Why We Die

[Intro: DMX]

Ugh

This here some shit that—that—that niggas ain't even seen before

This that shit

Motherfuckers ain't never seen nothing like this before

For real, man

It's goin', down, baby

Ugh, ugh

Busta Rhymes

What!

Ugh

DMX, nigga

Ugh, ugh

Ugh, ugh, ugh

[Verse 1: DMX]

I see ghosts clearly, even though most don't hear me

They still wanna get near me (Ungh), fear me, so I'm leary

Kinda eerie what I'm feeling (What)

From the floor, to the ceilin', straight through the roof

Want the truth? I kinda miss robbin' and stealin' (C'mon!)

'Cause it kept a nigga hungry, only eatin' when I starved (Ugh)

I was ugly, so I robbed; no one loved me—shit was hard (C'mon!)

Went to God once in a while when it got a little too hectic

He was the only one I knew that I respected (Why?)

Didn't know why, didn't know what I was livin' was a lie

If I ain't shit, then why should I try? (Unh!)

See, plenty niggas die over dumb shit up in the hood

Real good heart, but up to no good (Damn!)

Thought I did what I could, but I guess it wasn't enough (Uh-huh)

The Devil told me it would happen, but I kept callin' his bluff (Uh-huh)

When it rains, it pours; now, my pains are yours

As yours are what's mine—define revolvin' doors (Nigga!)

[Chorus: Busta Rhymes]

(Why?) All my niggas tell me (Why) tell me (We die)

'Cause we crazy with it (Hunh!), quick to blaze you with it (Ha!)

From in my soul to every word that I curse

With all the agony expressed in this verse

Let me ask my niggas (Why?)

My niggas, tell me (Why) tell me (We die)

Because we Gods nigga (And) we go the yard, nigga

Because I walk the ground under my feet (Huh)

And keep it live and stay in tune with the street

Now let me ask my niggas (Why?)

[Verse 2: Jay-Z]

Ugh, yo, they say the good die young in the hood where I'm from

I only got one question to that: Why the fuck am I here?

I look to the air, ask God, "Love me, please"

But in reality, only people that hug me is thieves

Same niggas that send shots through my rugby sleeves

They wanna slug me and leave, I'm thinkin' it must be me

Please shed light, the hood's dark

I did my dirt but got a good heart—

Shouldn't that count for somethin'?

I was told I'd amount to nothin' most of my childhood life

By folks that was stuntin' my growth

Separated me from the shit I was wantin' the most

Felt myself comin' close to pumpin' them O's

Lump in my throat, chest poked out, face was poker

Tryin' to erase my ghostses, chase the smokers

Got demons on both shoulders

Tryin' to chauffeur my life through the streets

In other words, nigga, my will was weak

Please feel what I speak

This ain't your average, ordinary, jargon, weak rap niggas be talkin'

This shit is deep, from the mind of Busta, X, and me

To all my fallen soldiers, rest in peace, 'til we meet, niggas

[Chorus: Busta Rhymes]

(Why?) All my niggas tell me (Why) tell me, ah! (We die)

'Cause we crazy with it (Hunh), quick to blaze you with it (Ha!)

From in my soul to every word that I curse (Ah)

With all the agony expressed in this verse (Ha)

Let me ask my niggas (Why?)

My niggas tell me (Why) tell me, ah! (We die)

Because we Gods, nigga (And) we go the yard nigga

Because I walk the ground under my feet (Huh! Ha!)

And keep it live and stay in tune with the street

Now let me ask my niggas (Why?)

[Verse 3: Busta Rhymes]

You must be cuckoo, like I respect the new-you, never

See, you too could get it through your FUBU sweater

Like a nigga when he walk in the dark

Trespassin' on a nigga land, shots echo loud in the park

I live and die for all the shit I believe

And rep for everything I stand for with every single breath I breathe

Like the intake from cigarette smoke

It's like you inhale the demon in the gutter, stressed, struggled, and broke

If the shit was all over tomorrow

I'd leave a treasure for my kids with a legacy for my children to follow

You know it's funny how the good die first

Get the peppin' in your steppin', faggot nigga 'cause you could die worse

Hold on, you know I cut off my arm

In the name of reppin' real niggas in the midst of droppin' this bomb

Allah blessin' me to rep for the better

And carry on something great and keep a nigga name livin' forever

Now tell me—

[Chorus: Busta Rhymes]

(Why?) All my niggas tell me (why) tell me, ah! (we die)

'Cause we crazy with it (Hunh!), quick to blaze you with it (Ha!)

From in my soul to every word that I curse

With all the agony expressed in this verse

Let me ask my niggas (Why?)

My niggas tell me (why) tell me, ah! (we die)

Because we Gods nigga (and) we go the yard nigga (Ha!)

Because I walk the ground under my feet (Hunh!)

And keep it live and stay in tune with the street

Now let me ask my niggas (Why?)