Ghetto Afterlife

Hi-Tek

[Talib Kweli] 
These niggaz ain't thugs, the real thugs is the government 
Don't matter if you independent, democrat or republican 
Niggaz politickin the street, get into beef 
Start blastin, now a new cat is executive chief 
With a, passion for heat you get, blast in yo' seat 
Die before you crash in yo' Jeep, never passin in your sleep 
like an old man, you ain't a fool you got a whole plan 
to conquer territories like Europeans who stole land 
The future of your whole fam' hang in the balance 
You the king, and your block is the palace 
Y'all niggaz is the parliament, untouchable, spot unrushable 
Keep your weight wet, call in collect to save a buck or two 
Get mad, who the f**k are you? What you gonna do? 
Exactly what I thought - NOTHIN, in the sport of frontin 
you the undisputed champion, I'm in a class you can't be in 
My words is flesh like Jesus, the aquarian 

{*scratched* "Let's stop right here for an amen and a right on"} 
{"So you think that I'm a fool..."} 
{"Amen, right on..."} 

Chorus: T. Kweli and Kool G. Rap 

[T] It's just a chapter of the night, in the ghetto afterlife 
Where you just seen or heard about or gonna have to fight 
[K] Where they sacrifice the life and niggaz see flashes of light 
When you trapped up in the heights but clappers aimin at the wife 

[Talib Kweli] 
Yeah, dudes gettin money is still thuggin 
Chicks gettin money is still ghetto 
Still livin the whole thuggish stilleto 
Your team let the metal burst before you take an L 
you raised in hell, let the dust settle first 
Then you ask the question, snatchin the life of the innocent 
Shit happens huh, a man's respected by his actions 
It's the karma of the street, you try to meet the karma 
while the karma sleep, yo it's deep, but the karma can't be beat 
You don't know your enemy, so you fightin with yourself 
Relate to rap niggaz cause they writin what you felt 
You got top shelf connects you gettin seasoned like a veteran 
We suck the venom out the snake bite, without the medicine 
We benefit from niggaz in tenements, dyin for benjamins 
So bad that they know they own coffin measurements 
Ghetto eloquence, in the moment of truth, don't be hesistant 
or fall victim to the element, word is bond 

"So while y'all keep on fakin the funk, 
we gonna keep on walkin through the darkness carryin our torches" 
-> DJ Premier 
{*scratched* "I'ma give-give-give it to-to you straight" 
"Straight up and down!" -> DJ Premier 

Chorus: T. Kweli and Kool G. Rap 

[T] Just another chapter of the night, in the ghetto afterlife 
Where you just seen or heard about or gonna have to fight 
[K] Where they sacrifice the life and niggaz see flashes of light 
When you trapped up in the heights but clappers aimin at the wife 

[Kool G. Rap] 
Niggaz get caught up in the struggle 
End up in court in trouble, sportin a bubble 
Ford azure bubble, importer smuggle, forcin a rumble 
Hit the blocks with a portion to double 
Flip and get tossed in the huddle 
Police with one piece short of the puzzle 
It's a hustle, peep the street life, they movin muscle 
and the G's'll make your knees buckle 
Tussle with heat until your feet stand in a pee puddle 
Cheese double but all the speedy niggaz bleed puddles 
Make the headlines