Cold World - GZA, Inspectah Deck

«I had a bad dream»

«Don't be afraid, bad dreams are only dreams»

«What a time you chose to be born in»

Babies crying, brothers dying, and brothers getting knocked

Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down

In this cold, cold world

It was the night before New Year’s

And all through the fucking projects

Not a handgun was silent, not even a Tec

Outsiders were stuck, by enemies who put fear

And blasted on the spot before the pigs were there

You know hoods, robbers, snipers new in sight

Fuck blue and white

They escape before them flash the fucking lights

Gunshots, shatter first-floor window panes

Shells hit the ground and blood stained the dice game

Whether pro-calisthenic, any style you set it

Beat niggas toothless, physically cut up like gooses

But with iron on the sides, thugs took no excuses

Therefore, your fifty-two handblocks was useless

Links was snatched off necks, scars on throats

Jackets took, after bullet rips through coats

Against those who felt the cold from the steel made ‘em fold

And squeal, once the metal hit the temple of his grill

Construction worker, who was caught for his bomber

No time to swing the hammer that was hanging from his farmers

And it’s bugged how some niggas catch slugs

And pockets dug from everything except check stubs

And it does, sound ill like wars in Brownsville

Or fatal robberies in Red Hook where feds look

For fugitives to shoot cops, niggas laying on roof tops

For his cream he stashed in a shoebox

But he was hot, and the strip was filled with young killers

You don’t suspect, so cops creep like caterpillars

And born thieves stay hooded with extra bullets

Those who try to flee they hit the vertebrae

Increase the murder rate

Similar to hitmen who pull out Tecs and then

Drop those who crack like tacos from Mexican

Rapid, like recipients cashing checks again

Back to the motherfucking spot on Lexington

Babies crying, brothers dying, and brothers getting knocked

Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down

In this cold, cold world

We be running from the cops, busting off shots

Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down

In this cold, cold world

Babies crying, brothers dying, and brothers getting knocked

Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down

In this cold, cold world

We be running from the cops, busting off shots

Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down

In this cold, cold world

Yo;

no time to freeze, undercovers ease up in Grand Prixs

And seize packages and pocket the currency

Cliques control strips full clips are sprayed

Yellow tape barricades sidewalks where bodies lay

Madness strikes at twelve o’clock midnight

Stick-up kids on the ground broke the staircase light

And I stays harassed, scrambling for petty cash

Jakes on my ass young bucks is learning fast

Three-Fifteen-Sevens and Forty-Fours

Bought inside corner stores, provide sparks for wars

Hospital floors surrounded by the law

Homicide questioning while the Jakes guard the door

My hood stay tense, loyalty puts strength in my team

‘Cause niggas' main concern is CREAM

Some niggas in the jet-black Galant

Shot up the Chinese restaurant, for this kid named Lamont

I thought he was dead but instead he missed the kid

And hit a twelve-year-old girl in the head, and then fled

Tactical narcotic task force, back off fast

‘Cause the crime boss is passing off cash

Extortions for portions of streets, causes beef

Having followers of Indians trying to play Chief

You witness the saga, casualties and drama

Life is a script;

I’m not an actor but the author

Of a modern-day opera, where the main character

Is presidential papers, the dominant factor

You know, you had me

With your sensuous charm

But you looked so alarmed

As I walked on by

Babies crying, brothers dying, and brothers getting knocked

Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down

In this cold, cold world

We be running from the cops, busting off shots

Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down

In this cold, cold world

Babies crying, brothers dying, and brothers getting knocked

Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down

In this cold, cold world

We be running from the cops, busting off shots

Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down

In this cold, cold world