[Intro: Nas & Tre Williams]
Yeah, check, check – testing
It's clear out there, yeah
It's like I'm hang glidin' over the hood, ha
Never worry (Ohhh, no, no, no)
Uh
[Verse 1: Nas]
Check, let there be light
No gang bangin' in New York tonight
Just murals of Biggie Smalls, bigger than life
Turn up the kid mic, 'cause y'all ain't listenin' right
What's all this talk that Nas got bought?
I'd rather outline my body in white chalk
Ain't nobody been where I been, they at a standstill
This is all overseen by my man Will
[Hook: Tre Williams]
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I know that I ain't got much time left
And they don't really wanna see the good in me
Ain't satisfied until they see the fool in me
And I - I know my business, so my sins great
And I - and thank the hood for all the love they gave
And I - forgive 'em all, they did they best to hate
Oh, let there be light!
[Verse 2: Nas]
This ain't to glorify, just painting a street picture
There's no guidance or Bibles, just blunts and Swishers
Gillettes cut 'caine in the kitchen
Now every rapper wanna claim he hang with Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, and –
It's like the same difference
Except when niggas get arraigned
They don't want the same sentence, niggas get to snitchin'
If I could reverse demises and turn falls to rises
And bring back niggas who was livest
Old hustlers, reminiscing on better days
They home, doing nothing, might as well be in a cage
Hating on young brothers, one foot in the grave
They used to love us
'Til we found our own way through the maze
New York, set trippin' and flaggin'
Got the West Coast laughin'
Now Esco's askin', "What happened?"
My homegirl from upper Manhattan –
She remembers the Quarters, that's Latin
A lot of rat-a-tat-tattin'
[Hook: Tre Williams]
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I know that I ain't got much time left
And they don't really wanna see the good in me
Ain't satisfied until they see the fool in me
And I - I know my business, so my sins great
And I - and thank the hood for all the love they gave
And I - forgive 'em all, they did they best to hate
Oh, let there be light!
[Verse 3: Nas]
The son of the audio cassette era, TEC wearer
Bullets and baguettes, Benz Bose speaker terror
Demand I get mine till I'm dead, so I can drive somethin' red
Like that horse standing on its hind legs
Since Arnold and Willis in they bunk beds
I wanted bread like Wonder
Not Ned the Wino, like the parents of Lionel
Nas is the Ghetto American Idol
No matter what you do, you're never getting my title
I can't sound smart 'cause y'all will run away
They say I ain't hungry no more and I don't talk about yay
Like there's no other way for a ex-hustler
Cake getter, ex-wig splitter to touch ya, I beg to differ
When you're four years into the game, we can have a conversation
Eight years in the game, I invite you on vacation
Ten years in the game, after I've enjoyed my fame
Only then I let you pick my brain, niggas
[Bridge: Nas, (Tre Williams)]
[And I] Right about now [And I] (They don't really know)
[And I] (They don't really see)
I don't even deal with all that garbage
(No, no, no) We getting real right, you know?
[And I] (Though I walk through the valley)
That is Tre Williams, ladies and gentlemen
[And I] (They should fear no) [And I] (no, no-oh)
Focus on good things, man, good times, heh-heh, alright
[Hook: Tre Williams]
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I know that I ain't got much time left
And they don't really wanna see the good in me
Ain't satisfied until they see the fool in me
And I - I know my business, so my sins great
And I - and thank the hood for all the love they gave
And I - forgive 'em all, they did they best to hate
Oh, let there be light!
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I know that I ain't got much time left
And they don't really wanna see the good in me
Ain't satisfied until they see the fool in me
And I - I know my business, so my sins great
And I - and thank the hood for all the love they gave
And I - forgive 'em all, they did they best to hate
Oh, let there be light!
[Outro: Tre Williams]
Oh, let it be, let it be, yeah
Let it be, let it be