Badman Generation

[Verse 1: Idris Elba] Holly Street E8 was my domain Pon the front line before the trendy came And the corner shop man They used to know my name They used to cash the child support When I give em a change London born, west African, first wave Man used to call man a nig nog And call man a slave First generation at the African wave They never want to cause trouble Didn't need to be brave And we used to call the yard man Fucking John Wayne When the revolver pop off on Dalston Lane And the Scotland Yard man couldn't take the strain And an informer boy risked his life everyday My eyes were out and my brain was storing Rolodex pon the mind at the age of 14 Sound boy inna de blood Bad boy pon de mic Pair of Clarks on my feet Man was living alright [Chorus: Idris & Slick Rick] They tried to hold us down but they can't hold we (they can't hold we) They couldn't call my name cause they don't know me (they don't know me) Badman Generation around here Hard times man facing around ye Now trust me dog You choose your path They'll save you and keep you from dying round ye [Verse 2: Slick Rick] Britain is Glisten with Come listen this Sitting in a barber chair Hear a man try fa dis a kid Thought too loose lip I knew this might brew shit And piss mans brethren See em' Leave and go And seize this moment To hurry up Any given time Come in with a nine Homie that's fine Hairline sir' Realize the time Burna cat a man a chat Bout gun a clap Leave, See a SUV Creeping up in front of shop With windows down Flew off block Knew what's up So the next day Swiss cheese junior shop Left shells inside A stuntin Heard em yelling over something A stray killed a 12 year old my youngin Mad news camera Dude tryna move body Who chimed the "Bull Shit" Looking at me too kind of Instead of clout Jail put Said get him out Caught mad dog Because the neighborhood upset about [Chorus: Idris Elba & Slick Rick] They tried to hold us down but they can't hold we (they can't hold we) They couldn't call my name cause they don't know me (they don't know me) Badman Generation around here Hard times man facing around ye Now trust me dog You choose your path They'll save you and keep you from dying round ye [Outro: Slick Rick] Visionary and the poet Destination Victory Peace