Released: July 1, 1997

Songwriter: Lil’ Kim Black Rob Nashiem Myrick Diddy

Producer: Ron “Amen-Ra” Lawrence Diddy Nashiem Myrick

[Verse One: Puff Daddy]
It's a Hell Up in Harlem, fuckit, another day
Another dollar, wake up, to the barking from the Rottweilers
Pull the collars, make em sit for the Godfather
Then I holler, to Justin my son, run the water
For the shower, trust fund scholarship sure to give him power
Baby momma call, she pick him up, in about an hour
Now free to go, free to blow, with the calicos
And the navajos, it's just the way this player knows
Anything goes, finally caught up with my nigga Sam Sam
Picked me up, in the tan Lex Land
Wanted breakfast down at Pan Pan's, what's your favorite dish?
He ordered cheese eggs and grits, I had the swordfish
What is this? Three niggas dressed in black
Roleys on they wrist, feathers in they hat
One tapped me on my back, then pointed at my stack
Put my finger on the trigger
Then I asked him, "Whatchu want nigga?"

[Hook 2X: Puff Daddy]
Whatchu gonna do when it's your turn to go
Whatchu gonna do when you can't take no mo'
You gonna cry like a bitch or take it nice and slow
Whatchu gonna do when it's your turn to go

[Verse Two: Puff Daddy]
I pray to God that I'm dreamin, I know my family
Wouldn't take it, when the doctor said, "He ain't make it"
Mom Dukes cryin, baby mom full of grief
How she gonna tell her son his daddy is deceased?
Now she got beef with them bitches up the street
All because I used to creep, with her girlfriend Sharese
She knows, I keep the hoes, from nation, to nation
On every radio station, Goodfellas in rotation, uhh
That's why niggas wanna twist my shit, flip my wig
Attempt to murder me like Tommy Gibbs
Before they draw, niggas threw me to the floor
Drill holes in my pocket, Sam launch the rocket
They wanna rip my arms out the socket, fuckin heathens
Love to see a nigga stop breathin
I heard a voice sing out, "Ain't you Sean Puffy Combs?
Here's your eulogy, meet you at the Crossroads"
G'night Bone

[Hook]

[Verse Three: Puff Daddy]
Nothing but clouds and white suits fill my vision
Watching my life go down, like Christion
Listen hear them bullets rang, shotguns and Mac millis
Spraying like a hurricane in this war called the terror game
And deuce deuces can't stand the pain
Little guns ain't got no business in this blizzard
They just kibitz, here's five shots to visit, blaka
Blowin bullet holes sizes of door knockers
Three headed for my chest straight, the other two
Came a little late, and just barely missed my face
I'm tryin to find a steady place between two cars
One of us gon' either wind up dead, or behind bars
Shit, I'm just tryin to live, so I can raise my kid
And own the world, bone all the girlie girls
That's when I finally figured out
That's that nigga David Arthur, Sharese baby father
And I didn't even bother to ask no further questions
No more confessions only suggestions
I think Sam set me up, cause them bullets squeezed up
From the rear, and Sam was the only nigga there
Then they all peeled out in the rental, aluminum
Sam in the passenger seat, so I'm assumin them
Niggas didn't even get to peep
Lil' Kim and them, in the backseat, with the heat
Clips they feelin em, to the top, shit ain't sweet
Once the light turns red, nuff said, that's dead
They fled, and they waved, hot lead
If I aimed up, I'd be on my deathbed
Sucker move, for that they don't get no props
Lil' Kim and them, mad they ain't bust no shots
We in the block, no Land posters just old posters
Of gangsta niggas I see ghosts of gangsta figures
I'm tryin to hold my own when they snatched me out the car
Took me in the saloon and said, "Puffy, there you are"
Them same cats we chased two blocks had new spots
Washin dishes, I guess for goin out like bitches
I smacked em, gave a little speech, to mirth
Happiness, cause me and all my peeps got hurt
That night, I said a little prayer, me and Justin
That's when I heard the bustin, yeah

[Hook]

Diddy

Sean “Diddy” Combs (also known as Puff Daddy, Puffy, Sean John, and P. Diddy) is a recording artist, record producer, entrepreneur, and actor from Harlem, New York.

He started in the music business as an intern and talent director at Uptown Records under his mentor Andre Harrell. While at Uptown, Puffy helped launch the careers of R&B superstars Jodeci and Mary J. Blige. After he was fired from Uptown, Puff started his Bad Boy Entertainment label in 1993 as a joint venture with Clive Davis' Arista Records. His first artists were Craig Mack and The Notorious B.I.G., with Mack releasing the hit “Flava In Ya Ear” before Biggie hit with his Ready To Die album. Following their success, Puff went on to sign successful R&B artists such as Faith Evans, 112, and Total, as well as rappers Ma$e and The LOX.

Puff Daddy was an in-demand producer, working with acts such as Usher, TLC, Jay-Z, Lil Kim, and Boyz II Men among others before he decided to become an artist himself. He released his first album, No Way Out on July 1, 1997, a few months after Biggie was killed in Los Angeles on March 9th. The single “I’ll Be Missing You” was created as a tribute—it debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and topped the chart for 11 weeks. The album was a multi-platinum success and won the Best Rap Album Grammy Award in 1998.