Released: June 20, 2000

Featuring: JAY-Z DMX

Songwriter: DMX Busta Rhymes JAY-Z

Producer: P Killer Trackz

[Intro: DMX]
Uhh
That's some shit that that that niggas ain't even seen before
That's that shit
Motherfuckers ain't never seen nothing like this before
For real man
It's goin' down, baby, uh
Unh, Busta Rhymes
(WHAT!) Unh, DMX nigga
Unh, unh, unh, unh, unh

[Verse 1: DMX]
I see ghosts clearly; even though, most don't hear me
They still wanna get near me (Unh!), fear me, so I'm leary
Kinda eerie what I'm feelin' (What!), from the floor, to the ceilin'
Straight through the roof, want the truth?
I kinda miss robbin' and stealin' (C'mon!)
'Cause it kept a nigga hungry, only eatin' when I starved (Unh!)
I was ugly, so I robbed, no one loved me, shit was hard (C'mon!)
Went to God once in a while when it got a little too hectic
He was the only one I knew that I respected (Why?)
Didn't know why, didn't know what I was livin' was a lie
If I ain't shit, then, why should I try? (Unh!)
See, plenty niggas die, over dumb shit, up in the hood
Real good heart, but up to no good (Damn!)
Thought I did what I could, but I guess it wasn't enough (Uh-huh)
The Devil told me it would happen
But I kept callin' his bluff (Uh-huh)
When it rains it pours now, my pains are yours
As yours are what's mine, define, revolvin' doors (Nigga!)

[Chorus: Busta Rhymes]
(Why?) All my niggas tell me (Why) tell me (We die)
'Cause we crazy with it (Hunh!), quick to blaze you with it (Ha!)
From in my soul to every word that I curse
With all the agony expressed in this verse
Let me ask my niggas (Why?)
My niggas, tell me (why) tell me (we die)
Because we Gods nigga (And) we go the yard nigga
Because I walk the ground under my feet
And keep it live and stay in tune with the street
Now let me ask my niggas (why?)

[Verse 2: Jay-Z]
Unh, yo, they say the good die young, in the hood where I'm from
I only got one question to that, why the fuck am I here?
I look to the air, ask God, "Love me, please"
But in reality, only people that hug me is thieves
Same niggas that send shots through my rugby sleeves
They wanna slug me and leave, I'm thinkin' it must be me
Please shed light, the hood's dark
I did my dirt but got a good heart
Shouldn't that count for somethin'?
I was told I'd amount to nothin'
Most of my childhood life by folks that was stuntin' my growth
Separated me from the shit I was wantin' the most
Felt myself comin' close to pumpin' them O's
Lump in my throat, chest poked out, face was poker
Tryin to, erase my ghostses, chase the smokers
Got demons on both shoulders
Tryin to chauffeur my life through the streets
In other words, nigga, my will was weak
Please feel what I speak
This ain't your average ordinary jargon weak rap niggas be talkin'
This shit is deep, from the mind of Busta, X, and me
To all my fallen soldiers, rest in peace, 'til we meet, niggas

[Chorus: Busta Rhymes]
(Why?) All my niggas tell me (why) tell me, ah! (we die)
'Cause we crazy with it, quick to blaze you with it (Ha!)
From in my soul to every word that I curse
With all the agony expressed in this verse (Ha!)
Let me ask my niggas (why?)
My niggas tell me (why) tell me, ah! (we die)
Because we Gods, nigga (And) we go the yard nigga
Because I walk the ground under my feet (Huh! Ha!)
And keep it live and stay in tune with the street
Now let me ask my niggas (why?)

[Verse 3: Busta Rhymes]
I must be cuckoo, like I respect the new-you, never
See you too could get it through your FUBU sweater
Like a nigga when he walk in the dark, trespassin'
On a nigga land, shots echo loud in the park
I live and die for all the shit I believe
And rep for everything I stand for
With every single breath I breathe
Like the intake from cigarette smoke, it's like you inhale
The demon in the gutter stressed struggled and broke
If the shit was all over tomorrow, I'd leave a treasure
For my kids with a legacy for my children to follow
You know it's funny how the good die first
Get the peppin' in your steppin' faggot, nigga
'Cause you could die worse
Hold on, you know I cut off my arm, in the name of reppin'
Real niggas in the midst of droppin' this bomb
Allah blessin' me to rep for the better, and carry on
Something great and keep a nigga name livin' forever
Now tell me!

[Chorus: Busta Rhymes]
(Why?) All my niggas tell me (why) tell me, ah! (we die)
'Cause we crazy with it (Hunh!), quick to blaze you with it (Ha!)
From in my soul to every word that I curse
With all the agony expressed in this verse
Let me ask my niggas (Why?)
My niggas tell me (why) tell me, ah! (we die)
Because we Gods nigga (and) we go the yard nigga (Ha!)
Because I walk the ground under my feet (Hunh!)
And keep it live and stay in tune with the street
Now let me ask my niggas (Why?)

Busta Rhymes

Busta Rhymes is a Grammy-nominated rapper, producer, and actor. Born Trevor George Smith, Jr. on May 20, 1972 in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York City, he would later move to Uniondale, Long Island but attended high school in Brooklyn with the likes of JAY-Z, The Notorious B.I.G., and Special Ed. Prior to his graduation from Uniondale High School in 1990, Busta joined Dinco D, Charlie Brown, and Cut Monitor Milo to from Leaders of the New School. The group opened for Public Enemy and their frontman Chuck D gave Chill-O-Ski the name Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George “Buster” Rhymes.

Leaders of the New School released two albums, A Future Without a Past… (1991) and T.I.M.E. (The Inner Mind’s Eye) (1993), before splitting after an intense interview with Yo! MTV Raps. Busta’s popularity began to rise with his appearances on A Tribe Called Quest’s “Scenario” in 1991 and its remix in 1992, as well as the remix to Craig Mack’s “Flava in Ya Ear” in 1994.

This led to Busta releasing his platinum debut album The Coming in 1996, featuring the platinum single “Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check.” Busta’s subsequent four albums all went platinum, while It Ain’t Safe No More… and The Big Bang achieved gold status. He also released several international hits, including “Dangerous,” “What’s It Gonna Be?” with Janet Jackson, and “I Know What You Want” with Mariah Carey, as well as being featured on the #1 hits “Don’t Cha” with the Pussycat Dolls and “Look At Me Now” with Chris Brown and Lil Wayne.