GZA/Genius, GZA, Inspectah Deck - Cold World

— I had a bad dream.
— Don't be afraid, bad dreams are only dreams.

What a time you chose to be born in!

[Hook: Life]
Babies cryin', brothers dyin', and brothers gettin' knocked,
Shit is deep on the block, and you got me locked down
In this cold, cold world.

[Verse 1: GZA]
It was the night before New Year's, and all through the fuckin' 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 rob and snipe what's new in sight, fuck blue and white,
They escape before them flash the fuckin' lights,
Gunshots shatter first-floor window panes,
Shells hit the ground and blood stained the dice game.
Whether pro-callisthenic, 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 hangin' from his farmer's,
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 layin' 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 TEC's and then
Drop those, who crack like tacos from Mexican,
Rapid, like recipients cashin' checks again
Back to the mothafuckin' spot on Lexington.

[Hook: Life]
Babies cryin', brothers dyin', and brothers gettin' 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.

[Verse 2: Inspectah Deck]
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, scramblin' for petty cash,
Jakes on my ass, young bucks is learnin' fast.
357's and 44's
Bought inside corner stores, their fire sparks the wars,
Hospital floors surrounded by the law,
Homicide questionin' 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 Gallant
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 passin' off cash.
Extortions for portions of streets causes beef
Havin' followers of Indians tryna 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.

[Hook: Life]
Babies cryin', brothers dyin', and brothers gettin' 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.