[Hook: D'Angelo]
Babies dying, mothers crying, brothers getting knocked
Shit is deep on the block
You got me locked down in this cold, cold world

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

[Verse 1: GZA]
It was the night before New Year's and all through the fuckin' projects
Not a handgun was silent, not even a Tec
Outside as I'm stuck by enemies who put fear
Blasted on the spot before the pigs were dead
You know hoods, robbers, snipers new in sight, fuck blue and white
They escape before them flash the fuckin' lights
Gunshots shatter first floor window panes
Shells hit the ground and blood stained the dice game
Whether broke callisthetic, any style you set it
Beat n***as toothless, physically cut up like gooses
But with iron on the sides thugs took no excuses
Therefore, your fifty-two handblocks was useless
Links was snatched off necks, scars on throats
Jackets took, after bullet rips through coats
Against those who felt the cold from the steel
Made 'em fold and squeal, once the metal hit the temple of his grill
Destruction worker, who was caught for his bomber
No time to swing the hammer that was hangin' from his Farmer's
And it's bugged how some n***as catch slugs
And pockets dug from everything except check stubs
And it does sound ill like wars in Brownsville
Or fatal robberies in Red Hook where feds look
For fugitives to shoot cops, n***as layin' on roof tops
For his cream he stashed in a shoebox
But he was hot, and the strip was filled with young killers
You don't suspect, so cops creep like caterpillars
And born thieves stay hooded with extra bullets
Those who try to flee, they hit the vertebrae, increase the murder rate
Similar to hit men who pull out Tecs
And then drop those who crack like tacos from Mexican
Rapid, like recipients cashin' checks again
Back to the motherfuckin' spot on Lexington

[Hook: D'Angelo]
Babies dying, mothers crying, brothers getting knocked
Shit is deep on the block
You got me locked down in this cold, cold world
They be runnin' from the cops, bustin' off shots
Shit is deep on the block
And you got me locked down in this cold, cold world

[Verse 2: Inspectah Deck]
No time to freeze, undercovers ease up in Grand Prixs
And seize packages and pocket the currency
Cliques control strips full clips are sprayed
Yellow tape, barricades, sidewalks where bodies laid
Madness strikes at 12 o'clock, midnight
Stick up kids on the prowl walk the staircase light
And I stays harassed, scramblin' for petty cash
Jakes on my ass, young bucks is learnin' fast
357's and 44's
Brought inside corner stores provide sparks the wars
Hospital floors surrounded by the law
Homicide questioning while the Jakes guard the door
My hood stay tense, loyalty puts strength in my team
'Cause n***as main concern is cream
Some n***as in the jet black Gallant
Shot up the Chinese restaurant for this kid named Lamont
I thought he was dead but instead he missed the kid
And hit a twelve-year-old girl in the head and then fled
Tactical narcotic, task force, back off fast
'Cause the crime boss is passin' off cash
Extortions for portions of streets causes beef
Havin' followers of Indians trying to play Chief
You witness the saga, casualties and drama
Life is a script, I'm not a actor but the author
Of a modern day opera, where the main character
Is presidential papers, the dominant factor

[Hook: D'Angelo]
Babies dying, mothers crying, brothers getting knocked
Shit is deep on the block
You got me locked down in this cold, cold world
They be runnin' from the cops, bustin' off shots
Shit is deep on the block
You got me locked down in this cold, cold world

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo

Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo