[Chorus - singing]
There´s a war in the streets tonight
And nobody´s really feelin´ alright
I got a blunt for a chronic, a juice for my tonic
I know now that I´m feelin´ right if it goes down
´Cause my third eye sees the lowdown
And I know it´s not my time to go now
´Cause God´s got my back in this showdown
So I know we´ll be alright

[Nas]
Yeah, Brooks Brothers overcoat, know the ropes, smooth is holdin´ those
Briefcases, silk ties, slick as them older folks
Silver fo´-fo´, got no,
My chauffer driver just left some of my colleagues smokin´ that Cali
Caught a glimpse of myself in the Barney´s shop window
Kinda´ see my father´s features creepin´ in a little
Got an office on Broadway, business in Jamaica
Tell my daughter try the hardest so the best schools´ll take her
And I´m late to a dite with my wife, I realize
I stopped to shop, had to get her some type surprise
And I´m walkin´ through it, chaos is all around me
But God got me, no fear, through the fire pride stop

[Chorus - singing]
There´s a war in the streets tonight
And all this drama´s got me feelin´ uptight
I don´t know what I´ll do if I don´t see my boo
´Cause she´s standin´ on the corner of Linden Boulevard
Holding our baby in her baby in her arms
So hold on, your daddy´s in sight

[Nas]
Yeah, Nine-four, Destiny opens her eyes
For the first time, praise God, baby mom´s cryin´
Planned to be a strong black family
But we both were too young, too strung, too much flashin´
New come, I caught verbal assassin runnin´ with
Nothin´ but the worst type, worst fight
But we brought my baby home the first night
Cursed like sailors, burst out the crib
Ragin´ in my new car bought from entertainment
Champaign and gainin´ clout fast, whiplash
Did this bitch just pass in the club pugged up, stupid ass
Grabbed her by the pony tail, "never disrespect me"
I´m a street vet, regret the sex, but not Desi
Moved back to your grandma, I´m single, the land´s mine
She keeps the Benz, I´m all in the streets again
Squeezin´ the pen, released again, chart toppers,
Hard-bottoms blessed the feet, now less baby mom´s problems
New woman, she´s great, this a different world,
Checkin´ out my wife´s chemistry with my little girl
It´s so amazin´ playin´, life is so crazy
I´ve grown up the thankful for lessons God gave me

[Chorus - singing]
There´s a war in the streets tonight
And nobody´s really feelin´ alright
I got a blunt for a chronic, a juice for my tonic
I know now that I´m feelin´ right if it goes down
´Cause my third eye sees the lowdown
And I know it´s not my time to go now
´Cause God´s got my back in this showdown
So I know we´ll be alright