Crosstown Beef

[Intro: Mos Def]

[Keep rising] Medina Green

[Keep rising] DCQ

[Keep rising] Lord Ato

[Keep rising] the Mighty Mos Def

[Keep rising] can't forget Ces

[Keep keep keep...] Mercenary from the De La

[Keep rising to the top...] Lace the beats up tight, yo tell 'em D

[Verse 1: DCQ]

4 A.M. laid up at the rest

Got a call made my heart jump out my chest

My man's got beef at the dance, exits is blocked

Enemies outside with they heat pon cock

He said that if he goes outside

He knows he gon' get clapped

(My man from way back)

Ain't going out like that

He got peoples in the club and his ties is strong

But he know that they can only hold it down for so long

So now he's trapped off and he's calling on me

To come and represent like I'm G.O.D

Of course I must agree, cuz this is family

If tables was turned he would do it for me

So now I'm hopping out my bed

Ready put a nigga never seen 'pon dead

Guess a black man can't have no peace

Pull out my heat

Woke up out my sleep over crosstown beef

[Chorus]

Crosstown beef be like crosstown traffic, (DCQ) thick!

Brothers be on some real shit

Everyman get scared when prepared for confrontation

"When the slugs penetrate you feel a burning sensation"

Crosstown beef be like crosstown traffic, (DCQ) thick!

Brothers be on some real shit

Everyman get scared when prepared for confrontation

"Getting closer to God, in a tight situation"

[Verse 2: Mos Def]

Yo check it

It was a Friday in the month of may

Around the time when everybody put they game on play

See my girl was out of T so it was all on me

I figured I would hit the metro on the mad L.D

Now everybody know what the spring time is about

Players polish up they game cause the shorties be out

I was rocking jew-els and my wears was crisp

My man said there was a jam that I should not miss

I hopped in the livery without a moment to spare

And when I rolled up on the function everybody was there

I was catching sexy stares from the shams in the rear

Saw my peers and heads I haven't seen in years

Now I was getting caught up in the nightlife mix

Then I see my main man from my old time clique

"Oh shit, not my nigga Mos Def in the house"

"Oh shit baby-paw, I ain't know you came home"

We talked about that and this and way back since

When I seen a caravan sporting wild dark tints

Had its window half cracked and was cruising slow

And was circling the block like they was po-po

Said I was jibbing with my man so I paid it no mind

That's when the shots rang out from the passenger side

It was a forty-five bark that made us all duck down

Girls was letting out screams as shells hit the ground

I was looking for my man so we both could split

That's when he turned to me and said "yo Mos I'm hit"

I guess the street life don't leave a nigga alone

Laced up at the party and he just came home

If he survive I know he goin' retaliate

If he don't, they bought theyself a burial plate

Either way situation status on code red

I'm on the horn to tell the fam its on like ConEd

[Chorus]

Crosstown beef be like crosstown traffic, (DCQ) thick!

Brothers be on some real shit

Everyman get scared when prepared for confrontation

"When the slugs penetrate you feel a burning sensation"

Crosstown beef be like crosstown traffic, (DCQ) thick!

Brothers be on some real shit

Everyman get scared when prepared for confrontation

"Getting closer to God, in a tight situation"

[Phone ringing...] [DCQ] Eh yo, son get that?

[Mos Def] I'm saying man you sitting right there!

[DCQ] C'mon man I'm twisting this right now

[Mos Def] Saying man, with the lazies, word up man?!

[DCQ] C'mon man, get the phone, man!

[Mos Def] Yeah...who dis?...Who? Yo D take the phone, man

[DCQ] Peace

[Lord Ato] Peace

[DCQ] Who dis?

[Lord Ato] The God 2

[DCQ] Yo whattup son?

[Lord Ato] Nothing much, maintaining you?

[DCQ] Right

[Lord Ato] I just came out the bing and shit is mad real

This shit ain't bout nothing son

[DCQ] Son I know how you feel

[Lord Ato] My girl is in the world trying to raise my seed

There's mad shit that she want and mad shit that she need

[DCQ] true dat

[Lord Ato] Plus she got some nigga, knocking at her door

[DCQ] Who dis?

[Lord Ato] Some crab-ass cat that she messed with before

[DCQ] From where?

[Lord Ato] Always acting wild disrespecting my G

[DCQ] Stop playing...

[Lord Ato] I think he gotta go, what's the verdict DC?

[Verse: DCQ]

Verdict guilty, left hand on the scene

You might be locked down but you're part of the team

If you say he gotta go, then that's what he gotta do

Ain't nothing sweet son, yo you know I'm here for you

[Verse: Lord Ato]

No doubt, come check me on the day of knowledge born

Cause this phone shit ain't real, yeah that tap shit be on

Plus the God wanna see you so pull his name too

Cause he soon come home son, you know how he do

[Verse: DCQ]

Yeah the God get down so I see you on the V-I

I'm a do my best to get this broad to bring you some Lah

Peace to the Gods, read your math, hold your head

And as far as that kid goes, remember what I said