[Chorus]
Ain't it hell?
Said ain't it hell
Hell up in Harlem? (Harlem, hell up in Harlem)
Yeah, oh yeah
Ain't it hell (Ain't it hell)
I said, ain't it hell
Hell up in Harlem, oh? (Harlem, hell up in Harlem)
Oh

[Verse]
There are two million names
But few know the games
And those few decide who lives
And who's gonna die

[Bridge]
(Hell, up in Harlem) My lord, yeah
Wheelin', dealin', pushin', hookin' night and day
(Ain't it hell up in Harlem?)
Cops and robbers, sometimes they all look the same, ow!
(Ain't it hеll (Hell) up in Harlem?)
Runnin', duckin', dodgin', tryin' to stay afloat
(Ain't it hell (Hеll) up in Harlem?)
(If you don't know what's up, then) You don't need to go
(Ain't it hell?)
[Chorus]
Oh, ain't it hell?
I said, ain't it hell?
Hell up in Harlem, oh (Harlem, hell up in Harlem)
(Ain't it hell)
If you don't live there, lawd, it's hell
Hell up in Harlem, yeah, yeah (Harlem, hell up in Harlem)
Oh

[Outro]
Ain't it hell?