Keep It Real

I'm sayin' this our third joint, you know what I mean?
You gon' tell me about how we shouldn't even come out
With Keep It Real, 'cause mad people sayin' Keep It Real
I'm sayin' my nigga, we not talkin' about keepin' it real
I'm talkin' about real lifestyle, know what I'm sayin'?
This how we get down, man, we ain't talkin' about no
Runnin' around, just gimmicks and all that shit, my nigga
This is the real life jail shit

Yo, believe I paid the dues, man, I started in the game
With my mans on Linden and the van, we drinkin' ghetto champagne

Slingin' rocks and packin' Glocks on the block
Since early in the mornin', I'm sellin' jums from my Reeboks
For treys, nicks and dimes, I write rhymes
But fuck ghetto times, they got the teks doin' crimes
The street life, yeah, that's the only life I know
Where niggas sling rocks, bust shots and push yayo

Sittin' on crates, keep the backs against gates
Every man is insane, he's got the brain like Norman Bates
Timberland boots, ski hats, we pack gats
Got beef across town because we tappin' hoodrats
But they don't want the fam' listenin'
A Southside, Jamaica, Queens fellas get down, man, listen

So what, your crew is X-rated?
Peoples, if you violate, you gettin' violated

Come on and keep it real is the sayin'
That the Lost Boyz a group on fam'
What you all out for true to
And if you feel that you's a real nigga from the street
Throw your hands in the air, we salute you
Bounce it Uptown, bounce it Down South (What?)
Bounce, bounce it Uptown, bounce it Down South (What?)

I had the messed up childhood, dad was mad nappy
I need money in a snap, G, kid, I'm tryin' to blow like Pappy
Fat cap, the street life is where it's at
Niggas peelin' caps, ayo, we gots to stay strapped

Niggas terrified 'cause the crew from the Southside
Is bustin' (No question)
I keep my hair in braids, Talib got dreads
Hangin' out in the Res', wearin' Levi's and Pro Keds
Pourin' beer on the curb for the dead

I had to bring drama to some niggas outta Hempstead
(Ayo, cut this music down, right?
Half the world
Thought the album failed
And it's not, pa, and it's on)
I'm smokin' weed in '96 with my peeps
Cattin' from the police 'cause police is a bunch of creeps

Testin' off the new burners in the park
We sleep during the day, we creep when it's dark
I once had to cry when I seen Tyrone die
It's black-on-black crimes, I cram to understand why
Baby girls havin' kids in the teens
Young fellas, baggy jeans, slingin' rocks to the coke fiends
That's the type of lifestyle that I lead
With my peers on the corner drinkin' beers and smokin' weed
Believe I been through all the struggles and the pain
I'm rippin' out my hairs, but I can't get to my brain

I want the gold teeth and chains, I hustle
In Timberland boots and rain suits when it rains

Bastard fools fakin' moves, pay dues
Give up the cheese, you lose my baby boy and these shoes
And steppin' to the teks, you made an error
You been to the House of Vain, now welcome to my yard of terror

What you think I'm some sucker?
Word to him, I stomp you out with my Timb' chukka
Who? You? Steppin' to the Lost Boyz crew
Boy, you start that, niggas is through

Come on and keep it real is the sayin'
That the Lost Boyz a group on fam'
What you all out for true to
And if you feel that you's a real nigga from the street
Throw your hands in the air, we salute you
Bounce it Uptown, bounce it Down South (What?)
Bounce, bounce it Uptown, bounce it Down South (What?)

See, we live the street life
Like smokin' blunts with the whites, stay on point like a bullet
'Cause every day in Rockaway it's gettin' hotter
Can't do what I wanna, I do what I gotta
Survive, I might not be around in '95
See, I was taught young to be strong and just strive
So nowadays we're packin' gats
We're rack and grimey over funds, I must stash all my son's lunch
A little man to look after
Takin' rap as a joke, but I see no laughter

To my man Charles, who is in Atlanta, NBA

Come on and keep it real is the sayin'
That the Lost Boyz a group on fam'
What you all out for true to
And if you feel that you's a real nigga from the street
Throw your hands in the air, we salute you
Bounce it Uptown, bounce it Down South (What?)
Bounce, bounce it Uptown, bounce it Down South (What?)