History
Raekwon Lyrics

It's all about history man
This song is about our past and the lessons we can learn from it.

Turn it up
Listen closely and pay attention.

We school y'all young folks man
We're teaching the younger generation what they need to know.

Y'all need to know what time it is
You need to understand the reality of our history.

Turn it up son
Listen carefully to what I'm saying.

Let me add on this shit
Let me tell you more about our history.

Hear the horns nigga
Listen to the sounds of our past.

Hear that trumpet man
Pay attention to the music that represents the past.

Let's go back to day one
Let's start at the beginning of our story.

This some edumacation
This is educational information that people need to know.

Aiyo
Listen up, I have something important to say.

It's like 'Once Upon a Time in America', the pick pocket era
Our history is like the movie 'Once Upon a Time in America', with people stealing and trying to survive.

The Gucci loafers, old nigas in holes up
Older men were holed up in their homes, wearing expensive shoes.

Violent young killers who've got jobs
There were young people who worked but also chose to be violent and harm others.

And grown niggas wanna test us and get dressed up, we vest up
Older, more experienced men want to challenge us but we prepare and protect ourselves.

Polo gowns for bitches, rich niggas hooded clowns
Wealthy men dressed flamboyantly, while some women wore expensive clothing as well.

Played my shit, get strength, come pulling down
My music inspired people to feel strong and powerful.

My poster, it meant police post up
When my poster was displayed, police would often monitor that area.

If Chef come back they let out Sosa
If Raekwon returns, everyone will be excited.

Yo, you know the dilly, who willies, we night time killies
You know the deal, we are dangerous people who strike at night.

Of colleagues who used to smoke cocaine broccolis
My colleagues and I used to abuse drugs.

Fans of old school niggas, we rose 2Pac and paying for him
We admired and supported older artists like 2Pac.

Might hit the gun range on him
We might choose to practice shooting at a firing range.

Yo, all of us kings men, we blings the Ming M
We are powerful and wealthy, and we wear expensive jewelry.

Made that choice, so stay back, this how the team win
We made the decision to work together and that's how we become successful.

Who you think is wrong? Breathe as Indians, one leader
It doesn't matter who's right or wrong, we're all in this together and should follow one leader.

One mad can take on an whole army, I know Cheeber
Even one person can be strong enough to defeat an entire army. I have confidence in myself.

Back to the kitchen with the baking soda, he ain't throw up
I'm going back to sell drugs even though I'm not feeling well.

Lax in them buildings, I max while I bailed
I was relaxed while committing crimes and making money, and then I fled.

Yo, post Avenue vet, repped them corners yo
I'm a veteran from Post Avenue and represent my neighborhood.

It's like a Goines novels, you can bet I'm coigning coins
My life is like something out of a Goines novel, and I'm making a lot of money.

Follow the path, it's real and it's hardbody
The path to success is difficult, but it's a true and solid path.

Soon as the Purple Tape come I'm doing hard copy
As soon as my album is released, I'm going to make copies and sell them.

And it's with some whities, yeah my favourite is Jay Leno
I'm going to work with white people, and my favorite one is Jay Leno.

Yeah Rae you living out the project windows, yo
You're living in the projects and everyone can see you.

I make my own Casadias, cats catching me in Barrakee
I'm making my own food and people are noticing me in Barrakee.

Or Columbia, honey named Jiah Poppy
I'm also making connections with women named Jiah Poppy, in Columbia.

These industry niggas is soft
People in the music industry are weak and not tough like us.

Let a nigga puts his hand on you when busting off the wall
If someone tries to touch you while you're performing, fight back.

Fall back to the labba, the dynasty where my grimies be
Go back to the recording studio, where my close friends are.

We gonna stay grinding till the age ninety
We're going to keep working and making music until we're 90 years old.