Initially released on vinyl in 1999, here, O.C gets Grammy-winning artist Jay-Z on the hook, fresh off the success on Jay-Z’s ‘Hard Knock Life’ album.
This is actually their second time collaborating. O.C and Jay-Z connected on Tone Hooker’s “Crew Love ‘97” record. Again, Jay was featured on the ho...
[Verse 1: O.C.]
Yo, fuck having
My neck dripped with jewels that don’t mean shit
This man behind this rhyme is the nigga that’s slick, licking
My thumbs, counting papers from my street-smart wigs. In the
Club, we hug, foes taking some flick, pushing
The same whips niggas got with platinum stacks. Two LPs
Far from gold, yo, people think I’m selling cracks—nah!
They see me living with a smile on my face, and if
You see me in the spot, I’m down low in the place, sipping
My liquor, Remi Martin running through my liver
Sucking on lemon peels, them shits tastes bitter, having fun
For that particular time and date. I feel
I’m almost to the point, so I calmly skate. Fuck all
The broads, fuck all the cats who applaud my name who wouldn’t
Give me no love if I wasn’t in the game. I’m
Full of surprises, analyze the all-wise
Good Cartiers protect my eyes when I’m dipping
On the BQ, my Benz see-through—fuck tints
I’m live, nigga, and so is my people
Half of me is godly, the other half is evil, so if it
Comes down to it, I’m strapped if we do it. You feel me?
[Hook: Jay-Z]
Love is life and life is love
Real live niggas and bona fide thugs
Career criminals with ice-grilled mugs
Not afraid to shed blood, to bleed. I believe because
Love is life and life is love
Real live niggas and bona fide thugs
Career criminals with ice-grilled mugs
Not afraid to shed blood, to bleed. I believe
[Verse 2: O.C.]
Yo, I try to live
My life right. Earth is like the tree of life. Tempted by
The forbidden fruit in my face, I wanna take a bite of it
It looks sweet, making my mouth water, then I thought of
A foul thought of filming somebody daughter on camcorder
She of age, but her mind’s in the cage, fucked
My man and my man and my man for no wage, savage
Cause, Devil’s got me locked by the balls
Inside my soul, good and evil fighting a war
Mixed feelings like Remi and cranberry, a man
How will he fall if I shoot him dead where he stand? I’m thinking
Like Charles Manson, dreaming of Marilyn Manson
Praying over my grave, deep with the plants and
Roots of evil coming in shapes and forms
I cannot identify what’s right or what’s wrong
All I know is, sometimes, I fiend for dough, fiend for clothes
And fiend for hoes backstage at my shows. Uh!
[Hook: Jay-Z]
Love is life and life is love
Real live niggas and bona fide thugs
Career criminals with ice-grilled mugs
Not afraid to shed blood, to bleed. I believe because
Love is life and life is love
Real live niggas and bona fide thugs
Career criminals with ice-grilled mugs
Not afraid to shed blood, to bleed. I believe
[Verse 3: O.C.]
Yo, yo
Life is full of lessons that we all must learn
Take heed and pay attention ‘cause a drastic turn can be
Just around the corner, waiting, coming dead-on. It depends
On how you’re living and the path you’re on, it’s in
The cards being dealt, I want the best for me. It’s Love
Hell or Right, O.C. has a destiny to be
The best that I can be—that means giving my all. I’m too
Intelligent and bright to be taking a fall. I’m 20
Some-odd years old, young, black, and a force, I’m living
To see some grandkids and die of natural cause, retire
Somewhere, living in the Keys of Flor’, sipping on Coors
Old and happy, spit tobacco from my jaws
The price of hard living, hard work—granted you’re given
A chance, y’all, succeed and advance far, take
Advantage, opportunities is right in your face
Avoid it unless driven to it, murder was the case. Uh!
[Hook: Jay-Z]
Love is life and life is love
Real live niggas and bona fide thugs
Career criminals with ice-grilled mugs
Not afraid to shed blood, to bleed. I believe because
Love is life and life is love
Real live niggas and bona fide thugs
Career criminals with ice-grilled mugs
Not afraid to shed blood, to bleed. I believe