Yeah, it's the god Rakim
Word up, I'm blazin' this out to all my comrades
Ya na mean? From the slums of New York
To the gutters all over the world, this is for y'all

Through my travels, I try to take righteous steps
Because right or left could mean life or death
No matter how trife it get, my sights is set
But it's twice the threat when the night is death

My mental windows refuse to close, they get exposed
To the neighborhood info where the poison wind blows
A deadly plague spreadin' negativity, viciously
Unto every city be in ghetto misery

Don't let it get to me, the writer be left to die
But it get mesmerize if it catch your eye
Shines enormous, from pure revered Kool's and garments
But it's torment, jealousy drug wars or warring

Tallying, slowly turnin' into barbarians
More scary when the whole boulevard's carryin'
Livin' in the world of sin, my ghetto girls and men
Waiting for the world to end

Tryin' to paint a perfect picture and excel
In case you didn't know
Never movin' backwards
Complicated
Know what I mean

Tryin' to paint a perfect picture and excel
In case you didn't know
Never movin' backwards
Complicated
Know what I mean

I see destruction, even little kids trust none
They bust guns, that's what they get a rush from
When I see 'em, we build and have a real discussion
'Yo Ra, what's the jewel of the day? What's up, son?'

'You got ambition?' Shorty said, 'Man listen
I got demands for livin', can't stand division
Make grands on my mission, till everything glisten
Women in the expedition, no plans for prison

In a vision the city get, 2 milleni G
Sittin' in my MSC sippin' Hennesy
Gettin' high and watch life pass me by
So I asked him,' Why?'

Wit a fast reply he said, 'I'm livin' just to die without any feelings
So I wait here for my Maker till it's time to go
Wit this dime I know, wit all of her girls and all of my mens
Waitin' for the world to end'

Tryin' to paint a perfect picture and excel
In case you didn't know
Never movin' backwards
Complicated
Know what I mean

Tryin' to paint a perfect picture and excel
In case you didn't know
Never movin' backwards
Complicated
Know what I mean

Shorty was taught to keep his head to the sky and never cry
But the streets left him to die, now it's death in his eye
Livin' a sin of hitmen, a sinister grin
From beginning to end, in it to win

Evil rebels, doin' what we doin' in the ghetto
Thinkin' if we was thorough we can deceive the devil
You can't win, your life be end, try again
Shorty said, 'Why we born again to die again?'

That's what I said when I realized I had a gift
To uplift and be one of Allah's advocates
Teach the youth and speak the truth
Show 'em what peace can do when ill reach for you

And my reward won't be jewels or cheese, it's even better
I can be one of the greatest MC's ever
If I tell 'em they intelligent women and great men
And live, stop waitin' for the world to end

Tryin' to paint a perfect picture and excel
In case you didn't know
Never movin' backwards
Complicated
Know what I mean

Tryin' to paint a perfect picture and excel
In case you didn't know
Never movin' backwards
Complicated
Know what I mean

I'm ragin', rippin' up the stage an'
Don't it sound amazin', know what I mean
Don't it sound amazin', know what I mean
Rakim