Eric B. & Rakim - Know The Ledge(1992)

[00:07.85] Sip the juice, I got enough to go around
[00:10.53] And the thought takes place uptown
[00:12.64] I grew up on the sidewalk where I learned street talk
[00:15.10] And then taught to hawk New York
[00:16.69] I go to Queens for queens to get the crew from Brooklyn
[00:18.85] Make money in Manhattan and never been token
[00:20.59] Go Uptown and the Bronx to boogie down
[00:22.63] Get strong on the Island, recoup, and lay around
[00:24.78] Time to build my juice back up
[00:26.71] Props back up, suckers get smacked up
[00:28.86] Don't doubt the clout, you know what I'm about
[00:30.95] Knocking niggas off, knocking niggas out
[00:32.96] Shaking 'em up, waking 'em up
[00:35.23] Raking 'em up, breaking 'em up
[00:37.26] Standing on shaky grounds too close to the edge
[00:39.43] Let's see if I know the ledge
[00:50.42] Corners' trifling 'cause shorty's here
[00:51.74] I get cock-d liffin' forty's of beer
[00:53.90] Here's a sip for the crew that's deceased
[00:56.10] If I get revenge, then they rest in peace
[00:57.71] Somebody's got to suffer, I just might spare one
[01:00.72] And give a brother a fair one
[01:02.63] Stay alert and on P's
[01:03.99] And I do work with these, like Hercules
[01:06.59] Switch to southpaw, split your right jaw
[01:08.57] 'Cause I don't like y'all, I'm hype when night fall
[01:10.55] Smooth but I move like an army
[01:12.50] Bulletproof down in case brothers try to bomb me
[01:14.73] Putting brothers to rest like Elliot Ness
[01:17.04] 'Cause I don't like stress
[01:18.96] Streets ain't a place for innocent bystanders to stand
[01:20.80] Nothing's gonna stop the plan
[01:23.18] I'll chill like Pacino, kill like De Niro
[01:25.10] Black Gambino, die like a hero
[01:27.29] Living on shaky grounds too close to the edge
[01:29.26] Let's see if I know the ledge
[01:39.64] Shells lay around on the battleground
[01:41.99] Dead bodies are found throughout the town
[01:43.59] Tried to put shame in my game to make a name
[01:45.73] I'ma put it on a bullet, put it in your brain
[01:48.00] Rip the block like a buckshot
[01:49.96] Who cares where it goes, just keep the casket closed
[01:51.79] No remorse when a life is lost
[01:53.97] I paid my dues, paid the cost
[01:57.39] And my pockets are still fat
[01:58.64] Wherever I'm at, I get the welcome mat
[02:00.10] Even if my crew steep with one deep
[02:02.21] I attract attention, people like to peep
[02:04.29] So come say hi to the bad guy
[02:06.51] Don't say goodbye, I don't plan to die
[02:08.32] 'Cause I get loose and I got troops
[02:11.70] And crazy juice
[02:13.13] In control of many like Ayatollah Khomeini
[02:15.15] Hang out wit' Smith and Wesson, don't try to play me
[02:16.80] I'm at war a lot, like Anwar Sadat
[02:18.92] But no warning shot, my gun is warm a lot
[02:21.12] When I cook beef, the smoke will never clear
[02:23.15] Areas in fear but this here's a fear
[02:25.42] Living life too close to the edge
[02:27.56] Hoping that I know the ledge
[02:37.80] A brand new morn', no time to yawn
[02:39.79] Shower's on, power's on
[02:41.95] Late for school, I catch the train
[02:44.08] Girls sip Cristal and whisper my name
[02:46.29] I push up like an exercise
[02:48.25] Check the intellect and inspect the thighs
[02:50.04] Select the best one, pull her to the side
[02:52.04] Keep her occupied for the rest of the ride
[02:54.34] Read her my resume she's know I'm 'ready cool
[02:56.44] Just meet me after school
[02:58.58] We can moan and groan until your moms come home
[03:00.44] And you be calling me Al dope Capone
[03:02.61] Sweatin' me, she didn't want to let me loose
[03:04.87] Come get me, that's if you want to sip the juice
[03:06.82] 'Cause the streets await me, so I take my gun off safety
[03:08.92] 'Cause a lot of niggas hate me
[03:10.94] Coming out of the building, they set me up
[03:13.26] Sprayed with automatics, they wet me up
[03:14.77] In a puddle of blood, I lay close to the edge
[03:17.09] I guess I didn't know the ledge
[03:20.68]