Streets Won’t Let Me Chill

[Intro: sample]
"The streets won't let me chill"
"The streets won't let me chill"
"The streets won't let me chill"
"The streets won't let me chill"
"The streets won't let me chill"

[Verse 1: Oddisee]
Yeah, streets won't let me chill, yet we still
Searching for the cool in it all
As if my linin' is silver and my flow cold enough
That my tongue stick to it like a winter frost
Then I woke up, doped up on life
See hustlin' is the mode of black promotin' – it's on, right?
Developed the mic voice, 'cause if it don't work
I gotta go to work and get a job with my white voice
And that ain't the right choice
So no, I can't chill
And slow motion, like no motion – a standstill
Niggas is anvils
Street sweeper sweepin' the street dreams
Puttin' sweet dreams in the landfill
Wake up nightmares, general strife, yeah
My hood on the border of the rich, so it's right there
Chilling for polar, and me I'm solar
Too fly for my surroundings to keep me grounded in flight, yeah

[Chorus: Oddisee, sample]
I try stayin' cooler than cool, but..
"The streets won't let me chill"
So I resort to actin' the fool, cause...
"The streets won't let me chill"
I ain't sayin' that I'm packing a tool, but...
"The streets won't let me chill"
See if the grind don't work, then I'm back up at school, 'cause...
"The streets won't let me chill"

[Verse 2: yU]
Now, constantly, around my way
Niggas is wild, the reason why daily I pray
For me to not get taken off the path
All I have is my mission and my daughter, nawmsayin'?
Maybe just me bein' judgmental
Cars circlin' five times and starin' out the window
That sounds like scheming going on
So instead of earnin' money, they takin', I'm tryna warn folks
That ain't a good idea for you
Think of your future, and all the folks that care for you – for real
'Cause you will not see them anymore
If you threatenin' mine, you want a war – guess it's on then
I would much rather give a brother dap
Than to see black man with a hole up in his back, damn
He thinkin' that I won't, but I will
Weapon concealed, cold steel
If I have to, I'll go for the grill

[Chorus: yU, sample]
And I be tryin' just to mind my own, but, man...
"The streets won't let me chill"
You know, one minute you're here and the next you're gone, I guess...
"The streets won't let me chill"
You know we live in them times where it's war outside, so, yeah...
"The streets won't let me chill"
But you gonna messin' with mines, and it's check-out time, because...
"The streets won't let me chill"

[Bridge: sample]
"Streets won't let me chill"
"Streets won't let me chill"
"Streets won't let me chill"
"Streets won't let me chill"

[Verse 3: Uptown XO]
The streets' forecast says the weather is hot
The suburbs got A/C, like it or not
Drippin' tears and sweat at the same time
Smoking to stay hydrated, maintainin' the same high
Found a package, like a fan in the back
Alley, blew away a nigga's problems temporarily – no connect
So I was getting high, then gettin' ready to pop a friend
'Cause not bein' cool is like havin' no oxygen
I can't breathe, it's so hot
Heat stroke got my niggas dead – still can't believe that I'm not
The heat is on the streets though I speak the facts
'Cause errybody in the hood is out around the block
Whites don't come through unless they buyin' crack
Or hoppin' out the squad car, tryin' to find who's dry
See we know a lot, still ain't learned enough
They murder us, still observin' us burnin' up

[Chorus: Uptown XO]
That's why the block is hot, the block is hot, you see...
"The streets won't let me chill"
We was raised wantin' the watches with the icy rocks, that's why the...
"The streets won't let me chill"
God throw me ice e'rry now and then, but it's the hood I live in, man...
"The streets won't let me chill"
So if you see me, keep it real, won't see the ice grill, for real, you see the...
"The streets won't let me chill"

[Outro: sample]
"Streets won't let me chill"
"Streets won't let me chill"
"Streets won't let me chill"
"Streets won't let me chill–"