Diamond is Forever

[Intro] Can you hear me now? Good! (Blueprint 2 baby!) The best of times, it was the worst of times (aoww) It's "The Gift & the Curse" [Chorus] R.O.C. yeah, number one clique here If you represent us, throw them diamonds up YEAH Now let's be clear, I ain't goin' nowhere Now that you know, holla at your boy HOV'.. (Hov', Hov', Hov') (Hov', Hov', Hov', Hov') [Overlapping first Chorus] Yeah, Roc-A-Fella Records You know what diamond is We ain't goin' nowhere, put your diamonds up [Verse 1] Standin' in my b-boy stance Free, Beans, Memphis where you at nigga? (Right here) snatch Cam and it's a wrap This here rap belong to us, nobody strong as us, it's a fact Hold up I'm just warmin' up, gimme a second to get it back Young Chris, Neef what? Oschino and Sparks Next summer's yo' summer, tear this motherfucker up Young is eternal, my youngins'll burn you "The Blueprint" birthed you, nigga I earthed you, you can't be serious Young 'cause I'm thirty-two, dressed like I'm twenty-two Flow like a 18, do what I wanna do Goin on my 8th ring, got Phil Jackson's Zen Flow is black magic, I'm at it again Rose Gold with black karats, Horse & Carriage to spend Like Mason Betha, chasin' this cheddar to the end Of the road because the end I'm told is nearer than we know What can I say but live for today, HOV'! [Chorus] R.O.C. yeah, number one clique here If you represent us, throw them diamonds up YEAH Now let's be clear, I ain't goin' nowhere Now that you know, holla at your boy HOV'.. (Hov', Hov', Hov') (Hov', Hov', Hov', Hov') Gyeah [Verse 2] Yeah, The Blueprint 2 homie, follow the moves You put on two tube socks, you couldn't walk in my shoes I was dealt a bad hand, fuck what else could I do But keep somethin' up my sleeve that'll help me through But can you believe, everywhere I'm at, models come through Cat-fightin', cat-walkin', it happens often It's true how society don't want me to move Into the penthouse building with spectacular views They're like uhh, "He's a menace he could never be a tenant" I'm like ooh, what's a young nigga to do? I bring the brothers to the building give a feeling that I don't Give a fuck we just chillin' watchin' chandelier ceilings high as fuck Old lady, don't blow my high 'specially if you don't know my life, don't make me bring Sharpton in it 'cause I'm dark-skinned-ed or Dude with the 'fro and the Rainbow Coalition, I'ma Victim of a single parent household, born in a mouse hole Mousetrap, niggas wanna know How so, how Jay get up out that, here, yeah I snatched purses, I per-se-vered, yeah I had work, fiends purchased, it was clear I was out there sellin' hope for despair, but stop there I swear, I only make good from my mouth to God's ears Had to get out the hood And I can't justify genocide But I was born in the city where the skinny niggas die Born in the city where the skinny niggas ride And as a skinny nigga I had beef with high size [Chorus] R.O.C. yeah, number one clique here If you represent us, throw them diamonds up YEAH Now let's be clear, I ain't goin nowhere Now that you know, holla at your boy HOV'.. (Hov', Hov', Hov') (Hov', Hov', Hov', Hov')