Mean Streets
Raekwon Feat. Inspectah Deck Ghostface Killah & Suga Bang Lyrics

For these mean streets from Cali to New York
The streets in California and New York are brutal and unforgiving.

Who could ya trust? Niggaz they do talk
It's difficult to know whom to trust because people are always talking and spreading rumors.

Running from the feds and out of state troopers
Trying to avoid being caught by law enforcement agencies like the FBI and state police.

Look up ahead, you know we got sharp shooters
Being on alert and ready for anything, including having trained people available to defend or attack.

The blocks is molded, step up ya sword piece
The streets are dangerous and you need to be prepared to fight or defend yourself.

Moving through them housing with more ki's
Navigating through apartment buildings with more kilograms of drugs.

Rembrandts is fresh from Scotland, crisp hats, Cristal bottles
Showing off luxury items like watches, hats, and champagne bottles.

Niggaz want the problems, we back
Some people are looking for trouble, but we're ready for whatever comes our way.

It's time to take over the game, it's nothing
It's time to become the dominant force in the illegal activities we're involved in.

I live on the line, from corner to castles with pawns and capsules
I exist in a world where I move from street corners to huge houses and I deal with small drug packages and large amounts of drugs.

Scramble and find, my money's up, I'm praying for war
Working hard to make money, hoping for conflict to profit from it.

I do this all the time, all the time, all the time
This is a common occurrence and something I'm always involved in.

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

Swinging cooked raw, if you played the field you was not leaving
Selling drugs, and if you got involved but didn't have success, you weren't walking away.

Fast pace of a CREAM chasing team
Moving quickly like a team that's working hard to earn money.

Trying to come through the hood and lie, get left for dead naked in Queens
People who come to our neighborhood and lie to us will face severe consequences, including death.

Let them other niggaz wear that, we take the credit
Other people can have the small victories, we're after the larger rewards and recognition.

While we was shopping for more Nikes and off-whites
While other people are focused on small stuff, we're shopping for expensive shoes and clothes.

Heroin stirrers, the crib, cracked mirrors
People are preparing heroin at the house, causing damage to the mirrors.

Career thugs who serve only judges and jurors
Criminals who have only been successful in serving time in jail.

Got to make my money this year, whether it's through rhyming or criming
I need to make a lot of money, regardless of whether it's from music or illegal activities.

I'll be on the line with my iron
I'll be out there with my gun, risking everything.

Promised them llamas'll fly fast, quick at pirahnas
My bullets will be fast and accurate, taking out anyone in the way.

Trying to intervene, get caught dead, no head in pijamas
Anyone who tries to stop us will be killed in their sleep, without even having time to put on clothes.

You live like a slouch from vouchers
You live a low-quality life and it shows.

Nobody mad, you was a fake, dead, die with no trousers
Nobody cares that you were a liar, you'll die without any dignity.

Cause you crossed the line like Miller's Crossing
You went too far and you knew it, like in the movie Miller's Crossing.

Off with ya dome, I walked you through the woods, we both smoked a bone
You messed up and now you're going to die. I'm calm enough to even walk you through your last moments with me by your side, smoking weed.

The streets stay flooded with crack rocks and Mac shots
The streets are always filled with drugs and weapons.

The scenery's money, guerrillas in the back drop
The environment is designed to create wealth, but has dangerous people in the background.

The livest'll pop, the weakest get chopped where they stand
The best people will succeed and those who can't handle it will be quickly defeated.

Singing the judge's name, dropped in the stand
Surrendering and naming others in court.

Drug money kills, blood on my bills, mud on my Nikes
Drug money leads to violence, and I have evidence of this on my money and shoes.

Only buying with the couple that I trust with my life
Only dealing with people I know I can rely on and who won't betray me.

Twenty four sev' ducking the feds, infrared wiyh lead
Avoiding law enforcement all day, every day, with guns that are equipped with infrared sights.

Gamble with off track betting instead
Taking risks in more legal ways, like betting on horse races that aren't on a track.

In my hood anybody can get it, and everybody want it
Anyone can be a victim and everyone wants to earn money or gain power.

Cutthroat executives, the corners, the office
People at the top of the criminal enterprise, people selling drugs on the street corner, and people inside an office building are all ruthless in their pursuit of money and power.

And the thought is to be boss of all bosses
Everyone wants to be the most powerful and successful person in the industry.

The cost is ya life, swimming with sharks and orcas
The price of being at the top is incredibly high, including risking your life and dealing with dangerous people.

So keep ya guards up, or get scarred up
Stay alert and be prepared, or you'll get hurt.

It's a Cold World, I told you with Allah Just'
The world is cruel and unforgiving, something that's been made clear through religious teachings.

The bigger the funds, the bigger the guns that's blazing
The more money you have, the more powerful and dangerous your weapons will be.

It's sick in the slums and niggaz are stunting for nathin'
Life is tough in the poor neighborhoods and people are trying to look cool and successful without actually having anything to show for it.

Ayo, my gun been in more niggaz mouths than a whore had dick
I've threatened more people with my gun than a prostitute has had sex.

With creamy nuts on the side of her jaw
With semen on the side of her mouth.

It's Rigatone, nigga, sliding through airports
This is Rigatone's territory and he's moving through airports unnoticed.

Riding on niggaz like MJ, same day I rocked you, comprende?
Going after people quickly and confidently, like Michael Jordan in basketball. Do you get what I'm saying?

Yeah, I'm kinda off cuz my guns was dirty
I'm not quite myself because my guns were used and need to be cleaned.

That last joint that hit you, kid, you made the top thirty
That last time you were shot, it was a significant event that made it onto the news.

Early, walk with me and strap with a vengeance
Come with me and bring your gun with anger and determination.

More or less Ghostface Killah'll stretch you out like mad words in a sentence
Ghostface Killah will kill you and make it seem effortless, like the length of a sentence.

Smell the gas burning (yeah) feel the fire (word)
The danger is close and intense, causing anxiety and fear.

Real talk, it's not that bullshit from The Wire
This is real danger and crime, not a TV show like The Wire.

It's them disco kids that clap iron
Young people who should be going to clubs are instead using guns to kill.

Champion hoods, if ya coke don't freeze, my face is not worth frying
Drug dealers who are the best in their neighborhood, but won't risk losing money by letting their cocaine be ruined.

We crack eightballs with pool sticks
We're good at breaking up cocaine into smaller packages using pool sticks.

Bungee jump off a mountain of bricks
Taking risks, even if it's dangerous or potentially deadly.

Fuck you up if you slinging those nicks
If you're dealing with low-level drugs, we'll harm you.

Toney Starks from the octagon, my ox is on
I'm Toney Starks, a nickname for Ghostface Killah, and I'm ready to fight with my firearm.

Snap Matt Hughes' neck with my boxers on
I could even take on a professional fighter, like Matt Hughes, while wearing only my underwear.

For these mean streets from Cali to New York
The streets in California and New York are brutal and unforgiving.

Who could ya trust? Niggaz they do talk
It's difficult to know whom to trust because people are always talking and spreading rumors.

Running from the feds and out of state troopers
Trying to avoid being caught by law enforcement agencies like the FBI and state police.

Look up ahead, you know we got sharp shooters
Being on alert and ready for anything, including having trained people available to defend or attack.