Songwriter: Special Ed Masta Ace Buckshot Q-Tip Ali Shaheed Muhammad

Producer: A Tribe Called Quest

[Intro: Special Ed]
Yeah, we represent
Church Ave., Nostrand Ave. in the house, Flatbush Ave
My brothers in Bed-Stuy, Throop Ave., word up
Fort Green, Crooklyn, yeah

[Scratched Hook]
"Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn"
"Never taking shorts 'cause Brooklyn's the borough"

[Verse 1: Special Ed]
Panic, as another manic depressant
Adolescent stares at death
Now, what's left when there ain't no guide
And a whole lot of pride?
It might be a homicide, so let the drama... slide
We don't want no problems, B
Get your name in the obituary column sheet
'Cause life is too short and it just gets shorter
I wish I had a quarter for all my people they slaughter
Last year alone, in the dead zone
Walk straight, but don't walk late
‘Cause I'm coming with a hate only made from what it made me
‘Cause nobody ever played me
Now it's only getting worse
Buckshot and Ace in the land of the waste, kicking you in your face

[Verse 2: Masta Ace]
We be doing it up Crooklyn STYYYYYLE
What does it take to get you WIIIILD?
My mentality is getting iller, killer
Instinct is trying to infiltrate, but wait
I know you wanna enter but I can't let you in
My mind-state's the maddest, I'm gone with the wind
Because it is survival of the fittest
When the shit hits the fan, I got my shank in my hand
Black man with the permanent tan
I come from the 'Ville and never ran
Damn!

[Verse 3: Buckshot]
I'm feeling another part of reality
Hit me when I represent the F.A.P
Straight from the 'Ville, Tilden played the building
I mean literally when I say “I’ll make a killing"
For my cipher, see, I'm fitna bust a piper
Original heads represent the Brooklyn all-nighter
Do or die, I'm saying “It's you and I”
Bring your click, so we can get Stone like Family Sly
Peace to C.I. and the Bush
Mighty Mateen, Ruck and the Rock giving a push

[Scratched Hook]
"Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn"
"Never taking shorts 'cause Brooklyn's the borough"
"Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn"
"Never taking shorts 'cause Brooklyn's the borough"

[Verse 4: Masta Ace]
We did it like that and now we do it like this
We did it like that and now we do it like this
Go inside your mind and find a time that you miss
And just think about the steel in your fist
It's just an extension of your arm
It's that ghetto type of charm that makes all the homeboys swarm
Can I drop the bomb? Oh, yes, I can
Move with the groove, smooth like Geechie Dan
Who is the man? That kid there
Who is the chick with the pick in her hair?
Angela, uhh, Davis, and we roll like Avis
Rent-a-Car—kid, there you are

[Verse 5: Special Ed]
You know where to find me whenever you need me
If you know the Ave., follow the path
To the land of the aftermath, but don't frolic in the midst
Crazy-ass Crooklyn kids
‘Cause they’re always throwing a body on my lawn
I'm getting a Rottweiler without a collar
Get off my block, boy, and give me a dollar
For the trouble or get blown up like a bubble

[Verse 6: Buckshot]
Now, let's take a sec to think back
To the year of the seven-O, when Brooklyn was the place to go
Flow on a journey up to Crown Heights
Ebbets Field; feel the real-to-real on your life
Trife individuals live in the PJ's
Dee Evil, check my DJ
Hey, play, what I wanna play in the day
But in the night, I feel the right, took the left
Bucktown, Brooklyn, break it down
Heads from state to state, travel as I unravel the rate
Howard, Tapscott, and Sutter
I remember way back in the days playing Hot Peas and Butter
Brother, if you want another lesson, Crooklyn session
Take it back, "Black Smif-N-Wessun"

[Verse 7: Special Ed]
Press your luck, you’ll get stuck by Buck for your bucks
Masta Ace has the taste for ducks and duck sauce
So tell Lord Digga
“Dig a grave for the bones, sticks and stones”
While I kick some ancient poems through your domes
Act went back to attack your homes
So, Tip, can I flip? (Yes, you can)
I'm in a World War with Muhammad, my man

[Verse 8: Masta Ace]
Feels so good to be a Crooklyn Dodger
Uh huh, What’s Happening!! to ReRun and Roger?
I think I seen 'em wearing Timberlands and running down the block
From Dwayne, and Dwayne had a Glock
‘Cause he be selling rock for the Partridge Family
And Reuben Kincaid drives a 300-E
And he be pimping Chrissy from Three's Company
Plus he stuck Mr. T for all his jewelry
This is a 70's thing from the days
When kids didn't act so crazed in Crooklyn

[Scratched Hook]
"Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn"
"Never taking shorts 'cause Brooklyn's the borough"
"Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn"
"Never taking shorts 'cause Brooklyn's the borough"
"Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn"
"Never taking shorts 'cause Brooklyn's the borough"
"Straight from Crooklyn, better known as Brooklyn"
"Never taking shorts 'cause Brooklyn's the borough"

The Crooklyn Dodgers

The Crooklyn Dodgers are a hip-hop supergroup based in Brooklyn, New York City, consisting of rotating members.

They appeared in three separate incarnations in 1994, 1995, and 2007. The first two incarnations recorded for the soundtracks for Spike Lee films, Crooklyn and Clockers, respectively. The theme connecting The Crooklyn Dodgers songs, aside from the Spike Lee films for which they were made, is their topical concerns, which comment on the state of affairs in and around urban New York City, as well as other issues affecting everyday life.