[Sampled announcer]
In any country, prison is where society sends its failures
But in this country, society itself is failing
[Intro]
Hell yeah! Uh
Ta-dow! Uh
Ta-dow! Uh
Ta-dow! Uh!
[Verse 1]
Ta-dow, how you like me now I'm in the mix
It's 1986 and I got the fix
With the chicken and a quota, got the bakin' soda
Let the water boil, workers all loyal
Dropped out the twelfth 'cause my wealth is shorter
Than a midget on his knees, now I slang ki's
Infest my hood with crack, I'm the mack
It Take a Nation of Millions to Hold Me Back
Too big for my britches, and I got bitches
Now I'm hittin' switches, niggas want my riches
Used to get eighteen, when my G was alive
Now a ki' is thirteen-five
'89's the number, another summer
(Get down!) Police ain't get no dumber
Streets dried up, used to think it would last
But being a kingpin is a thing of the past
They tried to blast me for slangin' a boulder
Now I got my ass in Minnesota
Got my own crew, it's on brand new
Damn, what can I do? Oooh
[Chorus]
Ta-dow, what can I do?
Ta-dow, what can I do?
Ta-dow, how ya like me now?
Ta-dow, what can I do?
Ta-dow, what can I do?
Ta-dow, how ya like me now? Fool
[Verse 2]
Already done stacked me half a meal ticket
Bought a house next to Prince, now I can kick it
Now I got ends, wavin' to my friends
Rollin' in a Benz, goin' to see the Twins
Play at the 'dome; police are tappin' my mobile phone
I'm almost home
Gettin' excited, indicted
Spent a grip and a year tryna fight it
Lawyer got paid; plea, no contest
'Cause everything I own got repossessed
Now take a look at the dunce
And I'm happy 'cause I only got thirty-six months
I never picked up a book
'Cause, my arms are sixteen inches, nigga, look (Oooh!)
Can't wait for '92 so I can get with my crew
And see what can I do
[Chorus]
Ta-dow, what can I do?
Ta-dow, what can I do?
Ta-dow, how ya like me now?
Ta-dow, what can I do?
Ta-dow, what can I do?
Ta-dow, how ya like me now?
[Verse 3]
Fucked up in the pen, now it's 94'
Back in L.A., and I'm bailin' through the do'
Everybody, know I gotta start from scratch
So where the work at, and niggas smirk at
Me sayin' ain't nuttin' poppin' from here to the L.B
What you tell me?
No, it ain't crackin', everybody's jackin' for a Coupe
Since, they sent in the troops
Even though I got muscle, that ain't my hustle
Takin' nigga's shit in a tussle
No skills, to pay the bills
Talkin' about education to battle inflation
No college degree, just a dumb ass G
(Yeah, you fool) Who me?
I got a baby on the way, damn it's a mess
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? Yes
Took some advice from my Uncle Fester
All dressed up in polyester
Welcome to McDonalds, may I please help you?
[Interlude: Mack 10]
Yeah, you can help me punk
Give me all of the money, or I'm dumpin'
That's on my momma
Ay homeboy, while you at it
Gimme large fries, a strawberry shake
A Big Mac, 'cause this Mack 10 fo' life
[Verse 4: Ice Cube]
Can I roll with you? What can I do?
Now I'm on the run, with a gun
And this fool I don't know, pedal to the flo'
Swervin', servin' all of the pigs
Just because they tryna split my wig
I'm in custody, L.A.P.D
One more felony, strike number three
25-to-life in cell block two
It's true, that's what I gotta do, oooh
[Chorus]
Ta-dow, what can I do?
Ta-dow, what can I do?
Ta-dow, how ya like me now?
Ta-dow, what can I do?
Ta-dow, what can I do?
Ta-dow, how ya like me now?
Westside! What can I do, what can I do?
Ice Cube.. what can I do, what can I do?
What can I do, oooh
[Outro]
In any country, prison is where society sends it's failures
But in this country, society itself is failing