The Code

[Intro: Reuben Vincent]

Uh, uh, uh, uh, yeah

Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh

Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, yeah

Uh, uh, uh, uh

They say it's live by the code

Die by the code, uh

Nothing gon' change 'cause that's just how it goes, yes

Live by the code

Die by the code, yeah, huh

[Verse 1: Reuben Vincent]

Now, what's better protection, tell me if it's Christ or a weapon?

From Genesis to Exodus, they prey on you, it's prejudice

Streets now a religion, young niggas puttin' they faith in it

Lost so much to the game that even I became an Atheist

Fell on knees to felonies sent melodies to Heaven

Short life expectancies travel the seven seas, I question

Who gon' blast for me when blasphemy come?

The Prodigal pointin' his pistol right at Babylon son

Judgement, they comin'

But we livin' by the now who rise, turned the rivers to blood

And water became foul, child who hold his home

'Cause father wouldn't come around

Mary momma's Madonna, she like a virgin again

Know it's harder to be aroused

They split us with red and C, if it ain't blue they reppin' B

Suicide and do or die, can't do like John and let it be

Poet's poet but you know that I was po' as Edgar be

Devil wanted my soul, but the soul resurrected me, on God

[Chorus: Reuben Vincent]

Live by the code

Die by the code, uh

Nothing gon' change 'cause that's just how it goes

Yes, live by the code

Die by the code, yeah

[Verse 2: Rome Streetz]

Street scholar, fuck school, I made the narcotic honor roll

Plot to clock a chicken over you cornballs, it's comical

Clowns in the circus, peons they lackin' purpose

Do voodoo with the pen, I wrote all my curses in cursive

My dog fantasy turned to a brighter reality

I made a way some didn't 'cause they lust and livin' lavishly

Made a wrong turn on the road to riches and crashed the V

Your final destination ain't the place you thought that it'd be

Was gettin' dirty money but the trap ended up trapping me

At times I was moving deaf and blind but smartened up, I had to see

The door to my destiny was closed until I grabbed the key

Woulda kicked the shit off of the hinges if it had to be

Was all blood, sweat and tears, nothing happened magically

My silent screams turned to rap records that they had to stream

[Chorus: Reuben Vincent]

Live by the code (yeah)

Die by the code (yeah)

That they had to stream (uh-huh)

[Verse 3: Lukah]

We went from ring around the rosie to packaging nosies (word)

Hid the dope in momma's Chevy in case she got nosy

Remember the nights my choices were ramen or ravioli

And 'cause them days I grabbed a scale and told OG to show me

That was the day the hustle would join me in matrimony

I sold a zip it felt like a glorious ceremony

Get what you need and then get out, a wise man told me

This ain't for every living soul the special move lonely

Was in my room silently bagging a bag with Monie

To every night I tied I felt relief of acrimony

Seein' my fam in hard times that was that shit that mold me

I had to get it, in the hood we had no patrimony

While linking with my plug he showed me my first Rollie

He said don't fall victim to this be sure to outgrow me

I could longer stand it at first but knew he never wronged me (word)

So I stayed smart and out the light and played the back closely

Can lock me up and throw the key but you can never fold me

I see nothing and won't comply, don't do testimonies

Was young running with the wolves I feel like Lil Mowgli

So any error that occurred, yeah, they were there to scold me

Small clientele, I will barely sell my homies (tell 'em)

If you were tryna shop with me, nigga, you had to know me (facts)

And now you see me then you don't movements were extra ghostly

We'll never rush to make a play 'cause bosses move slowly

Any fuck ups I witnessed I will quickly examine

'Cause certain mistakes can have your ass dreamin' with the salmon

My nigga stay half-baked, he used to call me Samson

I used to sell kewpies in a lot at the Hamptons

If I could smell it through the pack I had heads dancing (word)

Before the moonrock I had them Moonwalking like Jackson

Yeah, I'm a hustler, I can sell a beating to a Jackson

Warren Buffet I guarantee full satisfaction

Now I ain't need the extra push, I got up off my ass (word)

It makes sense, lights off you need to get a bag

My only goal was household and things I never had

And staying clear from prison bars and the body bags

I had a good run but knew the shit could never last

I started seeing horrid things and now I'm groovin' fast

Could still serve anything long as it equals math

But now I'm chillin' what I smoke looks like Ms. Peach's grass (yeah)

[Chorus: Reuben Vincent]

They say it's live by the code

Die by the code, uh

Nothing gon' change 'cause that's just how it goes, yes

Live by the code

Die by the code, yeah