[Intro]

DJ Premier: Word up, ayo, Rome (Yo) Yo, life ain't what it's cracked up to be these days, y'knahmean?

Rome: Word! Knahmsayin? Life hard out this muh'fucker, y'knahmsayin?

DJ Premier: So you gotta make the best of a bad situation, and hold your head

Rome: Knahmsayin? You gotta progress through the struggle man

[Chorus: vocal samples & Uncle Reo]

[Guru] In this life— (Oh, this life)

[DJ P] "You better wake up"

[Guru] In this life— (Talkin' 'bout this life)

[DJ P] "R-R-Remember this"

[Guru] In this life— (Woah-oh)

[DJ P] "S-S-Survival of the fittest" - Nas

[Guru] In this life—

[DJ P] "I go all out"—"Y'knahmsayin?"

[Verse 1: Guru]

From New York to Cali it remains the same

Bitch niggas always wanna go against the grain

The strong will survive, the weak shall perish

Y'all need more courage, I keep y'all nourished

Get in line, I let you know right now

You need to slow right down or you get blown right now

From what I see it's systematic how we push to addicts

Demographics make the street life hell or drastic

In the hood we see effects of genocide

'Cause if it's on it's on, you know at least ten men'll ride

But on the other side, corruption runs deep

I'm aware of the conspiracies, discussion is brief

They're building more prisons, spendin' less on schools

On the block Smith & Wessons and Teflons rule

It's hard to escape it, certain laws are sacred

In this life, my nigga, it's mad hard to make it

[Chorus: Guru & Snoop Dogg]

[Guru] In this life—

[Snoop] Money is key and everybody you see ain't what they claim to be

[Guru] In this life—

[Snoop] I try to do right, I live a treacherous life, I know I ain't right, mm

[Guru] In this life—

[Snoop] You got to keep on, you got to be strong, you got to hold on

[Guru] In this life, huh, I come in peace

[Guru] But still, yo, I come from the streets

[Verse 2: Snoop Dogg]

This one's for my sons and my lil' daughter

Peace to JMJ and my nigga HeadQCourterz

A Gang Starr with a gangster, on a mission

World Premier, limited edition

My mind keeps driftin' 'cause I haven't had a spliff in

A long time, I'm doin' fine, I feel terrific

I bop up the street, C-walk to the beat

It's cold outdoors, so I got to keep some heat

I never know when a cutthroat gon' try to test me

Disrespect me, things could get messy

Yes he, shoot a good game, like James

I mean Jesse, watch out, nigga, heavens to Betsies

The big drum beater

With a car full of heaters and some fly senoritas

In some Stacy's or some Chucks, 'cause I gots to keep it G'd up

Run up on the Dogg man you bound to get beat up

[Chorus: vocal samples & Uncle Reo]

[Guru] In this life— (Oh, this life, I'm tryna make it better)

[DJ P] "You better wake up"

[Guru] In this life— (I won't have to struggle no more, no I won't)

[DJ P] "R-R-Remember this"

[Guru] In this life— (Oh, this life, this life)

[DJ P] "S-S-Survival of the fittest" - Nas

[Guru] In this life— (Tryna make it better, yes I am)

[Outro: Uncle Reo]

Ooooohhh, talkin' bout this life

WhoahhhOHHHHHHHHHH, this life, this life—