Nas — Hold Down the Block

[Chorus: Mark B. Mayfield] I gotta hold down the block, when the block is hot I gotta use my imagination to change the situation I gotta hold down the block, when the block is hot I gotta use my imagination to change the situation [Verse 1: Nas (Mark B. Mayfield)] Yeah, Feds feast on street dons, look at their teeth showin' Salivating at the mouth, South to East Orange Keep pourin' that liquor, but nigga don't sleep on it You'll be giving up your Jesus piece to your peeps to pawn it For legal fees in the penal dorm Screamin' on the horn with 'bout 30 years on your conscience I'm watchin' brothers disappear, it's appallin' Some dudes had just only a year of ballin' Counter-intelligence found a strange evidence (When the block is hot) Still we behind the wheel with heat on us, hangin' with predicates Position we placed in caves in, so they got us caged in Waves spinnin' like Mike Bivens from New Edition agin' (I gotta... when the block is hot) I got families I'm feedin', 'cause my mans is bleedin' Every five seconds look in all directions I come through prepared, I give 'em a call "I'm close, bring them guns downstairs" [Chorus: Mark B. Mayfield (Nas)] I gotta hold down the block, when the block is hot I gotta use my imagination to change the situation I gotta hold down the block, when the block is hot (hold it down) I gotta use my imagination to change the situation [Verse 2: Nas (Mark B. Mayfield)] Uh, uh, it's beef week, Monday, murder Two niggas dead, Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday is hearse-day Friday, somebody-gotta-die day Saturday, put the gat away Chillin' with your chick and a bag of haze Wonderin' how it's all gon' end and what type of way 'Cause Sunday back to gunplay Most shit start over nothin' And get finished quick ‘cause the art of repercussion Yeah, I seen it, a G going out indecent (when the block is hot) Takin' a plea agreement, thinkin' he secret Escape the crime scene, now you live straight like 9:15 Then one-time intervene (I gotta hold...) My man ain't like me sayin' I don't care if I die But the SIG Sauer on me now I'm scared to die You thinkin' the one I send to clap you be a shorty But he old school, holdin' a .38, he in his 40s [Chorus: Mark B. Mayfield (Nas)] I gotta hold down the block when the block is hot I gotta use my imagination to change the situation I gotta hold down the block, when the block is hot (yeah, word to mother) I gotta use my imagination, to change the situation (yeah) [Verse 3: Nas (Mark B. Mayfield)] (I gotta...) Anytime brothers can't get jobs, then they rob A man rather die than live on his knees and starve Cops steady askin' your man what happened First he tell, then he stop, like he not really rattin' Guess he not really in that casket from a sawed-off (When the block is hot) Listen, peep game from the brain of an all-star The rain hurt niggas' bones who been shot Metal pins in their leg, they walk with a limp-hop The streets lie (when the block is hot), so you better be cautious Your man'll fry you plus everybody talkin' A vet, a General, don't step where I walked in Make your own path, be a legend in your skin (Hold down the block, when the block is hot) Make your own cash, don't stress what I'm flossin' Don't expect more when you put in less work than all them Queensbridge projects has taught him And that's for life, you heard me right, I got the block [Outro: Mark B. Mayfield] When the block is hot, when the block is hot I gotta use my imagination to change the situation I gotta hold down the block, when the block is hot I gotta use my imagination to change the situation I gotta hold down the block, when the block is hot I gotta use my imagination to change the situation