Why We Die

[Intro: DMX]
Ugh
This here some shit that—that—that niggas ain't even seen before
This that shit
Motherfuckers ain't never seen nothing like this before
For real, man
It's goin', down, baby
Ugh, ugh
Busta Rhymes
What!
Ugh
DMX, nigga
Ugh, ugh
Ugh, ugh, ugh

[Verse 1: DMX]
I see ghosts clearly, even though most don't hear me
They still wanna get near me (Ungh), fear me, so I'm leary
Kinda eerie what I'm feeling (What)
From the floor, to the ceilin', straight through the roof
Want the truth? I kinda miss robbin' and stealin' (C'mon!)
'Cause it kept a nigga hungry, only eatin' when I starved (Ugh)
I was ugly, so I robbed; no one loved me—shit was hard (C'mon!)
Went to God once in a while when it got a little too hectic
He was the only one I knew that I respected (Why?)
Didn't know why, didn't know what I was livin' was a lie
If I ain't shit, then why should I try? (Unh!)
See, plenty niggas die over dumb shit up in the hood
Real good heart, but up to no good (Damn!)
Thought I did what I could, but I guess it wasn't enough (Uh-huh)
The Devil told me it would happen, but I kept callin' his bluff (Uh-huh)
When it rains, it pours; now, my pains are yours
As yours are what's mine—define revolvin' doors (Nigga!)

[Chorus: Busta Rhymes]
(Why?) All my niggas tell me (Why) tell me (We die)
'Cause we crazy with it (Hunh!), quick to blaze you with it (Ha!)
From in my soul to every word that I curse
With all the agony expressed in this verse
Let me ask my niggas (Why?)
My niggas, tell me (Why) tell me (We die)
Because we Gods nigga (And) we go the yard, nigga
Because I walk the ground under my feet (Huh)
And keep it live and stay in tune with the street
Now let me ask my niggas (Why?)

[Verse 2: Jay-Z]
Ugh, yo, they say the good die young in the hood where I'm from
I only got one question to that: Why the fuck am I here?
I look to the air, ask God, "Love me, please"
But in reality, only people that hug me is thieves
Same niggas that send shots through my rugby sleeves
They wanna slug me and leave, I'm thinkin' it must be me
Please shed light, the hood's dark
I did my dirt but got a good heart—
Shouldn't that count for somethin'?
I was told I'd amount to nothin' most of my childhood life
By folks that was stuntin' my growth
Separated me from the shit I was wantin' the most
Felt myself comin' close to pumpin' them O's
Lump in my throat, chest poked out, face was poker
Tryin' to erase my ghostses, chase the smokers
Got demons on both shoulders
Tryin' to chauffeur my life through the streets
In other words, nigga, my will was weak
Please feel what I speak
This ain't your average, ordinary, jargon, weak rap niggas be talkin'
This shit is deep, from the mind of Busta, X, and me
To all my fallen soldiers, rest in peace, 'til we meet, niggas

[Chorus: Busta Rhymes]
(Why?) All my niggas tell me (Why) tell me, ah! (We die)
'Cause we crazy with it (Hunh), quick to blaze you with it (Ha!)
From in my soul to every word that I curse (Ah)
With all the agony expressed in this verse (Ha)
Let me ask my niggas (Why?)
My niggas tell me (Why) tell me, ah! (We die)
Because we Gods, nigga (And) we go the yard nigga
Because I walk the ground under my feet (Huh! Ha!)
And keep it live and stay in tune with the street
Now let me ask my niggas (Why?)

[Verse 3: Busta Rhymes]
You must be cuckoo, like I respect the new-you, never
See, you, too, could get it through your FUBU sweater
Like a nigga when he walk in the dark
Trespassin' on a nigga land, shots echo loud in the park
I live and die for all the shit I believe
And rep for everything I stand for
With every single breath I breathe
Like the intake from cigarette smoke, it's like you inhale
The demon in the gutter, stressed, struggled, and broke
If the shit was all over tomorrow
I'd leave a treasure for my kids
With a legacy for my children to follow
You know it's funny how the good die first
Get the peppin' in your steppin', faggot nigga
'Cause you could die worse
Hold on, you know I cut off my arm, in the name of reppin'
Real niggas in the midst of droppin' this bomb
Allah blessin' me to rep for the better
And carry on something great
And keep a nigga name livin' forever
Now tell me—

[Chorus: Busta Rhymes]
(Why?) All my niggas tell me (why) tell me, ah! (we die)
'Cause we crazy with it (Hunh!), quick to blaze you with it (Ha!)
From in my soul to every word that I curse
With all the agony expressed in this verse
Let me ask my niggas (Why?)
My niggas tell me (why) tell me, ah! (we die)
Because we Gods nigga (and) we go the yard nigga (Ha!)
Because I walk the ground under my feet (Hunh!)
And keep it live and stay in tune with the street
Now let me ask my niggas (Why?)