Masquerade
Wyclef Jean [feat. M.O.P. Bumpy Knuckles & Miri] Lyrics

The streets is mad right now (tell em' why we mad!)
There is a lot of anger on the streets currently and we need to express why.

Rappers whatever you call yourselves pack your bags and get outta town
All rappers should leave town immediately as I plan to take revenge on those who are trying to harm the neighbourhood.

'Cause I'ma strike down on thee with grave vengeance and furious anger
I will come after them with great vengeance and anger.

Those who attempt to poison the hood
Anyone trying to harm the neighbourhood will face the consequences.

I'ma let y'all know the preacher's son is back! (Waiya!)
I am the preacher's son and I'm back to protect my neighbourhood.

Yo, you're number one on the charts! (You're a masquerade!)
Being number one on the charts doesn't mean you're authentic or real.

Paying for your Billboard slots! (You're a masquerade!)
Paying to get on the Billboard charts doesn't make you a true artist.

Because the block knows hot! (You're a masquerade!)
The neighbourhood knows who the real artists are, and it's not those who buy their way into the charts.

You're livin' in a, you're livin in a (Masquerade!)
Those who pretend to be real but are not, are only living in a masquerade.

I'm on first so this ain't a rap verse it's more like a voodoo curse
My verse is not like a typical rap, but more like a curse that will bring bad luck to those who are not authentic.

So when you die kids'll throw rocks at your hearse
When you pass away, people will disrespect you by throwing rocks at your funeral procession.

'Cause you lie too much you ain't got no gat at your arms reach
You talk too much and cannot be trusted to have a weapon ready.

Just aimed it at your headpiece now you pissin' in your briefs
If I had a gun and aimed it at your head, you'd be so scared you'd wet your pants.

Hold up we just saw you on your BET, your MTV
We saw you on TV, so don't pretend you're from the streets.

Your public access channel talkin' bout 'I'm a thug!'
You're pretending to be a thug on public access TV.

You're an animal, a cannibal, you even scared Hannibal
You're a wild and dangerous person, even more so than Hannibal Lecter.

But when the blackout came, no lights for your candles
When the blackout happened, you didn't have any electricity to light your candles.

So welcome to the real world where a spade is a spade
Welcome to the real world, where things are straightforward and honest.

And I'ma call it like I see it and ya'll livin in a masquerade
I am going to speak the truth and call things as they are, and you are living in an illusion, pretending to be something you're not.

Even though Jacob iced you out with the baguette
Even though you're wearing expensive jewelry, it doesn't make you genuine.

Money with no respect, that makes you a suspect
Just because you have money, doesn't automatically give you respect.

So you can't ride through Brownsville
You can't drive through Brownsville as it's a dangerous neighbourhood and you'll get into trouble.

You wan't peace, you better call Churchill
If you want peace in the neighbourhood, you better negotiate with me.

If not feel Clef when he connects with M.O.P. family
If you don't talk to me, you'll feel the wrath of Clef when he connects with M.O.P. family.

And plays guitar at your eulogy
I will play guitar at your funeral.

You wanna claim you run the blocks! (You're a masquerade!)
You are pretending to run the neighbourhood, but in reality, you're just a fake.

Givin' information to the cops! (You're a masquerade!)
You're telling the police about others in the neighbourhood, but you're not what you say you are.

How come you've never seen a rock! (You're a masquerade!)
You are pretending to be a gangster, but you've never been hit with a rock or faced any real danger.

Now you grimey little bastards line up, times up, I'm up
All the fake people should line up now as their time is up, and I'm ready to confront them.

(They see it) William Danze'll show you how to get it crunk
William Danze will show you how real music should be done.

(I'm still) plottin' with Fox (to death) I do it with Clef
I'm still plotting with Fox, and I will do it with Clef until fake artists are eliminated.

(Forever) We're world mackin' thats to the death
We are real artists, and we will do this for the rest of our lives.

Nigga blast (blast) blast royalty you dumpsters better get back
If you're fake, you should leave, or else you'll face consequences.

Before you get a setback and get clapped
Leave now before you face defeat and lose.

That's it and that's that, clap!
The decision has been made, and there's no turning back now.

(Blow! Blow! Blow! Blow! Blow! Blow! Blow! Blow! Blow! Blow! Blow! Blow!)
Sound of gunfire.

Now I'm gone nigga haul that
I'm leaving, and you should accept defeat.

Take all that and fall back
Take everything you have and retreat.

I kick too much ass (kick ass) to rock shoes by Prada
I am too real and too hard to wear expensive Prada shoes.

Fuck Gucci shoes Timbs mo' hotter (hah)
I prefer to wear Timbs instead of Gucci as it's more authentic and represents realness.

We still grip arms Brook Norm down shit
We still carry weapons and ready to protect our neighbourhood, especially at Brook Norm.

The street don't want that watered down shit
People in the neighbourhood don't like fake and watered-down music.

Nigga Fame we clear the whole stage (uh)
Nigga Fame and I can clear out the whole stage as we're too real for fake artists.

You don't wanna ride with us niggas we got road rage!
Don't mess with us, we have road rage, and we're ready to show it.

Now I'ma let my hoods out! (You're a masquerade!)
I'm going to expose all the fake artists and let my neighbourhood know.

Unless you feedin' the dogs! (You're a masquerade!)
Unless you're doing something good for the hood, you're a fake artist.

That's why we steal and we rob! (You're a masquerade!)
We're forced to steal and rob as the fake artists are taking all the attention, money and resources.

Sixteen bars of murder here murder baby this ain't a facade
My verse is not fake, it's real, and I'm bringing the truth.

Niggas pumping they fist like they punchin' at God
People are responding to my verse, pumped up, like they're punching God.

Over ten years rippin' emcees I bring it hard
I've been in this game for over ten years, and I bring it real and hard.

Don't make me split your chest and pull your guard
Don't make me harm you severely.

R&B singer the greatest and now barred
Even a great R&B singer was exposed as fake and eliminated from the hood.

'Cause he been feelin' on booties of too young cuties
Because he's been touching underage girls.

Got more bombs left you punk niggas
I have more ammunition left, and I'm ready to use it against fake people.

Reach to shake the Bumpy hand you got no arms left
Don't try to befriend me or Bumpy as it'll be your downfall.

You ain't a pimp nigga you ain't a mack
You're not a real 'pimp' or 'mack', you're just pretending.

You keep bitches in the house all day I keep them on the track
You keep girls locked up inside while I'm the one who trains and disciplines them on the track.

Drinkin' coke cold wearin' long mink coats black
Drinking cold Coca-Cola while wearing long, black mink coats.

Hear them twelve inch stillettos tappin' through the ghetto
Hearing the sound of twelve-inch stilettos walking through the ghetto.

I can see it in your eyes lil nigga you ain't a part
I can tell from your eyes that you're not really a part of this world.

Of shake a niggas hand, shake a nigga hard
It takes more to be a part of this hood than just shaking someone's hand, you have to be real and hard.

I keep the underground in shape and never be soft
I keep things real and authentic in the underground scene.

You wanna make it like the fat naked bitches turnin' me off!
Making it in the music industry feels like looking at unattractive, overweight women, it doesn't turn me on.

Miri Ben-Ari won't you take 'em to the Middle East
Miri Ben-Ari, won't you take them away from here, and show them the music from the Middle East.

Uh uh uh (uh) uh (uh)
Vocal ad-lib.

Yeah (yeah) yeah (uh) yeah (yeah) waiya!
Vocal ad-lib.