The Shit is Real (DJ Premier Remix)

[Intro]

Hey, Joey

Yeah

This is goin' out to all the live motherfuckers, know what I'm sayin'?

All the real niggas, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, California

La Perla, Puerto Rico, whatever the fuck you're from, know what I'm sayin'? Yeah

[Verse 1]

The story takes place back in the South Bronx

Where at the age of fourteen I was already to knockin' off punks (Yeah)

And suckers were scared to death

Every time I walked by I hear them niggas take their last breath (Ahh)

See, I just didn't give a fuck

And if you had a sheep skin or leather bomber you was getting stuck (Word)

That was the way it was

One day I went to visit my aunt and stuck up my cuz

See, shit was fucked up back then

No matter what the fuck I did, I never had no ends

And my moms was on welfare

Ayo, I knew I had a father, but the nigga was never there

So what the fuck was I to do?

I'm sick and tired to being the bummiest nigga out the crew

I gotta get mine, I gotta get cash

I see a old man, I'm gonna rob him with the quick-fast

Gimme your motherfucking loot, papi

I'm gonna get paid and can't a damn thing stop me

See, I'm tired of this poor shit

And who the cops? Well, they can suck my motherfuckin' dick

'Cause all them niggas ever do is harass

That's why I get glad when I hear somebody smoked that ass

Just to let you know how I feel, word 'em up

The fuckin' shit is real

[Chorus]

Ayo, it's real

Down on the— Down on the— Down on the reel-to-reel

Ayo, the shit is real

Down on the— Down on the— Down on the reel-to-reel

Ayo, it's real

Down on the— Down on the— Down on the reel-to-reel

Word, the shit is real

Down on the— Down on the— re— re— re— reel-to-reel

[Verse 2]

Now I'm sixteen and there's a brand new scene (Uh-huh)

I'm makin' mad loot, gettin' paid off the dope fiends (Word)

Keeping shit in checking order

And my main man Tone was fucking everybody else's daughter

See everybody knew in town

That Joe and Tone had shit locked down

And a nigga wouldn't test me

It seems like every other day the fucking cops arrest me (Yeah)

But the shit would never stick

I make one phone call and be out right quick

'Cause Uncle Dan had my back

And now niggas gettin' jealous 'cause they know I'm living fat

Talkin' shit around the way and on the block

But never in my face 'cause they knew I packed the Glock

And my crew is mad deep

A bunch of crazy Puerto Ricans, so, ayo, don't sleep (Word)

And all you bitch-ass niggas know the deal, check it out

The fucking shit is real

[Chorus]

Ayo, it's real

Down on the— Down on the— Down on the reel-to-reel

Ayo, it's real

Down on the— Down on the— Down on the reel-to-reel

The fuckin' shit is real

Down on the re— re— re— re— (Yeah) Down on the reel-to-reel

Ayo, it's real

Down on the re— re— re— (Check it out), reel-to-reel

[Verse 3]

Let me let ya know why I made this song (Why?)

Brothers can't deal with the real, word is bond

I'm sick and tired of these fake-ass niggas

Sayin' that they catchin' bodies when they never pulled a trigger

I know your style (Yeah), I've seen it before (Uh-huh)

You wear an army suit and now you think you're hardcore

Drinkin' on your forties, smokin' on your blunts

Can't afford a chain so you wear gold fronts (Yeah)

You're fakin' the funk, kid

And you'll be gettin' it up the ass if you ever did a fuckin' bid

It's time to separate the real from the phony

The name is Fat Joe, punk, act like you know me

I come equipped with the rough shit

Nowadays I can't believe the bull rappers come up with (Damn)

And all y'all bitch-ass niggas know the deal, check it out

The fucking shit is real

[Chorus]

Ayo, it's real

Down on the— Down on the— Down on the reel-to-reel

Ayo, the shit is real

Down on the— Down on the— Down on the reel-to-reel

Ayo, it's real

Down on the— on the— on the— on— on the reel-to-reel

The fuckin' shit is real

Down on the— Down on the— Down on the reel-to-reel

[Outro]

Word up

I wanna say peace to my peeps the Beatnuts

Mesanjarz Of Funk, Strickly Roots

My man Full Flex, Zulu Nation, Jazzy J in the house

Diamond D, the whole Diggin' In The Crates crew

And rest in peace to my man Tony Montana

Ayo, I'm out, word is bond

The shit is real

Fat— Fat— Fat— Fat Joe's— Fat— Fat— Fat Joe's in town— town

Fat Joe's— Fat— Fat— Fat— Fat Joe's in town— town

Fat Joe's— Fat— Fat— Fat— Fat Joe's in town— town

Fat Joe's— Fat Joe's in town— town (Town)