Featuring: Thug Life

Songwriter: The Notorious B.I.G. Stretch 2Pac

Producer: 3rd Eye

[Intro]
"It's the same murder! You made our streets into what these people call the 'killing field!'"

[Verse 1: 2Pac]
The motherfuckin' dust kicker, who can you trust?
Do you have the heart to see a nigga, before you bust?
My name is spoken on the tongues of so many foes
Bustin' motherfuckers out the box, I ain't even go
Now how the hell do you explain my claim to fame?
From doin' flicks to bustin' tricks out the fuckin' frame
Got these bitches on my jock, niggas on my block
Jealous ass suckers got 'em duckin' from my smokin' Glock
And bustin' niggas asses to stay alive
Skinny ass player watchin' bigger motherfuckers fry
They ask me how I'm livin', I'm a hustler
Buckin' busters 'til they die
Now it's on in the ghetto, you ain't heard?
Niggas got they AKs headin' for them 'burbs
Aimin' at them skinhead bitches, let it rain
Givin' 'em a wet welcome to the house of pain

[Interlude]
"In a city that's upset by the challenge of racial tension at many levels, where the level of violence is higher this year than last"
"Our city is a war zone"

[Verse 2: Stretch]
Yo, I'm hunting down this nigga and he know so he stressin'
He better count his blessings and get ready for this lesson
The Stretch 'bout to teach him when I reach him with the MAC
And lay that ass down on his motherfucking back, Jack
Slack is something that a nigga don't take
His moms run the church, so I'ma see her at his fucking wake
Make way, the nigga paid me the other day
I'm walking with my son and the nigga got somethin' to say
Hey! The nigga tried to diss, boy, he got it twisted
He shoulda watched America's Most, I'm listed
For killing motherfuckers like him
So I'ma bring him to the House of Pain and kill him with a grin
Flim flam, god damn, I'm not the one
Before I choke him and smoke him
I'm gonna smack him with my fuckin' gun
Son, you made your last mistake and I don't know your name
But welcome to the House of Pain

[Interlude 2]
"In the second such case in recent memory, a Bronx woman being charged with murder in the shooting death of her daughter over her crack habit"

[Verse 3: The Notorious B.I.G.]
(Coughing) Huh, the country bud got me chokin'
I'm on a mission to the point that motherfuckers think I'm smokin'
Yeah, that sick nigga Biggie with the 8-shot fifth
With the extra clip for that extra shit
Don't you know that a killing is thrilling?
All the blood spilling, is all a part of drug dealing
A born gangsta, my daddy was a thug
Had a .38 with the hollow-point slug
So when he licked shots, niggas dropped
Quicker than a bootlegger sells his liquor
A little nigga tryna squeeze .22's in my Reebok shoes
Payin' dues, while kids was on they one's and two's
Huh, now I'm much older, colder, fuck a holster
Got the MAC-11 swingin' from my shoulder
It's a damn shame I got to put my momma through this strain
I'm livin' in the house of pain

[Outro]
"He reportedly tried to hide behind a parked car and then beg for his life before he was killed"
"A hostage in Brooklyn threatened with death, we have—"
"Registered this morning, they were kidnapped, held for ransom and strangled to death"
"They hurt us, humiliated us, took stuff for granted, stole from our community"

The Notorious B.I.G.

Considered by many to be one of the greatest rappers of all time, The Notorious B.I.G. was a major figure in both hardcore hip-hop and 90’s pop music until his murder in 1997 at age 24. He’s best known for his #1 hits “Hypnotize” and “Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems,” his top 10 hits “One More Chance (Stay with Me Remix)” and “Big Poppa,” and his iconic early single “Juicy.”

In addition to his crossover hits, Biggie is known for innovative multi-syllabic lyricism and creative storytelling techniques, heard on critical favorites like “Warning,” “Suicidal Thoughts,” “Ten Crack Commandments,” “I Got A Story To Tell,” and “Gimme The Loot.”

As a teenager, Brooklyn native Christopher Wallace started rapping as Biggie Smalls, the name of a mobster character in the 1975 action comedy Let’s Do It Again. He recorded a demo with local Bed-Stuy DJ 50 Grand, which caught the attention of Mister Cee, who was well-known as Big Daddy Kane’s DJ. Cee introduced his demo to the industry, landing him a spot in The Source’s coveted “Unsigned Hype” column in the magazine’s March 1992 issue. Sean “Puffy” Combs, a successful A&R, also heard the demo and signed Big to Uptown Records.