Things Done Changed
Notorious B.I.G. vs Grateful Dead Lyrics

Remember back in the days, when niggaz had waves
Reflecting on the past when black men wore waves in their hair

Gazelle shades, and corn braids
They also wore gazelle shades and corn braids in their hair

Pitchin pennies, honies had the high top jellies
A simpler time when kids had fun playing penny games and girls wore high top jelly shoes

Shootin skelly, motherfuckers was all friendly
Playing a game called 'skelly' made everyone feel friendly towards each other

Loungin at the barbeques, drinkin brews
Hanging out with friends, drinking beer and enjoying barbeques

With the neighborhood crews, hangin on the avenues
Spending time with friends in the neighborhood

Turn your pagers, to nineteen ninety three
A reminder of the year this song was released, 1993

Niggaz is gettin smoked g, believe me
People are getting killed and it's happening all too often

Talk slick, you get your neck slit quick
People who talk too much can quickly find themselves in danger

Cause real street niggaz ain't havin that shit
People who truly live on the streets won't stand for disrespect

Totin techs for rep, smokin blunts in the project
Showing off guns and smoking weed in the projects

Hallways, shootin dice all day
Passing time playing dice in the hallways

Wait for niggaz to step up on some fightin shit
Waiting for someone to start a fight

We get hype and shit and start lifin shit
Getting excited and causing trouble when someone starts a fight

So step away with your fist fight ways
Using fists to fight is outdated and won't be tolerated

Motherfucker this ain't back in the days, but you don't hear me though
Times have changed and some people need to realize that

No more cocoa leave-io, one two three
The culture of using cocaine has dissipated

All of this to me, is a mystery
It's hard to comprehend what's happening in the world

I hear you motherfuckers talk about it
People talk about the violence and problems but don't do anything to solve them

But I stay seein bodies with the motherfuckin chalk around it
He's witnessing firsthand the aftermath of the violence, seeing dead bodies with chalk outlines

And I'm down with the shit too
He's also involved in the dangerous lifestyle

For the stupid motherfuckers wanna try to use kung-fu
Some people think they're tough because they know martial arts, but that's not enough to protect themselves

Instead of a mac-10 he tried scrappin
Choosing to fight with fists instead of a gun

Slugs in his back and, that's what the fucks happenin
That decision ultimately led to his death

When you sleep on the street
People who live on the streets are always vulnerable

Little motherfuckers with heat, want ta leave a nigga six feet deep
Young people with guns are willing to kill for no reason

And we comin to the wake
They'll attend the funeral to show respect and support

To make sure the cryin and commotion ain't a motherfuckin fake
Making sure the tears and emotions aren't just for show

Back in the days, our parents used to take care of us
When his parents were young, they were protective and nurturing

Look at em now, they even fuckin scared of us
Nowadays, parents are afraid of their own children because of how violent things have become

Callin the city for help because they can't maintain
Asking for help from the government because they can no longer control the violence

Damn, shit done changed
The world has become more violent and dangerous, and it's disheartening

If I wasn't in the rap game
If he weren't a rapper

I'd probably have a key knee deep in the crack game
He'd likely be involved in selling drugs

Because the streets is a short stop
The streets offer limited opportunities

Either you're slingin crack rock or you got a wicked jumpshot
Your options are either to sell drugs or become a professional basketball player

Shit, it's hard being young from the slums
Growing up in poverty is difficult

Eatin five cent gums not knowin where your meals comin from
Not having enough money to buy proper food and not knowing where your next meal will come from

And now the shit's gettin crazier and major
Things are getting worse and more dangerous

Kids younger than me, they got the sky grand pagers
Even young children have expensive technology

Goin outta town, blowin up
People are leaving town and making a lot of money

Six months later all the dead bodies showin up
It often leads to violence and death

It make me wanna grab the nine and the shottie
It makes him want to grab his guns

But I gotta go identify the body
Responsibilities he has to take care of first

Damn, what happened to the summertime cookouts?
Another reminder of a simpler time that no longer exists

Everytime I turn around a nigga gettin took out
Unfortunately, violence is everywhere and nobody is safe

Shit, my momma got cancer in her breast
Personal struggles with illness and family issues amidst all the violence

Don't ask me why I'm motherfuckin stressed, things done changed
It's hard not to be stressed with everything that's happening around him