Mean Streets
Raekwon/Inspectah Deck/Ghostface Killah Lyrics

For these mean streets from Cali to New York
The streets across America are dangerous and no one can be trusted.

Who could ya trust? Niggaz they do talk
It's hard to find trustworthy people since word travels fast in these streets.

Running from the feds and out of state troopers
The crew is always on the run, avoiding law enforcement.

Look up ahead, you know we got sharp shooters
Ahead of them are skilled shooters equipped with weapons.

The blocks is molded, step up ya sword piece
The game is tough and dangerous and you need to be prepared to defend yourself.

Moving through them housing with more ki's
The team is navigating through neighborhoods carrying multiple kilos of drugs.

Rembrandts is fresh from Scotland, crisp hats, Cristal bottles
They have plenty of money to afford luxury items like expensive alcohol and hats.

Niggaz want the problems, we back
Their rivals are looking for trouble, but the crew is ready to fight back.

It's time to take over the game, it's nothing
They are ready to dominate the drug game and won't let anyone stop them.

I live on the line, from corner to castles with pawns and capsules
The dealer lives a life of extremes, from selling drugs on the corner to running an empire.

Scramble and find, my money's up, I'm praying for war
The dealer is constantly trying to secure his money and hopes for conflict to expand his territory.

I do this all the time, all the time, all the time
He is used to this lifestyle and the risks that come with it.

Faces of Doom, sling in the lobby
Dangerous people are dealing drugs in the open area of a building.

Swinging cooked raw, if you played the field you was not leaving
If you were involved in the drug trade and messed up, you would end up dead.

Fast pace of a CREAM chasing team
Their team is hustling and working hard to make money.

Trying to come through the hood and lie, get left for dead naked in Queens
If someone tries to deceive or disrespect them, they will be punished severely.

Let them other niggaz wear that, we take the credit
Others can have the fame, the dealer and his team only care about the money.

While we was shopping for more Nikes and off-whites
As other people are flashing their wealth, the team is discreetly buying more shoes and clothes.

Heroin stirrers, the crib, cracked mirrors
They are involved with dangerous drugs and live in a run-down place.

Career thugs who serve only judges and jurors
They only answer to themselves and have no allegiance to anyone else, even when facing legal trouble.

Got to make my money this year, whether it's through rhyming or criming
They will do whatever it takes to make money, even if it means engaging in illegal activity.

I'll be on the line with my iron
He is always ready to use his gun.

Promised them llamas'll fly fast, quick at pirahnas
Their guns are powerful and they will use them quickly and efficiently against their enemies like piranhas attacking prey.

Trying to intervene, get caught dead, no head in pijamas
Anyone who tries to stop them will be killed without hesitation.

You live like a slouch from vouchers
Living off government assistance is pathetic to them.

Nobody mad, you was a fake, dead, die with no trousers
They don't care when a fake person dies and they will go out undignified.

Cause you crossed the line like Miller's Crossing
If someone violates their trust, they will be punished like in the movie Miller's Crossing.

Off with ya dome, I walked you through the woods, we both smoked a bone
He will kill someone, disposing their body in the woods and then relax with a joint.

The streets stay flooded with crack rocks and Mac shots
The streets are filled with drugs and gun violence.

The scenery's money, guerrillas in the back drop
The streets are all about money and there are always violent people lurking in the background.

The livest'll pop, the weakest get chopped where they stand
Only the strongest will survive and weaker people will easily be taken down.

Singing the judge's name, dropped in the stand
People turn on each other very quickly and will snitch in court, betraying their associates.

Drug money kills, blood on my bills, mud on my Nikes
The dirty money from drugs has deadly consequences and they are not ashamed of this because they are making lots of money.

Only buying with the couple that I trust with my life
They only do business with a very select few people that they know won't betray them.

Twenty four sev' ducking the feds, infrared wiyh lead
They are dodging law enforcement 24/7 and are always armed with weapons.

Gamble with off track betting instead
They find alternative ways to make money through underground gambling.

In my hood anybody can get it, and everybody want it
Everyone is willing to fight and do whatever it takes to gain wealth and power.

Cutthroat executives, the corners, the office
Everyone is aggressive in pursuing success, whether they are on the corners selling drugs or in the corporate world.

And the thought is to be boss of all bosses
Everyone wants to be the best and in control of everything.

The cost is ya life, swimming with sharks and orcas
Being a boss means swimming with dangerous and deadly people.

So keep ya guards up, or get scarred up
People always need to stay alert and ready to protect themselves.

It's a Cold World, I told you with Allah Just'
The world is unforgiving and only the strong survive.

The bigger the funds, the bigger the guns that's blazing
The more money one has, the more dangerous and powerful they become.

It's sick in the slums and niggaz are stunting for nathin'
People in poor areas are risking their lives for very little reward.

Ayo, my gun been in more niggaz mouths than a whore had dick
His gun has been used to threaten and kill more people than a prostitute sleeping around.

With creamy nuts on the side of her jaw
Making a crude reference to oral sex acts.

It's Rigatone, nigga, sliding through airports
He is flying through airports undetected with illegal substances.

Riding on niggaz like MJ, same day I rocked you, comprende?
He easily beats his enemies, even on the same day that he fought someone else.

Yeah, I'm kinda off cuz my guns was dirty
He is mentally off because he killed someone and didn't clean his gun properly.

That last joint that hit you, kid, you made the top thirty
The last person he killed made the news as one of the top 30 murders in the city.

Early, walk with me and strap with a vengeance
He is always ready to fight and will bring deadly force to any situation.

More or less Ghostface Killah'll stretch you out like mad words in a sentence
Ghostface Killah will torture and kill someone in a slow and painful manner like long sentences are stretched out.

Smell the gas burning (yeah) feel the fire (word)
Tensions are high and a violent conflict is about to begin.

Real talk, it's not that bullshit from The Wire
Their lifestyle is not glamorous like a TV show, it's violent and harsh.

It's them disco kids that clap iron
It's young gangsters who shoot guns recklessly.

Champion hoods, if ya coke don't freeze, my face is not worth frying
They are the best in their area and if they don't succeed, it's not worth risking their lives.

We crack eightballs with pool sticks
They use unconventional methods to break up cocaine and prepare it for sale.

Bungee jump off a mountain of bricks
They will take extreme risks to make money.

Fuck you up if you slinging those nicks
They are willing to harm someone over a small amount of drugs.

Toney Starks from the octagon, my ox is on
He is a dangerous fighter, skilled in martial arts.

Snap Matt Hughes' neck with my boxers on
He can easily kill a professional fighter with his bare hands.