Lyrics:

[Jay-Z: talking]
I know you can feel the magic baby
Turn the muthafuckin' lights down
Esco watup?

[Nas: talking]
What up homie

[Jay-Z: talking]
I mean
This is what you expected ain't it?
Let's Go
Uh Uh [repeated]
Turn the music up in the headphones
Yah, that's perfect

You gotta take your time by making a nigga wait on this muthafucka
make a nigga mad and shit like
Niggaz usually start rapping after 4 bars nigga go in
I could start dancin on this muthafucka, yeah
We just come out of nowhere

[Jay-Z:]
I feel like a black republican,money i got comin in
Can't turn my back on the hood, i got love for dem
Can't clean my act up for good, too much thug in em
Prolly end up back in the hood, like fuck it then

Huddling over the oven, we was like brothers then
Though you was nothing another then the son of my mother's friend
We had governin', who would have thought the love would end
Like ice cold albums, all good things
never thought we'd sing the same song that all hoods sing
Thought it was all wood grain, all good brain
We wouldn't bicker like the other fools, talk good game
Never imagine all of the disaster that one could bring
Could bring? Should blame the game, and I could
It's kill or be killed, how could I refrain
Forever be in debt and that's never a good thing
The pressure of success can put a good strain
on a friend you call best, and yes it could bring
Out of the worst in every person, even the good saint
But though we rehearsed it, it just ain't tha same
When ya put in the game at age sixteen
Then you mix things like cars, jewelry, and this thing
Jealously, ego and pride and this brings
it all to a head, like a coin, chit ching
The root of all evil strikes again, this could sting
Now the team got beef between the post and the point
This puts the ring in jeopardy. (It definitely).

I feel like a black republican,money i got comin in
Can't turn my back on the hood, i got love for em
Can't clean my act up for good, too much thug in em
Prolly in the back of the hood, I'm like fuck it then

[Nas:]
I feel like black militant, taking over the government
Can't turn my back on the hood, too much love em
Can't clean up my act up for good, too much thug in em
Probly end up back in the hood, I'm like fuck it then

I'm back in the hood, they're like "Hey Nas"
Blowin on purp, reflecting on they lives
Couple of fat cats, couple of A I's
Dreamin' of fly shit, instead of the grey skies
Gray 5's, hate eyes, wishin our reign dies
Pitch sling pies, and niggaz they sing "why?"
Guess they ain't strong enough to handle their jailtime
Weak minds keep tryin', follow the street signs
I'm standing on the roof of my building,
I'm feeling the whirlwind of beef I inhale in,
just like an acrobat, ready to hurl myself through the hoops of fire
Sippin 80 proof, bulletproof under my attire
Could it be the forces of darkness, against hood angels of good, that form street politics?
Makes a sweet honest kid turn to illegal for commerce, to get his feet out of them Converse(that's my word).

I feel like a black republican,money keep comin in
Can't turn my back on the hood, i got love for em
Can't clean my act up for good, too much thug in em
Prolly in the back of the hood, I fuck it then

I feel like black militant, taking over the government
Can't turn my back on the hood, too much love em
Can't clean up my act up for good, too much thug in em
Prolly in the back of the hood, I'm like fuck it then