The Illest Brother

[Chorus]

Gotta be the illest brother to claim respect

It takes the illest brother just to get respect

Got to be the illest brother when it's time to get wreck

Got to be the illest brother when I get my mic check

[Verse 1: Guru]

I'm one of the illest brothers known to man

But if you don't understand, see I'm a grown man

And I stand 5'8" and 3 quarters

Giving orders to my squadron 'cause I'm like the sergeant

Or general but let me keep this minimal

I used to hang with kids who like to live trife with a knife

Cutting kids for fun and pulling out much guns

And like riflery champs, fellas start to get amped

Dead bodies lay stamped to the pavement so I gave it some thought

Remembering the brothers who are gone now

I'll make a strong vow to make things right

Ignite the mic, get hype, and all that

Suckers try to menace, but they always fall flat

To the ground, as I astound, come around

I'll put you down about the brothers who think they're boss

Think they're getting large but in the end they pay the cost

Of their lives, and that ain't the way to go out

Even take their boys with 'em, 'cause they know their boys will go out

But when it comes to facing some time

They're like crying, like weeping, wanna call Mom Dukes

But Mom Dukes is fed, fed up with the shit you did

She knows that you shot and she knows that you crippled kids

But who's to judge when you're trying to survive

The one who moves first might be the one to stay alive

So when you think you're hard and dominating the set

Just remember, the illest brother claims respect

[Scratch Break: DJ Premier]

[Verse 2: Guru]

Like I said, I'm an ill kid, so never dare test me

They wanna arrest me, 'cause I'm causing a frenzy

Fake gangsters come and fake gangsters go

Real gangsters chill, 'cause real gangsters know

That quietly you stalk your prey on the down low

'Cause too much talk will get you beef on the street

And brothers in the city have to live this way

It may cause dismay, but I'ma tell it anyway

Yo, guns are easy to get, and like a puppet

Some young kid is gonna be the subject

Of internal oppression, an example of hard times

To make it out the trap in your mind is a hard climb

But even if you change and come right and exact

There's another brother scheming, so just watch your back

I know a brother who thought he had it all

But little did he know he was bound for a downfall

He'd pick up the heater and go stick somebody

He wouldn't give a damn if he killed somebody

'Cause if somebody would get in the way of him getting loot

There'd be no hesitation – he'd just shoot

It's like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Except it's reality and you don't see it on TV

Brothers keep dying in the streets, 'cause the streets are designed

To keep you from having peace of mind

I know an old man, he's got a rifle to stifle any young punk

He hides it under his bunk

And I know a kid who's been to jail, and

He told me that the system had failed him

So now he's out the joint and he's like flippin' on kids

And the people in his neighborhood are flippin' their wigs

But you gotta check the moves, 'cause there's a reason

A method to the madness, and you know what I'm meaning

'Cause rather than being the herb, vic, or chump

You can be just like my man cold holding the pump

But living like that, you take a chance with your life

But some things in life, sometimes, will make you uptight

I'm like an avalanche of knowledge pounding down all fools

All fakes, all snakes, and ones who try to break the rules

And regulations, stipulations made by the Gang Starr

You try to flex muscle, you know you can't hang hops

You're making me vexed, but yeah, you can go next

Just remember, the illest brother claims respect

[Scratch Break: DJ Premier]

[Chorus]

Gotta be the illest brother to claim respect

It takes the illest brother just to get respect

Got to be the illest brother when it's time to get wreck

Got to be the illest brother when I get my mic check

[Verse 3: Guru]

Yo, money don't front, you know you blew your chance

And now it's my turn, so I'ma take command

'Cause I'm like the one who's got all the juice

I always get loose, I got the balls to reduce

Your crew, very easily, I got more ammo

I'm like the ill kid, psycho man, yeah

'Cause now I'm past the point and I ain't gonna return

And when it comes to your destruction, I ain't really concerned

About the consequences, 'cause I'm living day to day

So who are you to comment about me and my ways?

I get my attitude from living and I'll never forget

You got to be the illest brother, just to claim respect

[Outro: Richard Pryor sample]

"The worst thing about jail is – your woman come and visits you, man

And they get funky when a nigga's locked up, right

You behind 8 inches of glass, you can't reach them motherfuckers

Right, she be talkin' about, 'I never did like your momma'

Who are you talkin' to?!

'Talkin' to you, nigga! You the one in jail!'"