flipmode is like next of kin
Noreaga suggests that he and the Thugged Out and Flipmode Squads are like family.

Yo, we do what up, sendin em niggaz that will screw it up
Noreaga implies that he and his crew will disrupt other rappers' work.

What! Handle your business, God, even if ?Kalu? what up
Noreaga advises other rappers to handle their own affairs, even if they are facing a challenge like he once did.

I rock Clarks, on and off, like John Starks
Noreaga brags about his fashion choices, particularly his affinity for Clarks shoes like the basketball player John Starks.

Yo, from Indiana to Atlanta, God we got this
Noreaga suggests that they have influence over the hip-hop industry from the Midwest to the South.

Jose Luis, thugs just put me in the hotlist
Noreaga implies that he is in trouble with the law and has been put on a 'hotlist' by the police.

I rip shows, but never gotta go at hoes
Noreaga states that he has success as a rapper but does not have to resort to disrespecting women.

Stay travellin, playin click, just stay froze
Noreaga enjoys traveling and spending time with his friends and when he is not rapping is typically staying still.

I got the left arm, stay in the game like Montan'
Noreaga compares himself to the character Tony Montana in 'Scarface' who is notorious for having a tattoo on his left arm.

Hear me anytime, you can access it
Noreaga suggests that fans can listen to his music anytime they want.

W dot Nore, yo, suck my dick
Noreaga directs people to his website ('W dot Nore') and insults them at the same time.

Peep me with Akinyele, yo, fuckin for free
Noreaga brags about having sex with women without having to pay for it, and references fellow rapper Akinyele who is known for his explicit lyrics.

On some thug shit, my thugs stay fuckin with me
Noreaga asserts his thug status and suggests that his friends are also tough.

Yo, every battle Nigga I got your gat, so let me splatter
Spliff Star insists that he has his enemy's gun, and will shoot him with it.

Into smithereens Throw some bullets in his jeans
Spliff Star threatens to shoot the enemy so many times he will be blown apart, and will also shoot his pants.

Another thug story, I bust my gun for Nore
Spliff Star suggests that he has many violent stories, and is willing to shoot someone for Noreaga.

Snap a nigga neck, now the law lookin for me
Spliff Star brags about killing someone and attracting police attention.

No di-doubt, I see you can't eat what you dish out
Spliff Star advises someone that they can't handle the same violence they have inflicted on others.

Watch, I reach in your soul, nigga and pull the bitch out
Spliff Star suggests that he can psychologically attack an enemy by bringing out their weakness.

Watch my tech rise, feel the shells that it spit out
Spliff Star boasts about how many bullets his gun can shoot, and how powerful it is.

I'm warning you, send twenty niggaz deep to corner you, Dressed in black
Spliff Star warns that he can send a group of armed men to surround someone, and describes their clothing as symbolically menacing.

From Brook' to I-raq
Spliff Star suggests that his crew has influence in both Brooklyn and Iraq.

Blastin Mack 10's, I be killin ya Benz Live coverage at ten, on CNN
Spliff Star threatens to shoot up someone's car with a particular type of gun, and suggests that the news media will cover the incident.

Chorus: Busta Rhymes (Noreaga) Busta Rymes (What, what!) Noreaga (What, what!) Flipmode (What, what!) Thugged Out (What, what!) Spliff Star (What, what!) Busta Rhymes (What, what!) Noreaga (What, what!) Thugged Out (What, what!) Flipmode (What, what!) Busta Rhymes (What, what!) Noreaga (What, what!) Thugged Out (What, what) Spliff Star (What, what!) Flipmode (What, what!) Busta Rhymes (What, what!) Noreaga (What, what!)
Chorus unites various rap groups and features chants of their names.

Sample to end
Song ends with a sample from a Jerry Butler song, 'Take the Time to Tell Her.'