I Wanna Live

[Intro]

[Nas] *speaking in Dr. Trevis-like voice*

Braveheart niggas (Jungle), IllWill niggas (Wizard)

Made of steel niggas (Horse), robothugs (Nature)

We can't be stopped by them bitch-ass cops (Braveheart)

Made of steel, y'all bullets don't kill

We break outta jail, fuck the system

To all our black babies, boys and girls

We school y'all wit knowledge of the world

Only to God we hail, and this money we spend it

We spend it, it's the root of e-vil

But these black millionaires will live and survive

We will stay alive

[Nature]

A quick reality check, salaries and sex

Rodents spreadin disease, and man'll carry it next

I been exposed to this game, so it's that I express

Blood, sweat and tears, for my stress, cigarettes and beers

Newports or Kools, cautious dudes movin in the Belly

I stay aware of who I'm talkin to

Police payin fiends off wit food

For a Snicker bar, they knock on your door, come and get you god

Hit you harder than a crack pipe, live the gat life

Gettin drunk, full gallons down to half-pints

X-O to act right, stay slurring my speech

Hearin silent screams at night, disturbing my sleep

Burnin my weed, the smallest thug caught a bug

War stories on the bench till y'all caught a buzz

I made y'all watch when the game's hot, the same park

Niggas hustle and die without they Braveheart

[Chorus: Nas]

I wanna live, the way my brother lives

I shall not die (never), why must we be so high?

I pray to God, (please God) take me to your path

And show me how, to live with all this cash

[Wizard]

A black robe for my queen, guns and crack for my team

Wit a map of fifty states that's flooded wit fiends

It says "Welcome to my town" but if you black you hang

We don't tolerate no shit from pimps or gangs

Fuck that, that's the rule for them fake ass cats

Paradise is the place that you vacate at

Very few get to make it back, or get knocked tryin

Holdin they earning from the block, there's no returnin

Trapped in the belly of the beast week to week

He shackled from his head to his feet, life is deep

New York City too small for everbody to eat

Some explore the world and don't give a fuck about the penalty

Who's the enemy, him or me?

The war on drugs will never stop, you understand that

You hear me, Guiliani? (Bravehearts, nigga Bravehearts nigga what)

[Chorus]

[Jungle]

Yo it's bugged, how everybody that rhyme is thug

Either they sold drugs or rolled wit Bloods

Smoke weed or blow slugs

Yeah that's gangsta, but when I see ya you show love

Where them guns at?

All y'all niggas some really fun cats

Mothafucker, give me them shines, run that

Word is bond, y'all niggas fronted like y'all knew me

They rep the hood but they ain't from QB

[Horse]

Never stop this, overriding the cops, we got this

Bravehearts spot em and drop hits

Ever so harder than a mothafucker, you see it nigga

Diamonds glitter, what you want to split ya

Three-pound-sevens'll hit ya, focus on the picture

Sparks, gun fire sent, where he went

Did I miss? Perhaps, he collapsed on his back

Ten to the head, either that or pins in his legs

Niggas go under, the streets open up and suck you in

Bad luck is when you throw dice and nuttin wins

And everything you put your hands on be crumblin

And when everything you plan on come to an end

Some light candles, wit Jesus picture on the glass

Hangin crosses on they walls or either practice witchcraft

To bring em good luck, put they faith on a horse race

Some niggas cook up, coke or cut up raw weight or dough

We all share the same thoughts, not to be broke

Some pray for fortune, but this life ain't no joke

(It's no joke, it's no joke)

[Chorus]

[Outro]

[Nas] [Dr. Trevis-like voice]

Bravehearts, IllWill (all this cash)

Belly (Bravehearts in the Belly)

Horse (Belly) , Jungle, Wiz (survivin in the Belly), Nature

We will survive (survivin in the Belly)

And teach (we will survive), and reach (IllWill to survive)

From heart to heart, my body and soul (Braveheart niggas)

Braveheart till the deat