General Principles

[Intro: chess sample]

Castle points you too

You're black takes on C4

Then white could C4...

[GZA]

I must put in time to get mine, many hours to earn power

Like the ashy hand, he should wear only the rope flower

I can't be a broke nigga, better in showers

Sellin' CD's on the corner of Sunset and Dower

A small fry nigga in a baked potato world

Sizzling in some beef full of grease like jheri curls

Shout out to DJ's who kept it real

Shook a few in the thou', but some never broke the seal

Fuck them, I stick to college radios, mix shows

Historic university, to freestyle sick flows

Might give a lecture about your rap texture

M.C. B-Boy, DJ, slash director

The name was a bell that rang through the hall

Popular is the tag in the bathroom stall, check it

This language is so captivating

When we lose a rap nigga, the news is devastating

Whether to the prison or grave, you know this rap shit

Is built from the strength of those to hunger the crave

My Clan got rhymes for days, to be skilled, it pays

Most of them can't escape the solar rays

*beat instrumental w/ chess sample*

[GZA]

Name a crew that can stop the force that I strike with

Let alone try to hold the pen that I write with

You can even chop off my fingers I type with

Those I hold a mic with, thinking I might quit

They didn't know, that only makes me more determined

Ich lebe fur hip hop, you can ask the Germans

Some say I never got this for recognition

So I, drop another, they shocked and still listen

Plus I, ran into a well known musician

He said this sample shit got too many cooks in the kitchen

Now he's back to flipping love borns and cypher says

To support his kids, much even hyper wiz

A bad amigo, will stroke your ego

You see the flash in the dash, weed blast with Buick-Regal

The same brother you was throwing your key to

Brought the 7 niggaz in the building to see you

You know these god damn streets is so gritty

With sour milk from titties, that'll spoil the city

The hood cornerbacks, strong attack is a blitz

But we don't lie down for shit, not even direct hits

[Chorus: GZA]

From graffiti in New York, on the walls and trains

DJ's in California, to the shores of Maine

B-Boys on the floor, who be doing they thang

To MC's, behind ropes, who had titles to claim

[GZA]

My teams about shoot outs, the fans shout with loud mouths

The clock ran out, the ref throw the sign, it's over time

The rambling, visiting teams scheme

The championship ring fiending, they must be dreaming

These rap players and slayers got alot of endorsements

Make them hire law enforcements

Plus, I just turned down tracks, can't remember the

Producer with the beats is wack, sound similar

It gotta be exciting, striking, lightning

Bring the best out, to dawn through Harlem

Writing, light stroke from my pen might choke

The tape lent, got a little air, then half the spins

M.C.'s be stuck with fear fascination

The nature in the scale of events, shook the station

I stick up the track, armed only with the pen

Terrorize it vocally with the force of wind

[Chorus]

[Outro: GZA (chess sample)]

This is hip hop...

(Then white takes C4, and C5, and C6..

C5, Queen E5, E5, 95, Bishop takes C4

Masters 3, and then castle...)